AIRLINE NEWS    

DELTA GOES DARWINIAN. Recently, Delta took the heat for its egregious executive compensation packages, and seemingly lost a PR battle when Leo Mullin had to give back a few of his chips. But Delta won the war by ensuring that the government won't come to the rescue of its cash-strapped competitors in a big way—the Bush Administration only wants to dole out about $1 billion while the airlines are seeking about $10 billion. Is Leo Mullin really "Dr. Evil" as US Airways CEO David Siegel called him last fall? We are starting to wonder. Shortly after the bonus brouhaha subsided, Delta kicked off TWO fare sales, one nationwide, the other to Florida. (Delta starting a fare war?) As usual, other carriers had to jump in and match it. Did Delta announce the sale, as its press release said, to get travelers back in the air? Maybe not. It's possible that cash-rich Delta initiated fare cuts that other carriers had to match, worsening their cash positions, and pushing them nearer to the abyss . . . Is this smart corporate strategy? Or is it a down and dirty survival-of-the-fittest strategy in tough times? Tell us what you think, and we'll share your comments in a future issue.  

TICKET Reader FLW replies: "Darwinian? Certainly. Smart? Absolutely. Strategically using your financial strength to hurt a weaker competitor is a well-practiced art and is not confined to the airline business. Managing an airline is unquestionably one of the crummiest tasks out there today. If an executive of a publicly-traded company such as Mullin holds any competitive advantage such as this, they have a fiduciary obligation to shareholders to cultivate it to the best of their abilities."

THINNING OUT THE FLEET. Delta finally retired its last Boeing 727 on April 6—the very last one in use by a major US carrier. Delta introduced the three-engined 727 in 1972 and eventually acquired a total of 184. Many readers of THE TICKET probably cut their frequent flying teeth, or got their first upgrade to first class on a good old 727. So long, old friend. You did good. (Speaking of aircraft retirements, Delta will ground its three remaining MD11's later this year.)  

FIRST SONG SUNG AT ATL. Delta brought the first of its new SONG 757's to Atlanta on April 10 to the raucous applause of about 4000 employees who enjoyed Coke floats and the tunes of SONG chief John Selvaggio's band. SONG will fly from ATL to New York JFK starting on June 1, with the lowest advance purchase one way fares starting at $73, and the highest walk-up fares no higher than $282.  
(Charles Burcher/Song via Medialink)   

A-PLUS ONLINE. On April 16, AirTran plans to launch its new online, automated frequent flyer program. Be sure and visit the AirTran site on or after the 16^th to register. Also, be on the lookout for AirTran's new ByePass ticketing kiosks which should make their ATL debut later this month. Now that AirTran has the kiosks, curbside Skycap check-in, and online check-in, its sometimes lengthy counter lines should shorten.  

AIRTRAN FATTENS SKEDS. Over the next two months, AirTran will add new flights on its most heavily traveled routes from ATL. For example, Boston now has 4 flights per day, NYC-LaGuardia will soon have 8, Savannah 5, Baltimore 6, Houston 6, Philly 5, Pensacola 5, Memphis 5.  

INTERLINE. With nearly 90 percent of Deltacustomers using e-tickets, Delta has recently signed interline electronic ticket agreements with American, United, Northwest and Continental. This means that if your Delta flight gets cancelled and you are re-routed on another carrier, you won't have to stand in line to get a paper ticket that you must then carry over to the new carrier. It will all be done electronically.   

DELTA MATCHES AIRTRAN UPFRONT. Delta is now offering walk-up first class fares that are just $35 over walkup coach fares to the 35 cities where it competes head-to-head with AirTran. The delta.com page says: " No advance purchase required. Fares are one-way. Tickets must be purchased at the time of reservation using a credit card/check card only. To search for these fares at delta.com, select "Economy/Coach" cabin and check the "Unrestricted" box.  

AIRTRAN ONTIME MOST OF THE TIME. Like other large carriers, AirTran's information is now ranked and published in the monthly Department of Transportation Consumer Report. While many industry watchers expected AirTran's performance rankings to be less than stellar, it came out solidly in the middle of the report issued on April 1 for performance in February. In on-time performance, AirTran ranked just behind Delta, with 72.1 percent of its flights arriving within 15 minutes of scheduled arrival time. (Delta's flights arrived on time 77.1 percent of the time.)  The overall industry average for on-time performance was 76 percent in February. Additionally, AirTran cancelled about 4.3 percent of its flights, while Delta cancelled 3.5 percent—putting both carriers near the industry average of 4 percent. AirTran ranked third overall for baggage handling, with only 3.5 loss or damage reports per 1000 passengers. Delta ranked ninth, with 4.6 reports per 1000 passengers. In terms of consumer complaints, both Delta and AirTran came out in the middle of the pack, with both receiving about eight complaints per 1000 passengers. (The industry average is 7 complaints per 1000 passengers.)  

ASA SCRAPING BY. Delta subsidiary ASA also made its debut on the DOT Consumer Report this month.  It ranked second to last in on-time performance overall and second to last at Hartsfield, where its flights arrived on time just 60.8 percent of the time. ASA's most blatant performance failure came in baggage handling, with 18.3 reports per 1000 passengers, well above the industry average of five reports per 1000 passengers. However, ASA's passengers aren't complaining too loudly about late flights or lost bags—it ranks alongside Delta and AirTran, with about eight complaints per 1000 passengers.  

BONUS PAY. AirTran Airways, which has made an $11 million profit last year, gave chief Joe Leonard  a 9.2 percent pay raise in 2002—which came out to about $938,000 in salary and bonus.  

GLOOM AND DOOM. Blame the war, the moribund economy, and now SARS. The Air Transport association said that the first week in April was the worst week so far in 2003 for major airlines as systemwide traffic fell 17.4 precent compared to the same week last year. Domestic travel was off about 15% while international travel was down 25 percent.  

GOING WEST? When low fare carriers AirTran and Jet Blue head to southern California in May and June, Delta will add flights and slash fares in an effort to protect its market share. Delta had to drop its lowest one-way fare from $760 to $99 to compete with the upstarts during the introductory fare sales. Delta's pulled out its big guns here, and its hard to give up that nice fat chunk of 3892 SkyMiles, access to Crown Rooms, and multiple daily flights. But JetBlue has all its sexy options like leather seats and inflight TV. And on AirTran, you can walk up and buy an upgrade to business class for $50. Hmmmm. QUESTION: On your next trip to Southern California , are you going to fly Delta, JetBlue, or AirTran? Why?  

AIRTRAN FOOD/BEV. Starting April 16, AirTran will no longer require paper vouchers to exchange for free drinks in business class. Like other airlines, anyone in business class will get complimentary booze. Also, business class snacks are now a branded affair: Mrs. Fields Cookies and TGIF Potato Skins.  

THE HUNGER. Did you know that Delta no longer serves hot meals on coach flights from ATL—at all? (Some hot meals are still served from more competitive hubs, like New York or LA.) And as of last month, Delta has rolled the SkyDeli carts back out, from which it now dispenses "The Little Blue Bag" which is supposedly an upgraded version of its predecessor—cereal, yogurt and a banana for breakfast and some sort of turkey sandwich for lunch or dinner. Still, it is only offered on flights of four hours or more. (Have you had one? Please let us know what you think.)

 
Delta's new "Little Blue Bag"

FIRST CLASS NIBBLES. From TICKET reader Bob White:  "I'm on 349 ATL-Seattle [in first class].  Gone is the full course dinner.  In its place is a snack.  No linen these days.  The tray table cover and napkin have both been replaced with a throwaway material that reminds me of the "rags in a box" product from Home Depot.  No more metal utensils, either.  The first class snack was a turkey sandwich, chips, and some kind of oatmeal dessert bar.  The flight attendants are the same and the beverage service seems to be the same.  All in all, it's pretty much the same, save a nice meal.  And I do miss that meal on a flight this long..."  

A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS IS DUE! Recently, THE TICKET sold out its inventory of advertising space for the entire year! That's great news for us, and even better news for you. How can you pay those advertisers back? By clicking on their sites, and buying their products or services! 

DO YOUR PART AND CLICK HERE! 

AirTran Airways - for air travel

Critter Sitters - to tend to your friends

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Atlanta Airport -  a great new website for our own ATL

SAFETY AND SECURITY NEWS    

AIRPORT STILL AT CODE ORANGE  

MONDAY MORNING WARNING. Don't make flight reservations departing Hartsfield on Monday mornings. If possible, fly out on Sunday evening, or wait until mid-morning on Mondays when peak crowds have dwindled. Hartsfield officials tell us that the worst times are from 6:45 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. on weekday mornings. At that time all 21 lanes are open, (including mezzanine lanes accessed from the Atrium, and concourse T entries).  

NEW ONLINE SERVICE. Another good idea, no matter what time you are flying out: Use Hartsfield's new Trak-a-Line service on its recently revamped web site at www.atlanta-airport.com. The service asks you to enter your flight date and time, and will send alerts and estimated security checkpoint wait times to your PC, mobile phone, or handheld device before you leave for the airport.   

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FREQUENT FLYER PROGRAMS  

DOUBLE MILES FOR EVERYTHING. Delta SkyMiles cardholders must register  to earn double miles on all purchases made between May 15 and July 15.

OPT-OUT IS A COP-OUT. Speaking of AMEX cards, be sure and check the notice in your latest statement. If you DON'T want AMEX to sell your name, usage and credit related information to telemarketers, junk-mailers and spammers, YOU MUST OPT OUT. We can't believe that an industry leader like American Express is engaged in such sleaziness, but it is. (What it SHOULD do  is allow you to OPT-IN if you want all the garbage.)  If you do nothing, you'll get walloped. Call 800-297-8378 to opt out. To opt-out of e-mail offers, you must enter your email address on its opt-out site.

FEGGEDABOUTIT. Now here's a sign of the times. Awardguard, a key part of a package offered to frequent travelers who have wanted to insure their frequent flyer miles against airline failure has temporarily suspended writing any new policies. Hmmmm.

CINCY FLIERS CHIME IN. If you think Delta's latest moves have provided plenty of Atlanta cocktail party conversation fodder, check out what they are saying in Cincinnati.

SHAREHOLDER MEETING. The protest group that is distributing "parachute man" lapel buttons and promoting the www.saveskymiles.com site says that it has raised enough money and signed a contract with a roving billboard company that will be moving around New York City during Delta's annual shareholders meeting at the Plaza Hotel on April 23-25.

NORTHWEST/CONTINENTAL/DELTA. Now that the government has given approval to the code-share alliance between the three carriers, you can expect reciprocal frequent flyer earning/redemption and lounge access—but not until late summer or early fall, according to Delta sources.

ELITE TREATS. AirTran is creating an "elite level" for its most frequent customers, offering free upgrades and the waiving of change or refund fees (but only on higher fare classes), and priority check-in and boarding. Elite members traveling on full coach (Y) fares get confirmed upgrades at time of booking. (As before, if you are traveling on a discounted fare, you can buy a standby upgrade to business class for $35 to $50.) Card-carrying AirTran Elite members can use special shorter security lines for premium passengers at ATL and other airports. (The same ones used by Delta Gold and Platinum members.) For more info, check out the AirTran site after April 16 when the new program launches on line.)
AirTran's New Elite card-- debuts this month

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AIRPORT NEWS    

REDCOATS COMING OFF. Delta's redcoats are a victim of their own success. Delta says that the redcoat has become such a lightening rod at airports that the agent wearing it is unable do much more than dispense information instead of solving more complex customer service issues.  As a result, Delta will do away with the red coats this month. The former redcoats will be promoted (at higher pay) to the new position of Service Excellence Coordinators or SEC's. Wearing ticket agent uniforms, each SEC will be assigned to three gates at Hartsfield, and will be responsible for the enplaning, deplaning, clean-up and on-time departure of each aircraft. In addition, the SEC will attend to customer service issues that gate agents are not able to handle. So if you want attention, don't ask for a redcoat anymore--- ask for an SEC. Also, there will be a few SEC's assigned to the check-in lobby area where they will work with the new LAA's or Lobby Assist Agents—those agents that have moved from behind the counter to assist and direct passengers to a kiosk, telephone, or ticket agent.  

AIRTRAN EXPANDS COUNTER. AirTran is working out a deal with airport authorities to swap ticket counters with US Airways, which will allow AirTran to consolidate at a single counter location instead of the current three.  

PARKING LOT UPDATE. Due to heightened security, 1,400 spaces on the third and fourth levels of the North and South hourly parking desks are roped off causing frequent sellouts on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Always call ahead to determine parking availability: 404-530-6725. Press 2 to go straight to the availability hotline, or check ATL lot status online.    

INTERNATIONAL    

CONCORDE IS DONE. Air France and British Airways have announced the end of an era. In May and October (respectively) each airline will cut the needle-nosed jets from their schedules. The sleek birds were getting a little old and expensive, and the latest economic doldrums along with the war hastened the demise of the service. (Your TICKET editor got a ride on the Concorde a few years back. Take a read.) 

AEROFLOT NOUVEAU. Interesting observation from article in the New York Times about the re-branding of the Russian carrier:  "In August, Aeroflot's overhauled quality-assurance system won international certification. And while Swissair is history, USAir is in bankruptcy and American Airlines is all but broke, Aeroflot is making money — $74 million last year, perhaps $100 million in 2003."

YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP! Tourism officials in SARS-devastated Hong Kong are red-faced over recent magazine ads with the slogan, " Hong Kong will take your breath away." (see below) Shortness of breath is one of the main symptoms of SARS - severe acute respiratory syndrome – the deadly new strain of pneumonia that started in southern China and quickly moved to Hong Kong before spreading around the world. Another rather bizarre observation: one of Hong Kong 's main "spokesdoctors" on the issue is named none other than Dr. Leung! 

 
Recent Hong Kong Tourism advertisement

SARS CUTS. So far, only Continental has cut its New York to Hong Kong flights. United, which has the most lift to Asia , and Northwest, which routes all its Asian flights through its Tokyo hub, have not cancelled flights – yet. Both Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines have reduced their schedules to the US and other countries due to dramatic declines in demand.  

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TASTE OF THE TICKET

In East Atlanta , an area known mostly for its burritos, pizza and bar food, this blossom of a restaurant now sits as a beacon of culinary hope to all the urban pioneers in the area. 

Can you name it? Check out the latest dispatch from our intrepid critic in TASTE OF THE TICKET.  

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MAILBAG!  

Feedback from TICKET readers regarding:    

PLEASE JOIN IN and provide us with your questions, observations and comments about your travel experiences or topics in this issue! Send your questions and comments to us at mailto:ticketatl@travelskills.com.      

ANYONE OUT THERE USING WI-FI? THANKS for your responses about the use of WI-FI. Seems that when it works, it pleases users, but there are still quite a few bugs to work out.  

"I've been using Wi-Fi in my home for 18 months now and it works great. Occasionally my 11-year-old daughter's link is a little slow because she's farthest from the transmitter, but otherwise, no problems. We all three share a single DSL line plus backup up to one another's computers with no wires running through the house!" --Jack Shaw  

"I use T-Mobile Hotspot for my Wi-Fi. It costs $29.95/month for unlimited use. They are big at Starbucks and at American Airlines gates and Admirals club rooms. I have been pleased with the speed and use it a lot when traveling to get a faster connection." --John Flournoy, Marietta  

"Not! I tried it in 2 Starbucks in Florida this past week on a one day free trial from T-mobile. While it worked flawlessly as far as emailing and web browsing, it’s much too slow to do any serious file downloading.  The killer is the limited cost choices, $40 per month or $30 per month with a year’s commitment or 10 cents / minute with a ridiculous $6 per connection minimum.  Who’s got the time to sit in Starbucks to get your money’s worth?  And it's not national so you’ll never be assured that you can always use it." --Mark S. Tumolo, Mellville , NY  

"I am a bit of tech head, but have found Wi-Fi to be very prevalent. I have a Wi-Fi card in my laptop, which allows me connect almost anywhere. While coverage in airports is terrible, I get coverage at about 90% of the Starbucks I go to.  If your needs are almost strictly email, I would suggest that frequent travelers use a RIM Blackberry, which runs about $40.00 a month and allows me to send and receive emails while on the road. I use both of them depending upon the needs that are current, but could not live with out the Blackberry." -- Ben Vollmer, Alpharetta

PLEASE JOIN IN and provide us with your questions, observations and comments about your travel experiences or topics in this issue! Send your questions and comments to us at mailto:ticketatl@travelskills.com.    

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See you again in May or with a NEWSBITE if or when hot news breaks.  

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Don’t Forget! BOOK ALL YOUR ONLINE TRAVEL VIA LINKS FROM THE TICKET!   

delta.com  |  Hotwire  |  Orbitz |  priceline.com |  Site59