Tagged With "Delta"
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Delta, Aeromexico look to join operations
Delta and Aeromexico, already alliance partners, are asking the two governments for antitrust immunity to form a joint venture allowing them to coordinate schedules, fares and routes between the U.S. and Mexico. It would be similar to the joint...
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Delta makes its 20-minute bag guarantee permanent
Delta's guarantee that your bags will hit the conveyor belt in the terminal within 20 minutes of landing, announced as a test a few months ago, is now permanent. Delta passengers whose bags don't appear in time are eligible to fill out an online form...
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Delta adds Medellin and Cartagena to S.A. service
Delta, which is working with Aeromexico to expand its reach in Mexico, is also extending its route network to include two more cities in Colombia, Medellin and Cartagena. Flights to the two cities from Atlanta will start in December, with a daily...
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Delta Keeps Sought After Route. Can it Live With the Terms?
The Department of Transportation has allowed Delta to keep the sought after Seattle -Tokyo Haneda Airport route provided that they fly between Seattle and Haneda uninterrupted, every day of the year. It picked American to assume the route if...
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Delta/Alaska Battle for Seattle heats up
If you thought the boxing match in Las Vegas the other day was the "battle of the century," you haven't been watching Delta and Alaska Airlines fight it out over passenger traffic in Seattle. The two airlines have been codeshare partners for a long...
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Europe set to OK SkyTeam hook-up for Paris
It looks like European regulators are set to approve a joint operation covering routes between the U.S., Paris, Rome and Amsterdam. The arrangement, under scrutiny for three years, would let the airlines, all SkyTeam members, plan schedules together...
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A little good news from Delta's SkyMiles: a lower fare
After months of mostly bad news for loyalty-program members, as numbers of airlines reduced opportunities for accumulating points by flying, and some also raised the cost in points for award tickets, Delta (one of the most criticized for previous...
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Airline scheduling: Hurry up and wait, or run like crazy?
Have you ever stopped to wonder, while planning a trip, how your airline’s schedule was planned? Especially when it seems you’re about to be condemned to a headlong half-marathon across the airport to a flight that leaves all-too-soon, or...
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Another "ultra low-fare" carrier ups its game
Frontier Airlines, which has been transforming itself into an ultra low-fare carrier like Allegiant and Spirit, is also expanding its route system, and seems to be targeting Delta by opening new routes from Atlanta to cities Delta serves from...
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JFK Exhibit features "grande" sculptures of Starbucks cups
Depending on your definition of art and commerce, this may be the find of the century or an ironic comment, but three pieces on display at Delta's JFK terminal are certainly eye-catching. Commissioned to gain publicity for Delta's announcement that...
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Open Skies? Fair Skies? Gulf competition stirs debate
U.S. airlines, which have usually pushed for "open skies" agreements that have let them expand into new markets previously closed except to the local domestic carriers, are now asking the Federal government to slow down, and perhaps renegotiate some...
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No "Love" in this battle for Dallas airport gates
Southwest, which already controlled 16 of the 20 gate spots at Love Field, Dallas' second airport, has been approved to buy two more from United, in a move that could freeze Delta out altogether. The gate slots are highly prized because the...
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The Remarkable Okavango Delta: Xudum Delta Lodge
(The lush green Okavango Delta viewed from a plane) After 2 years of planning, dozens of hours of traveling (literally to the other side of the world), the four of us were finally there. Our small Safari Air plane was taking your humble...
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The Best of the Okavango Delta: Sandibe Lodge
( Female leopard resting on a shaded branch) The three days we spent at Sandibe are among the most memorable travel days I’ve ever experienced! In my prior post I’ve discussed an overview of the Okavango Delta...
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Airline ratings: Frontier is worst and latest
Frontier and Southwest planes pass each other at Seattle. Photo: Wikimedia / rsocol In two different surveys recently released, Frontier takes the cake...sort of. On one, it was the airline garnering the most complaints; on the other (perhaps...
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Delta tries 'May we carry on your carry-on?"
Delta is trying a new idea this summer, on a trial basis: Speeding up boarding by having airline staff load passengers' carry-ons in the overhead before passengers board. They're calling it 'Early Valet' and will test it on a number of flights from...
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Is Delta trying to become a "stealth airline?"
Above, Delta flight takes off. Below, Delta takes off flight info from ticket agencies Delta, which earlier this year stopped posting its award charts so that its Skymiles members can no longer plan ahead how many "miles" they'll have to...
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When the safety video becomes inflight entertainment
Be honest: How many of you keep on reading while the flight attendants give you the required safety briefing and show the video? (in the interests of honest disclosure, I plead guilty). But in recent years, there have been a number of attempts...
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NYC's Laguardia gets builder for new terminal
New York's Laguardia Airport, my favorite (but it don't get no respect) has taken a big step toward its major upgrade with the selection of a developer consortium that will design, build and operate a new terminal to handle double the passengers with...
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Iceland's tourism numbers are booming!
Tourism is up, it seems in most of the world; France and the U.S. are both preparing for 100 million visitor years soon. And Iceland, while far behind in total visitors, is among the most-rapidly-growing destinations. Iceland had 970,000...
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JetBlue extends its move into premium market
JetBlue is taking advantage of United Airlines' planned departure from JFK by increasing its business-class service from JFK to California. JetBlue, which made its reputation as a traveler-friendly one-class airline with great inflight...
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Delta wants more Japan business, eyes Skymark investment
Delta wants to build its presence in the Japanese market, and is looking at an investment in Japan's bankrupt #3 carrier, Skymark, as a possibloe move. Delta is considering an investment in Skymark, and its interest is backed by Intrepid...
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NBA players to get a big upgrade in the air
Inside the Mavericks' 757 If you feel a little cramped in your airplane seat, think what it would be like if you were 7'2" and trying to sit in that seat! That's a real issue for NBA players, and it's why the teams fly on specially-equipped...
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Allegiant adds Cincinnati base
Cincinnati, which used to be a Delta hub and has had a big dropoff in business since Delta shifted its attention elsewhere, has some good news: Allegiant, one of the ultra-low-cost carriers people seem to hate but love to fly, will make...
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United, Delta to swap JFK/Newark slots
United Airlines is planning to pull out of JFK in New York altogether, shifting its relatively small operation there to its big hub across the river at Newark Liberty. The shift will take place starting Oct. 25 when United shifts its Premium Service...
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AAdvantage members, bite your nails: change is coming
After a couple of years in which both United and Delta have switched to frequent flier systems based on dollars spent on fares rather than miles flown, American could be joining the parade...but we'll have to wait and see. American is planning changes...
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Trouble in paradise: Delta quits airline lobby
Delta has left the building...or at least the lobby. They've announced they are quitting Airlines for America, the lobbying organization that speaks for many of America's carriers, including the Big 3 legacy carriers. The splitting issue is air...
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Delta 1st Airline to Accept Apple Pay for Tickets
Delta, is the first US airline to launch Apple Pay on their App for buying airline tickets directly from their iPhones. Now, with a few clicks, buyers can book and pay for their airline tickets. This can come in handy for flash sales...
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Bargains ahead for used plane buyers?
We're used to reading of big orders of new planes, especially at the big annual airshows. But some airlines, including big ones, also keep an eye on the used-plane market. Delta, for example, has indicated it wants to expand its wide-body fleet...
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American chases Spirit in 'race to the bottom'
American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, is feeling mosquito bites from much smaller but very aggressive discounter Spirit, and is planning to implement "less frills" fares to try to compete on the increasing number of routes where they compete...
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Airlines add new routes, expanded service
This week has seen a number of airlines announcing new service and expanded capacity on routes foreign and domestic. Some of the notable: American will add a new city to its route network, with flights starting March 3 to Merida, the largest city on...
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Feud Starts Up Again Between Delta and American for Haneda Airport Route
The two carriers have fought for months over the rights to fly into Haneda Airport in Tokyo. It's much closer to Central Tokyo than Narita is and business travelers prefer it. First, American complained to the U.S....
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UPDATE: Justice Dept. sues over Delta/United Newark swap
The U.S. Department of Justice has sued in U.S. District Court in New Jersey to block Delta and United from swapping their slots at Newark and JFK airports, saying that it is important to preserve competition at Newark. United already controls...
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Delta adds a Second Flight to Iceland
Skógafoss, Iceland- Photo by DrFumblefinger Delta is the only U.S. airline that goes to Iceland and they fly...
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And then there were none: AAdvantage shifts to points-per-dollar
American Airlines' AAdvantage program, the last major U.S. holdout of the once-traditional one-point-per-mile-flown loyalty system has announced that starting midyear next year it will be shifting to a model that rewards those who spend the most, not...
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Delta, American Plan More Routes
Delta and American are both ramping up their networks—Delta with more service to Europe and American with new domestic routes. Delta is adding a daily NYC-Zurich non-stop and increased service from NY to Rome, adding to its service from...
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Delta: 20% of revenue from "non-traditional" sources
Cunard used to advertise that "getting there is half the fun," and now Delta is boasting, in effect, that "getting there" is less of the trip than before, because over 20% of its revenue now comes not from selling tickets, but from selling food,...
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Delta Shrinking Front Cabin, Adding Coach Seats
Delta is replacing hard-to-sell premium seats on some international flights with in-demand coach seats. MORE
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Delta Hangs Up on Inflight Calling
Now that you can keep your devices on gate-to-gate, attention has turned to inflight calling. Since the FCC announced it's getting ready to legalize inflight calls there's been a storm of controversy, with many saying they don't want to spend 8 hours...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Sept. 28, 2013: Water Lilies, Okavango Delta, Botswana
The Okavango Delta is an oasis in the Kalahari desert. Its waters sustain all life in the region, from animals, to fish, to a broad assortment of plants and insects. We were on a boat ride at dusk enjoying the cool evening air of the...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Oct. 26, 2013: Aerial view of the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Surrounded by the brown sands of the Kalahari Desert is a large oasis of green and blue, the Okavango Delta. An inland delta with no outlet, its waters sustain all life here, including large numbers of fish, birds and mammals. When...
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Duty-Free in the Air: Works for Some...
Despite a growing trend to offer duty-free shopping on international flights—and the chance to make serious money—Delta has ended its inflight duty-free program. The decision apparently involves both a disagreement with the company that...
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Delta NY-BOS shuttle changes planes and LGA terminals
Starting in November, Delta's NY-Boston hourly shuttle operation is moving from the Marine Air Terminal, Laguardia's old terminal for the Pan Am flying boats of the 30s to Delta's main terminal at the far end of the field. It will no longer be able to...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, September 13, 2014: Sunset over Hippo pool, Botswana
The sun was settling on the horizon after our first evening game drive in Botswana's Okavango Delta. It had been a great evening, with hundreds of animals spotted (and photographed)! Our guide knew exactly where to take us to enjoy the...
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Virgin America gets American's Love Field gates
Two gates at Dallas' Love Field that American was required to give up as part of its merger deal will go to Virgin America, which will shift its Dallas operations there from DFW. They're adding flights between Love and SFO, LAX, and Washington Reagan...
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Delta's cheap "e-fare" — That's the "Spirit!"
Delta will soon introduce a "basic economy" fare it calls the "e-fare," to compete with low-cost carrier Spirit in a number of markets. It tried the fare out earlier this year in select markets. For a discount from the regular fare (some larger than...
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United Follows Delta in Loyalty Program Changes
United Airlines is making the same sort of shift Delta previously announced; starting early next year MileagePlus points for flights will be awarded based on the price of tickets rather than the distance flown. Passengers will get anywhere from 5 to...
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Delta, AeroMexico joint operation gets OK
AeroMexico and Delta get approval from U.S. for a joint operation that will have over 25% of the air travel between the two countries.
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Airlines post a flurry of new routes
Airlines are about to fly numbers of new routes, both domestic and trans-atlantic...and some for very cheap.
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BA suffers computer glitch; Delta's cost $100 million
As BA suffers from check-in system crashes, Delta adds up the cost of last month's outage and cancellations.