If there's one thing that no airline really believes it has gotten right, it's getting passengers onto the plane and into their seats. Passengers complain, no matter what scheme is used, and airlines keep searching for the optimal efficient plan—and then sabotage it with special cutouts for elite fliers.
But they never stop trying, and now it's Delta's turn to roil the waters a bit, with a new planthat will take effect on January 23, on Delta flights all over the world. Don't say it—we know. Trying to roll something like this out all at once just increases the chances of it going wrong. But maybe Delta will get lucky.
Delta's new idea is to ditch boarding groups based on seating patterns, elite status, seat location, elite status and/or credit card membership, and board essentially by ticket price (although Delta would prefer you think of that as by ticket type. One result will be to increase the boarding categories from six to eight.
Here's Delta's new order, after the pre-boarders with infants and disabilities: Delta One suites, then first class and 'premium select.' then Comfort Plus, followed by Sky Priority (passengers with platinum or gold medallion SkyMiles membership; the really elite diamond medallion folks go with the suite crowd), and then the rest of us; the only change at the end of the line is that Zone 1, 2 and 3 are replaced my Main Cabin 1, 2 and 3.
Want to guess how long it will be before Delta starts to juggle it again? Hint: The picture above is from the last time Delta thought it had it right, just 18 months ago.
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