The grass is not greener: Experiences of a DM at United
Jul 15, 2014, 12:35 pm
#76
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL DM, SPG Gold
Posts: 832
Jul 15, 2014, 1:05 pm
#77
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
My point is that the product is beat and uncomfortable, and has been this way for some time. The seat maintenance cycles at Delta are much longer than they should be. More often than not on a 777 the seat cushions are hard, or when reclined flat the sections don't line up and one section will be higher than another. Delta's fares seem to be as high or higher than most other airlines, at least the dates I travel. It seems they could do much better.
As for pricing, that suggests that many people disagree and think that DL offers a quite compelling product.
Jul 15, 2014, 1:08 pm
#78
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
Jul 15, 2014, 1:09 pm
#79
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
By my calendar, that is still nearly 18 months away. Don't get me wrong, I'm interested to see how the merger shakes out and whether AA can make good on becoming a real premium carrier, but until they have flat beds, they will see a discount for J travel from myself and others. At times, thankfully, that discount is substantial, as it is for my upcoming trip to Peru.
Jul 15, 2014, 1:13 pm
#80
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
Then why did you solicit anecdotes in the first place?
There are actually a handful of BA seats that can be really nice for the solo traveller, aside from the awkward food service that results from the setup.
There are actually a handful of BA seats that can be really nice for the solo traveller, aside from the awkward food service that results from the setup.
Jul 15, 2014, 2:08 pm
#82
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: ATL
Programs: Bonvoy Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold, AA EXP, UA Silver, former DL DM
Posts: 2,001
It is true that BA will require AA and its other TATL JV partners (IB, AY, US) to have flat-bed seats in all TATL business cabins by 2015. But presumably AA's unrefurbished 763s could remain on their many existing routes to Latin America and the Caribbean well beyond 2015.
Jul 15, 2014, 2:37 pm
#83
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,474
Jul 15, 2014, 2:52 pm
#84
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2012
Location: MCO
Programs: AA, B6, DL, EK, EY, QR, SQ, UA, Amex Plat, Marriott Tit, HHonors Gold
Posts: 12,809
AA plans to refurbish only half of its 763 fleet and will retire the remaining half "over time", per http://hub.aa.com/en/nr/media-kit/fleet/fleet-renewal. Has a more specific retirement timeline been announced for the unrefurbished 763s?
It is true that BA will require AA and its other TATL JV partners (IB, AY, US) to have flat-bed seats in all TATL business cabins by 2015. But presumably AA's unrefurbished 763s could remain on their many existing routes to Latin America and the Caribbean well beyond 2015.
It is true that BA will require AA and its other TATL JV partners (IB, AY, US) to have flat-bed seats in all TATL business cabins by 2015. But presumably AA's unrefurbished 763s could remain on their many existing routes to Latin America and the Caribbean well beyond 2015.
Jul 15, 2014, 2:56 pm
#85
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: DM
Posts: 1,067
Are you suggesting that my admittedly anecdotal evidence regarding my experience with Deltas seat and pricing in regards to my specific travel is false?
Jul 15, 2014, 3:07 pm
#86
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL DM, SPG Gold
Posts: 832
I flew this particular trip Jul 3-14 of this year to Europe. Not exactly low season.
Never done this particular route before and do not plan to do it again in the future. Flying AMS-LHR-YVR-SEA on three different carriers is not great.
Never done this particular route before and do not plan to do it again in the future. Flying AMS-LHR-YVR-SEA on three different carriers is not great.
Jul 15, 2014, 6:23 pm
#87
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: LAS
Programs: PA FT, TW Gold, NW/CO PE, VK Eagleflyer
Posts: 7,173
Jul 15, 2014, 9:49 pm
#88
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
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Dude... You asked for anecdotes. Be gracious enough to admit that doing so was a dumb move. I mean, the constant defenses of your original, overly broad claim just seem pathetic.
Jul 15, 2014, 9:51 pm
#89
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
I'm suggesting that the pricing observations seem to contradict your observations of the product. That and that jumping ship to AA seems an ill-thought strategy unless it is a very temporary switch only so long as they have a shiny new product.
Jul 16, 2014, 8:05 am
#90
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: DM
Posts: 1,067
I'm watching AA to see how they perform as the merger progresses. As they refurbish and deploy new planes on the routes I fly I will make my choice on value per dollars. I say this as a huge Delta fan.