It’s been a busy few months here at JFK while we’ve been working to renovate Terminal 4. We’re excited about our progress, and as the project is getting closer to completion we wanted to provide an update on all of the changes! Check out this time-lapse video to see where we are today:

Those of you traveling through JFK have seen the construction areas — parts of the food court removed and expansion of the security lanes. With this expansion, security lane waiting times will be reduced and give you access to walk between concourses like you do now in Atlanta, Detroit and Salt Lake City. Think of all the concession choices!

The last heavy steel beam on the terminal is scheduled to go up on Nov. 2 to signal the framework of the building is near completion. Fun fact: the hard working hard-hat workers who have been building the addition to Terminal 4 will sign the last steel girder that will be installed for the concourse.

And a special thanks to Airport Customer Service here at JFK. They’ve shifted aircraft and closed gates to accommodate us, and we’re very grateful for all of their hard work in helping bring this terminal to life!

Our goal is to have the new Terminal complete by May 2013, so we hope you’ll come check it out!

Ryan Marzullo

Deputy Program Director for the JFK redevelopment project

Today we’re excited to announce the Delta Sky Club’s new Luxury Bar! It has arrived in the Newark, New York (JFK and LGA), Palm Beach, Seattle and Washington, DC (DCA) Clubs and is coming soon to additional locations. The new Luxury Bar offers premium wines, champagne and spirits for purchase, plus you’ll also be able to purchase master mixologist-created specialty cocktails including “Wheels Up” and “The Take Off”

We sat down with Elayne Duke, head mixologist for Diageo Wine and Spirits, our new premium wine and spirits partner, to learn more about the creations and what inspired them.

Q: Thanks for sitting down with us, Elayne. So first things first—what exactly is a mixologist, and how did you become one?

Becoming an accomplished mixologist took years of study and practice with the legends of our craft.  Taking countless classes, reading every book about the craft and working with the finest luxury spirits have developed me as a mixologist

A mixologist is somebody who has the passion for the art of creating delicious well balanced drinks, who takes pride in his/her craft and is dedicated to delivering a premium experience.

Q: What inspired your drink creations for the Delta Sky Club?

The drink offers at the Delta Sky Clubs were inspired by the exotic destinations Delta flies, as well as the Season.

Q: What do you think will be a Club favorite and why?

With the variety of options, it is hard to choose one.  All of the cocktails designed for the Delta Sky Clubs are sure to be favorites!

Q: Customers want to know—will the Clubs still offer complimentary wines and spirits?

I know that many of you are questioning what these additional options mean for the current complimentary alcohol program, and I’m happy to tell you that it isn’t changing. Period. You will still have the complimentary alcohol options you’ve had in the past, free of charge, at all Delta Sky Clubs. The premium spirits program offers additional options for customers looking for premium alcohol during their Club experience.

Q: What else should customers know when picking out the right drink for them?

All of the cocktails and spirits offered at the Delta Sky Club are made with a luxurious portfolio of spirits including: Tequila Don Julio, Johnnie Walker, Ketel One Vodka, Bulleit Bourbon and always fresh seasonal ingredients. Customers should be adventurous when choosing their beverage and step out of their cocktail comfort zone. Travel, whether for work or pleasure, is always a bit adventurous so your choice of beverage should be as well.

Elayne Duke

Head Mixologist, Diageo Wine and Spirits

Elayne Duke has been the head mixologist for Diageo Wine and Spirits for the past five years, creating cocktails for some of New York’s finest restaurants, including Le Bernardin, Central Park Boathouse and Villa Pacri.

She studied mixology as a student of the Beverage Alcohol Resource, America’s premiere course on spirits and cocktails, where she honed her technique under world-renowned mixology experts Paul Pacult, David Wondrich, Steve Olson, Doug Frost and Dale Degroff.

In 2009, Elayne was honored by the James Beard Foundation as one of the most prominent female mixologists in the country.

Today we’re excited to announce new in-flight entertainment choices like surfing free content on the web, streaming video on your laptop and expanded entertainment options to help make your flight experience even better…and more entertaining! There are a lot of new improvements so let’s dive right in:

Delta Connect

Delta Connect is the new in-flight Wi-Fi page that you’ll use when you’re accessing Gogo, streaming movies and TV on demand from your laptop, browsing free content on the web and accessing other in-flight entertainment systems.

This new page will offer you an expanded range of free content from entertainment and shopping (Gilt.com and OpenTable.com, for example) to flight and destination information like concerts, festivals and events. Look to the right for a preview!

The best part? You don’t have to purchase a Gogo pass to access this free content!

Entertainment On Demand

Now you’ll be able to browse and stream TV and movies using in-flight Wi-Fi, all without purchasing a Gogo pass! Plus, everything you rent in-flight will still be available for you to watch at least 24 hours after your flight lands.

This feature will be available on all 16 of our Boeing 757-300 aircraft to start, and available at an introductory price for TV ($.99) and movies ($3.99). Entertainment on demand will be available for laptops and expanded to tablet and mobile devices by early 2012 on 757-300s.

Airbus A330 In-Flight Entertainment Upgrades

If you’re flying on any of our 32 Airbus A330 aircraft you’ll see a redesigned in-flight entertainment experience with more entertainment choices—150% more movies and television, music and games for you to enjoy!

All of these new options will be completed by the end of 2011, and the improved in-flight entertainment system will expand to all of our 300 aircraft equipped with personal in-flight entertainment by mid-2012.

Let us know what you think of the new changes and we look forward to hearing your feedback!

Myriallis Lambis

Delta Wi-Fi Team