DAL wins for Business Class and Budget Airline

[FDJ2]

Delta Receives Top Honors at 2006 World Travel Awards
Thursday September 28, 2:00 pm ET
Delta Named 'North America's Leading Business Class Airline' and 'North America's Leading Budget Airline' at 13th Annual Gala Award Ceremony

ATLANTA, Sept. 28, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Delta Air Lines was named ``North America's Leading Business Class Airline'' and for the second consecutive year, ``North America's Leading Budget Airline'' for its former Song service, by travel professionals worldwide at the 13th Annual World Travel Awards in Turks and Caicos.


The World Travel Awards was conceived in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry. Now in its 12th year, travel professionals and discerning travelers have come to regard the World Travel Awards as the very best endorsement that a travel product could hope to receive. Candidates for nomination for the World Travel Awards are based upon the previous year's voting. Voting is cast by travel agents in over 200 countries around the world.

``Delta is honored to be recognized by World Travel Awards and travel professionals worldwide for providing exceptional service and distinctive amenities both in business class and with our former Song service which inspired our new transcontinental product launch,'' said Joanne Smith, Delta's vice president of Marketing. ``We continue to work hard to create a superior experience that is personalized, comfortable and entertaining for our customers and one that truly differentiates Delta from other airlines.''
Delta is enhancing its international business class product, BusinessElite(r), to offer customers a more comfortable, stylish and entertaining travel experience with all-leather seats; a new personal dining experience created exclusively for BusinessElite customers by celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein; and, state-of the-art, digital on-demand entertainment at every seat, including 20 first- and second-run movies, 24 channels of all-digital television programming, digitally-streamed MP3 programming that allows customers to create individual music playlists, and a suite of 12 video games including an interactive trivia game that allows customers to play against each other. Delta's 75 internationally configured aircraft are expected to be reconfigured with the new BusinessElite product by summer 2007; eight aircraft currently offer the new travel experience.

This month, Delta also launched its new domestic transcontinental product, including two classes of all-leather seating with 26 first-class and 158 coach-class seats. In addition, every customer has a front row seat to great entertainment with the same state-of-the-art entertainment system available on demand at every seat. The airline's new standard in domestic transcontinental flying will be available to all passengers traveling on select Delta flights over four hours (or more than 1,750 miles), including those from Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to cities including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle and others, beginning this month.

As expected, the Song product is being incorporated into the mainline and greatly expanded.

 

[aa73]

I gotta say, CAL, DAL and UAL are impressive in their First/Business class cabins and service. I'd say AA and NWA have a lot of catching up to do.

 

[B6Driver]

"travel professionals worldwide?"
JB does not use these people to sell our tickets so I wonder if JB was ever even considered?
Just a thought......

 

[lowecur]

Just another reason Jetblue and Martin St. George will probably add a Jetblue Plus section on transcons. It would be a nice pro-active move to get it going before Virgin America is out of the gate. Jetblue will need to set aside a select number of 320s for this service for the time being, but I look for the announcement of the 319s to be brought on board in the not too distant future.

imp:

 

[B6Driver]

A319's maybe but to suggest that JB adds a biz class to its aircraft is out right foolish and will not happen. We like to lead, not follow; act, not react.
Time will tell who's correct.

 

[General Lee]

Just another reason Jetblue and Martin St. George will probably add a Jetblue Plus section on transcons. It would be a nice pro-active move to get it going before Virgin America is out of the gate. Jetblue will need to set aside a select number of 320s for this service for the time being, but I look for the announcement of the 319s to be brought on board in the not too distant future.

imp:

They need the range of the A319s. They can't do transcons in the Winter with those headwinds on their A320s. Last Winter was a disaster for many of those JB flights, having to stop in DEN, ABQ, and SLC. Does Jetblue Plus mean "fly from BOS to OAK PLUS a free stop in SLC?" Just jokin....... Maybe a merger with F9 will bring them those desperately needed A319s and A318s.....


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[FDJ2]

"travel professionals worldwide?"
JB does not use these people to sell our tickets so I wonder if JB was ever even considered?
Just a thought......

There was a budget airline award, I would assume JBLU would be considered a budget airline.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

They need the range of the A319s. They can't do transcons in the Winter with those headwinds on their A320s. Last Winter was a disaster for many of those JB flights, having to stop in DEN, ABQ, and SLC. Does Jetblue Plus mean "fly from BOS to OAK PLUS a free stop in SLC?" Just jokin....... Maybe a merger with F9 will bring them those desperately needed A319s and A318s.....


Bye Bye--General Lee

You forgot MSP -- talk about a jb airplane on the wrong side of the tracks! We barely made it out of there.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

There was a budget airline award, I would assume JBLU would be considered a budget airline.

Until recently we did not sell tickets through travel agents or professionals or whatever they are called "worldwide." I think. I often spout out about things after drinking 2 bottles of fine Italian wine.


http://www.jetblue.com/about/ourcompany/history/about_ourhistory.html

 

[lowecur]

They need the range of the A319s. They can't do transcons in the Winter with those headwinds on their A320s. Last Winter was a disaster for many of those JB flights, having to stop in DEN, ABQ, and SLC. Does Jetblue Plus mean "fly from BOS to OAK PLUS a free stop in SLC?" Just jokin....... Maybe a merger with F9 will bring them those desperately needed A319s and A318s.....


Bye Bye--General Lee

Virgin America will probably go with 110-120 seats on the 320, thus reducing the weight and allowing a more viable transcon. Jetblue will also probably go this route at first on a select few 320s, but I also see the 319 being used as a transcon and on existing and future thin routes.

imp:

 

[lowecur]

A319's maybe but to suggest that JB adds a biz class to its aircraft is out right foolish and will not happen. We like to lead, not follow; act, not react.
Time will tell who's correct.

Just look what's happening. CAL has been holding up the Virgin America deal and this has allowed UAL & DAL to retrofit to compete with them. All this activity is taking place to discourage Virgin from getting started but eventually this well financed carrier will get the green light.

DAL's IFE and first/business class service should do very well. 26 premium seats will subsidize any lost revenue that will be used to compete against B6. CAL and UAL are already in that arena and unless Jetblue offers premium seats, they will find themselves with continued poor yields on transcon as they try to compete.

Martin St. George was the brainchild behind the UAL premium service, and I can't imagine his input will not be used for a future service of this nature. Jetblue can't afford to be smug, they need to be flexible and everchanging as their network grows. There are alot of very smart people out there that know how to play a hardnosed game of chess now that the expense side of the ledger sheet has been somewhat leveled.

imp:

 

[General Lee]

Virgin America will probably go with 110-120 seats on the 320, thus reducing the weight and allowing a more viable transcon. Jetblue will also probably go this route at first on a select few 320s, but I also see the 319 being used as a transcon and on existing and future thin routes.

imp:

That doesn't make monetary sense, since the headwind problem really only exists in the Winter. Thank Gawd you aren't running one of these companies.... With the lower fares they promise to have, you would think they would have as many seats as possible in that A320... Oh wait, they will just have stellar service and they will rely on that, like Jetblue used to do. Now economics are catching up with everyone....


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[lowecur]

That doesn't make monetary sense, since the headwind problem really only exists in the Winter. Thank Gawd you aren't running one of these companies.... With the lower fares they promise to have, you would think they would have as many seats as possible in that A320... Oh wait, they will just have stellar service and they will rely on that, like Jetblue used to do. Now economics are catching up with everyone....


Bye Bye--General Lee

Everybody takes a different config on transcons. Are they all wrong?

• AAI - 737 12/125(31")
• UAL - 752 12/26/72(34")**, - 319 8/40/72(31")
• USA - 752 8/185(30-32), - 319 12/108(32")
• DAL - 752 26/158(32")
• CAL - 753 24/192(32")

It is unclear on how Virgin will config, but their seats are designed by the same company that makes the Porsche seat and it will only be 1 1/2" thick(which allows for maxim seats with at least 32" pitch in Y). They are buying both the 319 and 320 and they all will probably have the new Panasonic IFE and they will have many options on how to config their premium service. Their premium service will also include gormet meals and could include limited electric lay flat seats for FC.

Time will tell, but that's why you have everyone scrambling to build a better mousetrap before Virgin starts up. I can't imagine Jetblue standing pat without a FC offering that should include gourmet food on their transcons. But heh, anything is possible.

**So, just how does UAL ps make money with only 120 seats on a 752? Afterall, it was Martin St. George that came up with the idea, and now Jetblue hired him away from UAL. It must be slight of hand.

imp:

 

[Old School 737]

If J-blue had bought 737-800's the trans-con thing would not be an issue.

 

[Tomct]

If J-blue had bought 737-800's the trans-con thing would not be an issue.

Too bad they bought FRENCH!uke:

 

[Dizel8]

Too bad Boeing wasn't interested!

 

[SkiFishFly]

Delta Receives Top Honors at 2006 World Travel Awards
Thursday September 28, 2:00 pm ET
Delta Named 'North America's Leading Airline Budget' at 13th Annual Gala Award Ceremony

Delta knows how to budget??

 

[lowecur]

If J-blue had bought 737-800's the trans-con thing would not be an issue.

Really? Maybe you could give us some specs from the two mfgs on range between the 738 and 320. Just what kind of a range extension do the winglets allow?

While you're at it, how about a comparison between the 737NG and 319 on range?

imp:

 

[GogglesPisano]

Too bad they bought FRENCH!uke:

Say what you will about the A320 -- but the cockpit is far more ergonomic, comfortable, quiet and automated than the 737 (even the newest 737's.)

That's what it's all about after all.

 

[zkmayo]

Say what you will about the A320 -- but the cockpit is far more ergonomic, comfortable, quiet and automated than the 737 (even the newest 737's.)

That's what it's all about after all.

The cabin is also a lot more comfy in the 320 as well.

 

[Old School 737]

I agree that the Bus is a better ride upfront and in the back, but if you have to stop for gas half way it makes everyone uncomfortable! As for the range numbers you can get them from the Boeing website, I don't have time to dig them up now but I know the numbers are better than the Bus.

 

[lowecur]

I agree that the Bus is a better ride upfront and in the back, but if you have to stop for gas half way it makes everyone uncomfortable! As for the range numbers you can get them from the Boeing website, I don't have time to dig them up now but I know the numbers are better than the Bus.

Actually the numbers are just about even for the 320/738. The 319 has a range of 3700nm and the 737NG is rated at 3300nm. I doubt these numbers include the addition of winglets, but I have reservations you would see a dramatic change on the longhaul.

imp:

 

[Old School 737]

Actually the numbers are just about even for the 320/738. The 319 has a range of 3700nm and the 737NG is rated at 3300nm. I doubt these numbers include the addition of winglets, but I have reservations you would see a dramatic change on the longhaul.

imp:

I know that Alaska does what I believe is the longest 737-700w service ( at least in N. America ). ORD to ANC is more miles than than MIA to SEA. Some of the guys I have flown with said they have blocked almost 8 hours during the winters fighting the headwinds all the way.