Best and worst DL outstations?
May 10, 2021, 2:35 pm
#91
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Chicago
Programs: United-1K, Marriott-Titanium Ambassador, Hyatt-Globalist
Posts: 215
Haven’t flown since Feb 2020
DFW and DAL are home and never once had an issue and the sky club bartenders knew my name. They would also come get me if I wasn’t paying attention for a flight.
I’ve never had any issues at LAX and I went through there 4 times a week for a massive chunk of 2019. The SC staff in Terminal 3 all knew me by name and would even save me a seat at the bar when they recognized me landing that day.
SAN SC crew freaking sucked and was always rude to me especially that older woman that always manned the check in desk. I eventually just stopped and ate and drank down in the terminal, usually the PGA lounge or occasionally the Swiss lounge when it was open because my credit card got me in.
DFW and DAL are home and never once had an issue and the sky club bartenders knew my name. They would also come get me if I wasn’t paying attention for a flight.
I’ve never had any issues at LAX and I went through there 4 times a week for a massive chunk of 2019. The SC staff in Terminal 3 all knew me by name and would even save me a seat at the bar when they recognized me landing that day.
SAN SC crew freaking sucked and was always rude to me especially that older woman that always manned the check in desk. I eventually just stopped and ate and drank down in the terminal, usually the PGA lounge or occasionally the Swiss lounge when it was open because my credit card got me in.
May 10, 2021, 3:20 pm
#92
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 4,677
Agree with this. The club agents might not be the warm fuzzy type, but they cut though the issues and take care of business well. I had an issue where I couldn't check in because a RUC had cleared but it was applied wrong somewhere on the backend. Rather than fix the problem and process it correctly, the the check in agent just deleted the upgrade request. The T2 SC agent fixed it. I was very appreciative. While this is just a single anecdote I've had plenty of other poor experiences at JFK, but none have been SC related.
Jul 2, 2021, 10:08 am
#96
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Flew Delta today for the first time since April 2020, and I was reminded why I considered DCA to be Delta's worst outstation.
The check-in area is simply terrible. It's too small to handle the hourly A321s to ATL, especially when half the line is connecting to international flights and has 10 bags to check each.
Today in particular, the station manager and any other behind the scenes management should have been on the floor directing traffic and working the check-in desks to make up for the lack of ticket agents.
All of the good agents must of taken the buyout, since the only ones I saw are all the ones I remember being terrible in 2019. And there weren't that many good agents to begin with.
The check-in area is simply terrible. It's too small to handle the hourly A321s to ATL, especially when half the line is connecting to international flights and has 10 bags to check each.
Today in particular, the station manager and any other behind the scenes management should have been on the floor directing traffic and working the check-in desks to make up for the lack of ticket agents.
All of the good agents must of taken the buyout, since the only ones I saw are all the ones I remember being terrible in 2019. And there weren't that many good agents to begin with.
Jul 2, 2021, 10:11 am
#97
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,296
Flew Delta today for the first time since April 2020, and I was reminded why I considered DCA to be Delta's worst outstation.
The check-in area is simply terrible. It's too small to handle the hourly A321s to ATL, especially when half the line is connecting to international flights and has 10 bags to check each.
Today in particular, the station manager and any other behind the scenes management should have been on the floor directing traffic and working the check-in desks to make up for the lack of ticket agents.
All of the good agents must of taken the buyout, since the only ones I saw are all the ones I remember being terrible in 2019. And there weren't that many good agents to begin with.
The check-in area is simply terrible. It's too small to handle the hourly A321s to ATL, especially when half the line is connecting to international flights and has 10 bags to check each.
Today in particular, the station manager and any other behind the scenes management should have been on the floor directing traffic and working the check-in desks to make up for the lack of ticket agents.
All of the good agents must of taken the buyout, since the only ones I saw are all the ones I remember being terrible in 2019. And there weren't that many good agents to begin with.
Jul 2, 2021, 10:17 am
#98
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
Those area on the Metro level was quite convenient for printing a quick BP. They had a few kiosks around the corner from there in the main terminal at one point, but those appeared to be dedicated to Shuttle flights for some reason.
Jul 2, 2021, 10:48 am
#99
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
On the flip side, I'm reminded why CVG is the best station. I'm sad to see that so many good people retired, but was happy to see that my favorite SkyClub agent is still there. I'm glad that Delta is ramping back up here.
Jul 2, 2021, 11:04 am
#100
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
The SC folks in CVG are quite pleasant. I've only visited a handful of time but they've always been great and very hospitable.
Jul 2, 2021, 11:19 am
#101
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: LGA
Programs: DL,US
Posts: 155
I've found RNO has dropped a lot in quality. A large number of contractor/temp/blackshirt agents there now. I think the good people all took a package. The folks left are nice, but lack knowledge and authority.
For instance as a Diamond/MM etc I arrived at checkin about an hour before departure, and since they had a total of 1 agent working coach and SP I wound up making it to the desk 44 minutes prior. Agent didn't have the ability to force check a bag, her many calls to others who could were boarding flights...just shortstaffed and the people left who know how to do anything are busy.
I've also seen quite a few boarding fiascos recently. Just no ability to handle the unexpected.
SMF on the other hand was always good and lately I have found even better. I live in Tahoe so I'm more a RNO person but occasionally the lack of flights east has be driving to avoid a 2 stop schedule.
For instance as a Diamond/MM etc I arrived at checkin about an hour before departure, and since they had a total of 1 agent working coach and SP I wound up making it to the desk 44 minutes prior. Agent didn't have the ability to force check a bag, her many calls to others who could were boarding flights...just shortstaffed and the people left who know how to do anything are busy.
I've also seen quite a few boarding fiascos recently. Just no ability to handle the unexpected.
SMF on the other hand was always good and lately I have found even better. I live in Tahoe so I'm more a RNO person but occasionally the lack of flights east has be driving to avoid a 2 stop schedule.
Jul 2, 2021, 12:02 pm
#102
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: DL DM 2 MM, Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium/Ambassador Elite , Hilton Honors Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 502
Sometimes if the price difference is minimal I will drive 2 hours just to experience the CVG Sky Club and their terrific staff
Jul 2, 2021, 12:41 pm
#103
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Washington, DC, Chapel Hill, NC (RDU)
Programs: DL Plat (won't hit DM again) 2MM (2.5), HH Gold, PC Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 5,626
I've no idea who the agent was but when the merger was happening and NW ran some great promotions for trips originating in STL, PIT, etc I had booked a STL-LIM mileage run. The STL agent who checked me in said 'you really should be upgraded from ATL-LIM, let me see what I can do'. She told me to check with the gate agent at ATL. And I don't know what she did, but I had a BC seat ATL-LIM.
Jul 2, 2021, 12:42 pm
#104
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: MCO
Programs: DL PM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 4,296
Yeah, I never visit the check-in level if I can help it, pretty much a cluster as the OP describes.
Those area on the Metro level was quite convenient for printing a quick BP. They had a few kiosks around the corner from there in the main terminal at one point, but those appeared to be dedicated to Shuttle flights for some reason.
Those area on the Metro level was quite convenient for printing a quick BP. They had a few kiosks around the corner from there in the main terminal at one point, but those appeared to be dedicated to Shuttle flights for some reason.
Jul 2, 2021, 12:55 pm
#105
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: TRS & SFO, sometimes BRU & NYC
Programs: DL DM; AFKL FBE; ITA Exec
Posts: 212
I've always had really good luck with the SC and agents in LAX, though the actual structure (gates, lounges, terminals) are a bit of a mess. Hopefully will be better soon - haven't actually been through LAX since Feb 2020. Other good points in the system are SLC and SEA, MSP and DTW are hit-miss (especially DTW). Pretty much all of the NYC terminals are a mess, though I agree that the staff gets things done efficiently. That said, having had my bag sent to MEX instead of LAX was an oddity.
