Being crammed in Economy isn’t most travellers’ idea of a good time. But Delta Air Lines is challenging the typical perception of budget travel, by upgrading all its products and services – not just Business Class. Here’s five ways the aviation giant is breaking the mould in international air travel:
When Delta Air Lines upgrades its products and services – they’ve injected billions of dollars in recent years – they focus on all customers, not just Business Class.
Since 2006, the airline has made a marked effort to enhance the Main Cabin experience, offering complimentary meals, free mobile messaging, no charge in-flight entertainment, upgraded snacks and sparkling wine, and access to Wi-Fi on nearly all flights.
"We know that a number of variables combine to make a superior in-flight dining experience," Lisa Bauer, Delta's Vice President of On-Board Services explains.
Moreover, recent upgrades to the Delta One in-flight experience include new menus by internationally-renowned chefs and TUMI amenity kits with Kiehl's products, Alessi-designed serviceware, Westin Heavenly® In-Flight Bedding, and noise-canceling LSTN headphones.
"From fresh, seasonal ingredients, to better serviceware, to the option to pre-order, Delta's in-flight culinary offerings continue to evolve and expand to ensure our customers receive a distinctive, memorable experience at 30,000 feet,” Bauer adds.
Tired of broken wheels and torn luggage; bags that arrive late, or never at all? Travel + Leisure magazine called Delta the best U.S. airline when it came to care for customers' baggage.
Studying six years of data (2012 through April 2018) from the DOT's Mishandled Baggage Report by Luggagehero (a company specialising in affordable luggage storage sites), Delta was found to be the least likely to lose or damage bags out of 12 U.S. airlines.
The air line attributes its success to the Fly Delta app, which uses real-time bag tracking technology. By using luggage tags embedded with RFID (radio frequency identification) chips, customers can track their bags via the Fly Delta app and receive notifications about the location in real time.
The technology is so good that the International Air Transport Association is considering to develop a plan to standardise and mandate RFID inlays in all baggage tags globally.
Airport queues are the worst. Delta knows this, and has developed new facial recognition technology that will let passengers skip the lines, should they choose.
Rather than fumbling for your boarding pass, travel documents or mobile phones, passengers can choose to approach a camera, have their image captured and receive a confirmation receipt to board their flight.
It’s being piloted at Detroit Metropolitan Airport, starting July 2018.
Delta ranks at the top in annual survey of healthiest meals in the sky, according to “Diet Detective” nutritionist, Dr Charles Platkin.
“Delta is the clear leader among the major carries and is tied with Virgin America [in 2017] as the healthiest airline,” Dr Platkin writes.
“The average number of calories per menu choice was 360 in 2012; in 2013 it was 388; in 2014 it was 397; in 2015 it was 400; in 2016 it was 392, and this year [2017], 405 calories – a 13 calorie increase.”
“Keep in mind, calories are not everything,” he adds. “We are looking at the nutrients in these foods when they are provided, as well as innovations moving towards healthy, tasty, inexpensive, sustainable foods.” This includes transparent markings on the menu for Non-GMO, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Kosher, and Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian items.
What might the future of air travel look like in 10 years? It’s a question Delta is constantly asking itself.
The future of travel might mean no more packing (imagine all your items delivered straight to your door), or biometric scanning that does away with pesky airport queues. But for now, it means better food and services, no matter your class of ticket, says Bauer.
"We're reinventing the onboard…experience for every customer in the cabin.”
Bauer cites better meal options, complete with menu cards, upgraded cutlery and re-flight food orders to ensure you get the food you want:
"All of this together is designed to offer an on-board service that reflects what our customers come to expect at their favourite restaurants.”
Since 2006, Delta has invested billions of dollars into an improved customer experience. Here's what they've delivered:
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