jsmith50

Given that he's been in this position for a little over a year and that's probably about how long it takes to renegotiate provisioning contracts and implement changes, looks like we've identified the party responsible for hosing us!

GRALISTAIR

Eh come on - don't give them ideas - this is exactly what may happen - shudder

NapaPatTours

I clicked the above link to view the profile. In the right side ad column was the following:

Picture yourself at Diageo
My profile pic next to the Diageo logo
My name
Sales at Diageo
[View Jobs] button

Hmmmmm...

nogophers

I used to be a pretty staunch defender of DL. Living in MSP, I stood by them before and after the NWA merger. I simply preferred the personnel, aircraft and routes.

I also liked seeing the trend in the Skyclubs to offer local craft beer.

In the last few months, however, I have seen DL go on a binge of cost "initiatives" that finally crossed the line with the Skyclub alcohol decision. I now criticize this airline and the poor choices they have recently made. I have yet to talk to a single Skyclub member who is even neutral about this decision. All have been angry.

Maybe it's the long term plan to lessen crowding by driving out us booze "freeloaders". Either way, my 3-year membership will lapse when due. In the meantime, I'll continue to order premium drinks, express shock when asked to pay for it, then walk away. Suck on it, Delta.

StayingHomeIsBetter

No, it's not that person.

I have decided not to post the name. I guess I have more regard for preserving someone's privacy that he has for preserving customer service.

People wishing to e-mail should be directing their correspondence to Anderson and Hauenstein anyway.

itsaboutthejourney

I can assure you that person is reading these posts, every single one of them. But don't blame him, not his idea.

Gotta go higher: Glen W. Hauenstein executive vice president � Network Planning, Revenue Management and Marketing is the brains behind this move and lack of creative options to raise revenue in the clubs (as well as the award calendar, tight awards avail, etc.)

Please don't harass the good people who work day-in-day out and understand our experience, talk to Glen. He loves HVC FlyerTalkers

azeckel

This guy has got to have some interesting LinkedIn metrics this week..."Your profile has been viewed by 5,620 people in the last 7 days"

Seriously, let's get focused on this gin/baileys boondoggle and quit letting our focus stray towards partner mile benefits and the like...

ILovetheReds

I haven't tried this (and quite honestly am not that happy about my wife doing this) but Mrs. Reds says it makes her feel good when she orders a double Bailey's on the rock and when the bartender tells her it's $14, she will act surprised and say it was free just a couple weeks ago and then order a diet coke and declines the Bailey's stating she can get a better pour for less at Friday's. She has done this four times now (the first time she wasn't aware of the change) and none of the times has the bartender volunteered the change to her until after the drink is poured.

She is hoping wasted drinks get reported to HQ and maybe Delta's management will get the hint that not every patron is going to cough up $14 for a drink out of guilt.

dEagleS

Now that one can't consume beverages in the SkyClub freely, the mind is much more able to focus on several issues at once!

beckoa

I saw the same two weeks ago when I was visiting several DL SC's. Really was sad in SLC

Yes, this would be much more upscale than what DL offered before. Well I am still partial to WR, but the KS Bourbon is a close second, beats Makers Mark IMO. And which type of bourbon is offered now?

ND76

I'm sitting in the DCA SC right now. At the stroke of 0600, when service of adult beverages became lawful in the Commonwealth of Virginia, I ordered a Bloody Mary and a half shot or so of Gordon's Vodka neat, so that a trained palate such as mine could comment on "L'affaire du Gordon".

First, a taste test of Gordon's Vodka neat. The nose had hints of Aqua Velva that had been sitting in an open bottle for, say, three days or so. The feel in the mouth was slightly oily; no burning sensation was noted. The taste in the mouth had notes of vodka and was definitely alcoholic. There was no burn going down the hatch. No noticeable aftertaste was discerned.

Next, I'm tucked into a bloody mary in the traditional Delta style; ice in the glass, then booze, then Mr. & Mrs. T mix from a can. No Worcestershire sauce was on the bar. To be perfectly honest, I can't tell much of a difference between Skyy and Gordon's.

Flame away.

bubbashow

I think that is a brilliant idea, actually.

rylan

^^

I think they have a lot of gall charging $7 for a captain also. I'd expect that bottle to sit there in the rack and evaporate before it gets consumed. Same with the baileys... I think that will be an ultra-low selling item especially when somebody orders one and sees that the measured shot results in a awful looking drink that is all ice and has only a sip of the liquor at the bottom.

Crazyhotelguy

Keep your day job That trained palate is letting you down.....

DLdweeb

I don't think there will be much flaming...if it works for you, that's great. I suspect there are even some folks who are Gordon's drinkers who are delighted with the change.

I prefer Sapphire, but Tanqueray was completely acceptable. Gordon's is a low rate brand of gin. Nothing wrong with that, it hits its target market, but it isn't comparable to S or T.

In addition to the downgrade, I am perhaps just as ticked about the way DL handled this change, and the annoying trend of trying to spin chicken s**t into chicken salad. They claimed they made this change based, in part, on customer feedback and to standardize offerings throughout all clubs. Claim #1 (customer feedback) is just laughable. Claim #2 is ridiculous, as to my knowledge Tanqueray is available nationwide. Perhaps some of the local brews are not, but is that a big deal?

DL says they want to be the airline of the business person, and the clubs are advertised as an oasis of peace, offering complimentary premium spirits. Gordon's clearly doesn't fit into this marketing plan.