flyerCO

On time performance, IRROPS help are another two.

bworrell

As a Seattle flyer for a long time (before DL hub) I'd suggest you continue to concentrate on Delta. Since you're infrequent, getting the credit card, getting the MQD waiver, and using the credit card(s) to get at least silver would probably make a big difference.

defrosted

Saying it is alarming might be a bit dramatic, I feel like it just looks like a ton of people but in reality it isn't.

Flying Delta over the past decade, I have always been at least Zone 1 (by way of Gold Amex) and can't ever recall not having overhead bin space near my seat. Only been Gold, so SKY boarding, for about a year and certainly no issues in that time.

defrosted

Agree even just about the credit card. Other than upgrades (rare anyway) I really didn't notice a real significant difference between the Gold Amex (free bag and zone 1) and Silver.

gooselee

Uhh...DL beats the other majors at on time performance and flight completion %. Plus (of course) nonstops/frequency out of ATL.

As an ATL based traveler, I will take those three things over fancy IFE or boarding order or meal quality anytime. Not that I don't think IFE is important and boarding order/meals should be improved, but I'm not making my purchase decisions on those things.

ethernal

Can't argue about on-time performance but it is important to keep in mind the real on-time performance difference is on the order of 1% or so once you adjust for the routes that Delta flights versus its competitors. I do think that Delta is a bit better at not cancelling flights (especially regional flights) until they really, really have to.

With that said, based on my experience, if you have status, IRROPS help/service between DL and UA is very similar (and when it is international UA is way better due to the larger scale of *A and generally better interoperability of S* vs SkyTeam).

Agree that for a non-statused traveler I think that DL treats its customers better in the case of IRROPs.

All in all I find UA and Delta comparable these days - AA is still a disaster (and possibly getting worse) since the US Airways merger.

MarkP24

I've been EXP with AA and 1K with UA, and now Platinum with Delta, and in my opinion although Delta's SkyMiles program is far inferior to UA, and marginally inferior to AA, their inflight product is superior, their onetime arrivals are better, and their FA's are MUCH friendlier and more professional than UA and AA among other things.

evergrn

@ garykung Exactly the type of feedback I wanted. thanks!

One thing I've noticed about DL's IFE live TV is that the reception is much more stable than other airlines' such as Jet Blue. But I can't tell if I've just been lucky as I don't think I have enough recent data points to be sure.

In recent years the only domestic UA flights I've taken have been SEA-SFO and SFO-LAX. But, while UA is not amazing, I can tell you that I've never had piss-poor crew on UA in their coach/E+. AS has mediocre to good service, but I've never had terrible crew either. Nothing I've experienced has been as bad as a couple of terrible ATL-based crew that I've had on DL flights in the past year.

I think you're right and I'm leaning towards aiming to concentrate on DL. I don't know what the MQD waiver means and I don't know how the credit card could get me silver with my limited US travel, but I can read up on these things. Mainly I just want to be able to get overhead bin space every time and occasionally use their lounge without paying $60. It'd be nice if there was a way for me to access Comfort seat for free (as I do with UA's E+), but that's okay. It seems different people have different perceptions about DL. But all in all, the comments that I've read on here about DL are more positive than negative. I have other concerns about DL, such as that their long-term commitment to SEA is not a guarantee (whereas AS should always be SEA-based) and their MP is really bad (at least compared to UA) and their credit card lineup is much less attractive value-for-value compared to UA's. But what other options do I have at SEA? To me, AS is becoming hard to love at SEA because they're not price-competitive, their lounge is no good, and credit card sucks. AS miles is still easier to redeem for TPAC travel than DL, and that's really the main reason why I might even consider sticking with AS over DL at this point.

Even when you're seated up front on Comfort?

This is good feedback, thanks!

manacit

I will add that, as a SEA based flyer, your lounge options are probably the best in the system - the main SEA lounge at the A/B gates is great, and the one in the S terminals is not bad either. My most frequent routes are SEA-SFO and vv, and I can say you'll definitely have some of the nicest SCs on both ends.

My advice would be to get a Amex Platinum (non-DL) and, if the MQD waiver is important, a DL Amex Plat to go with it. The latter's $195 AF will pay itself back with the MQD waiver and the companion fare, and I believe you'll get Z1 boarding which will be useful until you get status. The non-DL Plat will get you lounge access to the DL SCs + Centurion lounges, as well as a lot of other benefits.

Every carrier will have different tradeoffs - the only thing I'd be worried about is DL's commitment to Seattle, but they seem to be seriously investing in the airport at this point.

vincentharris

ethernal

In fairness on a lot of flights SKY makes up half of the plane (although not usually out of SEA). It doesn't happen often but I did have to gate check a bag once because I was the last to board SKY.

UA does have the same issue - but on most of their planes they are much less dense than Delta so so they tend to have fewer issues with overhead bag space.

defrosted

Yes, to be fair I don't have a large bag, but I always find space.

evergrn

Thanks but, after looking into things, I think Amex Plat is off the table. It's too expensive and, as it is, I'm spending close to $1k per year on Hilton Aspire and UA Club Card. Since UA Club has robust hours of operation at SEA, I don't really need another lounge access at SEA esp if I'm going to start choosing DL over AS (AS gates very far from UC). Where I could really use Sky Club access is at MSP (UC is tiny and closes so early) and BOS (UC is aeons away from DL gates). I was leaning towards the $95 card, but I'll have to look into the $195 one you suggest and figure out what this MQD business is all about. All I know is the $450 Reserve one is completely not worth it... for the same price, UA Club card gives free access to my entire family regardless of which airline I'm flying PLUS 1.5miles/$.

Btw, do you have to pay for my ticket with the DL credit card in order to get priority boarding? My corporate travel books my airline tix and directly expenses my employer. I don't pay for it and get it reimbused. As long as my DL Sky mile# is on the booking, will I get priority boarding due to being the credit card holder regardless of the method of payment?

I don't know... all I know is almost everyone on rows 10 & 11 were already there and seated when I boarded and got to my row 10 seat. Anyways, it sounds this doesn't happen most of the time, so I'll leave it at that.

flyerCO

No, don't have to pay with the card, it's linked via SM number.

AS for C+ being partially full, as noted Diamonds always board regardless of cabin with F. Its not unheard of to have number of DM in C+ on popular routes. Also the first row of C+ is a bulkhead. Thus by law they must place certain disabled passengers there.

vincentharris

ATL to almost anywhere on a Monday morning by the time you get through SKY easily half the plane is full. Once through Zone 1 I have seen single digit people boarding in zone 2, 3, & 4