Delta vs AA

For the last 17 years we have flew Us air/AA from Pittsburgh to SXM. Pricing this year has us looking at Delta. We have never had any issues on AA but was looking for opinions on Delta flights thru Atlanta.
Thanks for the input.

We flew Delta in Nov. with no problems. I am flying them home next week. Based on the issues I had with AA on Sunday, I would go Delta if given the choice and the price comparable. ATL is huge but efficient.

Delta's planes are generally nicer, as most of them doing the Atlanta-SXM run have the seat back TV's and there seems to be more room between rows. Atlanta is H-U-U-G-E. If one or the other of you has trouble walking, get wheelchair assist. As far as reliability, I think they're all about the same.

I will agree but we were on a 757 (AA) and while older, it looked brand new on the inside but no screens in the seat back. I would still take Delta over AA if given a choice.

I don't think I've ever been on an AA plane to SXM that had screens in the seat back.

We're AA folks as well, and flew Delta through ATL last trip for the same reason you're considering it. Personally, we found the Delta flights to be more reliable than AA has been lately. Immigration in ATL was quick and easy, but we do have Global Entry and traveled with carry-on only. Our flight leaving ATL to RDU was delayed by a couple of hours, but delays seem to be the norm on any airline lately.

Wish I could find reasonable priced Delta flights. Stuck with AA for now.

Delta is one of the few remaining airlines t(and JB) o have seat back entertainment. AA is adding more rows to economy in the 737 and A321 class planes and putting in seat back shelves to hold your phone while streaming videos... have to use their app

Those (Delta/JB) are my to go to airlines for travel....

AA "extra room" is also being decreased to equal JB's regular economy pitch

Just got back from Palm Springs on an Alaska flight. They had seat back entertainment on all seats. Usually I have to use my Alaska app to stream free movies on other Alaska flights.

Interesting. I just read that they do not have any seat back screens at all. Must have been an older aircraft

Alaska limits in flight entertainment link

Quite the contrary. It was a newer aircraft. Interior had the newer lighting and decor too. I see that link was 2 years old.

Flip a coin, they all screw up, including JetBlue.

If I had the choice, I would book Delta. In looking at October dates from Chicago to the island, JetBlue is around $500 pp roundtrip and AA is $700.

I fly 80k - to 100k per year on Alaska and the only time I have had seat back entertainment was in the old Virgin America jets, and I don't think that Alaska plans to add them as they have an app that allows you to watch movies and other shows for free with the app. For the record I prefer being able to use the app with my laptop, tablet or phone over a seat back screen.

I would guess that there are lot more issues with AA to SXM over the other airlines, they have a lot more flights. I have had very few issues with AA, their jets are not that far off of any of the other airlines. They all seem to fly their Richard Nixon signature edition jets to SXM and other Caribbean spots.
Cheers!

I have been watching AA 2312 PHL to SXM the last three days, and it has been late leaving PHL 3 days in a row. I don't know what Delta's on time record is, but my AA flight last year as late also.

AND AA has done NOTHING to fix the crew issues. I was impacted by this debacle on Sunday,

Yes, i saw you was impacted, and it was worse yesterday!

And that makes EVERYONE with a connection on the return to be in a bad way, Great way to run a business.

They know they have a problem and they perpetuate it.

I prefer to watch on my tablet too. I don't get those pauses from announcements like you do on a seat back.

I would have missed my connection if i was on yesterdays flight for sure! It didn't look like weather issues all three days, and today's plane from Boston was in Philly very early, so i would guess it was personnel. I hope this isn't a new habit for this flight.

My only downside with ATL, is if you have luggage. You collect the luggage and go through immigration and customs, then put the luggage on a conveyor belt for your onward flight, then you have to go through security again to catch your connecting flight and there is no TSA PreCheck and lines are longgggg

We have flown Delta over 20 times to SXM. Never any problem. In February returning thru ATL we have Global Entry. Through immigration and customs in less than 15 minutes. They had TSA pre-check when going back thru airport security. Passed thru in less than 5 minutes.

Pretty much standard procedure at most international airports. Crap shoot on how long TSA pre lines are.

Same way with AA in CLT or any connecting city on an International flight. It is not airline specific.

We, like you had few options in the USAir days. Since then we have usually had the choice of Delta or AA. Almost without exception, Delta was the better airline for us. The only downside in the last couple years was the price difference. AA direct flight from PHL to SXM is another + for AA.

Usually go to SXM twice a year. For the past 20 years, AA about 90% of the time, the last couple of years, Delta and AA 50/50. The connection time going through ATL is actually better for me going to BDL. Looking at flights for October/November, Delta seems to be terribly expensive, using miles or not, far more than American. We're just waiting a little longer now to see if they come down.

For whatever reason, it appears that unless traveling on a Sunday, AA does not have flights going through CLT, only MIA. The problem for us, SXM-BDL, if we take the MIA flight, it HAS to be an overnight connection. If I'm going to have to spend an overnight, I'd rather spend it in SXM...lol. Hence, we've been flying Delta more often. Just hope the prices come down for the fall.

The actual flights and planes Delta has used have been wonderful.

Mike, I think Delta often puts up these ridiculous numbers, before it actually has a true schedule!
I just looked for early November and it had all comfort seats sold and many stops to SXM.

It's not the first time.
But, I've never had a problem with them and the best flight from Italy years ago!!

We're also from Pennsylvania, and much prefer Delta over AA from our past experiences. Have flown Delta to SXM from Buffalo to Atlanta to SXM twice in the past, and both times it has been flawless. Delta has a better 'on-time' track record IMO, and only once have they cancelled a flight on us. With AA we've had too many issues in the past to mention. Did you check out Jet Blue? Just returned and everything was perfect, except for no video entertainment on return flight from SXM to Ft. Lauderdale. They apologized, and told us vouchers would be sent this week to all of us! Wow. I just read my book instead. We did Buffalo to JFK to SXM going, and SXM to FLL to BUF returning and we're quite pleased.

we did AA through CLT coming and going - on a Friday and Tuesday respectively - just last week - or two weeks ago...

Have flown both airlines multiple times. All things being equal, I would choose Delta. However, there really isn't much difference between the two. So I would select the one that offers the most convenient flights at the best price.

I also choose based on airplane type - prefer 757 to A 320/321 and to 737

just 'feels' more stable - I'm more likely to sleep a bit