Delta Says Codeshare Alliance 'Good For You'

Written by Administrator
Thursday, 22 August 2002 18:55
ATLANTA, Ga. — Delta Air Lines today announced that it has entered into a proposed marketing agreement with Continental Airlines and Northwest Airlines that will provide customers with a wider array of destinations while maintaining competition among the three carriers. The marketing agreement includes: Codesharing — All three airlines will codeshare on each other’s route networks. I believe Delta said that they won't have access to pricing. BALONEY! How could you possibly sell seats on another airline without knowing pricing. Hey, Delta, do you really expect the public to trust you? If you do, then you're even more foolish than I thought. Frequent Flyer Reciprocity — Customers will be able to accrue and redeem awards in any of the three airlines’ frequent flyer programs regardless of which program they belong to or on which airline they fly. I seem to recall that under the current codeshare agreement Delta has, there are some things the other member don't honor, and in fact won't honor. Will your passengers get the short of the stick on this new agreement too, Delta? Airport Lounge Reciprocity — Customers will be able to participate in each airline’s airport lounge program. Okay, but are all the programs the same? When a conflict occurs, do you live by the rules of the "visited" program, or the "parent" program? Convenient Schedule Connections — While the three airlines will continue to schedule their respective flights independently, each will evaluate their schedules to optimize convenient schedule connections between the carriers. Will they compare prices while they are at it? Perhaps adjust them upward as routes begin to fill up? Coordination of Airport Facilities — Customers will gain the opportunity for seamless ticketing, check-in and baggage handling. I think the key word here is "opportunity." You have the opportunity, Delta, to be on-time on every flight. Yet frequently you are not. You have the opportunity to handle baggage correctly every time you receive it. I don't think I need to detail how you handle (or mishandle) that opportunity. Leo F. Mullin, Delta chairman and chief executive officer, said: "At its foundation, this is an initiative oriented to the customer. When fully implemented, this effort will allow our customers to travel more conveniently to more destinations around the world. (Uh, Leo, I got news for you: 'Delta' and 'convenient' are two words that don't go together. I don't think people looking for "convenient" travel are flocking to Delta.) From ticketing to frequent flyer programs to baggage handling, their travel experience will improve. (How?!? If I was in a position to do so, I would mandate that Delta prove that they could consistently operate to an acceptable level before even allowing you to consider an agreement like this. And I don't mean some half-ass attempt at service like you're doing now. I mean REAL service.) "... the proposal will enable Delta, Continental and Northwest to compete on a more equal footing with United Airlines and US Airways which announced a similar agreement earlier this summer. (Great! So you want to be like United Airlines and US Airways? Didn't US Airways just file for bankruptcy, and isn't United Airlines very close to doing the same? Good job, Leo! I bet the board is proud of you.) "Enormous financial pressures threaten this industry. (Yes, they do. Things are terrible. So I propose you let AirTran have a few gates in Atlanta. They are not only profitable, but expanding. Same with Southwest. Delta is not currently profitable, is it Leo? I think the correct answer is "no.")
Last Updated ( Saturday, 24 November 2007 12:57 )

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