Not too long ago, Delta Air Lines introduced a new amenity kit for Business Elite passengers and I’ve selected the new version for this installment of Amenity Kit Reviews. I also reviewed the previous red cylindrical offering. For a better description of each category and the 7-point scale for scoring, please refer to my introductory post.

Bag/Container: This beige canvas zipper bag is a major upgrade from their previous version. It’s very well manufactured, the zipper operates smoothly and I love the detachable “snap on” handle. Leather (or leather-like) trim surrounds opposing sides and a small patch with the Delta – and SkyTeam – logo is sewn into one edge. Reusability is high in my opinion as its size and flexibility are ideal for a travel case. For a hybrid Business-First bag, this one is pretty darn good. Score: 6

Skin Care: Delta again chose Greek company Korres as their partner to supply skin care products in the kit, as well as the lavatories. The full retail-sized lip balm is effective and has a subtle Shea butter flavor. I’ve been a fan of pomegranate scented skin care products since United introduced Murad-branded items in their premium cabin lavatories, but the moisturizing cream from Korres sort of lacks a similarly appealing scent. It does, however, apply smoothly and absorbs fairly quickly. An antiseptic wet wipe infused with Aloe Vera and a lemony-citrus scent is also included. Score: 4

Oral Care: A medium-bristled mini toothbrush is enclosed in plastic along with a small tube of Colgate toothpaste and a DenTek fresh mint floss pick. If you’ve been reading my amenity kit reviews, you know that I wish more airlines would include mint-flavored toothpaste, but I’m slowly getting over it. I’d be less picky about it if mints or mouthwash were included and whereas the previous Delta kit included mints, this one does not. Ah well, Delta still gets an adequate rating here. Score: 4

Comfort Items: It’s hard to really come up with an “exceptional” sock, but I have to give Delta some props for theirs. The bottoms have little foam gripper thingies that I think are pretty cool. The eyeshades are an upgrade from the last kit and feature a Velcro strap to adjust the tightness to your liking. Also upgraded are the earplugs, which are larger than the last ones and very soft. A shoehorn and Delta-branded shoe polisher are also included. Score: 5

Intangibles: The kit is well stocked and provides just a little extra bit of luxury you expect when flying internationally in a premium cabin. Delta’s branding is subtle, yet welcoming and airlines that add a full-size pen get an extra hat tip in my book. For a hybrid Business-First product, Delta did very well. Oh, and there’s a “romance card” included from Korres offering a 20% discount on their in-store and online products. Score: 6

Total score & comments:

The last kit scored 3.95 and while 4.75 might not seem like much of an upgrade, it really does rank exceptionally better. Some of the items I was critical of in the last review – the earplugs, toothpaste tube size and moisturizing cream – were all improved. The pen, too, is better, if you can believe it. Nicely done, Delta, and manufacturer Wessco.

I previously posted an international configuration L-1011 TriStar flown by Delta Air Lines in the 1980s, and here now is one of their domestic versions from the same period for this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps.

Seating 32 passengers in First Class and 270 in coach, you’d find me in 3A or 3F up front and probably in a window seat in the low teens in coach. While no definitive bulkhead wall seems to exist between cabins, there must’ve been some type of partition limiting the recline of row six as noted by the shaded seats.

Where would you sit?

I have a fondness in my heart for the many “three-holers” I watched depart O’Hare during my teenage years alongside the runways. While the Boeing 727 is indeed a three-engine aircraft, my greatest appreciation fell with the widebody Douglas DC-10s and Lockheed L-1011s I saw so frequently.

For this installment of Vintage Airline Seat Maps, I bring you the internationally configured Delta Air Lines Lockheed TriStar L-1011-500. It seated a total of 241 passengers across three classes. First Class occupied 12 sleeper seats in a 2 x 2 x 2 layout, Business Class sat 40 passengers in a comfortable looking 2 x 4 x 2 configuration and the standard 2 x 5 x 2 coach layout seated 189.

Up front you’d find me in 1A, furthest from the galley and with an apparent abundant amount of legroom. In Business I’d most certainly be in row 11 or 12 and likely an aisle as these early version cabins didn’t offer ease-of-aisle access if you were in the window. Similarly, in coach I’d opt for either 20B or 21C for the legroom.

Where would you sit?

Eastern Airlines pioneered the air shuttle concept in 1961 with hourly service from New York’s La Guardia airport to both Washington National and Boston. It was operated with Lockheed Constellations way back then and eventually included widebodies at peak times in the 1980s.

In 1989, Donald Trump bought the Air-Shuttle service and operated it for a short time. It eventually merged into USAir, now US Airways, and both they and Delta Air Lines currently operate hourly service in those markets.

Here’s the Eastern Airbus A300 B2 used on Air-Shuttle flights seating a total of 265 coach passengers. These flights were no-frills and didn’t even allow for advance seat assignments. No big deal, really, given they were short-haul routes. I’d definitely be in a window seat and would try for rows three, four, 14 or 15 (those last two for a view of the engine).

Where would you sit?

I’ve seen a couple of reports in the last month where Delta Air Lines has upgraded several of Georgia’s current and former politicians with Gold, Platinum and even Diamond Medallion status. The first report surfaced last month when a WSBTV Channel 2 story slammed Delta for giving out Gold and Platinum status to several top Republicans.

The first round of status upgrades was valued by Delta at $1,600 for Gold and $2,400 for Platinum, so well within the guidelines for campaign contributions as they were so termed. Channel 2’s consumer advisor Clark Howard disagreed and claimed they were worth more to the tune of $10,000 to $15,000 per year, which is incredibly high in my opinion. Yes, Golds and Platinums on Delta get many nice perks such as priority airport services, complimentary upgrades, waived fees and more, but I disagree with the valuation by Mr. Howard. Whereas I may reap a significant benefit from my elite status given my knowledge of how to manage my miles and benefits, I don’t think that’s the case for the entire population of elite travelers. Also, redemption of accrued mileage in the SkyMiles program is well known to be an issue at the lowest mileage levels with virtually no availability, and their Systemwide Upgrades require much higher purchased fare classes to even use them for an international upgrade.

I believe some of the criticism in the first article is due to the fact that only Republicans received the perks, and it appears that Channel 2 is owned by Cox Communications, a well-known contributor to the Democratic Party. Another criticism was that at least one politician received Platinum status and then decided not to run for reelection. That is a little questionable, but otherwise I don’t really have an issue with Delta granting status as campaign contributions.

This week, it was also reported that Georgia Governor Nathan Deal and his wife received the highest Diamond Medallion status “to promote economic development.” Here, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, another Cox Communications company, claims it was Delta’s way of saying “thank you” to the governor for signing a tax break into law which reportedly will save Delta approximately $30 million in jet fuel taxes over the next two years. Could it have been a thank you? Unofficially yes, but I also see the benefit for senior politicians to have status to make their travels more comfortable.

So that brings me to wonder how you feel about airlines giving out status to elected officials who wouldn’t have normally earned it as we do by flying the required amount. Do you agree or disagree? I’d love hear your comments, including how you feel about the valuation of each status level.

Here’s a recap of additional news from this week that caught my attention:

• Delta Air Lines introduces the ability to track your checked bags online, as well as at self-service kiosks at its largest stations around the U.S. These upgrades also allow you to submit a missing bag report electronically, where in the past you had to work directly with an agent at the airport, or fax the information in from home. Included with the service is a “Delayed Bag Fee Rebate” in the form of travel vouchers for $25/bag up to two bags if they don’t arrive within 12-hours.
• The battles between Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) and airlines keep making the news, now with US Airways suing Sabre. The carrier claims the GDS refused to allow them to pursue other distribution platforms & threatened to remove their flights from the system if they did. Given that 35% of US Airways revenues flow through Sabre, the carrier had no choice saying, “it would not survive long” without a presence in Sabre. American chimed in, happily pointing out that “American does not stand alone in trying to bring new technologies to the distribution of airline products in the 21^st century.”
• Hilton Hotels officially introduced a new lobby design to eventually be rolled out across the flagship brand. The Hilton McClean Virginia Tysons Corner Hotel has the honor of being the first with the new lobby, featuring community spaces designed to plug in and work on your mobile devices or meet with others in a comfortable lounge-type setting. An 18-hour bar is also prominent, offering time-of-day appropriate food and beverage options.
• As widely reported at most news outlets, American Airlines and United Airlines posted first quarter 2011 losses of $436 million and $213 million respectively, citing fuel costs and the events in Japan as major contributors. Additional capacity cuts are in the works at both carriers. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines did manage to eek out a $5 million profit for the quarter ended March 31, 2011.
• Finally, quite a bit of airline news in Australia has been interesting to monitor this week. There are hints at V Australia entering the San Francisco market after Qantas’ departure, Strategic Airlines is seeking approval to fly to the United States (likely Hawaii), and it’s looking as if the new Virgin Blue will take the name of Virgin Australia, as recent web domain ownership activity suggests.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is planning to release several new airline passenger regulations today. It is being reported the new rules will make all fees more transparent up-front, enhance denied boarding compensation, refund some baggage fees, and add a 4-hour tarmac delay rule for internationally arriving flights to the U.S. The full regulations have yet to become available on the DOT website as of this posting, but will go into effect in August 2011.

On the fee front, the new regulations will require airlines to disclose all fees prior to the point you purchase a ticket, including taxes, baggage handling, food pricing, and “even blankets” according to the video portion from the link above. The baggage fees are a hot topic with everyone today, and Ray LaHood, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation is promising refunds for lost baggage. The terms of what qualifies as “lost” have yet to be published, so I’ll hold my opinion until I see what the actual rule will become.

On the denied boarding front, it is important to remember they are speaking of involuntary denied boarding, where the airline is unable to solicit enough volunteers to give up their seats & then must remove unwilling passengers due to oversales. Those rules are being enhanced to provide 2 times the value of your one-way ticket price up to $650 if you don’t make it to your destination within 2 hours, and 4 times the value up to $1,300 for longer delays. This has nothing to do with the initial offers you hear for volunteering your seat, where United Airlines currently offers $400 in travel credits, and Delta Air Lines has gone to a bidding system.

Last year’s 3-hour limit to how long a domestic U.S. flight can sit on the tarmac without allowing passenger to disembark is being expanded to international flights touching down on U.S. soil. Here, airlines will have to allow passengers off after 4-hours on the ground, or else pay fines in the neighborhood of $27,500 per passenger on the plane.

I’ll be sure to update my thoughts on the rules once they are released officially. While flying still isn’t a pleasant experience for many, it is nice to see our government making some authoritative steps in the right direction to ease some of the headaches.

It’s time for another Amenity Kit Review, and I’ve selected the current Delta Air Lines Business Elite offering. For a better description of each category, and the 7-point scale for scoring, please review my introduction post here.

Bag/Container: I like it when airlines incorporate their branding & color scheme into the amenity kits, and Delta includes both their logo and that of SkyTeam on the red nylon/canvas bag. I am not, however, a fan of round bags and reusability in my mind is nil for future trips, but it could perhaps be used at home to store something. It’s also more difficult to hold and rezip smoothly all the way around. Score: 3

Skin Care: Delta chose Greek company Korres as their partner to supply skin care products in the kit, as well as the lavatories. The full retail sized lip balm has a subtle Shea butter flavor, and in my opinion goes on a little thick. The moisturizing face cream is called “Yoghurt” and described as “non-oily cream with real, edible yoghurt that instantly hydrates,” according to the product information slip enclosed. Is it really edible (I didn’t try) and why would you want to spread yogurt on your face? In the lavs, basil lemon hand lotion is stocked and includes Aloe, Provitamin B5, Shea butter, and Jojoba oil. Score: 3

Oral Care: A medium-bristled mini toothbrush (style identical to United’s) is enclosed in plastic with the tiniest tube of Colgate toothpaste I’ve ever seen, and a Plackers dental flosser. I like these little flosser things and you can snap off the other edge of it to use the built-in toothpick. A package of “Hint Mints” is also included with the kit, flavored as Pomegranate Acai sours. The packaging notes they are kosher and contain no animal products. Score: 4

Comfort Items: It’s hard to really come up with an “exceptional” sock, but I have to give Delta some props for theirs. The bottoms have little foam gripper thingies that I think are pretty cool. The eyeshades fit ideally, snug yet comfortable, and effectively block out all light. The cylindrical earplugs are a bit too small for my taste, and although soft, they easily drop out of my ear (it’s probably just my oversized elephant ears). A small packet of three facial tissues is also included. Even though the earplugs were too small for me, the socks and eyeshades bump this category up a notch. Score: 5

Intangibles: The kit feels substantial and provides a sense of luxury you come to expect while flying internationally in the forward cabin. Even though I’m not a fan of the round bag, I’ll give Delta credit for being unique and differentiating theirs from other standardly sized cases. Score: 5

Total score & comments:

As a former marketer, I like that Delta’s logo was branded on many of the items inside the kit. The kit also included a full-sized pen, which is always handy and makes a good takeaway. The Korres information slip does offer a discount for future purchases, although there is a printing error. It reads, “Korres is pleased to offer Delta passengers a 20% discount on all Korres products. There are six easy ways to redeem your 10% discount…” So which is it: 10 or 20%? Overall, it’s a decent hybrid kit between First Class and Business Class, and given my comments above, a total score of 3.95 is fair.

[Editor's note: This guest post is from my very best friend in Chicago, Eric Moylan, who reviewed Delta Air Lines' Sky Club lounges in Detroit... enjoy!]

I had a chance to hit two Delta Air Lines Sky Clubs at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW) to check out how they compare to United’s Red Carpet Clubs, many of which I’ve been to. I planned a trip to the East Coast traveling through DTW with 2+ hours to entertain myself, so after chatting with Darren, I decided to purchase a One-Day Pass for the Sky Club. While I was debating on whether or not to actually get the day pass, I checked out the Sky Club page and was surprised to find that Milwaukee (where I started my day on a 5:30 AM flight) had a Sky Club. Although it would have been good to start my day off at this club to check out one of the smaller ones, it did not open for business until 4:45, and my flight began boarding at 4:50. I decided to just skip this club and wait until I got to Detroit.

After arriving at DTW, I headed straight for the closest Sky Club, which was in the middle of the terminal. I went in, and within three minutes I had paid for my one-day pass & headed upstairs where the club was located. It is comparable to the Red Carpet Clubs (RCCs) when you enter. They use a lot of medium colored woods & frosted glass-dividing panels with high ceilings, which give you a feeling of a larger space. I found a seat near some windows that had a view of the center of the terminal, which included the water feature, train, and post-security area with shops. The club had comfortable chairs and couches throughout in multiple seating areas. It seemed empty for a Friday morning at one of Delta’s hub airports, with only a few people scattered throughout the club in the larger seating area.

First thing on the list was to grab a cup of coffee. There are beverage stations throughout the club giving you the same options of coffee, mini muffins and canned juices. There is a larger seating area where the free self-service bar is located, which also had a toaster with bagels available. As much as a Bloody Mary would have been a good start to my vacation, I stuck with coffee.  I grabbed a couple muffins and returned to my seat and started up the laptop to check out the free Wi-Fi service offered through T-Mobile. It had a good connection speed and didn’t have any lag or lost connections.

While enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the club, shortly that came to an end. A family of five arrived and the three children began to talk in their high-pitched voices. The parents were quickly trying to get them to talk in a quieter tone. As much as I like kids (just ask Darren), being near children was not going to be high on my list of things this trip. I refilled my cup of coffee and walked around the club and checked out the different areas. Even on the other side of the club, I could hear the kids. There were a few conference rooms and shower rooms available.  The large seating area had a free bar that seemed to be getting some use by the amount of people sitting near it. There were also some bagels and toasters available in this area as well.

After walking around for a bit I headed back to my seat and took a few pictures of the different areas of the club.  The offerings are similar to United’s RCCs.  Nothing really stood out to me to make them any different than if I was at the RCC in Denver. The only thing that this club was missing was a view of the tarmac. The only views you get out of this club are the concourse on one side and a few of the hotels on the other.

After having my fill of the main club and wanting to check out another one before my flight, I headed to the B/C Concourse. This was a smaller club, but does have a good view of the wide-body gates in the A terminal. It felt cramped with low ceilings and the seating areas are crammed with seats. Most of the different areas had seats for 8-10 people around a small coffee table.  This club seemed to be busier than the previous one, but that could be due to the smaller area. Most of the different seating areas had a few people in them. I found an empty one to spread out and relax and within 5 minutes, I had two other people joining me. This club has a view of the A terminal where the larger planes and mainline aircraft arrive. If you have never been to DTW before, it’s famous for the “dots” on the windows that block any good photo taking.

I found another beverage station and grabbed some juice on this round. Offerings were similar to the other club, including the free bar. I noticed people indulging in the free bar with the usual Bloody Mary’s and a few people drinking wine. I could understand the Bloody Mary’s, but wine at 9:30 AM?? Guess everyone has his or her drinks of choice. After grabbing a bagel and another cup of coffee I returned to my seat and watched a few planes moving around the airport. I started up my laptop again and checked the status on my next flight, which would be leaving from a gate just below the club. The flight seemed to be delayed a bit, which gave me more time in the club before leaving.

Overall I found the club comparable to what United offers at their Red Carpet Clubs. The one notable thing I like about Delta Sky Club is that you can use your day pass to enter any of the club’s on the day of your travel or one-day pass, not having to actually fly Delta to use the club.  Whereas United only lets you enter one club in each city, so if you were flying through a few cities with RCC’s, you’d have to pay for a day pass at each club.  This is a great option that I wish United had.  Being able to switch around when the club you’re in gets too crowded, or you just need a change of scenery when you’re flights delayed for a lengthy amount of time, is a nice benefit.

Eric Moylan

I’ve selected a Delta Air Lines Boeing 727-200 for this edition of Vintage Airline Seat Maps. The carrier operated another version, with the only basic difference being that the rear galley was on the right starboard side of the aircraft. I liked the 727, as did the pilots. Takeoff thrust is eerily quiet when sitting up front (or in the cockpit as I did so many times), though not as much as the MD-80 family. The same cannot be said for those sitting in the back, and I do recall sitting back there in those last two rows on occasion or two. Nothing like piercing & vibrating Stage 2 engines for a couple of hours! In first class you’d most definitely find me in row 3 or 4 (didn’t like the galley view from rows 1 & 2), and in coach I’d be content with a seat in rows 10-13.

Where would you sit?