Nov 20, 2017, 12:55 pm
Last edit by: Zorak
Delta News Hub link:
Delta One service, amenities take flight in select long-haul domestic markets
key points:
Delta One service, amenities take flight in select long-haul domestic markets
key points:
- new routes: Boston and Los Angeles; New York-JFK and San Diego, Seattle; New York-JFK and Las Vegas, starting May 1, 2018
- not all flights on those routes will have D1 service (see linked news item for a table)
- Delta One will also become the premium offering April 1, 2018, on the following routes with one scheduled daily flight each: Atlanta and Honolulu; Minneapolis and Honolulu
- domestic D1 flights will be eligible for comp Medallion upgrades beginning April 1st, 2018
Delta One Expands to JFK- SEA/SAN/LAS, ATL-HNL and MSP-HNL, No Medallion Upgrades
Nov 19, 2017, 10:41 pm
#106
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: SAN
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Amusing to see all the heated debate on whether these routes will work or not. The old timers among us will recognize these cities as those that used to have "Business Elite US" service back in the early 2000s--save PDX, which DL has since abandoned as its TPAC gateway. It's all an aircraft utilization game. Once DL finds transatlantic destinations that are better uses of these birds, it will be back to domestic F for everything but SFO/LAX...
Nov 20, 2017, 5:00 am
#107
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Also seems like BOS-LAX is getting D1. Like BOS-SFO D1, this seems like a move being done to stop the bleeding B6 is causing at BOS. DL didn't care when the leisure passengers switched, but they are mad the premium ones are going too. This route will probably do well because there should be enough demand to support B6 and DL. However, I think it will not stop passengers from switching allegiances.
Delta has made too many negative changes and devaluations. It doesn't even reward top-spending customers because it limits how many miles you can get based on the price of the ticket (meaning those who spend the most are actually penalized). Unfortunately, I am basically hub-captive and have too much invested with Delta to switch right now.
Nov 20, 2017, 5:04 am
#108
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I fly these routes a fair amount as well as JFK-LAX. Glad they are going lie flat but the D1 service, I don't know. I already am sick of the D1 JFK-LAX/SFO menu. Now more of my flights with be the same old same old meals. What I like about F meals are that they always change and even have ethnic food sometimes.
Nov 20, 2017, 5:52 am
#109
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,023
Amusing to see all the heated debate on whether these routes will work or not. The old timers among us will recognize these cities as those that used to have "Business Elite US" service back in the early 2000s--save PDX, which DL has since abandoned as its TPAC gateway. It's all an aircraft utilization game. Once DL finds transatlantic destinations that are better uses of these birds, it will be back to domestic F for everything but SFO/LAX...
Last edited by xliioper; Nov 20, 2017 at 6:03 am
Nov 20, 2017, 6:44 am
#110
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
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Posts: 18,896
I don't understand why lie-flat is such a big deal on a domestic flight in the middle of the afternoon. I could see having lie-flat for the red-eye flight to New York or the 7-8 a.m. departure to Los Angeles, but who actually sleeps when the flight lands in Los Angeles or New York at 5 p.m.?
Nov 20, 2017, 6:49 am
#111
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
I don't understand why lie-flat is such a big deal on a domestic flight in the middle of the afternoon. I could see having lie-flat for the red-eye flight to New York or the 7-8 a.m. departure to Los Angeles, but who actually sleeps when the flight lands in Los Angeles or New York at 5 p.m.?
It's not just about sleeping. The seats are significantly more comfortable for working or relaxing. They have a lot more privacy. Even if you are not sleeping, you can stretch out, put your feet up, be comfortable.
Also, some people might want to sleep in the middle of the day. They could have just gotten off a TATL flight and be exhausted, or had a really busy few days and pulled all nighters leading up to the flight. Or not feel well, or just want to take a nap. Surprising I know, but it turns out, hockeyinsider, that not everyone is just like you.
Nov 20, 2017, 7:23 am
#112
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 277
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/11/fre...stic-upgrades/
TPG is under the impression that domestic Delta One flights will get complimentary upgrades starting in April!
TPG is under the impression that domestic Delta One flights will get complimentary upgrades starting in April!
Nov 20, 2017, 7:29 am
#113
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Join Date: May 2005
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I take back EVERYTHING I said above about nonrevs LUVVVVVVVIN this . . . .
Big news: Medallion upgrades soon available for all domestic Delta One flights
Yay!
Big news: Medallion upgrades soon available for all domestic Delta One flights
Yay!
Nov 20, 2017, 8:18 am
#115
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,485
I think SAN could work:
1) It's debatable if the B6 product is really better. If it's better, it's not significantly so.
2) The strong and growing clean energy economy in SAN may very well have a lot of folks who will be interested in maintaining status on a global program. B6 is fine for domestic service, but if you are going to choose one program and you need to travel internationally, there's just no competition. With DL you can now fly to Europe in a D1 cabin the entire way, with an easy connection at JFK.
3)DL can still deliver a level of reliability, especially during IRROPS, that B6 can't match, which is also important for business travel.
1) It's debatable if the B6 product is really better. If it's better, it's not significantly so.
2) The strong and growing clean energy economy in SAN may very well have a lot of folks who will be interested in maintaining status on a global program. B6 is fine for domestic service, but if you are going to choose one program and you need to travel internationally, there's just no competition. With DL you can now fly to Europe in a D1 cabin the entire way, with an easy connection at JFK.
3)DL can still deliver a level of reliability, especially during IRROPS, that B6 can't match, which is also important for business travel.
I think SAN could work too considering considering it's only 1 daily flight that's already lie flat.
For 2), B6 will most likely start flying to Europe in second half of 2019. And their fares will be significantly lower than what legacy carriers charge. I also think that connection is over stated here, since anyone from San Diego can do the 3 hour drive to LAX and fly the vast wealth of non-stop options there. It would be quicker than any connection over JFK.
I think JFK-SEA will work. It definitely has the premium demand on both ends, DL should be able to split the market with B6 (whenever they start Mint on that route). It looks like 2 of 4 daily flights on this route will receive D1. From what I hear, 1-2 of the flights on this route are lie flat already so it seems to just be an amenity switch.
JFK-SAN has potential to work, but I worry B6 has already taken the premium passengers. SAN has no legacy carrier with a strong foothold, so passengers are more up for grab (compared to SEA where DL has a strong FF base) and B6 simply has a better product. On the NYC side, many fliers are already B6 customers as well because of their big JFK operation. Also, there is only going to be D1 once per day vs. 2x Mint from B6, so frequency could be an issue.
JFK-LAS is kind of risky. LAS is a very leisure/low cost market, and I only think B6 has a chance of making Mint work because it's priced so low. Does DL really want a fare war on this route for D1?
Also seems like BOS-LAX is getting D1. Like BOS-SFO D1, this seems like a move being done to stop the bleeding B6 is causing at BOS. DL didn't care when the leisure passengers switched, but they are mad the premium ones are going too. This route will probably do well because there should be enough demand to support B6 and DL. However, I think it will not stop passengers from switching allegiances.
JFK-SAN has potential to work, but I worry B6 has already taken the premium passengers. SAN has no legacy carrier with a strong foothold, so passengers are more up for grab (compared to SEA where DL has a strong FF base) and B6 simply has a better product. On the NYC side, many fliers are already B6 customers as well because of their big JFK operation. Also, there is only going to be D1 once per day vs. 2x Mint from B6, so frequency could be an issue.
JFK-LAS is kind of risky. LAS is a very leisure/low cost market, and I only think B6 has a chance of making Mint work because it's priced so low. Does DL really want a fare war on this route for D1?
Also seems like BOS-LAX is getting D1. Like BOS-SFO D1, this seems like a move being done to stop the bleeding B6 is causing at BOS. DL didn't care when the leisure passengers switched, but they are mad the premium ones are going too. This route will probably do well because there should be enough demand to support B6 and DL. However, I think it will not stop passengers from switching allegiances.
JFK-SEA seems to be one where Delta will continue to do well given its ff base and corporate contracts in most markets.
JFK-SAN is probably now the 3rd highest yielding mint route (even more than BOS-LAX/SFO). Based on how frequency has built over time on JFK-LAX/SFO, I think they will continue adding frequency here. Over time, this could get a lot harder for DL.
Problem with BOS for DL is that JetBlue has more corporate contracts now and have mint on all the major transcon markets (including SEA/SAN/LAS). DL with its 1 daily BOS-SFO is simply not competitive.
both BOS-LAX and JFK-LAS seem like very forced defensive moves that I think will not work out well.
Nov 20, 2017, 8:25 am
#116
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
Also, there are certain to be layovers at JFK that are in the 60-90 minute range.
Delta does, however, have a flight from SAN-LAX which can help with this.
Nov 20, 2017, 9:27 am
#117
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It's not just about sleeping. The seats are significantly more comfortable for working or relaxing. They have a lot more privacy. Even if you are not sleeping, you can stretch out, put your feet up, be comfortable.
Also, some people might want to sleep in the middle of the day. They could have just gotten off a TATL flight and be exhausted, or had a really busy few days and pulled all nighters leading up to the flight. Or not feel well, or just want to take a nap. Surprising I know, but it turns out, hockeyinsider, that not everyone is just like you.
Also, some people might want to sleep in the middle of the day. They could have just gotten off a TATL flight and be exhausted, or had a really busy few days and pulled all nighters leading up to the flight. Or not feel well, or just want to take a nap. Surprising I know, but it turns out, hockeyinsider, that not everyone is just like you.
Nov 20, 2017, 9:42 am
#118
Join Date: Feb 2013
Programs: Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,243
I think SAN could work too considering considering it's only 1 daily flight that's already lie flat.
For 2), B6 will most likely start flying to Europe in second half of 2019. And their fares will be significantly lower than what legacy carriers charge. I also think that connection is over stated here, since anyone from San Diego can do the 3 hour drive to LAX and fly the vast wealth of non-stop options there. It would be quicker than any connection over JFK.
I think you are quite right.
JFK-SEA seems to be one where Delta will continue to do well given its ff base and corporate contracts in most markets.
JFK-SAN is probably now the 3rd highest yielding mint route (even more than BOS-LAX/SFO). Based on how frequency has built over time on JFK-LAX/SFO, I think they will continue adding frequency here. Over time, this could get a lot harder for DL.
Problem with BOS for DL is that JetBlue has more corporate contracts now and have mint on all the major transcon markets (including SEA/SAN/LAS). DL with its 1 daily BOS-SFO is simply not competitive.
both BOS-LAX and JFK-LAS seem like very forced defensive moves that I think will not work out well.
For 2), B6 will most likely start flying to Europe in second half of 2019. And their fares will be significantly lower than what legacy carriers charge. I also think that connection is over stated here, since anyone from San Diego can do the 3 hour drive to LAX and fly the vast wealth of non-stop options there. It would be quicker than any connection over JFK.
I think you are quite right.
JFK-SEA seems to be one where Delta will continue to do well given its ff base and corporate contracts in most markets.
JFK-SAN is probably now the 3rd highest yielding mint route (even more than BOS-LAX/SFO). Based on how frequency has built over time on JFK-LAX/SFO, I think they will continue adding frequency here. Over time, this could get a lot harder for DL.
Problem with BOS for DL is that JetBlue has more corporate contracts now and have mint on all the major transcon markets (including SEA/SAN/LAS). DL with its 1 daily BOS-SFO is simply not competitive.
both BOS-LAX and JFK-LAS seem like very forced defensive moves that I think will not work out well.
Nov 20, 2017, 9:52 am
#119
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