Fly Delta? Get ready for some changes ...

[SearchMaster]

My understanding is most airlines have tightened their voucher policy.

There have been a few occasions over the last few years that I've gotten a voucher offer. They were all pretty decent offers that I would have taken but had my son with me and couldn't do it.

 

[Exterous]

Basic Economy - my guess this is what Coach is now without the ability to change seats. Whats unclear is if you can change these at all, or if you have to pay a fee like it is now with standard coach seats. These are also going to suck on long-haul international flights if there's no meal service.

Basic Econ is only on flights where Delta competes with an Ultra Low Cost Carrier like Spirit and you don't get things like seat assignments at all (so say hello to your gate assigned middle seat). Last I looked only a very tiny percentage of their flights offered this option and only to leisure heavy locations like Florida and Arizona

Overall the changes don't seem too terrible although I care much less since I'll be starting a new job with 0 travel in January

I don't think I've ever had a Delta flight without an issue. They're fucking terrible to begin with... and now they're going to be worse?

Terrible in relation to what? Their on-time arrival is the best of the major US carriers by a notable margin. Not too shabby when you stop and consider that two of their biggest hubs are in places with terrible winters (MSP and DTW)

http://www.transtats.bts.gov/OT_Delay/OT_DelayCause1.asp

 

[Brainonska511]

When I was single, I almost always gave my seat up when they were giving $400 vouchers away. I didn't have anything to lose and they usually threw in a food voucher for the airport too to sweeten the deal... My understanding is most airlines have tightened their voucher policy. I remember flying out to Colorado on a pre-Christmas snowboarding trip with a friend and taking my stack of vouchers with me. I decided on the trip back to fly home to see my folks and paid with vouchers....then had my friend drive my car back to my place and park it over the holidays. It ended up saving me a long drive and a few days in the car around the holidays. Vouchers can be handy.

When I was waiting over this past 4th of July to head out to Ohio, the Delta flight at the gate before my flight was one going to Miami. Because of thunderstorms, they had to add extra fuel to the flight. Due to the extra weight, they had to bump 8 people - volunteers were given $1100 vouchers, accomadations for the night in NYC, and a first class ticket on a flight of their choice to Miami the following day.

 

[poofyhairguy]

MBAs are ruining America.

Americans are ruining America. MBAs are ensuring it is a managed descent into darkness instead of a free fall.

 

[dud]

When I was waiting over this past 4th of July to head out to Ohio, the Delta flight at the gate before my flight was one going to Miami. Because of thunderstorms, they had to add extra fuel to the flight. Due to the extra weight, they had to bump 8 people - volunteers were given $1100 vouchers, accomadations for the night in NYC, and a first class ticket on a flight of their choice to Miami the following day.

Ironic. How about this story:

I was flying from MCO to Atlanta back during the 1990s. The flights are usually uneventfull and short (a little over anhour). I was flying in the rear cabin of one of the old (and now retired) Lockheed L1011s. The flight was great until ... until final approach. The plane was no more than 300 feet off the ground when there was an explosion at the rear of the plane (aka about 30 feet behind me). The ENTIRE rear cabin and passengers were covered in an insulation material ... and coughing from ingesting the stuff. After arriving at the gate Delta allowed everyonein the first two cabins first while we (in the back) continue to hack/cough up the insulation we were breathing in.

Weeks later I received a letter from Delta explaining that an air conditioning duct had "burst". filling the rear cabin with insulation. The duct had not burst ... it exploded like a bomb had gone off. For my "inconvenience" Delta presented me with a voucher for (get this) a grand total of $150 ... which (again ironically) I never used.

Cough, cough ...

 

[Aharami]

Well, they have a tenuous grasp on the title. All the other domestic airlines seem to be working feverishly to grab that crown.

I wonder how long it will be before some airline removes a few rows of seats at the back and offers Standing Room tickets (strapped in, of course, to satisfy FAA regs).

this was actually suggested by an airline exec (one of those cheaper airlines) a couple years ago IIRC

 

[BoberFett]

Meh, airlines don't make all that much money. I get tired of hearing whiners immediately jumping to the "damn greedy execs and their yacts" excuse for why it COSTS SO MUCH TO SOAR THROUGH THE AIR AT HUNDREDS OF MILES AN HOUR.

http://centreforaviation.com/analys...upgrade-from-an-espresso-to-a-sandwich-113244

You want nice accommodations for 3 hours? Pay for it.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

this was actually suggested by an airline exec (one of those cheaper airlines) a couple years ago IIRC

I believe RyanAir (and others) are looking at saddle seats, which basically have you stand:

http://www.cnet.com/news/airplane-saddle-seats-make-coach-look-like-luxury-class/

 

[smackababy]

Meh, airlines don't make all that much money. I get tired of hearing whiners immediately jumping to the "damn greedy execs and their yacts" excuse for why it COSTS SO MUCH TO SOAR THROUGH THE AIR AT HUNDREDS OF MILES AN HOUR.

http://centreforaviation.com/analys...upgrade-from-an-espresso-to-a-sandwich-113244

You want nice accommodations for 3 hours? Pay for it.

From what I understand, operating an airline is pretty much a losing battle in terms of profitability. That is why so many can file for bankruptcy and merge all willy nilly. The government understands the need for domestic air travel and is willing to let this happen every couple years to keep it going.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Let's also get some new seats on there,... to account for the lower tiers,..

Heck,... lets throw out the seats entirely. We'll just pile people on top of another. And, take/tie some of these cattle people to the wings of the plane.

Oh God,.. kill me!!

 

[rh71]

My local movie theatre completely renovated ALL their seats to lazy-boy recliners (literally you're sitting with your feet straight out in front of you) and each row barely has more than 10 seats across. I wonder how they were able to do it and still turn a profit. The ticket prices are the same as they were.

EDIT>> http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/broa...DIHVPASDY9ZyZ3EuBZNloQ#DIHVPASDY9ZyZ3EuBZNloQ

 

[Ns1]

I'd love to see pics of those seats occupied by average sized Americans.

 

[smackababy]

My local movie theatre completely renovated ALL their seats to lazy-boy recliners (literally you're sitting with your feet straight out in front of you) and each row barely has more than 10 seats across. I wonder how they were able to do it and still turn a profit. The ticket prices are the same as they were.

Because, theaters don't make their profits on tickets. They make them on concessions. You think it costs anywhere close to $6.50 for a bucket of popcorn? Not even close. Soda? Yeah, that syrup for soda costs $45 a bag and makes 30 gallons and unless they are selling Coke and Pepsi, the fountain was free.


Eh, they should just switch to roller coaster harnesses. Like those in standing roller coasters. I'd be perfectly fine with that for short domestic flights.

 

[Brainonska511]

My local movie theatre completely renovated ALL their seats to lazy-boy recliners (literally you're sitting with your feet straight out in front of you) and each row barely has more than 10 seats across. I wonder how they were able to do it and still turn a profit. The ticket prices are the same as they were.

EDIT>> http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/broa...DIHVPASDY9ZyZ3EuBZNloQ#DIHVPASDY9ZyZ3EuBZNloQ

Wow. When I was home (and growing up), I'd usually go to the Westbury theatre, just because the seats were much better than the crap that was at the Broadway Mall.

 

[CraKaJaX]

My local movie theatre completely renovated ALL their seats to lazy-boy recliners (literally you're sitting with your feet straight out in front of you) and each row barely has more than 10 seats across. I wonder how they were able to do it and still turn a profit. The ticket prices are the same as they were.

EDIT>> http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/broa...DIHVPASDY9ZyZ3EuBZNloQ#DIHVPASDY9ZyZ3EuBZNloQ

i'm typing this from hicksville as we speak....:hmm:

 

[dud]

If those seats are adopted by the airlines I will have to change my travel availability status to "not going unless by train, boat or car". There is no way I would be able to fit into those seats at my height.

I'd love to see the "average" American fit in those seats ...


The story states "The patent application notes that seating in economy class has already been reduced about as much as humanly possible using traditional seating styles, so the patent seeks a new way of dealing with the challenge of squeezing more people into a small space."


Ah, so Airbus may try to apply this to first/business class?

 

[Scarpozzi]

If it's good enough for Adam Sandler, it's good enough for me.

 

[BoberFett]

Here's another one:

http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/r...special_report/2012_03_33/html/figure_05.html

The inflation adjusted cost of air travel continues downward.

I'm not interested in paying for a shitty microwave chicken kiev, I'll eat before and after landing if it's a long flight.

I'd give those stand-up seats a try. Hell, they might even be more comfortable if they're properly designed, and the passenger isn't morbidly obese. It's not like coach seating is already the epitome of comfort.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Delta coach seating.

 

[marvdmartian]

United is changing its way to calculate miles. From now on, the more you pay, the more miles you will earn than the same person that pay less for the ticket even both of you are on the same trip.

Not that much different than what American does now, while you're checking in, online. They offer to sell you more miles, for a "nominal" fee. Basically the same thing, IMHO. Just more up front with the offer.

 

[Sonikku]

But this will mean bigger profits and by extension larger executive bonuses. Be happy for them.

Don't be jelly.

 

[doubledeluxe]

One of the shittiest airlines I have ever flown with. Only airline worse is Aeroflot. Quite frankly United, AA, and Delta should all be ashamed of themselves. They're leagues behind the foreign airlines. Except Aeroflot. They got that one beat at least.

 

[Sonikku]

I believe RyanAir (and others) are looking at saddle seats, which basically have you stand:

http://www.cnet.com/news/airplane-saddle-seats-make-coach-look-like-luxury-class/

Those chairs look like an April Fool's joke.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/business/delta-air-lines-to-buy-refinery.html?_r=0


Delta bought and improved a refinery in 2012 to supply jet fuel to itself. It is finally beginning to pay off for them.