The United States Department of Transportation tentatively approved the swap of slots at Fiorello LaGuardia Airport in New York and Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C. — but only under certain conditions.

Delta Air Lines and US Airways will be allowed to trade landing rights in New York and Washington, as long as they sell eight takeoff and landing rights in Washington, D.C. and 16 in New York to other airlines which hold fewer than five percent of current slots and do not code share with — or operate on behalf of — an airline that has greater than five percent of current slots.

Delta Air Lines will reportedly give US Airways 42 pairs of takeoff and landing rights in Washington, D.C. along with cash in exchange for Delta acquiring 132 pairs of takeoff and landing rights in New York, giving Delta Air Lines a significantly greater presence in New York, while US Airways increases its presence in Washington.

For additional information, please refer to the following FlyerTalk threads:

• DOT approves LGA slot swap!
• (UPDATE 7/21/11): DOT gives tentative approval to revised US/DL slot swap

The annual J.D. Power and Associates North America Airline Satisfaction Study for 2011 has just been released, and here are the rankings of the airlines in North America in overall customer satisfaction as a result:

Traditional Carriers

1. Alaska Airlines/ Horizon Air
2. Air Canada
3. Continental Airlines
4. American Airlines/ American Eagle
5. Delta Air Lines
6. United Airlines
7. US Airways

Low-Cost Carriers

1. JetBlue Airways
2. Southwest Airlines
3. AirTran Airways
4. Frontier Airlines/Midwest Airlines
5. WestJet

Airlines that tied are listed in alphabetical order.

Here are some discussions on FlyerTalk regarding the results of this annual survey:

• J.D. Power Airline Satisfaction Survey 2011
• Delta and the J.D. Power award ranking for 2011

…and do not be surprised if more discussions appear on FlyerTalk regarding the results of this annual survey…

There are questions over the scrutiny Delta Air Lines has received by both traditional media and social media regarding the reported incident that Delta charges group of military on orders $2,800 USD to check extra bags – in error.

Delta Air Lines clearly states its policy regarding fees for extra baggage by United States military personnel — or does it? Depending on where one goes at the official Internet web site of Delta Air Lines, the waiver for military personnel is either for three or four checked bags, which can understandable cause confusion.

There even was a video publicly posted — and then later redacted — criticizing how Delta Air Lines charged greater than a dozen military personnel approximately $2,800.00 in baggage fees.

An apology was already issued by Delta Air Lines regarding this incident, and the policy regarding baggage fees charged to military personnel was changed in favor of the military.

Regardless, Delta Air Lines has received scathing criticism of its now-former policy and of the incident itself. Did Delta Air Lines really deserve the public scrutiny?

At first glance, it may seem as though a 40-year-old Man Flirted his way into Lifetime Ban on DL. However, the story gets stranger, as a 23-year-old woman who writes a weblog gives details on how she possibly thwarted a man possible capable of committing terror. He allegedly lit a torch on-board the Delta Air Lines aircraft en route to Atlanta from Dallas, which calls into question the security policies implemented by the Transportation Security Administration. He gave her chocolates. He reportedly said things that could possibly cause a person to fear that they are indeed in danger.

Was the woman a heroine who saved the day, or did she purposely entrap the man to create a situation that may have been otherwise unnecessary? Was he a threat, or simply flirting with the woman? Was he deranged or drunk? Does he deserve the lifetime ban from Delta Air Lines?

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles members can Get Skymiles by donating to cancer research with a minimum donation of US$25.00 towards cancer research.

The National Foundation for Cancer Research, which launched this program, is a leading cancer research charity dedicated to funding cancer research and public education relating to cancer prevention, earlier diagnosis, better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for cancer. The National Foundation for Cancer Research promotes and facilitates collaboration among scientists to accelerate the pace of discovery from bench to bedside.

Delta Air Lines used to cut the limes served with drinks on its flights into 10 slices. Northwest airlines used to cut its limes into 16 slices. Despite a potential savings of up to $500,000.00 per year, Delta Air Lines opted to keep cutting its limes into 10 slices, but because it apparently loaded more limes onto its flights than needed, Delta Air Lines now carries fewer limes on its flights.

The lime scenario is only one of many different issues, problems and items to be resolved in The Minutiae of an Airline Merger.

Delta Air Lines springs into action for a dying breast cancer patient wanting to spend the final days of her life with her family in South Korea.

For several days, the woman and her daughter have been attempting to get to South Korea from Seattle, but Korean Air would not permit them on board, concerned of the possibility that she might die on the flight en route, potentially traumatizing fellow passengers. Despite that the woman — a patient losing her battle with Stage 4 breast cancer — was granted clearance by her doctors for her to fly to South Korea, Korean Air steadfastly refused, citing their policies which follow the guidelines set by the International Air Transport Association.

After she was repeatedly denied passage on Korean Airlines to her family in South Korea with whom she wanted to spend her final days, a gift was given to a Dying woman granted flight on Delta.

Delta Air Lines came to the rescue, not only flying both of them from Seattle to South Korea, but also upgrading them to the business class cabin so that they may travel in comfort.

Meanwhile, Korean Air refunded the airfare to the woman.

To qualify for the SkyMiles dining 5K bonus for $500 spent, ensure that you are registered for the Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Dining program, as well as for the promotion itself, which is currently active and is scheduled to end June 30, 2011. You will earn 1,000 bonus Delta Air Lines SkyMiles for every $100.00 you spend at a participating dining establishment, and this can be repeated up to five times.

Rules and restrictions apply, but advanced registration is required.

The Canadair CRJ-700 regional jet operated by Comair for Delta Air Lines was no match for the Airbus 380 operated by Air France, whose wing impacted the tail of the regional jet enough to swerve it sideways. The incident caused cancellations of some Air France flights out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, where the incident took place as both aircraft were taxiing near a runway. Both aircraft were towed after the incident.

FlyerTalk members discuss the incident in the following threads, which include photographs and video:

• DL Flight 6293(Comair) struck by AF A-380 @ JFK
• AF7 A380 clips a DL CRJ700 at JFK

When Memphis International Airport became a hub for Delta Air Lines as a result of its merger with Northwest Airlines, some frequent fliers expected a reduction in traffic as a result, while others hoped that Memphis would offer relief to Atlanta, the busiest airport in the world and the main hub of Delta Air Lines.

Those who predicted a reduction in traffic were correct, as per an announcement released by Delta Air Lines — but is this news really as bad as it sounds? It depends on one’s point of view and to where one travels from Memphis.

In addition to the approximately 25% reduction in flights to and from Memphis, in which This will hit MEM hard, Delta Air Lines will also retire some CRJ-50 regional jet aircraft.

Could this reduction in flights give Southwest Airlines a potential stronghold in Memphis? Does this reduction in flights mean higher fares and full airplanes in the future for those who fly in and out of Memphis? Will any further reductions in flights be implemented by Delta Air Lines in the future?