JT Genter has a disappointing Delta economy trip LAX-JFK
Oct 28, 2019, 12:55 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 157
JT Genter has a disappointing Delta economy trip LAX-JFK
On what should be Delta's flagship domestic product, TPG writer JT Genter recently had a disappointing experience. He documents chaotic boarding, almost non-existent WiFi, and rude service. I was particularly shocked by what happened when he requested a cup of water (not an unreasonable request for a cross-country flight!):
On the flip side, I headed back to the back galley during cruising altitude asking for water. The flight attendant who I approached outright ignored my request, physically turning away from me. Another flight attendant who was further back in the galley who overheard my request awkwardly stepped in to get a bottle of water to fill the cup I’d brought back.
It was this same grumpy flight attendant who handed out the complimentary snacks on my side of the aisle. She skipped over at least a few passengers who weren’t ready to say what they wanted when she got to their aisle. Then, when some of these skipped passengers tried to get her attention after she passed them, she overreacted with obvious annoyance.
It was this same grumpy flight attendant who handed out the complimentary snacks on my side of the aisle. She skipped over at least a few passengers who weren’t ready to say what they wanted when she got to their aisle. Then, when some of these skipped passengers tried to get her attention after she passed them, she overreacted with obvious annoyance.
Oct 28, 2019, 2:25 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Dayton, OH/CVG
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Posts: 880
Thanks for posting. Interesting read. I missed this when I got my daily email from their site. He states that it was "a perfectly fine" flight but that he did have some service issues that annoyed him, which i totally agree with.
Customer service is free, so there is never a reason for the FAs to be like that. I'm glad he pointed out the pleasant FA.
Diva alert: the intermittent WiFi is a major pet peeve of mine. I count on a lot of my cross countries to get some work done. Shame on me since i shouldn't count on it, but it would be nice if it was more consistent. Overall, I give delta and gogo good grades, but its the misses that sand out.
Customer service is free, so there is never a reason for the FAs to be like that. I'm glad he pointed out the pleasant FA.
Diva alert: the intermittent WiFi is a major pet peeve of mine. I count on a lot of my cross countries to get some work done. Shame on me since i shouldn't count on it, but it would be nice if it was more consistent. Overall, I give delta and gogo good grades, but its the misses that sand out.
Oct 28, 2019, 2:50 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
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LOL -- classic TPG diva review. One of many reasons I find their content to be useless these days (the pictures are usually the most informative for selecting seats on new plane types):
Boarding
So the boarding was chaotic or you were just annoyed that your MC1 didn't get to board first? You also checked with the passenger ahead of you and know that she wasn't traveling with someone who was seated in MC1 and was allowed to board with her companion?
WiFi: on that point I agree but that's not really DL's problem -- more GoGo sucks. Also what kind of "points expert" plans to pay $40 for WiFi instead of knowing to buy the $16 domestic 24 hour pass before boarding
Seats: Author complains about the fact that there isn't a plug for every seat in Y, just a USB cord, yet his seatmate doesn't need the plug so he has no issue using it for the full trip. Also complains about lack of amenities provided on the seat when boarding........what were you expecting on a domestic Y flight? an amenity kit and a bottle of free champagne?
IFE: Complains that the streaming is slow even though he's on a plane with built-in IFE carrying over 300+ movies
Food: Takes off 5 points out of a possible 15 because there was no free alcohol offered (but it was too early I wouldn't have anyway) and he didn't get an additional drink run between meal service and the snack service. Also never checks the SkyMiles magazine to see the additional food/drink options that are typically available for purchase on the TCONs with food
FA: Unfortunate to get someone grumpy -- unfortunately they exist at DL as they do everywhere (just not as prevalent), though in my experiences the FAs usually leave a couple of bottles out water out and accessible so you can just pour it yourself if you walk to the back cabin -- so no real need to ask but YMMV
Boarding
The flight was clearly packed with Delta elites. By the time Delta boarded Delta One, Diamond Medallion, families, Comfort+, Platinum Medallion, Gold Medallion and partner elite passengers, it seemed like more than half of the gate area had cleared out. Finally, Main Cabin 1 was called, and I entered the line to board. Turns out that “priority boarding” didn’t get me much priority.
While waiting on the jet bridge, I noticed the boarding pass of the passenger ahead of me clearly stated Main 2 — confirming my suspicion at the gate that agents weren’t enforcing boarding groups.
While waiting on the jet bridge, I noticed the boarding pass of the passenger ahead of me clearly stated Main 2 — confirming my suspicion at the gate that agents weren’t enforcing boarding groups.
WiFi: on that point I agree but that's not really DL's problem -- more GoGo sucks. Also what kind of "points expert" plans to pay $40 for WiFi instead of knowing to buy the $16 domestic 24 hour pass before boarding
Seats: Author complains about the fact that there isn't a plug for every seat in Y, just a USB cord, yet his seatmate doesn't need the plug so he has no issue using it for the full trip. Also complains about lack of amenities provided on the seat when boarding........what were you expecting on a domestic Y flight? an amenity kit and a bottle of free champagne?
IFE: Complains that the streaming is slow even though he's on a plane with built-in IFE carrying over 300+ movies
Food: Takes off 5 points out of a possible 15 because there was no free alcohol offered (but it was too early I wouldn't have anyway) and he didn't get an additional drink run between meal service and the snack service. Also never checks the SkyMiles magazine to see the additional food/drink options that are typically available for purchase on the TCONs with food
FA: Unfortunate to get someone grumpy -- unfortunately they exist at DL as they do everywhere (just not as prevalent), though in my experiences the FAs usually leave a couple of bottles out water out and accessible so you can just pour it yourself if you walk to the back cabin -- so no real need to ask but YMMV
Oct 28, 2019, 3:23 pm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: May 2013
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I read this earlier today and IMO this flight seemed totally fine to me. The one bad apple FA aside this was a normal flight......who doesn't travel with their own headphones?
Oct 28, 2019, 3:28 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2004
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If you read this type of TPG review on a regular basis, you will definitely notice certain writers have a personal bias between airlines and hotel chains. Some are more obvious then others.
Oct 28, 2019, 4:57 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2013
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Posts: 4,421
Not just TPG. Lucky @ OMAAT is so anti-American Air, but so hooked on his EXP status, that it's almost amusing to read his cognitive dissonance reviews/posts.
Oct 28, 2019, 9:37 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
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Of course it's a DYKWIA thread on that site...one time I was in the same flight with himself and it was delayed due to ATC control in NYC. He posted complaints on ins while inflight the FA was kind, called him by his name and ran multiple drink services for him, which of course did not get mentioned.
