What (nonstop) route do you wish Delta would really have?
#196
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: VPS, previously SEA and PIT
Programs: DL Diamond/1MM, Hilton Diamond, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 1,200
I hate the GOL partnership. I wish Delta would start flying from the US directly to Brasilia. Now you have to go through Sao Paulo or Rio. When you come back to the US you go through through Rio or Sao Paulo You can't check in for the overseas flight in Brasilia at GOL and get a boarding pass on the Delta flight into the US. You have to exit the secure area and go to the Delta check in desk in the terminal to check-in and get a boarding pass. Sometimes you even have to get your bags and take them to the Delta check in to re-check them to the US.
AA has a non-stop from Miami to Brasilia and I am going to have to start taking that one. I hate to fly AA, but really? GOL can't check me in and give me a boarding pass in Brasilia?
AA has a non-stop from Miami to Brasilia and I am going to have to start taking that one. I hate to fly AA, but really? GOL can't check me in and give me a boarding pass in Brasilia?
For how nice BSB is for a domestic terminal, though, it's pretty terrible for international. Even on the same reservation REC-BSB-ATL last time I took that flight, I had to get bags and leave the secure area then re-check in and go to a separate, awful terminal.
#200
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
You're already spoiled - PDX is probably Delta's biggest outstation (non-focus city) relative to population. Flights to to every Delta hub, Boston (a trans-con to a focus city!), NRT, AMS, and a sesaonal to LHR!
#201
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
The key detail to me is that SEA doesn't have any more TPAC destinations than DTW, and between SEA and LAX the only difference is PEK.
I think that DL was desperate for a TPAC gateway, and picked SEA by default, when a long game at LAX would have been the better move. The battle against AS has been expensive for DL, and they don't seem to be making any recent progress. I think they were dealt a bad hand, but that doesn't lessen the fact that SEA will never be DL's SFO, no matter how hard they try.
I'll also go out on a limb by saying that canceling the 787 order was a massive mistake. I know that the order didn't fit with DL's fleet strategy, but I don't see any airlines offloading used 787s to DL anytime soon. Not ordering that aircraft has seriously impacted their long-haul fleet flexibility. The 767 is the right size but doesn't have the range. The 772s and A350s have the range but are too big. United owns the Pacific right now because of a combination of a great gateway at SFO and the 787s. The fact that they are not known for being a great airline strengthens that point.
I think that DL was desperate for a TPAC gateway, and picked SEA by default, when a long game at LAX would have been the better move. The battle against AS has been expensive for DL, and they don't seem to be making any recent progress. I think they were dealt a bad hand, but that doesn't lessen the fact that SEA will never be DL's SFO, no matter how hard they try.
I'll also go out on a limb by saying that canceling the 787 order was a massive mistake. I know that the order didn't fit with DL's fleet strategy, but I don't see any airlines offloading used 787s to DL anytime soon. Not ordering that aircraft has seriously impacted their long-haul fleet flexibility. The 767 is the right size but doesn't have the range. The 772s and A350s have the range but are too big. United owns the Pacific right now because of a combination of a great gateway at SFO and the 787s. The fact that they are not known for being a great airline strengthens that point.
As the general public has experienced the current AS over the last year or so, I think people are giving a good long thought to trying Delta. Anecdotally, I’ve started to hear more long time AS loyalists begin dabbling in joining us on the dark side...
#204
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,310
#205
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: BHM LEX NYC
Programs: 3MM DM, DL Reserve, HH Diamond, Nat Exec Elite, SPG, PC, etc...
Posts: 440
BHM-MSP...not asking for much IMO. Virtually everything connects in ATL and getting to smaller Midwest Markets in the summer is miserable with WX.
#206
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Be careful what you wish for as there's no Sky Club lounge at Tokyo-HND, meaning eligible customers not in business-class don't have access unless they have a third-party lounge membership card like Priority Pass.
#207
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Madison, WI
Posts: 3
DTW or MSP-TXL
Since Air Berlin folded and ORD-TXL was cancelled, there has been no way to get from the midwest to Berlin and back without 2 changes or an extended layover in Newark on UA.
Last edited by tj1616; Jun 24, 2018 at 5:26 am Reason: typo
#208
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Doesn't DL fly JFK-TXL? Once BER opens I'm sure there will be flights from every hub east of the rockies (assuming we're even still alive when that happens).
#209
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: RDU
Programs: DL DM+(segs)/MM, UA Ag, Hilton DM, Marriott Ti (life Pt), TSA Opt-out Platinum
Posts: 3,226
#210
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Considering there are already UA and AS RDU-SFO nonstops, SJC might be more likely. But is there enough O/D?
MEM-RDU almost certainly has enough traffic to support a daily CRJ. It's one of the top 2 MEM O/D routes without a nonstop (BOS is other, I don't remember offhand which is bigger).
MEM-RDU almost certainly has enough traffic to support a daily CRJ. It's one of the top 2 MEM O/D routes without a nonstop (BOS is other, I don't remember offhand which is bigger).