Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta has 6 separate concourses (A-E + T). A, B, half of C, parts of D, half of E and half of T are exclusively Delta gates. So if you want to get a direct flight anywhere, Delta is pretty much the only game in town. Sure you can get from Atlanta to Austin on other airlines but you have to fly to Houston or Dallas first and change planes. This makes a 2.25 hr flight into a 4 hour flight and chews up half a business day.

So, Delta is pretty much it if you live in Atlanta.

I used to love Delta. I am within 100K miles of 2 Million Miles lifetime. I am a Gold Medallion that has already flown 40 segments this year and a shoo-in to regain my Platinum status soon (Took some time off last year to welcome Minnie Diver90 into the world). I bring this up to let you know that I have watched a steady and constant erosion in the value, service and level of benefits Delta offers over a number of years.

Items of Note

The Elimination of People from Decision Making Up until a few years ago, Delta allowed gate agents and red coats to have some discretion about issuing upgrades, making flight changes, etc. The whole system has been computerized to eliminate any ability to make a decision based on a situation rather than a questionable rule.

Case in point. A snow storm was destroying the Northeast. I got to the airport early and checked in for my 5:30 flight to Boston. I noticed that the 3:30PM flight had not left. I pointed out to the gate agent that the weather was getting bad and would they put me on the 3:30PM flight. This would get one more passenger (me) to my destination and they wouldn't have to deal with me when my 5:30 would be invevitably delayed.

The bottom line answer was, "NO". They would only make the change if I paid a $100 change fee. Otherwise, I could jog the 1.2 miles out to the gate and stand by for the flight. Of course, I got this information with a bucket full of attitude.

Delta ended up flying me from Atlanta (2 hr lift off delay) to almost Boston (aborted on approach) then Syracuse (sorry no rooms at the inn) then Cincinatti at 4:30AM.

Yup it was "simply good business" to not let me go on that earlier flight.

Upgrade Policies You fly a lot on business. The "benefit" you get is miles and upgrade certificates. Delta is going out of its way to make it harder and harder to use them. First they invented the "L" fare, which is low-priced and not upgradeable. Then they came up with the "U" fare which is also not upgradeable. If your corporate travel policy says, "take the lowest fare" you are out of luck.

They have also eliminated the System Wide Upgrades for Silver and Gold Medallion members and cut back on them for Platinums. The best explanation I have gotten is, "We polled our customers and that's what they wanted." I don't know what customers they polled but I haven't met one fellow business traveler that knows what the heck they are talking about.

Delta has also severely cut back on the number of seats available for upgrades prior to the day of travel. You can determine that there are 50% of the seats in first class still available the day before the flight but no upgrades will clear. It is worse on International Flights where there will be 25+ Business Elite seats available and no upgrades. To make it worse, Delta does not allow International upgrades on the day of the flight!

I could go on... and on... but I won't.

Here's an interesting tip

Continental will match your current status on Delta in their Elite Program. You need to call them to get the address. You send in a copy of your Skymiles statement and they instantly give you elite status in the their program for one year. So, consider it if you are an unhappy Delta Flyer.

And a final note

Delta recently announced that they were going to give passenger more leg room..... Here's how... By reducing the thickness of the pad in the seat back!!!! Now that's smart thinking..... Spare me.

C YA

Diver90



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