Travel Advice
and Airline Reviews
Fly with confidence thanks to airlinetickets.org

Delta

Types of Travelers

Business Travlers

4/5

Good business class service, flights worldwide

Family Traveler

3/5

Standard family-friendly features

Backpacker
Adventure Traveler

2/5

Delta and regional affiliates have service to many adventure destinations

Student
Budget Traveler

3/5

Usually competitive fares, but some routes can be quite expensive

Elderly
Disabled Traveler

3/5

Standard accessibility

Long Term Traveler

4/5

Good global reach

Novice Traveler

2/5

Not known as the most user-friendly airline

Introduction

Delta Airlines became the largest airline in the world when it merged with Northwest Airlines.  It also has the largest reach of any US airline, offering service to six continents.  The airline now has 10 hubs located around the world, including Europe and Asia.  This global reach is only part of the picture however.  Delta is known for not being the most user-friendly airline.  Delays are commonplace and customer service can sometimes be lacking.  Before Northwest became part of Delta, it suffered from similar problems.

Delta began in Louisiana in the late 1920s.  It grew, eventually moving to Atlanta, and became known as a southern  airline with national reach.  It grew steadily with a series of mergers and acquisitions and, despite a series of financial troubles and failed takeovers, finally merged with Northwest to become the world’s largest carrier in 2008.


Ratings

Important Factors 3/5

Average Delay

22%

Cancelled Flights
(average per month)

1% (Atlanta to New York and other major routes as high as 3%)

Customer Satisfaction Rating

3

Types of Aircraft

Airbus 319, 320, 330; Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777, 787; McDonald-Douglas DC 9, 88, 90

General 4/5

Number of Domestic Flights (Daily)

247

Number of International Flights (Daily)

107

Size of Fleet

966 (+regional affiliates and orders)

Major Airports and Destinations Served

World-wide service: Amsterdam, Paris, New York, Sydney, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Cairo, Cape Town, Sao Paulo, Cincinnati, Memphis, Salt Lake City, Seattle

Location of Hub

Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis. Tokyo Narita, NY JFK, Amsterdam

Countries Served
Number of Routes

n/a

Most Popular Routes

n/a

In-Flight 3/5

Which Routes offer Meal Service?

Food on all routes, with complimentary snacks, meals are free on trans-ocean flights and available for a fee on other flights.

Food Quality

2/5

In-flight Menu

Snacks and meals are often themed on destination

Average Leg Room

30-33 inches

Types of In-flight Entertainment

Internet access (not free) and entertainment (available for a fee on domestic flights)

Baggage 2/5

Baggage Fees

$25, $23 online

Number of Bags Allowed

2

Weight Limits and Restrictions

50 lbs

Web Site 4/5

Online Check-in

Possible, discounts for checking bags online

Web Site Usability

Very good

Special Needs 3/5

Handicap Accessibility

Standard accessibility

Pets

$125

Special Offers /Partners 5/5

Airline Alliance Membership

Sky Team

Hotel Partners

Hyatt, Hilton, Taj

Competing Airlines

United/Continental, American Airlines, US Airways.

Strengths
  • Global reach
  • Plenty of flights to choose from
  • Good safety record
  • Complimentary snacks on all flights

Weaknesses
  • Not the most user-friendly airline
  • Prone to delays and cancellations on busy routes
  • High baggage fees
  • Fees for entertainment and extra food on domestic and regional flights

Frequent Flier Program and Airport Lounges

Delta Skymiles is one of the most positive aspects of the airline. Miles are easy to earn on flights and from purchases with SkyMiles credit cards. It is possible to earn miles with other SkyTeam airlines. Delta SkyClub lounges are located around the world, with multiple locations in each Delta hub. Delta frequent fliers with a high enough status can also gain access to Air France, KLM and Alaska Airlines lounges.

Conclusion

Delta is a gigantic airline that has a lot of the same problems as other large legacy carriers. It is one of the only airlines that has a truly global reach, flying to six of the seven continents. It is one of the only US-based carriers to fly to Africa regularly. Delta is not the most customer-friendly airline, but many people find themselves flying the carrier and its affiliates by default. For those who don’t expect too much and know how the Delta system works, the experience is generally positive.