Delta Expands Popular 'Economy Comfort' Brand
Oct 20, 2011, 10:28 am
#46
Company Representative - Delta Air Lines
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Hate to post from airliners.net, but there is a good fleet breakdown there.
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/5284772/
Reply 5
The big shocker - if that thread is true - is that the A320 is going from 16F to 12F. New config is now 12F/18EC/120Y
Also MD90 goes from 16F to 12F with 12F/15EC/134Y
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo....main/5284772/
Reply 5
The big shocker - if that thread is true - is that the A320 is going from 16F to 12F. New config is now 12F/18EC/120Y
Also MD90 goes from 16F to 12F with 12F/15EC/134Y
Oct 20, 2011, 10:29 am
#47
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Oct 20, 2011, 10:32 am
#48
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I'm already a step ahead of you and asked Michelle to jump in from a SkyMiles perspective. Stay tuned...
Oct 20, 2011, 10:35 am
#49
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I don't believe that they will lower the FC seat count on MD90s and A320s for a second. Airliners.net is full of misinformation....I'm thinking that post is just one great example of the BS people post on a public forum....
Oct 20, 2011, 10:38 am
#52
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"Similar to Delta's long-haul international Economy Comfort product, complimentary access to domestic and short-haul international seats will be available at booking to all SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum Medallions and customers purchasing full-fare Economy class tickets. Gold Medallion members will also have free access to these seats at time of booking, while Silver Medallions can purchase them at a 50 percent discount off the fee at time of purchase or can access these seats for free at check-in."
Oct 20, 2011, 10:39 am
#53
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A victory for the 6'4" guys of the world like me!
As I read it, and it's obviously still a work in progress, but it sounds to me like the addition of these seats will have no impact on any existing domestic operational policy except boarding order.
So for GMs and up the only change is that in addition to location, some premium seats will also have increased pitch.
For general members, the program is identical to the Int's EC, except for the absence of free alcohol.
The only group of people who is going to have to do some thinking are the FOs. As someone who is up against the dreaded down-grade in March, this defiantly makes me think about a MR or two.
But for people who don't have that option, I think the best play will be to monitor the seat availability, especially at the PM/DM and GM upgrade windows, and then decide whether to hold out for the u/g, pay for EC, or stick with the existing seat.
I do think there could be one issue that proves tough for GAs. When there are situations where you have Medallions sitting in Y as a result of SDC or Y+ = 0, and then a few Y+ seats open up at the gate, will GAs move these Medallions into Y+ before clearing pax with seat request cards into Y? If so, will they also extend this benefit to FOs (who had the option to pay for the seat). Or will they just fill what's open. I'm sure we would all prefer the former, but either way I think Delta will need a clear policy on this, and will need their GAs system-wide to follow the policy. Otherwise we will be waking up to Y+ Shena threads daily.
But every new policy has kinks, and I think this is a great improvement. It's also great to see SMI jump in quickly to answer questions, and offer to get clarification on other questions. This is a great chance for FTers to help work out the kinks in advance.
Great addition Delta.....now off to the MR forum!!
As I read it, and it's obviously still a work in progress, but it sounds to me like the addition of these seats will have no impact on any existing domestic operational policy except boarding order.
So for GMs and up the only change is that in addition to location, some premium seats will also have increased pitch.
For general members, the program is identical to the Int's EC, except for the absence of free alcohol.
The only group of people who is going to have to do some thinking are the FOs. As someone who is up against the dreaded down-grade in March, this defiantly makes me think about a MR or two.
But for people who don't have that option, I think the best play will be to monitor the seat availability, especially at the PM/DM and GM upgrade windows, and then decide whether to hold out for the u/g, pay for EC, or stick with the existing seat.
I do think there could be one issue that proves tough for GAs. When there are situations where you have Medallions sitting in Y as a result of SDC or Y+ = 0, and then a few Y+ seats open up at the gate, will GAs move these Medallions into Y+ before clearing pax with seat request cards into Y? If so, will they also extend this benefit to FOs (who had the option to pay for the seat). Or will they just fill what's open. I'm sure we would all prefer the former, but either way I think Delta will need a clear policy on this, and will need their GAs system-wide to follow the policy. Otherwise we will be waking up to Y+ Shena threads daily.
But every new policy has kinks, and I think this is a great improvement. It's also great to see SMI jump in quickly to answer questions, and offer to get clarification on other questions. This is a great chance for FTers to help work out the kinks in advance.
Great addition Delta.....now off to the MR forum!!
Oct 20, 2011, 10:40 am
#54
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Oct 20, 2011, 10:48 am
#55
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That poster is a Delta rep. That is not a rumor. SMI is checking (I think) if it is the entire fleet of 320's and 90's but SMI did respond that there is a reduction.
Oct 20, 2011, 10:52 am
#56
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Oct 20, 2011, 10:53 am
#57
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So wait...if I am gold medallion on an L fare, is it true that I do not get complimentary access to domestic EC because I am not on a YBM fare? Do I get a discount at all on a lower fare?
Oct 20, 2011, 10:59 am
#58
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Will they still have Donald Sutherland emoting about "more first class upgrades" in the commercials?
Anyway you look at this, this is grim.
This would make the 90 the worst plane in the system with respect to the ratio of Coach seats to FC seats (12.5 to 1) and the 320 the second worst (11.5 to 1). Compare this to the DC-9 with EC configuration (6.5 to 1). All other factors equal, it will be nearly twice as hard to get an UG on a 90 vs a DC-9.
(BTW Avidflyer... your table showed the MD90s losing 4 FC seats apiece rather than 2, and I assume you meant "320" and not "319")
As avidflyer noted:
SMI... I would hope that DL management would recognize the PR downside to any FC seat reductions right now. A little respite from bad news from Virginia Ave would be timely relief right now.
Without FC reductions, I suspect this announcement will be met with nearly across-the-board enthusiasm and gratitude.
Any reductions in FC seats will tarnish the message.
Please lock the bean counters in a janitor's closet for a few days, and make this announcement a truly WIN-WIN situation.
Oct 20, 2011, 11:03 am
#60
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