Seriously, I’m a little confused. If I’m reading things correctly, Delta (great airline) SkyMiles (not quite average awards program) is about to implement a policy change which I don’t quite get. If I’m reading things correctly, any changes/cancellations within 72 hours before departure of flights booked with SkyMiles will result in forfeiture of said miles? You can read this FT thread to tell me what you think. I think I’m not a fan. So if I understand things, if I have an award trip booked, and my work cancels my vacation 48 hours before I’m supposed to depart, I’m out of the miles? Delta, please tell me I’m reading this wrong!

I mean, if Delta offered things like one-way awards and consistently decent award seat availability more than 3 days before departure, I might be a little more understanding. In this case, I think this feels like an idea that could seriously tick off a lot of customers. Maybe I’m wrong. Feel free to comment.

Not sure this is new, but since it arrived in my email today, I’ll mention it here. You can get a discount of up to 40 percent as well. Follow this link for terms and conditions as well as booking.

What is up with the airlines and their credit card offerings lately? First, the MileagePlus Explorer Visa, and then the American AAdvantage Executive World Elite MasterCard. Now Delta is stepping things up a notch with some enhanced privileges for its Gold and Platinum SkyMiles Cards from American Express. Beginning September 1, Delta will add a priority boarding (Zone 2) privilege for cardholders, which can be extended to a total of 9 passengers traveling in the same reservation. The first bag free benefit for up to 9 travelers in the same reservation remains. Additionally, cardmembers will begin receiving a 20 percent savings on purchase of inflight amenities from Delta. You can read Delta’s press release here which details other benefits and T&Cs.

With the new focus on enhanced benefits like priority boarding and bag fee waivers, I think any of these new card products is worth a look, especially if they’re attached to an airline you fly a bit, but do not hold elite status with. I have to wonder what’s driving this new effort on enhanced benefits for airline cards. I believe them to be quite lucrative for the airlines and card companies, so I suppose anything that can done to gin up interest in the cards is good for the companies. As long as the benefits don’t encroach on those offered to elite fliers, I think I’m ok with these new cards.

I may be the only person on earth who likes Friday evenings at the airport. When I was working for an airline, I’d say things were more challenging on Friday evening, but I kind of miss the hussle-bustle from time to time. Then there’s now…when I’m a regular customer and flying home on Friday evening. As weird as it sounds, I like it. The crowds, the buzz, the energy…..I love it. I probably love it more because I can spend my Friday at the airport in the Delta Sky Club doing what people do when they’re in the Sky Club. Relax, have a snack, a refreshing adult beverage, and take care of some work too! It’s all good, and I love it.  And look at what a great selection of beers on tap they have (and Heineken bottles too):

Beers on tap at the Delta A-17 Sky Club

Word to the wise, the A-17 Sky Club is undergoing some pretty heavy renovations, so it isn’t pretty, but I’m sure the construction look will be worth it in the end. In the meantime, plan accordingly. For what it’s worth, the bartenders here are fabulous (Marcus is awesome!), and I love being able to belly up, sit down, and enjoy the conversation…..and the blogging opportunity. Yes, I’m a little out there, but I love Friday night at the airport!

I’m embarking on a pretty basic and routine trip to Atlanta on Delta Air Lines this afternoon. In fact, I’m typing this from Delta’s Sky Club at National Airport (DCA). Nothing against our former President, but this place will always be simply “National Airport” to me. With such a basic trip, you might be wondering how on earth I can be trying something new today? I fully recognize how silly what I’m about to say may sound to some, but for those readers who work for or have worked for an airline, you’ll know what I mean. Unless I’m not remembering something, I, Marshall Jackson, age 41, am wearing shorts and flip flops on a commercial airliner for the first time ever today.

You heard it here first. It’s time for the world to know that some 7 years and 5 months after I departed the employment of an AAirline, I am finally wearing shorts on a flight. To say that today, I’ve finally arrived would be an understatement. I know…goofy. But when I first went to work for an airline, employees did not wear shorts on travel. You didn’t wear jeans on travel. You wore a coat and tie if you wanted to be in competition for any possible space available seats in first class, and you wore decent pants and a nice shirt if you only wanted coach. That said, most wore a coat and tie just in case the only seat left was in first class, something that actually happened from time to time not all that many years ago.

Why today you might ask? If you lived in DC, or really anywhere in a pretty broad swath of the USA right now, you’d know. It is …let’s see…how do I put this? It is damn hot here!!! Frankly, I’m going to Atlanta to cool off! So there you have it. For the first time ever, I’m wearing shorts on a plane, and in first class no less since my Medallion upgrade cleared.

That’s not the only first. I’ve been experimenting with my camera. Learned how to tame the flash and the volume. Yes, I’m taking a few pictures in the DCA Sky Club! The lighting is just right, and truth be told, this is the first time I remember being here when it wasn’t before dawn in months, if not years! Not too long ago, Delta greatly expanded the space by knocking out a few walls and removing the conference rooms. The result was a lot more comfortable seating, including a great “techie bar” type area along the window looking down on the grand hall in the main terminal. Power outlets galore! PTL!

Why Lunch at Tidewater Landing When You Can Do This?

The Computer Bar Facing the Grand Hall at DCA – Great Spot to Work

View From my Perch at the End of the Computer Bar at the DCA Sky Club

Just Some of the Expanded Seating at the DCA Sky Club and a Glimpse of the Ramp Too

So there you have it. A few travel firsts for me. Exciting stuff, huh? I know, not really, but there’s more to come!

Delta Air Lines announced today that it has completed installation of new lie-flat seats in the Business Elite cabin of its 777 and 767-400 jets.  I have to admit I like the look of these seats.  But beyond being aesthetically pleasing, the best thing about them from my perspective is aisle access from each seat!  I’ve yet to have the opportunity to fly in one of these seats, but having been trapped on the window in American’s Next Generation Business Class (NGBC) seats, I can tell you there’s no way I’d fly that product over Delta’s new seats if I had a choice.  You can check out Delta’s scoop on its Business Elite flat baed seats here.  Can’t wait to try one sometime!  Work starts on the 767-300 fleet later this summer.

I have to wonder, with Delta going lie-flat and United working its way there, can American be far behind with something new?  Seriously, their seats aren’t as bad as some make them out to be, but they are falling behind even their fellow US competitors, and of course always innovative foreign airlines.  I would think that this coupled with their increasingly close relationship with British Airways would drive them towards product improvement sooner rather than later.

How one ever feels sorry for a company, especially an airline, I’ll never know.  But this Saturday afternoon, I’m officially sorry for Delta Air Lines and every one of its employees from the CEO on down.  The little maelstrom created by this Huffington Post article boggles the mind.  While the author is certainly entitled to his opinion, the fact that this issue has taken off the way it has leads me to wonder about our collective future as a country.

The issue at hand is that Delta Air Lines is a member of the Sky Team Alliance along with a plethora of other airlines, and the Alliance has voted to admit Saudi Arabian Airlines as a member.  Delta and every other airline is required to comply with certain laws for each country it serves or connects passengers to.  In other words, Delta does not, and will not be flying to Saudi Arabia, but if they happen to carry a passenger that connects to a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight headed to Saudi Arabia, they have to comply with certain laws regarding travel to Saudi Arabia.  One of those is the need to obtain a Visa for travel if you’re stopping in Saudi Arabia (none required if you’re connecting through).

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requires a Visa, and to get one, you are asked what your religion is.  Also, if your Passport happens to have an Israeli stamp on it, you may be denied a Visa.  As bad as that is (and make no mistake, I think it’s bad), it’s the policy of the Saudi government, not Delta Air Lines.  Furthermore, it is a requirement that must be met for air travel on any airline or alliance.  Flying American Airlines from the USA to London, and connecting on a BA flight to Saudi Arabia?  Same deal.  Are we now going to boycott BA because they fly to Saudi Arabia?  Lufthansa?  Air France?  American for partnering with BA?  I could go on.

I suppose given the hyper-sensitive, hyper-polarized, hyper-idiocy that envelops our country today, Delta might have better anticipated the reaction to Saudi Arabian Airlines becoming a member of Sky Team.  Though after reading some of the hysterical lunacy contained in the comments section of Delta’s blog on this topic, I’m not sure anyone could plan for this.  To be clear, I do not condone the policies of the Saudi government, and the only thing I hate is hate itself.  That said, the reaction by some to this business transaction makes me wonder if some people don’t need to take a look at themselves before they lecture the rest of us on righteousness.

I think I’ll go book a flight on Delta now.

(@MJonTravel apologies for the corny post title)

I synced my iPhone this morning and found that Delta had an update waiting for me on the iTunes store.  This update moves their iPhone app forward by miles.  You now have the ability to view the upgrade and standby list and change your seat assignment using the app, BIG steps forward in functionality.  I’d test the upgrade list function tonight and report back, but my upgrade cleared at the window!  :)  I did check in using the app and my electronic boarding pass worked just fine.

Stay tuned, I’ll test the new features of the latest version of the app on a future Delta flight and report on my experience.  I’ve always thought Delta’s iPhone app was nicely done, and they didn’t bite off more than they could chew out of the gate with it.  Each update has brought sensible functionality that worked, and I use the app every time I fly Delta.  I wonder if the latest update fixes the issue of the app reminding me to check in for flights that I’ve long since canceled?  We’ll know soon.

Hello from the W Atlanta Buckhead Living Room.  Nice stay so far.  No, I wasn’t upgraded to some big daddy suite, but I did graduate from a “Wonderful” to a “Fabulous” room, pictures of which, I will include with the full review.  The Living Room is pretty quiet on this Monday night, and I am not going to complain about that!  After today at my day job, I was ready for a quiet night.

This morning’s flight from DCA to ATL on Delta was pretty uneventful other than the go-around on landing at ATL.  DCA was very busy this summer Monday morning.  Between the usual summer traffic, and the US Open attendees, the line for TSA was really backed up.  Thankfully, as a Delta Gold Medallion, I bypassed all that mess and headed straight for the Sky Priority line.  My wait was only 10 minutes or so, and I was on my second coffee in the Sky Club before people who joined the regular security line at the same time I walked in were anywhere near clearing.  I hate to say it, but I seriously don’t know how anyone without elite status on some airline tolerates flying on a semi-routine basis, really, I don’t.

Once I survived the workspace, I took MARTA to the hotel, and was entertained by the fact that I was like the last in a little line of travelers from the same train making their way straight to the W.  There was a small line to check in, but not for long.  More details on the stay once its complete, but I think it’s going to be a good one!  More to come soon.

This week’s dust up about Delta charging a group of soldiers returning from the Afghan war $2,800 dollars in excess baggage charges sure was something.  Mostly lost in the conversation was the fact that the soldiers would have been reimbursed by the US Government for the extra bag per their travel orders.  Now, as lame as I think it is that they would have had to go through the paperwork to get their money back, they would have gotten the money eventually.  Furthermore, Delta’s policy is what it is (or was).  Would it have been best for all if the agents checking the soldiers in had exercised some flexibility?  Sure….but I think we all know how that works.

The facts are that Delta and every other airline already allow our military men and women on duty to carry more bags that can weigh more than the number of bags the rest of us can carry.  I’m fine with that.  Just so happens that this group of servicemen (and perhaps many others for all I know) were carrying 4 bags when Delta allowed 3, so the Delta agent did what they are trained to do and collected excess fees for the 4th bag.  PERIOD.  There is no conspiracy theory….no disrespect of our military by Delta…..no nothing.  Delta got unlucky that one or two of the soldiers happened to be YouTube savvy, and the rest is history.

This story is quickly receding from the scene, and I opine that Delta’s fabulous social media team is a big part of the reason why.  They got out in front of this the second that video went viral, and reached out directly to the soldiers affected.  Whether they are satisfied or not, I do not know.  I am satisfied that this was much ado about nothing and the drama generated should have never seen the light of day.  But at least it got an extra bag for free for our returning soldiers.