What was the old Delta like?
Aug 8, 2008, 12:40 pm
#31
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 35
" Those were the days 
I guess the 757's and 767's have had afterburners installed or I guess the 2 cites are actually closer today than they were 38 years ago.[/QUOTE]
It's called "minimum staffing". You used to have more FA's working on each flight.
I guess the 757's and 767's have had afterburners installed or I guess the 2 cites are actually closer today than they were 38 years ago.[/QUOTE]It's called "minimum staffing". You used to have more FA's working on each flight.
Aug 8, 2008, 12:44 pm
#32
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 35
"Here's an example of the service: We were late arriving at ATL one time. The ground crew called a couple of us out by name, took us down the stairs on the jetway, put us in a waiting car, and drove us directly to our waiting (held) connecting flights. Happened to a friend at the DFW hub, too.[/QUOTE]
Again, staffing, just this time it's ground staffing. Not to mention that now-a-days, half the plane would think they are entitled to this service regardless of how long they have for their connection. I do wish this was still possible to do though.
Again, staffing, just this time it's ground staffing. Not to mention that now-a-days, half the plane would think they are entitled to this service regardless of how long they have for their connection. I do wish this was still possible to do though.
Aug 8, 2008, 12:56 pm
#33
Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: AA EXP; Hyatt Diamond; Hilton Gold; OnePass; SkyMiles
Posts: 109
Spot On!!!
The 80's...
I remember:
1) Royal Service on long-haul flights
2) 3-class service on the L-10s and MD-11s for international travel
3) Elite qualifying mile bonus on upgrades
4) Much, much better customer service
5) Newer planes
6) less delays
7) Good food in F, some kind of meal in back
8) Flight attendants that would take great care of elite customers - for a period of time, I'd walk off almost every TATL flight with a lovely parting gift (tin of caviar, a bottle of wine or champagne) courtesy of an FA. Sometimes even got one on long-haul domestics.
9) Royal Medallion tier
10) More and better CRCs (easy to find a place to sit, comfortable, quiet).
11) Upgrade certificates that were easy to use and transferrable. I gifted a few to friends & family.
12) Employees who cared enough to buy an airplane for the airline (Spirit of Delta)
The L10's were great in their day, but a lot of mechanicals as they got long in tooth.
I recall things starting downhill with the PA acquisition and accelerating with Ron ("so be it") Allen. I guess it's fitting that his picture is hung on a plaque on the wall in the underground transportation hallway at CVG.
I remember:
1) Royal Service on long-haul flights
2) 3-class service on the L-10s and MD-11s for international travel
3) Elite qualifying mile bonus on upgrades
4) Much, much better customer service
5) Newer planes
6) less delays
7) Good food in F, some kind of meal in back
8) Flight attendants that would take great care of elite customers - for a period of time, I'd walk off almost every TATL flight with a lovely parting gift (tin of caviar, a bottle of wine or champagne) courtesy of an FA. Sometimes even got one on long-haul domestics.
9) Royal Medallion tier
10) More and better CRCs (easy to find a place to sit, comfortable, quiet).
11) Upgrade certificates that were easy to use and transferrable. I gifted a few to friends & family.
12) Employees who cared enough to buy an airplane for the airline (Spirit of Delta)
The L10's were great in their day, but a lot of mechanicals as they got long in tooth.
I recall things starting downhill with the PA acquisition and accelerating with Ron ("so be it") Allen. I guess it's fitting that his picture is hung on a plaque on the wall in the underground transportation hallway at CVG.
Aug 8, 2008, 12:58 pm
#34
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: BOCA RATON,FL--FLL OR PBI
Programs: DELTA PM, CO Platinum, PLAT AMEX
Posts: 312
Great Service, one of the best salads was on the flight from Atl-FLL in first class.
Plastic airplanes, playing cards, the buttons with my last name on it(for kids flying alone, with wings)I still have these. Stickers, still have one.
L-1011 flying empty to HNL
MD11 Business elite (when it first came out, it was the nicest seat i had ever flown in at the time)
Old atlanta airport, then the new atlanta airport opening
DFW airport alot of time,connections there.
L1011 crash from FLL-DFW- was going on to LAX, killed a few of my friends, my moms boss at the time was one of the survivors, i was on the same flight 2 days earlier with my sister (we were acc. minors) flying from FLL-DFW-PHX to visit my dad.(Parents are divorced so we used to fly alot alone with the great help from DL, Eastern) and the agents and FAs, they made it fun, and used to take us into the crown rooms to hang out.
van service in between the terminals sometimes.
Overall a great experience, sometimes i wish i had the opportunity to fly them FC then (i am 35 now, but i guess i would be alot older now), now I am able FC all the time, and it kind of sucks.
Plastic airplanes, playing cards, the buttons with my last name on it(for kids flying alone, with wings)I still have these. Stickers, still have one.
L-1011 flying empty to HNL
MD11 Business elite (when it first came out, it was the nicest seat i had ever flown in at the time)
Old atlanta airport, then the new atlanta airport opening
DFW airport alot of time,connections there.
L1011 crash from FLL-DFW- was going on to LAX, killed a few of my friends, my moms boss at the time was one of the survivors, i was on the same flight 2 days earlier with my sister (we were acc. minors) flying from FLL-DFW-PHX to visit my dad.(Parents are divorced so we used to fly alot alone with the great help from DL, Eastern) and the agents and FAs, they made it fun, and used to take us into the crown rooms to hang out.
van service in between the terminals sometimes.
Overall a great experience, sometimes i wish i had the opportunity to fly them FC then (i am 35 now, but i guess i would be alot older now), now I am able FC all the time, and it kind of sucks.
Aug 8, 2008, 1:05 pm
#35
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SAT
Programs: DL, CO, UA, HH
Posts: 82
Aug 8, 2008, 1:05 pm
#36
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SC72
Programs: DL
Posts: 91
In a similar situation, United left without me even though I arrived at the gate two minutes prior to departure, and then added salt to the wound by blaming me for "being late". Short story, they are still waiting for me to take that connecting flight, and they'll have to wait until kingdom come.
Aug 8, 2008, 1:20 pm
#37
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 478
This is what flying used to be like
It's the 50th anniversary of PanAm jet service to Europe. This is what flying was like. Do you recognize the Delta terminal at JFK? I think I also recognize some of the flight attendants (or stewardesses, as we called them back then.)
http://www.archive.org/details.php?i...958&newflash=1
http://www.archive.org/details.php?i...958&newflash=1
Aug 8, 2008, 1:47 pm
#38
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: SLC
Posts: 229
Oh, the Memories!
First of all, let me state that I still believe DL to be head-and-shoulders above any other legacy domestic carrier. There is no question, however, that things have changed from the old days.
My favorite DL memory is from the summer of 1992. I was flying from HSV to STL via ATL. After a delayed arrival in Atlanta due to weather, I asked the Red Coat greeting our flight from what gate the St Louis flight was departing. She looked at her sheet, exclaimed, "You're about to miss it!" and hustled me downstairs into a car waiting on the tarmac, in which I was driven directly my gate. I made the connection.
Somehow, in the chaos, I left a small gift bag sitting on the floor of the terminal. When I spoke to an agent in STL about it, she assured that they'd do "whatever it took" to find and mail the bag to me. A couple of weeks later, it showed up in my mailbox.
My favorite DL memory is from the summer of 1992. I was flying from HSV to STL via ATL. After a delayed arrival in Atlanta due to weather, I asked the Red Coat greeting our flight from what gate the St Louis flight was departing. She looked at her sheet, exclaimed, "You're about to miss it!" and hustled me downstairs into a car waiting on the tarmac, in which I was driven directly my gate. I made the connection.
Somehow, in the chaos, I left a small gift bag sitting on the floor of the terminal. When I spoke to an agent in STL about it, she assured that they'd do "whatever it took" to find and mail the bag to me. A couple of weeks later, it showed up in my mailbox.
Aug 8, 2008, 2:26 pm
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: He who dies with the most miles wins!!
Programs: WorldPerks Demoted again to SE, DL 3.1MM Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 11,674
I am the son of a 3+million miler and flying colonel on Delta. I had the privilege of growing up flying a lot and I have experienced the old Delta.
I'd start off by saying the old Delta had a way of making the customer feel like we were doing them a favor by giving them our business not the other way around. They had a way of making us feel special: case in point the flying colonel program.
Other old Delta highlights include:
-Red Coats/ above and beyond customer service
-When a wrongdoing or inconvenience was committed against a customer compensation was given by a measure far exceeding the value of what was lost. Nowadays your lucky to come close to breaking even there.
-Complimentary decks of cards given on domestic flights upon request. (Can't tell you how many decks of delta cards we had in the house growing up)
-Complimentary individual bottles of Baileys in first on domestic flights. (After my dad came back from a business trip he'd come with 5-6 bottles, we had a cabinet full of those little bottles. FA's gave away like candy.
-Others have mentioned holding planes to wait for a late passenger. I remember flying with my dad and this occured not because of a connecting flight, but because we were simply late getting to the airport in traffic.
-International fc to die for. The tri-stars were a dream. Huge leather seats two people could almost fit in, fa's were like personal concierges. The complimentary leather toiletry kit, was more stocked than my bathroom at home. Flowing champagne, caviar...the works.
I could go on and on. Bottom line, we were Customers, now we are passengers being hurled on their rig from one place to the next.
I'd start off by saying the old Delta had a way of making the customer feel like we were doing them a favor by giving them our business not the other way around. They had a way of making us feel special: case in point the flying colonel program.
Other old Delta highlights include:
-Red Coats/ above and beyond customer service
-When a wrongdoing or inconvenience was committed against a customer compensation was given by a measure far exceeding the value of what was lost. Nowadays your lucky to come close to breaking even there.
-Complimentary decks of cards given on domestic flights upon request. (Can't tell you how many decks of delta cards we had in the house growing up)
-Complimentary individual bottles of Baileys in first on domestic flights. (After my dad came back from a business trip he'd come with 5-6 bottles, we had a cabinet full of those little bottles. FA's gave away like candy.
-Others have mentioned holding planes to wait for a late passenger. I remember flying with my dad and this occured not because of a connecting flight, but because we were simply late getting to the airport in traffic.
-International fc to die for. The tri-stars were a dream. Huge leather seats two people could almost fit in, fa's were like personal concierges. The complimentary leather toiletry kit, was more stocked than my bathroom at home. Flowing champagne, caviar...the works.
I could go on and on. Bottom line, we were Customers, now we are passengers being hurled on their rig from one place to the next.
This post sums it up pretty well.
Also Flying Colonel was free CRC for lifetime. Then PM was free CRC... Both gone.
We were treated royally. Fairly good domestic FC meals with chocolate sundaes. Great International FC meals..JFK-ATH --hor d'oeuvres, champagne, dinner, desert...Then Breakfast before landing!!!
Million Miler gifts. I have a Hartmann folio and a great Tumi rolling carry-on.
MM stationary that actually got you an answer.
Of course, Leo the Louse started the decline that has become a free fall
Last edited by mikey1003; Aug 8, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Aug 8, 2008, 2:31 pm
#40
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
Programs: DL 2+ million/PM, YX, Marriott Plt, *wood gold, HHonors, CO Plt, UA, AA EXP, WN, AGR
Posts: 9,388
L1011 crash from FLL-DFW- was going on to LAX, killed a few of my friends, my moms boss at the time was one of the survivors, i was on the same flight 2 days earlier with my sister (we were acc. minors) flying from FLL-DFW-PHX to visit my dad.(Parents are divorced so we used to fly alot alone with the great help from DL, Eastern) and the agents and FAs, they made it fun, and used to take us into the crown rooms to hang out.
Aug 8, 2008, 4:00 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: IND
Programs: DL PM & 2MM™, Lifetime HHonors Diamond
Posts: 20,889
Aug 8, 2008, 4:26 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Formaldehyde Medallion DL DieMiles
Posts: 12,646
I moved from the midwest to AGS about the time I started flying regularly. I learned about southern hospitality living in AGS, and later, in South Carolina. And I always felt (in the 80's) that DL typified southern hospitality. There are still a lot of good, gracious people working on the DL front lines... but, increasingly, dealing with "corporate DL" leaves me longing for the hospitality of a NY cab driver.
A free association memory dump...
Perhaps time enhances nostalgic memories... but I recall L1011 FC being very nice... spacious. Better than a lot of the current DL TATL FC seats, that are a whole 1/2 inch wider than coach.
The first ATL "Crown Room" in 1981... big empty room, with folding chairs around the walls... Free, but you had to get your travel agent to call to get you on the list to get in. Simple, but a welcome relief from the madding crowd.
I know that Ron Allen gets a lot of derision on this Board, but a frequent flyer with a concern could actually reach him by phone to share the concern directly... I did and I know others who did.
The "mechanical" voice on the ATL trains.
Bags of almonds... I still have one in my desk drawer.
If you were in FC, a couple mini-bottles to take home with you... and good brands. FC FA's were actually learning that Glenmorangie did not rhyme with orangutan... and now we have Dewars.
Fresh baked (or at least, freshly warmed) chocolate chip cookies... rare, but not unheard of.
Treated as a valued customer, rather than air cargo.
Free decks of playing cards, on the plane and in the CRC... kept my poker game supplied... still have a few unopened decks.
Real jets into airports like AGS
Telephone and gate agents that knew their stuff... and rules simple enough to understand
FF miles based upon actually climbing on an airplane, not what florist you used.
The "mini-CRCs" in locations like BWI or SDF. Small room, no attendant. Gate agent gave you the code to punch into the combination lock on the door. You served yourself. DL trusted you and wanted to provide you service.
CVG as a welcome alternative to connecting through ATL... real jets, not crop dusters... short, dependable connection times. Access to a CRC without having to hop a bus to the "real terminal."
DFW as another welcome alternative to connecting through ATL
2500 FF miles would get you upgraded RT. And, you got 1000 FF miles back for flying FC. A 4-segment itinerary would net you a "profit" of 1500 miles.
Flying Colonel wall plaques... but you didn't dare use Windex when you dusted it, or your name would rub off.
The Hartmann portfolio that came at 1 MM miles... still carry mine in my brief case.
The blue plastic drink stir sticks with the DL triangle logo on the end. You knew what airline someone flew when they used the stir stick as a pointer on the old overhead projectors with the mylar transparencies
But, most of all, you thought you could trust DL to keep its word... and to care enough to try to treat you right... and to truly regret when they didn't.
A free association memory dump...
Perhaps time enhances nostalgic memories... but I recall L1011 FC being very nice... spacious. Better than a lot of the current DL TATL FC seats, that are a whole 1/2 inch wider than coach.
The first ATL "Crown Room" in 1981... big empty room, with folding chairs around the walls... Free, but you had to get your travel agent to call to get you on the list to get in. Simple, but a welcome relief from the madding crowd.
I know that Ron Allen gets a lot of derision on this Board, but a frequent flyer with a concern could actually reach him by phone to share the concern directly... I did and I know others who did.
The "mechanical" voice on the ATL trains.
Bags of almonds... I still have one in my desk drawer.
If you were in FC, a couple mini-bottles to take home with you... and good brands. FC FA's were actually learning that Glenmorangie did not rhyme with orangutan... and now we have Dewars.
Fresh baked (or at least, freshly warmed) chocolate chip cookies... rare, but not unheard of.
Treated as a valued customer, rather than air cargo.
Free decks of playing cards, on the plane and in the CRC... kept my poker game supplied... still have a few unopened decks.
Real jets into airports like AGS
Telephone and gate agents that knew their stuff... and rules simple enough to understand
FF miles based upon actually climbing on an airplane, not what florist you used.
The "mini-CRCs" in locations like BWI or SDF. Small room, no attendant. Gate agent gave you the code to punch into the combination lock on the door. You served yourself. DL trusted you and wanted to provide you service.
CVG as a welcome alternative to connecting through ATL... real jets, not crop dusters... short, dependable connection times. Access to a CRC without having to hop a bus to the "real terminal."
DFW as another welcome alternative to connecting through ATL
2500 FF miles would get you upgraded RT. And, you got 1000 FF miles back for flying FC. A 4-segment itinerary would net you a "profit" of 1500 miles.
Flying Colonel wall plaques... but you didn't dare use Windex when you dusted it, or your name would rub off.
The Hartmann portfolio that came at 1 MM miles... still carry mine in my brief case.
The blue plastic drink stir sticks with the DL triangle logo on the end. You knew what airline someone flew when they used the stir stick as a pointer on the old overhead projectors with the mylar transparencies
But, most of all, you thought you could trust DL to keep its word... and to care enough to try to treat you right... and to truly regret when they didn't.
Aug 8, 2008, 9:25 pm
#44
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: TLH
Programs: Lowly DL FO, HH Gold
Posts: 76
Hartmann gifts are issued for every million miles thar are reached. I believe this is actually still ongoing. Wonder when they will start charging a surcharge for that. Thanks for the welcome to FT.
Aug 8, 2008, 10:02 pm
#45
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: N Charleston South Carolina
Programs: UA PM (by 2MM), DL GM (by 3.5MM), Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,655
This spurred so many great memories of a once great airline.
A lot of things come to mind:
1) Flying first class internationally. Cavar. Real Kobe beef (for the first time). Good sushi, and a soup course with two options.
2) Great service during irops. Once, I was flying from SFO to HNL, upgraded me and a companion to First. The flight was coming from ATL and was running more than 4 hours late and still hadn't left ATL. I called SMS and they rebooked me on United on United in First. United had 3 class aircraft at that time. I got to HNL about on time. Amazing, still to this day...
Another time, either weather or mechanical cancelled my outbound flight, and Delta moved me to USAir (Piedmont - a much better USAir) in FC because I had already upgraded.
First classs bump vouchers if bumped from first. I actually accumulated quite a bit of those over the years...
Upgrade vouchers, if something happened to an upgraded seat.
3) 75K for two first class tickets to Hawaii.
4) Complementary Crown Room membership to plats.
5) as mention before, upgrades to first cost you 2500 miles, but you got double miles even for upgrades, so you made MORE miles upgrading!
6) Upgrades confirmable when booked (I think all fares initially, then K+). Half MQM's on SLUT fares and not being able to confirme upgrades AT TIME OF PURCHASE forced me to United.
7) Could upgrade code-share flights. Upgraded an AF flight once. Of course, smoking was still allowed...
8) Being escorted to the gate from the FC lounge or from flight to flight.
9) Being met at the door of the airplane with new boarding passes ready in case of irrops (or even hotel vouchers ready...)
10) Being flexable. Many time Delta would do "what was right" rather than what the rules said. Happened to me all the time. Red coats were wonderful at fixing strange issues.
11) Upgrading business class to first. Did it all the time, with "System wide Upgrades". Those were great - worked well.
I miss Delta.
Billy
A lot of things come to mind:
1) Flying first class internationally. Cavar. Real Kobe beef (for the first time). Good sushi, and a soup course with two options.
2) Great service during irops. Once, I was flying from SFO to HNL, upgraded me and a companion to First. The flight was coming from ATL and was running more than 4 hours late and still hadn't left ATL. I called SMS and they rebooked me on United on United in First. United had 3 class aircraft at that time. I got to HNL about on time. Amazing, still to this day...
Another time, either weather or mechanical cancelled my outbound flight, and Delta moved me to USAir (Piedmont - a much better USAir) in FC because I had already upgraded.
First classs bump vouchers if bumped from first. I actually accumulated quite a bit of those over the years...
Upgrade vouchers, if something happened to an upgraded seat.
3) 75K for two first class tickets to Hawaii.
4) Complementary Crown Room membership to plats.
5) as mention before, upgrades to first cost you 2500 miles, but you got double miles even for upgrades, so you made MORE miles upgrading!
6) Upgrades confirmable when booked (I think all fares initially, then K+). Half MQM's on SLUT fares and not being able to confirme upgrades AT TIME OF PURCHASE forced me to United.
7) Could upgrade code-share flights. Upgraded an AF flight once. Of course, smoking was still allowed...
8) Being escorted to the gate from the FC lounge or from flight to flight.
9) Being met at the door of the airplane with new boarding passes ready in case of irrops (or even hotel vouchers ready...)
10) Being flexable. Many time Delta would do "what was right" rather than what the rules said. Happened to me all the time. Red coats were wonderful at fixing strange issues.
11) Upgrading business class to first. Did it all the time, with "System wide Upgrades". Those were great - worked well.
I miss Delta.
Billy