Cheers!

This year marks 50 years of highflying cocktail service on Delta flights.

In 1958, Delta was actually the only major U.S. airline flying dry on its domestic routes. To attract more passengers over new routes to New York and the Northeast, Delta started limited alcohol service on March 8, 1958.

At first the service was only on non-stop flights between Houston and New York City. Only two drinks per passenger were served, and only in a short space of time before lunch or dinner. Those ordering a drink received small bottles from the flight attendants and mixed their own cocktails.

The self-service program was a huge success: 65% of Delta’s passengers on the Houston-New York route ordered alchoholic drinks in the first month.

By September, Delta had expanded drink options on luxury “Royal Service” first class Douglas DC-7 flights to 15 cities. Complimentary champagne came with the meals and cocktails were available for purchase. Today we serve a variety of signature cocktails as well as quality beer and sommelier-chosen wines you can choose to toast your business successes or a well-deserved trip with that special someone.

Here’s to you!

Marie Force

Archives Manager

Hello everyone!

My last post on in-flight entertainment was back in August, so I figured it was time to update you all as we prepare to kick off the summer travel season… because one of the most frequently asked questions is, “Will I have Delta on Demand on my flight?”

How’d it start?

Beginning in August, 2006, we began converting our 767-300ER fleet to Panasonic’s digital eFX IFE platform. And beginning in December, 2006, we began installing cabin-wide Audio/Video On Demand (AVOD) across our 777 and 767-400 fleets. Fast forward to May, 2008 and we’re now in the final stages of an 18 month-long initiative to add full-cabin AVOD to more than 100 planes.

As of June 1, 2008, Delta will have 131 aircraft with cabin-wide AVOD and 59 aircraft with AVOD in the BusinessElite cabin. Through Dec. 2008, we’ll add cabin-wide AVOD to an additional 15 aircraft.

So is it on my flight?

Domestic
We offer the AVOD product to customers on most flights 4+hours to and from New York City, Boston, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Atlanta.

Flights between Los Angeles and Honolulu or Maui also feature Delta on Demand.

International
We offer Delta on Demand to all customers traveling in the BusinessElite cabin, regardless of destination.

It’s also available to customers in the Economy cabin traveling between Atlanta* and Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Moscow, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bogotá, Quito, Guayaquil, Paris/CDG, Copenhagen, Dakar, Dublin, Frankfurt, Sao Paulo, Vancouver, Rio de Janeiro, Johannesburg, London/LGW, Madrid, Munich and Milan.

And if you’re traveling in Economy between New York/JFK* and Antigua, Shannon, Guatemala City, Edinburgh, Manchester, Malaga, Mexico City, Lyon, London/LGW, Paris/CDG, Punta Cana, Puerto Vallarta, Santo Domingo, Santiago (STI), Frankfurt, Georgetown, Brussels and Mumbai…you’ll also be on aircraft with Delta on Demand.

It’s available to all customers traveling between Cincinnati* and Amsterdam…to all customers traveling between Los Angeles* and Cancun and to all customers traveling between Hartford* and Cancun.

*And here’s the fine print…Routes and Aircraft subject to change

Fast Facts

More, More, More!

It all comes down to choice… I know I like to be entertained and having a bunch of stuff to watch or play is important — especially on a long flight. That’s why we’re making the investment in an industry-leading entertainment product.

By the end of 2008, Delta will have 205 aircraft equipped with Delta on Demand – one of the largest AVOD-equipped fleets in the world.

And we’re still not done… soon you’ll see the product on even more aircraft and routes. Delta will take delivery of (5) 777-200LR and (3) 737-700 aircraft with factory-equipped AVOD in 2009. Plus we’ll add Delta on Demand to the remaining (7) 767-400ER aircraft in our fleet.

Let us – and the world – know what you think about Delta’s in-flight entertainment! Click here to take part in a quick survey.

The 2008 World Airline Entertainment Survey is a partnership project between SKYTRAX RESEARCH and the WAEA (World Airline Entertainment Association).

I look forward to reading your comments and responding to your questions.

Chris-

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Tales abound of passengers, and sometimes employees, misbehaving on flights. The media even publishes an annual survey of the year’s worst travel moments. What you will rarely read, however, is how an airline employee or fellow traveler went above and beyond to help out someone in need. Part 2 of our Stories from the Front Line is below. Hope you enjoy!

A Delta agent in the Atlanta airport observed a passenger who was in obvious distress while waiting to talk to Delta customer service. The passenger showed the agent a letter from the U.S. Defense Department, indicating that his son had been killed in action in Iraq. The customer was trying to fly to San Juan on a standby ticket for the funeral, but flights for the remainder of the day were heavily booked. Escorting the passenger to the nearest Crown Room Club, the agent went to work on trying to get him to San Juan in time for the funeral. The passenger had no credit card and limited cash and could not afford to buy a full fare ticket to guarantee his arrival in time for the services. The agent used the value of his ticket towards one that would provide a confirmed seat, and paid the remaining difference out of his pocket.

Nancy
Senior Analyst
Customer Care