Why does Delta have your loyalty?
Oct 20, 2015, 9:40 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Denver
Programs: DL: PM, MR: Plat, AMEX Plat
Posts: 168
Why does Delta have your loyalty?
The thread about "second worst FF program" had me thinking about my reasons for being "loyal" to Delta. The specifics of the FF program are not very high on my list, and I'm sure everyone has their own specific reasons why Delta is their choice.
Here's my rationale for being Delta-loyal:
DEN is my "home airport" and my most common route is DEN -> MSP. When I started doing this trip weekly for work, I evaluated United and Delta. United was flying small regional jets on that route while Delta used mainline. I'm 6'2" with broad shoulders, so regional jets are pure torture.
I could've also flown Frontier or Southwest, but I hate a la carte and I hate open seating.
I suppose if United had a better hard product flying my regular route, I'd probably consider them, since I'd have many more direct flight options from DEN.
So...that's my reason. What's yours?
Here's my rationale for being Delta-loyal:
DEN is my "home airport" and my most common route is DEN -> MSP. When I started doing this trip weekly for work, I evaluated United and Delta. United was flying small regional jets on that route while Delta used mainline. I'm 6'2" with broad shoulders, so regional jets are pure torture.
I could've also flown Frontier or Southwest, but I hate a la carte and I hate open seating.
I suppose if United had a better hard product flying my regular route, I'd probably consider them, since I'd have many more direct flight options from DEN.
So...that's my reason. What's yours?
Oct 20, 2015, 9:50 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Posts: 937
-Delta serves the most destinations out of NYC than any other airline.
-My most common route is LGA<-->ORD and the Delta shuttle is extremely convenient. I can leave my apartment 45 minutes before a flight and still arrive with time to spare.
-Delta's customer service is actually helpful and occassionally bends the rules for me as a GM (maybe AA/UA will do the same, i dont know)
-I am at about 50% this year with upgrades and 100% in EC. Certainly the novelty wears off after a while but its nice to have a little extra comfort.
I agree that i'd be earning more miles and have an easier time redeeming miles on AA but at the end of the day, convenience, reliability and comfort trump mileage earned
Edited to add: Yes, AA, UA and JetBlue have a pretty large NYC presence. That said, it's an hour to Newark for UA and an 45-60 minutes to JFK for B6. The AA terminal in LGA is awful while Delta at LGA is lovely.
-My most common route is LGA<-->ORD and the Delta shuttle is extremely convenient. I can leave my apartment 45 minutes before a flight and still arrive with time to spare.
-Delta's customer service is actually helpful and occassionally bends the rules for me as a GM (maybe AA/UA will do the same, i dont know)
-I am at about 50% this year with upgrades and 100% in EC. Certainly the novelty wears off after a while but its nice to have a little extra comfort.
I agree that i'd be earning more miles and have an easier time redeeming miles on AA but at the end of the day, convenience, reliability and comfort trump mileage earned
Edited to add: Yes, AA, UA and JetBlue have a pretty large NYC presence. That said, it's an hour to Newark for UA and an 45-60 minutes to JFK for B6. The AA terminal in LGA is awful while Delta at LGA is lovely.
Last edited by injera; Oct 20, 2015 at 9:56 am Reason: .
Oct 20, 2015, 9:55 am
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
Hub captive and refugee from PMNW.
DL seems to work for me with good operations and decent IROPs handling. I've been doing fine so far with the FF program, upgrades, G A P fares, SWUs and GUCs, etc. but I realize that I'm paying high fares out of MSP for the convenience of nonstops.
Now if DL just would give MSP some decent aircraft and stop ripping out FC/BE/D1 seats.....and undo the redo of the F/G SC to bring back the cubicles, plus give me some cheese and cracker options consistently.
DL seems to work for me with good operations and decent IROPs handling. I've been doing fine so far with the FF program, upgrades, G A P fares, SWUs and GUCs, etc. but I realize that I'm paying high fares out of MSP for the convenience of nonstops.
Now if DL just would give MSP some decent aircraft and stop ripping out FC/BE/D1 seats.....and undo the redo of the F/G SC to bring back the cubicles, plus give me some cheese and cracker options consistently.
Oct 20, 2015, 10:04 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Mesilla, NM
Programs: DL DM 4.7 MM MQM Marriott Ambassador Lifetime Titanium AA CK
Posts: 2,714
Hub captive and refugee from PMNW.
DL seems to work for me with good operations and decent IROPs handling. I've been doing fine so far with the FF program, upgrades, G A P fares, SWUs and GUCs, etc. but I realize that I'm paying high fares out of MSP for the convenience of nonstops.
Now if DL just would give MSP some decent aircraft and stop ripping out FC/BE/D1 seats.....and undo the redo of the F/G SC to bring back the cubicles, plus give me some cheese and cracker options consistently.
DL seems to work for me with good operations and decent IROPs handling. I've been doing fine so far with the FF program, upgrades, G A P fares, SWUs and GUCs, etc. but I realize that I'm paying high fares out of MSP for the convenience of nonstops.
Now if DL just would give MSP some decent aircraft and stop ripping out FC/BE/D1 seats.....and undo the redo of the F/G SC to bring back the cubicles, plus give me some cheese and cracker options consistently.
Oct 20, 2015, 10:07 am
#7
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: US-Europe
Programs: DL DM Charter/2.5MM, AA EXP, Marriott AMB, LT Titanium, HH Diamond, Avis PP, National Exec-E
Posts: 529
DL (the old CO and NW) gets me home and that is the most important thing to me. I live in the RDU area and I was CP with US for many years. There were too many times that US would get as far as CLT/DCA and tell me that was the best they could do. US GAs and TAs would not even try to move me to another airline to get me home. That is why I left them and now dread every time I now board an AA flight (even as a Plat). After watching what UA did to CO, I bet my SM account that the new AA will operate closer to the old US. Every airline has their problems, but US constantly has them.
Oct 20, 2015, 10:09 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CHA, MAN;
Programs: Delta DM 1 MM; Hz PC
Posts: 11,169
Profitable therefore stable airline.
Great ontime performance.
Great IROPS handling.
Great frontline staff.
I don't see the logic in picking an airline on its Frequent Flyer program.
Each to their own I suppose.
Since early 2010 I don't recall a bad experience with them.
Great ontime performance.
Great IROPS handling.
Great frontline staff.
I don't see the logic in picking an airline on its Frequent Flyer program.
Each to their own I suppose.
Since early 2010 I don't recall a bad experience with them.
Oct 20, 2015, 10:18 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: SE USA
Programs: DL DM/MM , IHG Plat, MR Titanium, HH Gold, EK Frequent Kettle, UA Silver, AA Hater
Posts: 2,020
DL gets me to work and home on-time with my bags.
Oh, and I hate AA and can barely stand UA.
No complaints, except reduced upgrades at the window.
Oh, and I hate AA and can barely stand UA.
No complaints, except reduced upgrades at the window.
Oct 20, 2015, 10:27 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,151
1. Rock solid completion and on-time performance.
2. Best hard product in TATL J with good prices and routings for my destinations.
3. Airport staff at DTW move mountains for me when I show up T-37 minutes before my INTL flight with no boarding pass and bag I want to check -- and the bag always makes it!
4. TATL J Service is consistently decent, and sometimes great. Food is pretty solid.
2. Best hard product in TATL J with good prices and routings for my destinations.
3. Airport staff at DTW move mountains for me when I show up T-37 minutes before my INTL flight with no boarding pass and bag I want to check -- and the bag always makes it!
4. TATL J Service is consistently decent, and sometimes great. Food is pretty solid.
Oct 20, 2015, 10:37 am
#12
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Auckland, NZ/New York, NY/ATL
Programs: DL DM MM, BIS 2.4MM, EK Gold, SQ Gold, Marriott Gold, HH Gold,
Posts: 5,222
1. Rock solid completion and on-time performance.
2. Best hard product in TATL J with good prices and routings for my destinations.
3. Airport staff at DTW move mountains for me when I show up T-37 minutes before my INTL flight with no boarding pass and bag I want to check -- and the bag always makes it!
4. TATL J Service is consistently decent, and sometimes great. Food is pretty solid.
2. Best hard product in TATL J with good prices and routings for my destinations.
3. Airport staff at DTW move mountains for me when I show up T-37 minutes before my INTL flight with no boarding pass and bag I want to check -- and the bag always makes it!
4. TATL J Service is consistently decent, and sometimes great. Food is pretty solid.
And Im assuming you are only comparing to US legacies, SQ/EK/NZ/VS are vastly superior hard products that fly TATL J.
Oct 20, 2015, 10:56 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NYC
Programs: Delta DM, 2MM
Posts: 1,254
AMEX MQMs. It's what keeps this low-value flyer at diamond.
I also find the entire Delta experience the best of the US3, especially since I buy the cheapest tickets possible. I love having free booze in Comfort plus. I'm at about 90% on upgrades for the year. I make use of my amex companion certificates. I know the endless arguments about being having difficulty redeeming miles, but this year I had four seats in J JFK-LAX-SYD-AKL/PER-BNE-LAX-JFK. I like the offerings out of JFK and LGA. I hate going to EWR as I live in Brooklyn.
I also find the entire Delta experience the best of the US3, especially since I buy the cheapest tickets possible. I love having free booze in Comfort plus. I'm at about 90% on upgrades for the year. I make use of my amex companion certificates. I know the endless arguments about being having difficulty redeeming miles, but this year I had four seats in J JFK-LAX-SYD-AKL/PER-BNE-LAX-JFK. I like the offerings out of JFK and LGA. I hate going to EWR as I live in Brooklyn.
Oct 20, 2015, 10:56 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 9
- Home Airport: PDX
- Delta is the only airline at PDX with a direct flights to Asia (NRT) and Europe (AMS)
- Delta flies from PDX to just about every Delta hub. This means that I can more or less get anywhere with no more than 1 transfer.
- Delta is building out a hub at SEA, which is kind of a boon for PDX travelers because in most cases we can fly away from our destination and pad our MQMs by 1000 on each RT.
- Routes to/from PDX and to/from SEA have pretty good complimentary upgrade availability. From what I've gathered, west coast travelers seem to have an easier time clearing upgrades than people traveling on the other side of the country, but of course YMMV.
- Delta is the only airline at PDX with a direct flights to Asia (NRT) and Europe (AMS)
- Delta flies from PDX to just about every Delta hub. This means that I can more or less get anywhere with no more than 1 transfer.
- Delta is building out a hub at SEA, which is kind of a boon for PDX travelers because in most cases we can fly away from our destination and pad our MQMs by 1000 on each RT.
- Routes to/from PDX and to/from SEA have pretty good complimentary upgrade availability. From what I've gathered, west coast travelers seem to have an easier time clearing upgrades than people traveling on the other side of the country, but of course YMMV.