Interesting article...
Feb 25, 2011 | 7:52 am
#16
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: DL MM GM, Marriott G, Hilton G
Posts: 1,587
Yes, its the tone of the article which is most certainly negative toward Delta and nostalgic for Northwest. What bothered me most was the the title and lead in as it set the tone for the direction this was heading toward. Yes, I feel sorry for those who enjoyed flying an airline unable to fill the plane or musicians whose instruments are problematic to transport (although the writer doesn't really tell you what exactly the problem is. I have issue with noting an improvement in a statistic for 2010 but then applying a two-year average to use as a comparison. And frankly, a difference in delayed flights as narrow as 1.5 flights/100 between a good grade and a bad grade isn't really worthy of splitting hairs over. I also would have been interested to hear from at least one former NW employee that wasn't negative on DL - sadly none were quoted.
The fact is that DL is still around and at least to me appear healthier than not that long ago - which might mean they will be around for a while.
The fact is that DL is still around and at least to me appear healthier than not that long ago - which might mean they will be around for a while.
Feb 25, 2011 | 8:16 am
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SE US
Programs: Duke of Bombay, Delta Ham Sandwich tm, Delta's Glitch
Posts: 4,201
Delta is buying those "old" MD-90s from places far away from the US of A? Yet, NW had those brand spankin new DC-9s that we get to fly now. NW was not all that great. It was different than Delta. Some people just do not cope well with change.
Feb 25, 2011 | 8:22 am
#18
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: DL Diamond, HHonors Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,477
Not to veer too far off topic, but I recently received an unsolicited e-mail from Delta apologizing for recent flight delays and whatnot. "Airlines" was misspelled in the subject line.
Feb 25, 2011 | 8:23 am
#19
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: HSV
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/1.2MM, UA Premier gold/1MM, Choice diamond, Marriott gold
Posts: 1,374
Give me a break. As a matter of journalism it's not unusual these days to write things like this, however a correspondent from MSP who obviously yearns for the days of NWA should be viewed as just that - capable of bias.
There are lots of supporting data in there which I admire and respect, but peppered in there is a lot of warm-fuzzy type non-journalistic drivel.
Some "facts" that they got wrong:
"dont even think about trying to use miles to get to Paris or Amsterdam."
As many of us know, using miles to go to Europe usually requires a stop in CDG or AMS...
"Theres no nice way to say this: Delta pisses people off. Theyve pissed off more people over the years than some airlines have flown"
The evidence for this? Look at all the websites I found!
"Competing carriers (notably Southwest) have added more routes of their own while Delta has cut back on flights to ensure fuller planes (Northwest sometimes flew half-empty planes)"
The premise of this sentence is utopian nonsense. What a great business plan... Every airline, including DL, sends out some planes half - or even more - empty.
"a thoughtful Northwest agent might offer to put you on an earlier flight; with a smile, and without a charge. "
Aw, isn't that special... And completely unsupported in two ways - how often would this happen at NWA and it neglects to mention that their policy was to charge for it. Secondly, it supposes that no other airline does this, because after all they aren't NWA. I have been the beneficiary of kind DL agents many times, but I don't claim that other airlines are unkind...
"Deltas ongoing acquisition of used MD-90sflown by no other major American airline (the primary users have been in Saudi Arabia and China)"
Whuh? Let's hone that bias but perverting the reader into thinking that since only Saudi Arabia and China fly them, there must be something bad. Poor journalism.
The whole "BUSINESS, DELTA STYLE" section is a one-sided provincial rant against the "other" which in this case is the ridiculous notion that management in the South can't possibly be any good since they're backwards hillbillies..
There are lots of supporting data in there which I admire and respect, but peppered in there is a lot of warm-fuzzy type non-journalistic drivel.
Some "facts" that they got wrong:
"dont even think about trying to use miles to get to Paris or Amsterdam."
As many of us know, using miles to go to Europe usually requires a stop in CDG or AMS...
"Theres no nice way to say this: Delta pisses people off. Theyve pissed off more people over the years than some airlines have flown"
The evidence for this? Look at all the websites I found!
"Competing carriers (notably Southwest) have added more routes of their own while Delta has cut back on flights to ensure fuller planes (Northwest sometimes flew half-empty planes)"
The premise of this sentence is utopian nonsense. What a great business plan... Every airline, including DL, sends out some planes half - or even more - empty.
"a thoughtful Northwest agent might offer to put you on an earlier flight; with a smile, and without a charge. "
Aw, isn't that special... And completely unsupported in two ways - how often would this happen at NWA and it neglects to mention that their policy was to charge for it. Secondly, it supposes that no other airline does this, because after all they aren't NWA. I have been the beneficiary of kind DL agents many times, but I don't claim that other airlines are unkind...
"Deltas ongoing acquisition of used MD-90sflown by no other major American airline (the primary users have been in Saudi Arabia and China)"
Whuh? Let's hone that bias but perverting the reader into thinking that since only Saudi Arabia and China fly them, there must be something bad. Poor journalism.
The whole "BUSINESS, DELTA STYLE" section is a one-sided provincial rant against the "other" which in this case is the ridiculous notion that management in the South can't possibly be any good since they're backwards hillbillies..
Could not have said it better myself!
Feb 25, 2011 | 8:25 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: National Capitol Region
Programs: Delta Dirt Medallion,AA,USairways, WN Rapid Rewards, National Emerald Club
Posts: 3,913
Feb 25, 2011 | 8:25 am
#21
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: 2 many 4 2 long.
Posts: 324
Never in the history of US business has one enterprise so seismically separated from its customers and primary revenue source.
That is known by everybody and admitted by 98% of everybody. During the next few weeks it will be admitted by 100% of everybody, and that is when Delta's wings will really begin falling off.
Feb 25, 2011 | 8:28 am
#22
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 628
The odd thing I can never understand from these NWA vs Delta threads is - Why is it automatically assumed that the Post merger Delta of today, is the same as pre-merger Delta of the past?
Things changed for the pre-merger Delta fliers as well, and not all for the better either.
Things changed for the pre-merger Delta fliers as well, and not all for the better either.
Feb 25, 2011 | 8:33 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: MUC
Programs: LH SEN, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador and Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 648
The odd thing I can never understand from these NWA vs Delta threads is - Why is it automatically assumed that the Post merger Delta of today, is the same as pre-merger Delta of the past?
Things changed for the pre-merger Delta fliers as well, and not all for the better either.
Things changed for the pre-merger Delta fliers as well, and not all for the better either.
Feb 25, 2011 | 8:33 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: HSV
Programs: DL SkyMiles PM/1.2MM, UA Premier gold/1MM, Choice diamond, Marriott gold
Posts: 1,374
My opinion is that post merger Delta is vastly improved over pre-merger. I was among the most vocal Delta haters before the merger, but after CO committed the bonehead move of the decade by merging with UA I bailed to Delta. I have not looked back and am very happy with Delta.
Feb 25, 2011 | 8:38 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Titanium, "Lifetime" DL DM (subject to DL CEO whims)
Posts: 12,801
DL management are working hard to create that sort of disdain amongst their customers.
Feb 25, 2011 | 8:46 am
#26
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: DL DM; SPG Gold
Posts: 1,733
The problem in the "instantly accessible internet days" is that there is a strong confusion between article / journalist (who in as unbiased as possible, does strong investigative work and checks facts) and blog / blogger (who is just an opinioned report of own personal experience). I have nothing against blogs and bloggers, but they should never been confused with actual journalism.
Feb 25, 2011 | 8:54 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: MSN
Posts: 8,051
Hey! Some of us like those D95s!
Feb 25, 2011 | 9:07 am
#28
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 401
Why do I get the feeling that this thread is yet another exercise in pro-union propaganda? The unions lost. Get over it.
Feb 25, 2011 | 9:15 am
#29
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: CHI/MSP
Programs: Delta Platinum, United Prem Exec
Posts: 1,334
I read nothing so far that indicates this as "yet another exercise in pro-union propaganda".
Sounds like you need to get over something and stop inventing conflict where it doesn't exist.
Feb 25, 2011 | 9:20 am
#30
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: DL DM; DL AMEX Reserve; HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,991
The problem in the "instantly accessible internet days" is that there is a strong confusion between article / journalist (who in as unbiased as possible, does strong investigative work and checks facts) and blog / blogger (who is just an opinioned report of own personal experience). I have nothing against blogs and bloggers, but they should never been confused with actual journalism.