Every traveler knows that planning and packing is no easy task, especially when you have limited bags. In general, our flight attendants, pilots, and employees pack impressively light - for example Flight Attendant Katherine Lee (aka Deltalina) uses one bag on her trips!

What’s her secret? She says it’s all about folding efficiently. Check out Pack Smart: Deltalina Shows You How from the AJC and let us know if you have tips to add to the Baggage Tips section of delta.com.

Enjoy!

Katie
Marketing, delta.com & self-service

I’ve used this blog previously to talk about Delta’s codeshare relationship with US Helicopter in New York City. If you remember those postings, I talked about the tremendous ease, convenience, and speed in using the helicopter for an amazing 8-minute trip between JFK and Manhattan when connecting to or from a Delta flight. We’ve even produced a short video to show you how great it is.

Guess what? For a limited time, we’ve made it even easier for you to give the “heli” a try! Here’s the deal: Now through October 31, 2008 (ticket and travel), your trip on US Helicopter is complimentary* with most International BusinessElite, domestic First Class, and fully refundable Economy fares. But, wait — that’s not all! During the same period, when you ticket and travel in most other Economy fare classes, the helicopter trip between JFK and Manhattan is just $45** (reduced from the regular $159** price). Additional taxes/fees/restrictions apply. See below for details. Complete details can be found at delta.com/ush.

Hmmm… an 8-minute¹ helicopter ride or a yellow cab for about the same price… Which would you choose? During this special promotion period, I think it’s a very easy decision!

Plus, remember that when departing from Manhattan, TSA security screening takes place at the heliport; when you land at JFK for your Delta flight, you’re already inside the secure area, which means you don’t to go through security screening again (anyone of fan of no lines?). Also, because of the codeshare arrangement between Delta and US Helicopter, you can check in, obtain boarding passes, and check baggage for both the USH and DL segments of your flight at your point of origin.

There’s no better time to take the helicopter to or from JFK. Once you do, I can assure you, you’ll want to enjoy it every time your travels take you between Manhattan and JFK. Simply choose “TSS” (E. 34th Street heliport) or “JRB” (Wall Street/downtown heliport) as your final inbound or outbound airport code. And, once you try it, please let us know all about it right here.

Thanks for your continued support. We appreciate your business.

Brian T. Rutter
Director – Sales & Marketing
New York
Delta Air Lines, Inc.

Terms & Conditions

Restrictions:
Fares are available at delta.com. Tickets cost $25 more if purchased from Delta over the phone, or at a Delta ticket counter, and this amount is nonrefundable. Tickets cost $25 more if purchased from USH over the phone.
Taxes/Fees:
*Complimentary USH ticket requires payment of Federal Segment Fees of up to $7.00, September 11th Security Fee of up to $5.00, and Passenger Facility Charges of up to $4.50.
**The USH nonrefundable fares shown include Federal Tax of 7.5%. The following fees are not included: Federal Segment Fees of up to $7.00, September 11th Security Fee of up to $5.00, and Passenger Facility Charges of up to $4.50.

Promotional Offers:
Discounted one-way rate of $45 is valid for tickets purchased on DL code with fare basis beginning with B, M or H and valid for Domestic and International flights originating or terminating at the heliport (TSS, JRB) traveling via JFK. Offer valid for tickets purchased on or after September 1, 2008 through October 31, 2008. Valid for travel September 1, 2008 through October 31, 2008. Origin or termination point must be JRB or TSS, via JFK. Complimentary one-way or round-trip helicopter service is included when purchasing a qualifying round trip or one way Premium ticket (designated by fare basis code beginning with F, A, J, D, or Y) on Delta (DL) booked nonstop flights connecting to the helicopter via JFK. Offers not valid for point-to-point fares between JRB or TSS and JFK. If adding a helicopter segment to an itinerary which has already been ticketed, the fare must be recalculated from origin to destination including the heliport (JRB, TSS), and the ticket must be reissued subject to any applicable fees or charges. Seats are limited. Code share flights are eligible when booked as a Delta (DL) flight. Additional restrictions may apply. Offers subject to change without notice.

SkyMiles Offer:
1Average actual flight time is eight minutes or less.

Back in the early days of computing, you had to type a long string of DOS commands in order to get anything done. Anyone remember ‘c:\WINDOWS\system32\calc.exe’ ?  Then along came Windows and icons with point and click. Those command lines are still there, but now clicking an icon sends those commands for you. Don’t believe me? Try ‘START’, ‘RUN’, and type the above string in the box.  

In the airline business, we still use DOS-like command lines to sell you a ticket and check a bag, among other transactions.  In the movie Meet the Parents, when the agent at the airport is typing away for two or three minutes just to issue a boarding pass, it’s actually pretty accurate.

Well, that’s all about to change for Southwest Airlines with a program called CS2.  CS2 stands for Customer Service Two. It is the largest project developed internally in our Company history, and it is rolling out across the Southwest system.  It is taking us from an archaic command line system to a point and click program. And it’s hot!

CS2 has been several years in the making and features significant improvements to our previous application, including: electronic standby lists, and automation of commonly used forms. While it was being created, our Airport Performance Improvement Projects Team conducted many focus groups with Customer Service Agents and Supervisors to ensure this new application would meet the needs of our Employees.

CS2 also lays the foundation for future enhancements, including: electronic ticketing at the airport and the ability to introduce international codeshare. This application is the first “car” in the “train” that’s pulling out of the station, which will lead to even more Customer enhancements at Southwest Airlines.

I just got back from Dallas where I spent three days training on CS2.  Transactions that used to take forever will now be finished in moments.  Forms for Unaccompanied Minors and Infants are now automated.  It may take a little time to enter the information  on the outbound flight, but we can take the outbound info and swap it for the return (and it will be legible too).  We also have the ability to look at more flights at a time when you want to book a reservation. Information that used to require us to toggle between three or four screens is now laid out in one.  The list of enhancements is HUGE!  There are lots of boring details that you might not understand or even care about, but it makes my job much easier.

There is one enhancement that I want to touch on though, since I think it will excite our business travelers. It is the Electronic Standby List.  Customers will now be able to get on standby for any flight at the airport up to two hours prior to departure or more than two hours if the next flight is more than two hours away.  Customers will also be able to get on the standby list with any Southwest Agent: ticket counter, curbside, or gate.  If the change results in a higher fare, we will take your credit card information when putting you on standby, and you will not be charged unless cleared.  We will also be able to upgrade an entire group and let the group leader pay for it with just one swipe.  (We used to have to swipe the card for each passenger individually).

This is a huge undertaking and we are very excited about it!  Please be patient with us as we learn our way around the new program and work out the bugs.   There’s a lot more to come. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Like most of you, on business travel, I hate going through airport security. Besides taking off shoes, jewelry, jackets, and who knows what else, the biggest pain especially for business travelers is having to take the laptop out of our bags.

Well, help is on the way, as soon as September or October. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has given the OK for passengers to use newly designed carry-on bags that will let them pass through security without having to take their laptops out for the X-ray inspection. Read more on one of my favorite business-related sites.

Are you going to get one of the new laptop bags?

Jen Miller

Manager, Content & Marketing

delta.com & self service

ShareThis

As many of you know, Delta passengers are allowed to check one bag free of charge when traveling in the U.S. and U.S. territories and two bags if traveling internationally. Each bag can weigh no more than 50 pounds, nor be greater than 62 inches when you total length plus width and height. Please visit our baggage allowances pages for more details.

Fuel prices have soared to over $140 a barrel, causing considerable financial stress to the airlines. At Delta, we continue to take steps mitigate the extraordinary run up in fuel expense. One way passengers can help is to pack light.

Here are some simple tips to help save fuel and lighten your load when you travel:

• Make a list of items you will need and stick to it.
• Check your list twice: edit it down, way down. Cross off everything you don’t absolutely need. You can always buy something if you need it.
• Choose the Right Bag: If you bring a bag that is really large, you will probably fill the space. It’s just human nature. Choose a bag based on: Quality (to stand up to a beating)and Transportability (since you will actually carry your luggage more than we will) Eagle Creek and Victorinox are both great brands who make a variety of bags for business travelers, backpackers, and vacationers.
• Don’t fold your clothes, bundle wrap them: bundle wrapping involves the careful wrapping of clothes around a central core object, avoiding folds that result in creases. Check out OneBag.com for instructions.
• For more information check out Independent Traveler’s Interactive Packing List.

It has been estimated that the amount of jet fuel used to move an object is 4% of that objects weight per hour. Thus, if you bag weighs 50 pounds, it uses 2 pounds of jet fuel per hour. Jet fuel weighs about 6 pounds a gallon (compared to water which is over 8 pounds per gallon), thus it takes about a third of a gallon each hour just to fly a 50 pound bag. It may not seem like a lot, but when you have 200+ passengers, all of their baggage, and the weight of the plane, it adds up quickly.

Please help do your part to conserve fuel and reduce the impact on our environment by packing light.

Meghan

Sustainability Intern

ShareThis

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 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 by visiting their site.

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

Karen

Manager

Delta Technology

ShareThis

There’s good reason that many of us New Yorkers think that we could never live anywhere else. Many of us believe that we’re often “out in front” on the cutting edge. That means the latest fashions, the newest gadgets, the best shows… and the list goes on.

With this in mind, many of us will be excited to hear about Delta’s latest and greatest in electronic check-in. And, guess where we’re testing it? Hint: not world headquarters in Atlanta, but, instead… you guessed it! New York City.

Just last week, Delta Air Lines, in partnership with the federal Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began testing paperless mobile check-in for customers traveling from New York-LaGuardia (LGA) to any U. S. destination. What this means is that you have the option of bypassing the lobby by using their PDAs and other Web-enabled devices to check in for domestic travel from LGA to any U. S. airport. How great does this sound? You can use your electronic boarding pass, displayed on your mobile device - no paper! - to proceed to the security checkpoint, and then straight to the gate to board your flight.

I’ve told you before that Delta is focused on respecting, enhancing, and saving your time wherever we can throughout the travel experience. This means from booking your ticket all the way through picking up your bag at your final destination. Paperless mobile check-in is one more way that we’re “putting our money where our mouth is,” so to speak. It’s no secret that checking in online from the comfort of home or office has become quite popular. But this latest advancement means that, at LaGuardia, when traveling to a U. S. destination, it’s even easier than that. Imagine checking in for your flight, for example, when in your taxi or car to the airport; or, when you’re walking from the parking lot to the Delta terminal. Go right through the doors to the TSA security line - mobile device in hand - and you’re on your way. It works if you’re checking bags, too. Just head for the Delta bag drop location prior to security screening.

Now, the check-in process can take place from anywhere, at any time withing 24 hours of flight departure. At the same time, think “green.” You’ll be helping environmental sustainability by reducing paper and ink usage. No matter how you look at it, we believe that this is a winner!

After the test is successfully completed in LaGuardia, we hope to being leveraging paperless check-in across our domestic system, to and from any U. S. airport.

If you’re heading out of LaGuardia on Delta, first of all, thank you. Secondly, experience our newest check-in technology by giving paperless mobile check-in a try. And let us know how what you think. We’re listening.

As always, thank you for choosing Delta. We appreciate your business.

Brian T. Rutter

Director - Sales & Marketing

New York

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

ShareThis

Have you tried our helicopter service in NYC? Does this video make you want to try the real thing?

Brian T. Rutter
Director - Sales & Marketing
New York

ShareThis

After weeks of regularly taking the 6am back to Atlanta, I’ve gotten to the point where I recognize fellow frequent fliers in the TSA line. Shoes-off and sleepy-eyed each Monday morning we exchange knowing glances and try not to fall back asleep until after boarding. I know some of you business travelers must understand this feeling.

This week my equally frequent traveling seat mate and I woke up enough to begin pooling tips on how to shave minutes off our morning check-in routines. Here were our favorites:

Online check-in (approx one to two snooze buttons) Sometimes we’re just not as on time as we mean to be.

Use of baggage drop off points or carry on only (approx one snooze button) We agreed that mini shampoo bottles are worth skipping straight to TSA any day. I like the Aveda security friendly line.

Try not to confuse the security scanners (approx one half snooze button) 3.2oz means 3.2, but anything that looks bigger will undoubtedly slow you down, especially if it’s not in one quart size plastic bag. Smaller airports tend to take this more seriously but you’ll make everyone’s lives a little easier by putting all your liquids in one place away from the rest of your stuff. More tips on surviving security from FO Robin here.

Share your fastest check in time? How’d you do it?

BT, same time next week.

Katie

delta.com

ShareThis

When I talk to Delta’s frequent business customers in New York, many of them tell me the the most precious thing they have is their time - and, that there are never enough hours in the day or week to get everything done before the next one begins.

Our business customers also tell me that when they travel, they’re looking for opportunities that allow them to move quickly through the pre-flight or post-flight travel experience; they tell me that whenever possible, they seek ways to attempt to eliminate hassles and avoid lines. In short, they’re looking to maximize their precious time by increasing productivity and efficiency.

If this sounds like you, I’m delighted to tell you about Delta’s new codeshare relationship with US Helicopter in New York. Imagine traveling Manhattan to JFK in just 8 minutes. Our customers traveling to or from New York City have more convenient ways to book time-saving US Helicopter service between downtown Manhattan or 34th Street and John F. Kennedy International Airport. Through a new codeshare agreement, travel agents can now book Delta customers on US Helicopter via the major reservations systems, and customers can book directly at delta.com. SkyMiles members earn 500 miles for each booking.

While the speediness of the actual ride is worth talking about, using US Helicopter in conjuction with your Delta flight offers much more than that:

• Approximate eight-minute travel time between New York City Heliports in midtown and downtown Manhattan and JFK’s Gate 11 in Terminal 3;
• When headed to JFK, you go through federally regulated TSA security clearance at either NYC Heliport before arriving at JFK; because you land inside the secure area of JFK, you don’t go through TSA security screening again at JFK;
• You receive convenient check-in and boarding passes to final destinations for both domestic and international travel departing from and arriving in Manhattan — one check-in experience;
• You check your baggage to your final destination whether traveling to or from Manhattan; and
• It’s easy. You experience convenient and efficient booking through Delta for the your entire itinerary.

This is truly a case of “you have to experience it to believe it.” As a New York resident myself, I recently booked the helicopter from JFK to the 34th Street Heliport after returning from a business trip to our headquarters in Atlanta. It’s hard to describe the efficiency and convenience you feel as you look down at the traffic below on the ground, whle Manhattan’s skyscrapers quickly grow closer. On this particular trip, I boarded the helicopter at JFK at 7:15 PM and was in my NYC apartment at 7:40 PM. No kidding!

I can tell you that Delta is committed to giving our New York City customers convenient access to the world right from our JFK hub, and we’re always looking for ways to respect their busy schedules. US Helicopter is a great choice for you, our globe-trotting customer, as it reduces your travel time and expedites the check-in process especially for international flights.

US Helicopter trips can be purchased as you book your air travel on Delta. However, US Helicopter transportation is complimentary with the purchase of an applicable Delta international BusinessElite® ticket to and from Africa, Brazil, Europe, India, and Israel and is valid for travel through Dec. 31, 2008.

If time, efficiency, and convenience are important to you — like they are for me — this new Delta/US Helicopter codeshare relationship just might be an answer. Try it on your next trip between JFK and Manhattan. I think you’ll be delighted. Complete details can be found here.

Thank you for your support of Delta Air Lines. We appreciate your business.

Brian T. Rutter

Director - Sales & Marketing

New York

Delta Air Lines, Inc.

**Complimentary helicopter service is included when purchasing applicable published through fares as described in the following. Origin or termination point must be JRB or TSS, via JFK, to receive the published through fare. Offer is not valid for point to point fares between JRB or TSS and JFK. All tickets must be purchased and travel must be completed by Dec. 31, 2008. Offer valid for tickets purchased on or after April 15, 2008. Valid only on nonstop flights between JFK and international destinations when purchasing a qualifying Business Class fare (designated by fare basis code beginning with C, D or J excluding Government/Industry Discounted fares). Round-trip purchase not required. Codeshare flights are eligible when booked as a Delta (DL) flight. Mexico, Central America and Caribbean destinations are excluded. Additional restrictions apply. Offer subject to change without notice.

All SkyMiles program rules apply to bonus mile offer. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/memberguide.

ShareThis

In an effort to manage costs in light of record fuel prices, we’ve made the prudent business decision to close several of our secondary Crown Room Club locations at the end of this month. You can find a full list of updated locations here.

At this time we will also be converting our BusinessElite lounges in Atlanta and New York-JFK into Crown Room Clubs to further streamline our efforts in these markets. Keep in mind that our international premium passengers will continue to enjoy BusinessElite-like amenities, including pre-flight appetizers, in these facilities.

Please know that Delta’s Crown Room Club product continues to be a major focus for us as we strive to provide our customers with a premium travel experience. You can count on receiving the same quality experience in our other Clubs that you’ve come to expect. These changes are designed to strengthen our overall portfolio as one of the broadest airport lounge networks in the world.

Our members gain access to nearly 100 lounges through Delta’s own Crown Room Clubs and those of our SkyTeam® partners worldwide.

Later this year, we will open newly constructed facilities in Jacksonville, Miami and Raleigh-Durham. We’re certain you will notice the upgrade to the lounge experience we provide in each of these markets. Our MIA location has been designed with the Miami scene in mind, including custom Maurice Villency furniture. Look for it’s opening, as well as the opening of JAX, this summer. RDU will open later this year.

Joe L.

General Manager

Product Marketing

ShareThis

Hey, Road Warriors:

It’s Mark again, manager of user experience design for all the great electronic things you, our Delta customers, get to use every day, such as delta.com, GIDS, and today’s subject…Kiosk!

We’re in the midst of redesigning the Kiosk interface and experience. I’d asked for some feedback in September and you all had tons of great comments.We combined those with our own user research, competitive research, and usability testing to produce an entirely new design, which I’m proud to share with you today.

We ordinarily don’t show our in-progress designs to the public so early, but, darn it…you deserve it.We’ve tried to combine the best of the old Kiosk interface with elements of our new brand identity, as well as:

• improve the overall experience by collapsing multi-screen processes
• removing extraneous buttons
• surfacing the options that affect most users
• auto-advancing screens when possible
• and, in general, trying to make this as lean, mean, and clean as we can.

Enjoy this sneak peek and look for the full-blown mega Kiosk experience hitting your airport this summer…and, no, we won’t be selling tour t-shirts. (Although…hmmm…maybe red ringer tees with a flaming widget…)

Mark
Manager, User Experience

ShareThis