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Archive for May, 2012


Six Tips for Your Kid’s Trip

Published May 31st, 2012 in Community, Planning & Booking | 7 Comments →

Memorial Day has come and gone, which means family vacation time is right around the corner.  Yet even for the seasoned traveler, the thought of lugging kids through the airport (and that can include the big kid that is one’s spouse) can leave you rethinking a family trip in lieu of a staycation.  However, with a little planning and a few tried and true tips you can be jetting your way to far-off places without losing your temper, your sanity, or your marriage.

When I was growing up, a family vacation for me meant spending 10 hours in the back of the station wagon while fighting my sister for personal space.  We had few entertainment choices, so when books got boring we stared out the window or at the back of my dad’s head.  Today’s kids are much more likely to have flown before they can crawl.  But even with armrests neatly dividing seats and individual in-flight entertainment screens replacing the driver’s head, kids can still grow restless and grumpy at 30,000 feet.

Through trial and error, I have discovered these six tips to make the most of traveling with my kid without wishing I was back at the office.

You’re a parent not a pack mule.  As rookie parents, we packed enough diapers, clothes, and toys for a trip to mars versus a long weekend at grandmas.  Think about the items that you really need to bring and then throw in one extra change of clothes.  Remember, if traveling domestically most of your favorite big box stores will also be in your destination city.  Another good option is to check the baby items (car seats and strollers) for free at the ticket counter to avoid lugging it all to the gate.  But be sure to have all the essentials (toys, snacks, diapers, Blankie, etc.) in your carryon.

Yes, Blankie needs to go through the X-ray machine.  The first time through security with our little one was a sight to behold.  I wasn’t sure how seasoned travelers, such as ourselves, could be reduced to novices by a little baby.  While clearing security, most major US airports have a TSA lane for families with small children.  Look for that and you’ll have a much easier experience – as will the business travelers who would otherwise be behind you.  Remember, kids 12 and under can now leave their shoes on during the screening process.

Delta also thinks your baby is first class!  If you’ve got babies or toddlers in tow, take advantage of pre-boarding.   Just before first class is called, the gate agent will announce pre-boarding.  Boarding early makes it much easier to install car seats and seat the kids while the plane is empty.  Plus, it makes storing carryon bags a snap.

Make Steve Jobs your new best friend.  An iPad or other tablet is an investment well-made.  Not only can you load movies, games, and stories to keep the kids entertained, it also comes in handy for checking flight status and checking in before you leave your house or hotel.  Once airborne if you’re able to wrestle it away from your kids, you can also shop Amazon.com and track your flight’s progress on most domestic flights for free!  You can also surf the Web for a nominal charge.

Trains, planes, and Matchbox cars.  My son loves trains. I’m not sure where this airline geek erred in his upbringing, but he’s crazy about tracks and locomotives. He also loves cars. Packing a few small toys comes in handy for takeoff and landings (when the tablet must be turned off).  It’s also a great distraction for airport layovers.  Presenting a new toy for trips has become a welcomed surprise for our little traveler. Holding it until the right moment is golden.

Peanuts, pretzels and Biscoff cookies ain’t gonna cut it.  Bringing along a few of your kids’ favorite snacks will make for a nicer experience both in the gate area and onboard for all those around.  On flights longer than 3.5 hours, you can also purchase meals from the premium EATS menu.  Be sure to have a credit/debit card, since Delta does not accept cash onboard.

With a little planning and extra time at the airport, there’s no reason to fear a vacation with the family by air.  Unless, of course, you’re visiting your in-laws…sorry, I can’t help you with that.

-Jerry

 

 

 

Fare Displays On delta.com

Published May 18th, 2012 in delta.com | 12 Comments →

We’ve been getting questions from customers about discrepancies in flight search results on delta.com and I’d like to take some space here to explain.

First – and most importantly – please know that delta.com did not sell the same flight itinerary to different people for different prices. That very idea goes against the grain of how Delta treats its customers. And based on the way we file our fares it’s actually not technically possible. In fact, Delta’s fares are consistent in all channels.

To step back for a moment, hopefully you’ve noticed that we’re making some improvements to the delta.com experience. Some of those changes – like tweaks to the home page design and layout of the full fare display – are readily apparent. However this is a long process and some of the changes we’re working on are less obvious. But of course, all of the changes we’re making are aimed at improving the search and shopping experience.

In late April we began testing a new search functionality as part of these enhancements. We phased the installation, to first offer the new search function to customers who weren’t logged in because we wanted to be particularly careful not to disrupt the booking experience for our best customers. As a result, over a period of about 19 days, logged-in customers were seeing different flight search results than customers who chose not to log in.

For example, if during this test period Sandi and Heather searched for the same flight at the same time (and Sandi was logged in), the results returned for Sandi might have been different for what appeared to be the exact same itinerary. But once Heather and Sandi went on to the next screen to select their return flight, they’d see that their return flight times were different – and Sandi’s more preferred 9 a.m. return was more expensive than Heather’s 11 p.m. return. By the same token, flight search results for Sandi could have returned a lower fare option.

We realize this is not an ideal experience and that tweaks need to be made to the new search. So for now, every customer on delta.com is getting the same search engine, and we’re making changes to the new search functionality to offer more search results and to provide customers with the right balance between quality and price in those results.

We’ll plug in a new, improved search function sometime later this year – and we’ll plug it in for everyone at the same time.

Tech talk aside, the bottom line is that you can continue to book on delta.com with confidence that you’ll will get the best combination of fare and travel experience.

If you’re someone who logged onto delta.com and bought a ticket between April 20 and May 9 and you have a question about the fare you paid, please feel free to contact us. Our reservations and customer care teams are up to speed on this and will be happy to talk through it with you.

Thanks a lot,

Bob

Bob Kupbens

Vice President, eCommerce

 

Delta Day of Hope: Raising Money For The Fight Against Cancer

Published May 9th, 2012 in Airport, Community | 3 Comments →

Nine years ago, as a Supervisor in Atlanta’s Reservation Sales office, I was inspired to start a Relay for Life team for the American Cancer Society. I wanted to support members on my own team in the office that had been impacted by cancer. The inspiration also came on the heels of having lost my father-in-law to lung cancer the year before and watching my courageous father fight the battle for a second time. Fortunately, my Dad is a two-time survivor.

Not in a million years did we think I would be wearing a purple Survivor shirt and taking the Survivor Lap around the track nine years later. Cancer is so ugly and aggressive. On August 8, 2011, shortly after waking up and dressing for work, I realized my agenda and plans for the day were going in a very different direction. By noon I was in the Emergency Room with internal bleeding followed by 11 days in intensive care. Ultimately, they found the same type of pancreatic cancer that took the life of Steve Jobs. Surgery was set a short time later.

Nine years ago it was not thought of to live without a pancreas…now I can! I am insulin dependent and must take pancreatic enzymes when I eat, but I can eat just about anything.

Mine was a rare cancer and little is known about it. This is why our work with the American Cancer Society is so important. The clinical trials offered and the research done is imperative to finding cures and learning more about uncommon varieties. I am very blessed and give thanks with every breath for the love and support of my family, friends, doctors and co-workers, including my CEO Richard Anderson.  He was kind enough to support our efforts last year and purchased a brownie from my daughter, Daniella!

I encourage you to support Delta people on Thursday as we hold relays in 40 airports across the globe to raise $1 million for the American Cancer Society. Thanks for supporting us in the fight against cancer.

 

Dory P.

Coordinator, Customer Care