Delta's incredible marketing, compared to Airtran

[~~~^~~~]

AirTran is sponsoring the Fourth of July fireworks celebration at Lenox Mall in Atlanta. This event is attended by more than 300,000 persons and is easily the largest fireworks show in the Southeast. They have bands playing patriotic tunes while two and a half tons of fireworks decorate the Atlanta Sky in a terrific celebration of patriotism. It is a beautiful event, which includes a diverse mix of AirTran's customer base, all having a good time.

In contrast - here is press coverage of Delta's marketing effort over the previous weekend by ANDISHEH NOURAEE, only Creative Loafing covered the "event." Even then, it was only a paragraph or two on an inside page, after coverage of Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Zoo Atlanta, Corndogorama 5000 at the Earl. Note that more people than ever came to the event to protest and those protesters saw "DELTA" as a principal sponsor.

On Sunday, I took time out of my busy hangover schedule to make it out for a drizzly Atlanta Pride Parade. The usual gang was marching: lesbians on motorcycles, lesbians with lawn mowers, Delta employees on miniature planes... local politicians, gay men with hairy bodies who like to go camping in the nude, gay men with hairless bodies who like to parade nearly nude, a couple of men with breasts, Clermont Lounge's Blondie, friends of gay people, family members of gay people, politicians, and lots and lots of church groups. The marching church groups were more frequent and large than I've seen before. It's hard to pick a favorite parade moment, but since I want to finish this column and go eat something, I'll choose this one: An exceedingly plus-sized drag queen riding a motorcycle in the parade stopped in front of me on Peachtree, winked at the guy next to me and asked him, "Hey, wanna |=uck a fat girl?" (S)he rode off before he could answer.

Great job Delta, I am so embarrassed to work for an airline even associated with you. General Lee calls this a great idea for a marketing campaign and I'm telling anyone who gives a crap about Delta that this sort of management is why AirTran will be operating 787's across the Atlantic before Delta pays off a dime of its $20,000,000,000.00 plus debt.

Instead of fuel hedging, paying the retirement promises made to its employees, or making good on the debt agreements Delta has entered into with its business partners, Delta is finding cash to burn on divisive political agendas having to do with domestic partners. If Delta was rolling in cash, it would be one thing, but when Delta's President repeatedly goes to Congress asking that taxpayers bail this Company out, it has a higher obligation to its shareholders and employees than to fund the narrow politial agendas of some radical managers with corporate funds.

 

[AlbieF15]

C'mon, do you really think 300,000 people from across the Southeast really make a difference? Delta is on to something here--something big! We all know the "freaks" on display in Buckhead and Pride parades have a lot more money for discretionary vacations and high dollar business travel than 300,000 backpack toting swine.

Why don't you get back up front and fly the jet and let those marketing geniuses do their work? Stupid pilots think they know everything....

(for those of you not familiar with my political, airline business, or social views, this is complete sarcasm)

 

[DCitrus9]

deleted due to alcohol...

 

[jehtplane]

wow... nice roundabout way of blaming your woes on the gays... lame... welcome to the bottom of the SKYW list - dorks

Another skywest pilot, and I use that term loosely, with wild delusions. I have another delusion for you, you might get laid in the next ten years.

 

[737 Pylt]

AirTran is sponsoring the Fourth of July fireworks celebration at Lenox Mall in Atlanta. This event is attended by more than 300,000 persons and is easily the largest fireworks show in the Southeast. They have bands playing patriotic tunes while two and a half tons of fireworks decorate the Atlanta Sky in a terrific celebration of patriotism. It is a beautiful event, which includes a diverse mix of AirTran's customer base, all having a good time.

In contrast - here is press coverage of Delta's marketing effort over the previous weekend by ANDISHEH NOURAEE, only Creative Loafing covered the "event." Even then, it was only a paragraph or two on an inside page, after coverage of Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest at Zoo Atlanta, Corndogorama 5000 at the Earl. Note that more people than ever came to the event to protest and those protesters saw "DELTA" as a principal sponsor.
Great job Delta, I am so embarrassed to work for an airline even associated with you. General Lee calls this a great idea for a marketing campaign and I'm telling anyone who gives a crap about Delta that this sort of management is why AirTran will be operating 787's across the Atlantic before Delta pays off a dime of its $20,000,000,000.00 plus debt.

Instead of fuel hedging, paying the retirement promises made to its employees, or making good on the debt agreements Delta has entered into with its business partners, Delta is finding cash to burn on divisive political agendas having to do with domestic partners. If Delta was rolling in cash, it would be one thing, but when Delta's President repeatedly goes to Congress asking that taxpayers bail this Company out, it has a higher obligation to its shareholders and employees than to fund the narrow politial agendas of some radical managers with corporate funds.

Fins:
I'm starting to get scared that I agree with you so much. I am seriously starting to doubt that this management can turn this airline around, and am looking more and more in to my "b" plan as my new "a" plan. I like the General, but he is drinking way to much of the management kool aid. The interest alone on the debt we are paying could easily buy a couple of 777's a year. No doubt Leo is enjoying himself on his new house on MVY, I just hope a nor'easter comes this fall and level's it with him in it!
737
I'm glad we can agree on some things, but you'll never get me to buy in on the whole rjdc lawsuit!

 

[michael707767]

I agree with you. Things like this also make me doubt this management group can fix Delta. Been working on Plan B for a while. Should have stayed at ValuJet/Airtran............

 

[320AV8R]

What are you guys talking about.....the Delta Execs are the finest in the Industry.

Who else could squeeze $1.1 BILLION from it's pilots and waste it on a fare sale ?

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

Fins, I wouldn't worry too much about it. I think the more important thing is to feel good about your company's PC agenda. Afterall, it is more wrong to judge wrong than to do wrong. Right GIA Big Iron?

Saw in today's paper GG "only" earned $250K?? Gordon got $37M at CAL.

 

[DLslug]

Gimme a break!

All:

How did we get on this subject? Regardless, I feel it is a huge embarrassment for Delta to be involved in this sort of marketing. I don't care what you guys say about reaching an untapped source of customers. No wonder my health care costs are going up when DL allows "domestic partners" to be covered!

I think C.E. Woolman, founder of DL, would roll over if he saw the current direction of the "Delta family".

All for now,

DLslug

 

[Spooky 1]

GG Mindset

You gotta realize that GG is a Democrat through and through. Hails from a very leberal state and a county that constantly embraces every alternative life style that might pop up from the gutter. GG was Warren Magnusons chief assiatnt although I doubt that Magnuson would recognize his party today and what it has become in the State of Washington. The point is that GG is ameanable to feel good programs that embrace alternative venues. The fact that the gay community has big bucks to spend on liesure travel makes them a good target for advertising of this ilk not withstanding the fact that many citizens do not feel that this is a road (Hershey Highway?) that they would care to travel. Kind of a sorry state of affairs over there at Delta and probably going to get much worse over the next twelve months.

 

[General Lee]

Fins,


You need to leave DCI as soon as possible. You sound miserable. Just one word of advice, don't list "RJDC Member" on your resume to CAL or Airtran. Nobody wants to hire a lazy senior RJ pilot who wants larger aircraft in his fleet so he doesn't have to give up weekends or his 4 weeks vacation a year in Myrtle Beach.

The part you are missing is that Delta is ACTUALLY ADVERTISING. That was non-existant a couple years ago. They have gone back to spending money on TV and radio commercials, and they reactivated the Delta sign on the southern part of downtown when you drive North on I-85. That was gone for awhile. They have billboards up at a lot of cities. So what if they sponsor a gay parade or float-----that demographic is huge in Buckhead and Midtown, and they spend lots of money on travel. You must have missed all of those corny commercials-----but they are new and they are out there. So Airtran is sponsoring the fireworks at Lennox. Good for them. We have a basketball arena in Salt Lake I believe. Zippy da do. And, all of that debt you described will be reduced by a lot as soon as ASA and Comair are handed over to someone else.


737pylt,

I am glad you like me. I am not a Kool-aid drinker persay, but I think we are better off now than with Leo. Grinstein wants us to succeed, and has initiated many new ideas and gotten rid of excess. Operation clockwork, Simplifares, getting rid of DFW (a great idea---a huge RJ base), expanding Song, getting needed concessions (we had to do it), and looking out for our best interests. With Leo, we just threw money away, hoping USAir would die. Now gas is at an all time high, and we have to deal with it. Did you think gas would hit $60 a barrel? I didn't. We can only hope that they do have a plan, and as my quote says at the bottom----they are "not planning to fail." Let's hope not.


DL Slug,

You are the man!


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[regionaltard]

"Delta is not failing to plan, and we are certainly not planning to fail," -DL Golden Parachute rider....

Bye Bye--General Lee

Can you hear that General Lee? That is the sound of inevitability............

How about a tasty beverage to wash that down with?

 

[climbhappy]

MY VIEW ( .O1 CENT usd)

iT WILL be a long time before airtran flies 787 across the pond. First Boeing must be able to mass produce them. from what I've read, the bubbles in the layering process of the composite fuselage is drving them nuts and giving pause for concern. secondly,

To cross market segments in this day and age given the cost and competition makes LCCs aspiring to Int'l flying daydreamers.

Maybe Southwest will do it, but don't forget how you made it. expansion for the sake of expansion without profitibility is irresponsible.

Airtran is years behind the size of an operation that could make it.

re: marketing and brand recognition. Delta has it, they can play around and try new things. Airtran is still a neophyte with no where to go but up.

I do think they tried to mirror Delta with that new paint job. White top with red /blue accents. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

 

[CatfishVT9]

After reading this thread, I realized it's been a looooong, long time since I've seen a Delta commercial on TV but I see United commercials all the time.


Seems to me that if you want more business, a company should advertize more, not less. Eh?

I'd also like to know how United can afford to get a new paint job on their planes given the current cost climate.

Good luck to you guys,
Catfish

 

[michael707767]

I'd also like to know how United can afford to get a new paint job on their planes given the current cost climate.

Thats a good point. If I were someone UAL owed money, I'd be standing in court demanding that I be paid. If UAL has money for a new paint job, then they have money to pay off some debts.

 

[Spooky 1]

Basketball anyone

Fins,


You need to leave DCI as soon as possible. You sound miserable. Just one word of advice, don't list "RJDC Member" on your resume to CAL or Airtran. Nobody wants to hire a lazy senior RJ pilot who wants larger aircraft in his fleet so he doesn't have to give up weekends or his 4 weeks vacation a year in Myrtle Beach.

The part you are missing is that Delta is ACTUALLY ADVERTISING. That was non-existant a couple years ago. They have gone back to spending money on TV and radio commercials, and they reactivated the Delta sign on the southern part of downtown when you drive North on I-85. That was gone for awhile. They have billboards up at a lot of cities. So what if they sponsor a gay parade or float-----that demographic is huge in Buckhead and Midtown, and they spend lots of money on travel. You must have missed all of those corny commercials-----but they are new and they are out there. So Airtran is sponsoring the fireworks at Lennox. Good for them. We have a basketball arena in Salt Lake I believe. Zippy da do. And, all of that debt you described will be reduced by a lot as soon as ASA and Comair are handed over to someone else.


737pylt,

I am glad you like me. I am not a Kool-aid drinker persay, but I think we are better off now than with Leo. Grinstein wants us to succeed, and has initiated many new ideas and gotten rid of excess. Operation clockwork, Simplifares, getting rid of DFW (a great idea---a huge RJ base), expanding Song, getting needed concessions (we had to do it), and looking out for our best interests. With Leo, we just threw money away, hoping USAir would die. Now gas is at an all time high, and we have to deal with it. Did you think gas would hit $60 a barrel? I didn't. We can only hope that they do have a plan, and as my quote says at the bottom----they are "not planning to fail." Let's hope not.


DL Slug,

You are the man!


Bye Bye--General Lee

You guys have not had the basketball facility in SLC for at least a year now.

 

[wms]

......

 

[cmrflyer]

Since when did airlines buy gas general? I have no idea where you could even buy gas for $60 a barrel. I have however seen crude oil selling for $60 dollars, but i have never seen a jet running on gas.

PS what would you suggest general? 93 or 98 octane, i guess above FL340 98 octane might be better.
Dick head

 

[Tim47SIP]

CMRdood

PS what would you suggest general? 93 or 98 octane, i guess above FL340 98 octane might be better.
Dick head


Not to rain on your parade here but you will find that the turbine engines that you fly WILL run on gas. It is called "Emergency Fuel". There is normally a time limit on the number of hours you can run them on gas, and after that the standard practice is to do a hot end. I agree that the General consistently cuts ASA and Comair down with his constant "all of that debt you described will be reduced by a lot as soon as ASA and Comair are handed over to someone else" BS, but I am sure he meant no harm by using the term "gas".

I do wish that he would lay off on the constant barbs as it is getting very old. I know he does not like us, but we all do care about the well being of Delta. I hope we can survive this one. It does look like BK to me though. Time will tell.

 

[enigma]

I'd also like to know how United can afford to get a new paint job on their planes given the current cost climate.

Good luck to you guys,
Catfish

catfish, Paint is a part of an airplanes ongoing maintenance. The painting process is a huge corrosion inspection if you will. Also, while I don't know this to be true in the given example, the aircraft lessors may require that the aircraft are painted every x months for the above given reasons.

If an airline is stripping off brand new paint in order to spray on a different scheme, then I'll agree with you all. That is pretty wasteful for a struggling company. Passengers just don't care what the outside of their airplane looks like just as long as it is somewhat clean.

enigma