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Avoid Delta and Atlanta



 
 
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  #1  
Old June 24th, 2006, 10:32 PM posted to rec.travel.air
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Default Avoid Delta and Atlanta

We are Europeans living near Birmingham and have often business and personal
friends visiting us. In recent months, we have heard from 2 couples and
several single travelers that European travel agencies are warning to stay
away from Delta (long waiting times at check-in and poor service,
particulaly eastbound over the Atlantic) and Atlanta ( very slow arrival
clearance with baggage that has to be recovered, handled and checked in
again. Long lines in front of uninterested customs people etc.)
Why are Atlanta and Delta singled out?


  #2  
Old June 24th, 2006, 10:56 PM posted to rec.travel.air
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Default Avoid Delta and Atlanta

Well, it confirms my own experience. I have been flying out of Atlanta to
Frankfurt/Germany quite frequently for more then 15 years. AFAIK, Delta has
declared bankruptcy and seems to operate with a minimum of service persons.
I have switched to Lufthansa for most of my travel to Europe, but last week
I tried Delta's new service to Düsseldorf / Germany. Check-in in Atlanta
took 1.5 hours just to get the luggage weighted and then you still get your
luggage back and have to go to another counter and wait again! During the
long night flight not a single flight attendent showed up to even offer a
cup of water! I used to love Delta........


"Herb Ludwig" wrote in message
news
We are Europeans living near Birmingham and have often business and
personal friends visiting us. In recent months, we have heard from 2
couples and several single travelers that European travel agencies are
warning to stay away from Delta (long waiting times at check-in and poor
service, particulaly eastbound over the Atlantic) and Atlanta ( very slow
arrival clearance with baggage that has to be recovered, handled and
checked in again. Long lines in front of uninterested customs people etc.)
Why are Atlanta and Delta singled out?



  #3  
Old June 25th, 2006, 01:31 AM posted to rec.travel.air
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Default Avoid Delta and Atlanta

My 3c worth:

Ever since reading this group I can' stop wondring about the number of
posts suggesting that Airline X is worth less than all others, or
Airport B is worth less than all olthers.

Guys, please understand that you are reporting individual experiences,
and even if you flew, say, once a month, they will remain individual
experiences. Only a well-designed and impartial survey could really
differentiate between airlines and airports Such surveys do exist,
although I don't have a link at hand.

In the particular case of airline and and airport, Delta is no worse
than any other major US airline; bankrupcy or no bankrupcy. I was
recently on an Air France flight where the flight attendants closed
themselves off behind curtains immediately after serving dinner and
were very angry if someone tried to lift the curtain to ask them for
something. "Don't you see we are having dinner?" was one response. The
other was "Don't you see we are having rest?" Some crews are better
than others within one airline -- I had previously experienced very
good service on AF, so I really won't generalize on this single
experience.

As for checking in luggage, yes, you have to get it weighted and then
you have to carry it yourself for TSA inspection. But this has nothing
to do with Delta -- it's a federal requirement. All other airlines in
the US are currently obliged to do the same.

So guys, tried to grow up a little and look at things from a distance.
There is no question that the overall standard of air travel have
declined immensely in recent years. But singling out particular
airlines and/or airports really needs some solid statistical data.
Otherwise, it just serves the purpose of venting your individual
frustrations, however justified, and is thus completely unhelpful to
other members of this group.

Again, this was my 3c worth.

jrk


Hanna Lahy wrote:
Well, it confirms my own experience. I have been flying out of Atlanta to
Frankfurt/Germany quite frequently for more then 15 years. AFAIK, Delta has
declared bankruptcy and seems to operate with a minimum of service persons.
I have switched to Lufthansa for most of my travel to Europe, but last week
I tried Delta's new service to Düsseldorf / Germany. Check-in in Atlanta
took 1.5 hours just to get the luggage weighted and then you still get your
luggage back and have to go to another counter and wait again! During the
long night flight not a single flight attendent showed up to even offer a
cup of water! I used to love Delta........


"Herb Ludwig" wrote in message
news
We are Europeans living near Birmingham and have often business and
personal friends visiting us. In recent months, we have heard from 2
couples and several single travelers that European travel agencies are
warning to stay away from Delta (long waiting times at check-in and poor
service, particulaly eastbound over the Atlantic) and Atlanta ( very slow
arrival clearance with baggage that has to be recovered, handled and
checked in again. Long lines in front of uninterested customs people etc.)
Why are Atlanta and Delta singled out?


  #4  
Old June 25th, 2006, 02:35 AM posted to rec.travel.air
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Default Avoid Delta and Atlanta

wrote:
In the particular case of airline and and airport, Delta is no worse
than any other major US airline; bankrupcy or no bankrupcy. I was
recently on an Air France flight where...


= I agree. Extrapolating one bad experience, like one marriage, to
an entire fleet (or gender) don't make a whole lot of sense, without
a valid statistical sample.

As for checking in luggage, yes, you have to get it weighted and then
you have to carry it yourself for TSA inspection. But this has nothing
to do with Delta -- it's a federal requirement. All other airlines in
the
US are currently obliged to do the same.


= At Virgin Atlantic in Orlando, I had to hand carry my luggage out the
door we just came in to hand it off to a screener. With Virgin, like
most
airlines, allowing online check-in, at least we didn't have to wait in
the
1.5-hour line. It was well worth the inconveniece of finding an
internet
service at my destination for our return flight. Besides, that way, I
could
lord it over the fools in the long-line and feel superior to them, even
tho
I was in the same sardine-class cabin.


  #5  
Old June 28th, 2006, 05:09 AM posted to rec.travel.air
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Default My issue with DL ( Avoid Delta and Atlanta)

DL seems to have this idea that nobody would ever wish to SLEEP while
traveling with them. Passengers on their SJC-ATL red-eye are subject to
movies and in-flight video "entertainment" through most of the flight, even
though the vast majority are pulling blankets over their heads and trying to
shield their eyes from the flickering screen. No chance of grabbing any naps
while connecting at ATL either - all the terminals are brightly lit 7/24,
have repeated announcements over the PA, muzak and TV's blaring around the
clock. The only reason I would fly Delta at all is because I can get NW
miles - CO is a much preferable alternative. :O|



"Rog'" wrote in message
. ..
wrote:
In the particular case of airline and and airport, Delta is no worse
than any other major US airline; bankrupcy or no bankrupcy. I was
recently on an Air France flight where...


= I agree. Extrapolating one bad experience, like one marriage, to
an entire fleet (or gender) don't make a whole lot of sense, without
a valid statistical sample.

As for checking in luggage, yes, you have to get it weighted and then
you have to carry it yourself for TSA inspection. But this has nothing
to do with Delta -- it's a federal requirement. All other airlines in
the
US are currently obliged to do the same.


= At Virgin Atlantic in Orlando, I had to hand carry my luggage out the
door we just came in to hand it off to a screener. With Virgin, like
most
airlines, allowing online check-in, at least we didn't have to wait in
the
1.5-hour line. It was well worth the inconveniece of finding an
internet
service at my destination for our return flight. Besides, that way, I
could
lord it over the fools in the long-line and feel superior to them, even
tho
I was in the same sardine-class cabin.




  #6  
Old June 28th, 2006, 05:48 AM posted to rec.travel.air
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Default My issue with DL ( Avoid Delta and Atlanta)

"Stan de SD" wrote:
DL seems to have this idea that nobody would ever wish to SLEEP
while traveling with them. Passengers on their SJC-ATL red-eye are
subject to movies and in-flight video "entertainment" through mostt...


God forbid that an airline should actually provide entertainment for
insomniacs, who would alternatively, complain about the lack of same.

... the vast majority are pulling blankets over their heads and
trying to shield their eyes from the flickering screen.


Ever hear of eye-shades or dark glasses?

No chance of grabbing any naps while connecting at ATL either - all
the terminals are brightly lit 7/24, have repeated announcements over
the PA, muzak and TV's blaring around the clock...


Perhaps they do not want you to sleep thru the boarding of your
next flight? Alternatively, we'd hear complaints about how dark
and lifeless it is.


  #7  
Old June 28th, 2006, 06:05 AM posted to rec.travel.air
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Default My issue with DL ( Avoid Delta and Atlanta)

Stan de SD wrote:

DL seems to have this idea that nobody would ever wish to SLEEP while
traveling with them.



It is a question of airline philosophy. An airline whose core operations
are trans pacific flights will have a core personality/philosophy that
includes dealing properly with long ahuls and overnight flights and this
transcends to all their operations.

But an airline whose core operations are domestic or relatively
short/medium haul flight will not see its few true long haul influence
service levels for the rest of the airline.


It is also a battle of marketing. If you run some overnight flight with
"lights out" to let people sleep, some people will bitch that there was
no movie/service and that they couldn't sleep. And that looks bad
despite being the right thing to do.

Remember that some people are not used to overnight flighst and cannot
sleep on aircraft, so they need to be kept entertained. (But there are
still ways to show a movie with the lights out, still ways to serve
meal/drinks right after takeoff to allow the most shut eye afterwards.
But it is a question of the service managers setting such policies and
ensuring crews are aware of them.
  #8  
Old June 24th, 2006, 11:14 PM posted to rec.travel.air
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Default Avoid Delta and Atlanta

Why are Atlanta and Delta singled out?

Delta being in bankruptcy probably has something to do with it.
Atlanta being the busiest airport in the country also probably has
something to do with it. If possible, connect through Cincinnati
(CVG), as it is much less busy than Atlanta (ATL). The queues
at CVG are not near as long.


Pete


  #9  
Old June 25th, 2006, 12:13 AM posted to rec.travel.air
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Default Avoid Delta and Atlanta

Some of those samaritan-type City of Atlanta downtown helpers
might/oughtabe re-positioned to the airport during the busiest times if
the situation is as cruddy as it appears to be, though I suppose the
regular employees whom are being layed-off or kept from getting
over-time would not agree.
Hey, it's only an idea--not necessarily realistic nor adaptive to
Delta's crisis situation. I think the State should subsidize 'em in any
legal, helpful ways we can, though I'll fly Air Tran to save a buck,
and, helle yes, I'm a fool-hypocrite.


Pete wrote:
Why are Atlanta and Delta singled out?


Delta being in bankruptcy probably has something to do with it.
Atlanta being the busiest airport in the country also probably has
something to do with it. If possible, connect through Cincinnati
(CVG), as it is much less busy than Atlanta (ATL). The queues
at CVG are not near as long.


Pete


  #10  
Old June 25th, 2006, 12:25 AM posted to rec.travel.air
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Default Avoid Delta and Atlanta

In article ,
Herb Ludwig wrote:

In recent months, we have heard from 2 couples and
several single travelers that European travel agencies are warning to stay
away from Delta (long waiting times at check-in and poor service,
particulaly eastbound over the Atlantic) and Atlanta ( very slow arrival
clearance with baggage that has to be recovered, handled and checked in
again. Long lines in front of uninterested customs people etc.)


Delta is a fairly mediocre airline, but certainly no worse than
European carriers. As for Atlanta, it's a model of efficiency and
good customer service compared to a big European airport (with very
few exceptions like Schiphol).

 




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