i hadn't flown on delta internationally for about 1.5 years, and when i flew with them domestically last summer i didn't remember being impressed at all. they give you less on US domestic flights now than they ever have before. i felt strangely impressed with delta's international flights this summer though (Shanghai-->Tokyo and Tokyo-->San Francisco, and the other way around).
first of all, i really like boarding in zone 1 (except for in the shanghai airport because nothing is organized in shanghai and everyone just stands in line at once and there are no such things as zones, even though there is supposed to be). every boarding pass i've had this summer has allowed me to board in zone 1. i don't know if this is because i have a windows seat or because i'm a skymiles member or what, but i will accept it. it seems more than just having a window seat or a seat near the back, because it doesn't seem to matter if i'm near the back or the front, i still board in zone 1 (though i always have a window seat). then i get to get on the plane pretty much before anyone in the economy section has boarded. it makes it easy to find a place to put a carry on suitcase, which i normally don't like to have, but since delta started charging for a second checked bag on international flights instead of allowing two for free, pretty much most people are going to bring a carry on suitcase, because why would you check a regular suitcase and pay $60-75 when you could carry on a small suitcase for free?
so i don't like that delta doesn't let you have two checked bags for free on international flights anymore, but i imagine most airlines also do that, in addition to how they charge for all checked bags on domestic flights now too. with delta if you have an american express skymiles credit card, you get one free checked bag on domestic flights, but it doesn't affect checked bags on international flights.
anyway, i've also been impressed with delta's service. the flight attendants are kind and pay attention. they even brought around paper newspapers on one flight that i had, during the time we were taxiing and taking off, the time that no one can read their kindle or use any electronic devices. they talk to the kids on the flight and even carry people's babies around the airplane to give them a break. the food is surprisingly good and looks fresh (for airplane food), not congealed or anything weird like that. or maybe i've just been eating way too much chinese airplane food in the past few years (which i'm so sick of) that this was a welcome change. or maybe my messed up meal times due to traveling caused me to appreciate the food more than it deserved. and there was a salad, with salad dressing! but salads always make me happy, because i hardly ever eat salads in china. whatever it was, i was pleasantly surprised.
i'm sure delta has done plenty of things wrong, and i've heard not-so-great things about their domestic flights especially. some people have even told me they missed connections with delta flights and things like that, but i've never had that happen before with delta. (US airways on the other hand, i plan to never fly on again...multiple icky travel times with them in the past.) maybe delta's domestic flights leave much more to be desired than their international flights, i don't know.
my conclusion about airlines in the past few years is that turkish airlines has still impressed me the most, i think; then delta; then air canada. and since i'm not nearly as likely to fly turkish airlines or air canada very often in the future, i'm pretty happy with delta for flying internationally, and if i get free domestic flights out of it too, from having skymilres, i won't complain about them (at least i think i won't).
first of all, i really like boarding in zone 1 (except for in the shanghai airport because nothing is organized in shanghai and everyone just stands in line at once and there are no such things as zones, even though there is supposed to be). every boarding pass i've had this summer has allowed me to board in zone 1. i don't know if this is because i have a windows seat or because i'm a skymiles member or what, but i will accept it. it seems more than just having a window seat or a seat near the back, because it doesn't seem to matter if i'm near the back or the front, i still board in zone 1 (though i always have a window seat). then i get to get on the plane pretty much before anyone in the economy section has boarded. it makes it easy to find a place to put a carry on suitcase, which i normally don't like to have, but since delta started charging for a second checked bag on international flights instead of allowing two for free, pretty much most people are going to bring a carry on suitcase, because why would you check a regular suitcase and pay $60-75 when you could carry on a small suitcase for free?
so i don't like that delta doesn't let you have two checked bags for free on international flights anymore, but i imagine most airlines also do that, in addition to how they charge for all checked bags on domestic flights now too. with delta if you have an american express skymiles credit card, you get one free checked bag on domestic flights, but it doesn't affect checked bags on international flights.
anyway, i've also been impressed with delta's service. the flight attendants are kind and pay attention. they even brought around paper newspapers on one flight that i had, during the time we were taxiing and taking off, the time that no one can read their kindle or use any electronic devices. they talk to the kids on the flight and even carry people's babies around the airplane to give them a break. the food is surprisingly good and looks fresh (for airplane food), not congealed or anything weird like that. or maybe i've just been eating way too much chinese airplane food in the past few years (which i'm so sick of) that this was a welcome change. or maybe my messed up meal times due to traveling caused me to appreciate the food more than it deserved. and there was a salad, with salad dressing! but salads always make me happy, because i hardly ever eat salads in china. whatever it was, i was pleasantly surprised.
i'm sure delta has done plenty of things wrong, and i've heard not-so-great things about their domestic flights especially. some people have even told me they missed connections with delta flights and things like that, but i've never had that happen before with delta. (US airways on the other hand, i plan to never fly on again...multiple icky travel times with them in the past.) maybe delta's domestic flights leave much more to be desired than their international flights, i don't know.
my conclusion about airlines in the past few years is that turkish airlines has still impressed me the most, i think; then delta; then air canada. and since i'm not nearly as likely to fly turkish airlines or air canada very often in the future, i'm pretty happy with delta for flying internationally, and if i get free domestic flights out of it too, from having skymilres, i won't complain about them (at least i think i won't).
so funny we should be posting similar things at similar times! do you think there's some way they could be brainwashing us during the flights to blog about how much we love them? ;)glad you found our blog. we heart michael strongman, too.
ReplyDeleteFirst, daughter, you need to find or make salads to eat, even if you're in China. Second, domestic travel for me on Delta has been fine, except maybe for the lack of legroom.
ReplyDeleteKind of hard to make or find salads here since they don't sell much lettuce, but i eat plenty of vegetables in general, just not in the form of a salad, so don't worry. =)
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