There have been a lot of announcements at LaGuardia Airport the past few weeks – three pretty big improvements to your wait times in our terminal. Frequent fliers (especially out of LGA), tell us what you think!

1. Paperless Check In

First, I’ll tell you about my experience using paperless check-in and boarding yesterday, which we’re currently testing at LGA. This program has made me even MORE convinced of the importance of having my Blackberry nowadays. I was flying out of LaGuardia and running a little late, as usual. I checked in at mobile.delta.com before I got to the airport and received my boarding pass on my BB.

Once I got to the airport I showed my BB to the TSA security officer, who scanned my BB and let me through. It was a breeze! Thinking the hard part was yet ahead, I got ready to board the plane thinking to myself, “how in the world will this work?” I was AMAZED. The Delta agent scanned my BB just like they had in the past with my paper boarding pass, and on the plane I went. It was too easy. I just want to know when this will go to all airports – especially Atlanta!

2. TSA Self-Selecting Lanes

The Transportation Security Administration launched a new screening system for passengers at LaGuardia last week allowing people to sort themselves into one of three lines. So far, twenty-five U.S. airports already have the three-lane system at their terminals. Here is the breakdown:

• Green circle: for families with small children and strollers, groups, people needing special assistance and people who are new to flying.
• Blue square: for casual travelers familiar with security check-in procedures and carrying multiple bags.
• Black diamond: for expert travelers who know to wear shoes that can be flipped off easily and travel light.

3. Clear Registered Traveler Program

Earlier this month, we announced a partnership with Clear to operate separate fast lanes our JFK and LGA terminals. As you may have heard, the Clear system allows the TSA to prescreen passengers with iris and fingerprint images and then receive a card that allows them to access Clear’s designated security lanes. Learn more about Clear here.

Will these enhancements speed up check-in procedures? Which do you think will be most helpful on your next trip?

Karen

Manager

Delta Technology

Last Thursday, June 12, Delta held inaugural festivities at New York-JFK to celebrate our new flights to the lovely island of Antigua. The celebration included a ribboncutting, special gifts, and remarks by Delta’s very own Brian Rutter, Director-Sales & Marketing, New York and the Honorable Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda.

This flight was full with a mixture of Antiguans returning home to visit family, vacationers, and others making a special trip for the Romantic Rhythms Music Festival. This year’s festival lineup included Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Brian McKnight, Heather Headley, and many more.

Upon boarding, Antigua Tourism provided departing passengers with maracas, tambourines, and Romantic Rhythms flashing lapel pins, to continue the celebration.

We are very pleased that DL573 made a special moment in Delta’s history in the New York community, and thank all of our customers for choosing Delta to travel to the lovely island of Antigua. Book a flight now!

Jeanene Wilson

Sr. Marketing Specialist

Delta Air Lines

By now you’re probably already aware that Delta Air Lines has transformed itself pretty significantly over the past several years, and we continue to do so. While Delta has flown international routes for years, we’ve really worked hard over the past several years to make the world a little bit smaller, so to speak, by taking our customers to more of the exciting global destinations that are important to them.

If you’re a New Yorker who thinks of Delta as the airline to take you and your family on vacation to Orlando, or as the airline known for the Delta Shuttle to Boston or Washington, I’d ask you to please keep reading. Sure, we can help you enjoy the chance to see Mickey; and we’re very proud of our Shuttle product that makes quick business trips to Beantown or the nation’s capital a snap. However, today’s Delta Air Lines is so much more. Since 2005, Delta has implemented one of the world’s most extensive global route expansions. Over the past three years, Delta has added more than 90 new international routes. With 306 cities served (as of April 23, 2008) and counting, Delta and Delta Connection carriers serve more destinations worldwide than any other airline. Yes, you read correctly.

Now, our frequent customers might have picked up on the fact that springtime - say, March through June or so - is the period during which we typically launch many of our newest international routes for the calendar year. So, ’tis the season for new international flights from New York City. Whether you’re traveling for business or seeking to be the first among your friends to experience an exciting new vacation destination, here are some of Delta’s newest international flights, along with 2008 launch dates, from New York-JFK:

• Tel Aviv, Israel - New!
• London Heathrow - New!
• Edinburgh, Scotland - New!
• Dakar, Senegal - June 3
• Cape Town, South Africa - June 3
• Cairo, Egypt - June 4
• Malaga, Spain - June 4
• Amman, Jordan - June 5
• Antigua - June 12
• Lyon, France - July 17

You can always explore the many places that Delta can take you from New York by visiting our interactive route map on delta.com (it’s pretty cool; give it a try). Let us know how our newest international destinations are helping to make your world a little bit smaller.

As always, thank you for your support of Delta Air Lines. We appreciate your business.

Brian T. Rutter
Director - Sales & Marketing
New York