airline question

Looking for info/experience re: Delta airlines. The boss, I mean my wife <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> was looking at prices for our next years trip. We have mostly always flown American, but the boss lady turned up cheaper tickets with Delta and with the same travel and arrival times. So, good, bad, ugly, or book'em, Dano... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Input much appreciated. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Does Delta partner with anybody into EIS? The last time I checked, they did not. Violates our one-ticket rule. Into STT they are fine.

I work for Delta so attach any bias you might want.
For a airline the size of Delta we are running the best operation I have ever seen. Our completion rate dwarfs anyone else at better then 99.8%. We are on track to have better then 100 days this year without a single flight cancelation for any reason including weather. All the other major airlines combined will not exceed 20. We recently went over 4 straight days without a single canceled flt! No other airline worldwide approaches that.
Having said all that none of the above applies to the Delta connection flts that are subcontracted. This would be any flt on a aircraft with 76 seats or less. Be very careful with those flts and check the status starting the day prior.
Delta does connect to EIS with Seaborne. Looked at connecting my daughter and granddaughter that way in May. Very expensive on the dates I needed. YMMV

We are plotting our trip from Richmond, VA to St. Thomas via Atlanta. Then Speedy's direct to Virgin Gorda. So hmm, would a Delta flight to Atlanta be a contract flight?

Richmond to Atlanta is currently all mainline. That can change. Mainline flt numbers are 1-2999. Above that are connection flts. The 7am flt from RIC has a 93% on time rate. The remaining 7% all arrived within 30 minutes of scheduled. Looks like they are adding a 5:45am flight in AUG.

I watch what George says about airlines like a hawk..well maybe a hawk with foggy eyesight, because I thought he was with US air, but I do appreciate him sharing his knowledge.

Coming out of St Louis American usually had the best itineraries but the last couple years on multiple occasions we have used both United and Delta because of better terms using capital one points. came down on Delta yesterday, I do hate the seat selection game most play.."oh you want something other than a middle seat or last row on the plane..pay us, these are special..but same dimensions":) but on Delta for the additional fee to have a seat close to the exit it also came with free libations. If that was George's idea, he deserves a raise! anyway starting the party early on a long flight is not a bad idea..though as the aisle seat occupant it likely got me up too often...some can't "hold their drinks":)

Anyway we had planned to bring a car down to VG this trip and made the one way reservation with Delta from Ft Lauderdale a few weeks ago. Something came up (eye surgery) so we used Southwest miles to go to FTL. Alas you had to fly back to Atlanta and ride the train between concourses..fastest people mover in the bidness I think...and then fly back and over florida..dang don't see why they couldn't have stopped and picked us up.

At any rate the 1:30 scheduled arrival became 1pm with 230 tortola ferry and cocktails on VG balcony about 5 pm.

The trips with Delta hav been flawless but have always taken them to STT. I really thought there was a bit more leg room in coach than on most. Our problems with AA were usually outside of weather, from SJU to EIS..both baggage and cancelled flights, as George mentioned that was really not AA supplying those flights.

Going back Cape air and Southwest. Never have done that before and not economical to use miles but wanted to fly out of VG this time,

One thing I never understand. on every other airline they assign seats so all the ducks know the row they are in. Southwest has the open seating thing. Yet with everyone knowing where they are sitting, it seems loading time is twice what it is on Southwest, where the passenger has to choose down the aisle? Has to be a reason, I see no more urgency than the standard "step out of the aisle"stuff on either. Always been curious about it.

When coming home last month, when we checked in with Cape Air at EIS, they gave us boarding passes for our flight from SJU to ATL too. That was a surprise.

I live 2 hrs from ATL, so most of my flying is on Delta. I don't have any complaints.

A man is sitting in an airport bar waiting for his flight when a gorgeous flight attendant sits next to him. Determined to engage her in conversation..and maybe more..he decides to find out who she flies for by mentioning their ad campaign.
" Something special in the skies," he says..she scowls at him.
" Fly the friendly skies," he tries again..she snorts..and this goes on through a dozen attempts..
Finally, infuriated, she turns to him and says::"What the f$#ck do you want?"
"Ah," he says, thrilled at last, " American Airlines"!!!!

I think most of us here just want to get where we are going without a lot of screwing around with cancelled flights, itinerary changes and all that.

Like George says and despite his bias, Delta.

We live in Atlanta and this is Delta's home base so their are built in advantages. We fly frequently to Europe. Flying there, I don't think there is a better code share ride than Delta/KLM. I just happen to like the Airbus models. KLM does the A330 and Delta the A380. Strongly dislike Boeings 757s and will avoid if I can.

The ATL > STT route is done with the 757. Not my favorite but OTA approaches 80% and that's high among the airlines that fly that route.

So, yeah, Delta.

LoL with Mal's comment. The few times I've flown American (and that is only when I have to), very indifferent all around. United sucks because they are constantly jiggering their flight schedules to optimize load factors and don't give a crap about inconvenience to their passengers when they do that. United has crossed the line, IMO, for profit over service. I won't fly them and will not book with United. In terms of don't give a [censored], they are on a par with Spirit.

Where is the LIKE button??? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

I'm laughing, out of DC United first and American second based on schedule and service. Jet Blue is great, but inconvenient. Delta ends up being pricey.

Cheers, RickG

We only fly Delta. Hubby is a 2 million + miler on Delta so when we buy tickets it helps him keep his Diamond status every year. Plus our little airport up here - Delta is the only airline flying the 2 daily flights out of here. I love it when we're on the runway for takeoff and the pilot says "well it looks like we're #1 for takeoff" Ha ha!
But seriously, We've had no issues flying Delta into STT over the years. For us it's Pellston to Detroit to Atlanta to STT.

We try to fly Delta out of New Orleans, but for some reason the tickets have been double the price of AA. So next trip is with AA. BUT I do not like (hate) to fly AA. It seems we always have a problem. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

We love Delta out of Western NY mostly for the flight times. The price is not always cheaper, but leaving at 6 am an being on island time by 12:30, yes please! We many times purchase one way tickets through different carrier to get the times the work best for us.

Not many choices from SFO to STT so we stick to AA through thick and thin..have had some great trips via Boston in winter, but its usually SFI-MIA..last time on a small 737!!!!

Ditto Mal. Left Coasters do not have a lot of choices. AA is no better no worse than any other airline IMHO. They all change flights and screw up plans!!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Didn't have a terrific experience in "regular" economy on Delta for Cat Fight last year on the way home - VERY tight - but I think that's true for all of them now. I have status with UA so I always get Economy Plus. Disney also has Delta as a preferred airline now so I may try to start booking more in the that direction so I can gain some status.

The flight options stink from the Left Coast - we are almost always stuck on red-eyes...

I fly regularly out of Richmond on Delta all over the US and to STT. Always have great service and get good seats ( hint Platinum Status ) use Kevin C but the Ferry's are clearly the weak link. just booked Jan 16 for 483.00 R/T

Last trip flying on Southwest to SJU was the easiest experience we ever had. That evening we took a Seabourne flight over to EIS with no stress whatsoever.

We just booked our flights for this coming January on Southwest and decided to spend the night in San Juan and then fly over first thing the next morning.