ATLJV

This makes sense as there used to be only 10 727s assigned to the shuttle when it flew DCA-LGA or BOS-LGA only. With the 16 current shuttle aircraft and the DCA-BOS service switching to CRJs it should free up that many aircraft.

BizJet

When Delta Shuttle switched over to all 737-800s, some 727s were sent to the graveyard, but some definitely were put back into mainline service. First Class seating and standard mainline configuration were restored, Delta Shuttle titles removed from the exterior, regular Delta markings put back on, etc. I'm guessing much the same will happen to the 737-800s, as B747-438 and his various excellent sources have confirmed!

CALeeIII

Well, I flew DL 1087 from CVG to BHM on September 3rd. It was ALL COACH and painted DELTA SHUTTLE. The gate agents were perplexed and had to deal with people holding what they thought was first class seats. Still checking schedules and the online system shows ALL COACH through the year. I also saw one other SHUTTLE aircraft parked at a gate in CVG. Incidentally, the plane was ok...but I didn't appreciate using miles for First Class and not getting it.

RSSrsvp

If you used miles for F and flew on a plane that was all Y, call SMS and insist that the miles be put back in your account. This should be a no brainer for the SMS agent.

Russ21Atl

Delta coach passengers to get a taste of first class

Travel consultant Chris McGinnis gets quoted yet again.

The article does state where the extra four DL Shuttle 737-800s fly though.

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The information I provide is in no way the authoritative voice of Delta. I do not work for Corporate Communications, nor in Customer Care. I do not represent the final word for Delta when asked a question. I simply try to answer questions to the best of my knowledge, and try to direct people to the correct answer and/or point them in the right direction to find that answer. If you want to double check my answers, please E-Mail Delta Customer Care or just send an e-mail to: [email protected]

Thank you for letting me participate.

Just Passing Thru

Um, I don't think that's always the case. I fly the ATL-IAD route quite frequently and mistakenly paid for a K twice in hopes of an upgrade on one of these all-coach birds. I should have simply paid for an L and forgotten about it. I also have a pending CVG-DCA itinerary with the same issue. In fact, when booking the CVG-DCA flight, I specifically asked if upgrade inventory was available. The SMS agent assured me that it was.

What's the word, Russ, is there such a thing as V inventory on one of these all-coach 738s?


[This message has been edited by Just Passing Thru (edited 05-01-2002).]

Flying Fan

My experience has been that they don't tell you in advance whether or not it's a Shuttle aircraft and so you could be stuck having bought a non LUser ticket with no option to upgrade. With that said, the Shuttle config is wonderful - I can certainly deal with it if that were the standard for coach on DL.

BroncoFlyer

One of these 737-800 planes was used the day after the Olympics (a Monday) to get people out of SLC. Delta had three SLC-CVG flights scheduled in a 5 minute window (10:10 am, 10:15 am, and 10:15 am).

Delta managed to cancell my flight the previous day (along with my upgraded first class seat), and then stuck me on on "all coach" ride to CVG (middle seat!).

Yes, I was slightly annoyed with Delta that day!

rcs85551

I concur. When I booked a trip including those Shuttle birds, I was specifically asked whether I would not want to purchase a higher fare in order to upgrade!

Just Passing Thru

Bump for Russ's attention (I hope).

NoStressHere

A suggestion BEFORE buying the more expensive fare in hopes of an upgrade. Book, or start the booking process for unrestricted FC so that you can what the current unassigned seats look like. If there are NONE, or very few, decide accordingly. This process also insures in 99.9% of the cases that there is a first class cabin.

As to the reporter with a headline "getting a taste of first class", what was he thinking. They were still three across vs. two. They still did not get free drinks. They still do not get treated different than coach passengers. What a misleading headline.

Razzle-D

I have NEVER been asked for money or a coupon for a drink (I always order a Sam Adams) on a Delta Shuttle flight.

But then again, it could be my dashing young looks

Russ21Atl

Sorry I missed that one. To answer the Q, no there isn't V inventory on these flts. The computer just shows Y through U; and N for coach award seats.

Now in theory, if a pax is already booked in V, then an equipment substitution is made (with an all coach 737-800), then a problem occurs. How it is dealt with depends on the situation.

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The information I provide is in no way the authoritative voice of Delta. I do not work for Corporate Communications, nor in Customer Care. I do not represent the final word for Delta when asked a question. I simply try to answer questions to the best of my knowledge, and try to direct people to the correct answer and/or point them in the right direction to find that answer. If you want to double check my answers, please E-Mail Delta Customer Care or just send an e-mail to: [email protected]

Thank you for letting me participate.

NoStressHere

But that was a shuttle FLIGHT. When the shuttle equipment is used for mainline flights, the normal mainline rules are used and could even mean FAST BREAK service.

Just Passing Thru

What's misleading, IMO, is when you specifically ask if there's upgrade inventory on such an aircraft and are told "yes" by a Delta agent. If we were making these reservations online and simply paid for a K fare without checking on upgrade availability, then you'd be absolutely right. We'd have only ourselves to blame.

But it does seem that DL is incorrectly telling people who ask "yes, you can upgrade on that flight." As I said earlier, I specifically asked if "V inventory" was available on the all-coach flight in question. I didn't ask for a K fare -- I asked about V inventory. Others here seem to have had the same thing happen to them.

Personally, I'd like to know how there can be V inventory if there aren't any V seats on an aircraft.