Comments on: Good Riddance Delta Airlines…

By: j.

j. — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 17:16:57 +0000

In re-reading this post, I remembered this article from nyt:

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/01/your-money/in-deltas-frequent-flier-magic-trick-not-just-rabbits-disappear.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fyour-money&contentCollection=your-money&action=click&module=NextInCollection&region=Footer&pgtype=article

Flying internationally I use JAL, ANA, and even Cathay Pacific. I seem to have major issues with service and quality when I’ve used PAL and any major American airlines. I don’t mind being in the way back yonder, but at least give me some sort of positive service (not even asking for a smile or genuine hospitality here, many of them are overworked underpaid and stuck with many a rude flyer-I admit to seeing them and sometimes wanting to act likeone)…Within US, I use SouthWest…I still get two free baggage checked in.

By: Jody

Jody — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 00:26:22 +0000

I stopped using frequent flyer loyalty programs. I do use the points associated with my particular business CC, for staying in Radisson hotels in Europe and here in the US. Tony Ryan started the revolution, and executives from the old GPA and Ryanair have started dozens of cheap budget airlines (from Singapore to Mexico and from Nigeria to Norway) within the last decade.If you check the ownership and management structures of most budget airlines, you will many senior execs. with ownership stakes,who started in the business with Ryanair.

It is now possible to fly from Providence, RI to Frankfurt, Germany for 700 bucks; compared to 1750 dollars, using Delta on a flight from Boston to Frankfurt. What a laugh! You could probably UBER down to Providence from Boston in a nice car with a civilized driver for under a hundred bucks

To show my age, I remember flying with British Caledonia from London to Hong Kong for 99 pounds sterling. I also remember quite vividly being able to buy a bus ticket from London to Mumbai for 140 pounds using the fabled Magic Bus company. This was all long before the Shah toppled in Iran. Really good times! Engineers, missionaries and hippies were all very fond of Magic Bus.

By: Lannie

Lannie — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 11:42:13 +0000

I hear you MM. Been a loyal KLM Flying Blue flyer myself… until about 2 years ago. First, no more direct flights to Manila from NL but that was because the Phil govt refused to budge on aviation taxes but still we flew with them because we had TONS of frequent flier miles. But after a few months they increased the number of award miles required to THREE TIMES the norm!!! WTF, right? Anyhoo, moved to Cathay Pacific :)

By: snowflake

snowflake — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 10:35:31 +0000

Hello MM. I rarely write in, but I could not resist. My answer – do not fly domestically in the USA anymore. Stick to destinations that international carriers like CX, SQ, KA, EX, and others fly into.

Domestic service is horrible, flight crew make you feel they are doing you a favor when they provide any level of service. I called American airlines the other day and they charge USD 35 to make a booking over the phone. Imagine this?!?! You are booking directly with the airline and they are charging you to speak to a person. Further, they are quite provincial. Why would it be such a surprise when a person is calling from Hong Kong and has a US mailing address?

Food and the pitch of the seat are important, but service is not negotiable. With all of the airlines that your readers have mentioned, service matters. These airlines may not always succeed; but they try.

I will say, personally, it is hard to give up on the loyalty programs, not because of the redemption awards; but because of the guaranteed flights, upgrades, lounge access, expedited fast track lanes at immigration, and many other benefits. When you spend lots of time in airports, it’s does make a difference.

By: friedneurons

friedneurons — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 23:24:37 +0000

I’m of the same mindset as you now. I used to fly United Airlines almost exclusively, and managed to gain elite status solely with pleasure flights. Then I got a job that involved lots of travel, and I gained elite status on United, American, AND Delta. After I changed job roles and didn’t have to travel anymore, I lost elite status on American and Delta. I actually let my Delta miles evaporate into thin air. Managed to use up my American miles on free flights and hotel stays, then United pissed me off so much when I last flew to Manila (ANA is a Star Alliance airline and some SFO-NRT flights are codeshare between the two airlines) that I blew through a few hundred thousand miles of my Mileage Plus balance shopping for stuff like electronics, wrist watches watches, and magazine subscriptions. Now I have no miles of any significance, and if I want to travel like a Mr. Fancy Pants I’ll just pay for it. Totally done with airline loyalty programs.

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 21:48:19 +0000

Totally agree that many US airlines have hideous service and inscrutable mileage rules. On the other hand, I’m still ambivalent about unilaterally ditching them, since I read somewhere that their pilots and maintenance crew are still topnotch in terms of pilot and mechanic on- going training, maintenance, education, etc. That’s probably why there haven’t been horrendous accidents/crashes from pilot error or maintenance/mechanical problems in the recent past in that regard as opposed to some Asian airlines like Malaysia, Asiana, China. I still remember that US Airways that crashed on the Hudson river some years back and how competent the pilot was. Think about it.

By: Natie

Natie — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 19:21:39 +0000

I’ts been Korean Airlines for many years now. I love KAL. Singapore Airlines has a gorgeous airport. Always great service with in-flight crew. Ground crew in NAIA could use a lot of training in courtesy though…

By: Klaus

Klaus — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 16:51:31 +0000

I gave up on Delta long and refer to it as Delta, a four letter word. I live six miles from a major midwestern airport that Delta services. Yet when I fly i drive anywhere from 50 to over 100 miles to avoid flying Delta, and the cost of flying is usually several 100 dollars less.

By: Kasseopeia

Kasseopeia — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 05:43:41 +0000

I super love love Korean Air and Emirates.
Happy to say I have never flown with Delta (friends have but the horror stories give me the creeps).

In their push for a higher share in what is already a slim profit margin, these carriers often alienate the very source of money: their passengers (actual and potential).
On the flipside, with more competition, carriers are forced to shape-up lest they lose their market share completely.

By: hiddendragon

hiddendragon — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 01:09:27 +0000

In general, Asian airlines are waaaaay better than American airlines. And American Airlines is appropriately the flag bearer of this reputation. I once spilt a whole can of tomato juice on the seat next to me, thankfully, empty. Mea culpa. I asked for the FA’s assistance, and if not actually wiping it off, to hand me a rag. She gave me two sheets of tissue and promptly walked away. So I did what I could with those two pcs and promptly let those anti-oxidants soak into the cancerous fabric and foam. Never again, American! Oh, did I mention the salad was two pithy lettuce leaves and half a ballpoint pen of a carrot slice? American coffee? A contradiction in terms, if there ever was one 10,000 meters up in the skies!