In light of the end of April and the “April Showers” we’ve had in Atlanta, I wanted to blog this week about rain delays. We’ve actually been lucky this season and haven’t had too many long ones so far, other than the two-hour rain delay at our home opener.

Just like when an airline experiences weather delays and the passengers have a few extra minutes to pass, baseball players find some really creative stuff to do to pass the time during a rain delay.

When it looks like the rain delay is going to be shorter, maybe 15-45 minutes, we all try to stay warm so that we can get back out on the field and be ready to play. Position players like me (non-pitchers) will usually head to the batting cages inside the stadium and take a few extra swings to keep the blood flowing. The starting pitchers generally stay in the bullpen to keep their arms warm.

The key with hitting the cages, though, is to stay warm without wearing yourself out. So if the delay looks like it’s going to be a little longer than expected, I’ll sometimes sit down and watch video of the opposing pitcher, or take a look at video of my own swing and critique that.

Then you’ve got the rain delays that can last several hours. When these happen, guys start to get more creative and turn to non-baseball activities.

I think the most common thing baseball players around the league do during delays is play cards, dominos or other kinds of games. During the fall, there’s always a little bit of fantasy football going on. And depending on if you’re in your own home clubhouse, we’ll have video games, or guys on computers playing online, booking flights and sending emails. This time of year, you’ll hear a lot of guys sitting around talking NBA Playoffs. And then you’ve got the Canadian guys who are talking NHL Playoffs.

If you’re not playing some sort of game or talking sports, you’re probably watching TV, sleeping or eating. Our clubhouse attendants always have a great selection of food in the clubhouse, whether it’s cold cuts for sandwiches, fruit or snacks.

Rain delays aren’t my favorite part of the game, but they’re inevitable and unavoidable since we can’t control Mother Nature. It’s all about what you do to pass the time.

What do you do to pass the time when your flight is delayed because of weather?

Jeff Francoeur
Atlanta Braves

Anyone remember the online booking bonus at delta.com?

In the 1990’s the novelty of buying a plane ticket online made some folks a little nervous, so we gave customers bonus miles for booking online at delta.com.

But by 2007, customers like you discovered that in addition to finding Delta’s lowest fares they could rest assured that there weren’t any online travel agency booking fees, that they had access to the full range of advance seat assignments, could check in online, manage their SkyMiles, rent cars, get destination info, and lots more. People no longer needed the additional incentive to book directly at delta.com

Starting today for a limited time, we’re bringing back our online booking bonus. As a thanks to you, our loyal delta.com users, you will now earn up to 500 bonus miles on all flights you book at delta.com between April 28 and May 31, 2009. It’s our way of not only thanking you for your loyalty, but also to encourage other customers to save time and money by going to the only site that guarantees you’ll get Delta’s lowest fares online: delta.com.

Please pass this along to your friends too… Summer is fast approaching and Delta’s the only U.S. airline flying with you to six continents.

Are there any other favorite ‘retro’ promotions or programs you’d like to see return?

Thanks for your loyalty!

Josh Weiss
Managing Director – delta.com & self-service

Earn 500 bonus miles for each flown round-trip qualifying ticket (250 bonus miles for each one way ticket) purchased at delta.com. A qualifying ticket includes any Delta or Northwest coded flight purchased at delta.com. Flights must be sold under the DL or NW code. Bonus miles do not count toward Medallion® or Million Miler™ status. Bonus applies only to the SkyMiles member flying and purchasing the qualifying ticket at delta.com. Purchase Period: Tickets must be purchased between April 28, 2009 and May 31, 2009 for travel anytime. Bonus miles will post to the SkyMiles account of the qualifying member 4-6 weeks following the end of the promotion (May 31, 2009). All SkyMiles program rules apply. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/memberguide.

We are busy, busy at the Delta Air Transport Heritage Museum this Spring!  Here’s a little preview of all the activity going on behind the scenes to open a brand new, major exhibit on June 17th–the 80th anniversary of Delta’s first passenger flight.  “Delta Takes Off! Crop Dusting to Jets” will show how our company grew from a crop-dusting firm in the 1920s into a major airline.

As you can see below, it will be very colorful!  Here is Greg Romanoski, our development manager, installing  an intro panel just today.

Below are some of the artifacts selected including a dope-and-fabric airplane wing model, a 1940s coffee/hot water thermos and coffee pot, lots of 1940s-1950s serving pieces and 1950s flight attendant uniform pieces.

You also see items from airlines affiliated with Delta, including Pan Am and Northeast Airlines, because we are also refreshing our Airline Family cases and adding new ones for Northwest Airlines.  A major Northwest Airlines exhibit is also in the works. We’ll keep you posted!

Marie Force

Archives Manager