Qantas Airways downgraded a man from business class so that an off-duty pilot could take his seat, the man told Melbourne radio station 3AW.
22.08.2023 - 17:11 / thepointsguy.com / Delta I (I) / Claude Roussel / Delta
For years, Delta Air Lines has been the only Big 3 U.S. carrier to not offer a business-class-only lounge.
American has its Flagship Lounges. United has Polaris Lounges. Delta, however, only offers a network of (otherwise stunning) membership-based Sky Clubs.
But that's changing next year when the airline finally takes the wraps off its long-awaited premium lounge in New York, followed shortly thereafter by a similar space in Los Angeles.
Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG's free biweekly Aviation newsletter.
While the airline has so far only shared plans about these two lounges, there's some great news: a third is in the works for the Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).
"We have a new location in Boston in the plans. We're working through all the logistics right now," Claude Roussel, Delta's managing director for Sky Clubs, told TPG in an interview.
Delta's third premium lounge will open in Boston's recently expanded Terminal E, which is home to most of the airport's international operations.
This new premium space will be complemented by the beautiful new Sky Club that just opened last week in Terminal E.
As for what we can expect, Roussel didn't share much. He hinted at a possible Sky Deck, but otherwise, we'll have to wait for more details to trickle in over the coming months.
There's no timeline yet for when the new premium lounge in Boston might open, but Roussel confirmed that it'll be after both the New York and Los Angeles locations.
Delta hasn't even aligned on what it'll call these new premium lounges. Many insiders keep referring to them as "Delta One Lounges," but Delta doesn't necessarily want to brand them this way, said Roussel.
"The scope could be a lot bigger, and we decided not to call it a Delta One lounge," Roussel told TPG. (By scope, Roussel was referring to who can access these premium lounges — policies that haven't been finalized yet.)
Even as Delta gets ready to debut business-class-only lounges, many of its existing Sky Clubs continue to suffer from overcrowding.
To shorten the line, Delta announced a slew of access policy changes that kicked in earlier this year. This includes keeping membership sales limited to Medallion elites, cutting access on basic economy fares and more.
However, these tightened policies might just not be enough to thin the crowds.
In fact, it seems that Delta is gearing up to announce another round of tightened access policies.
"We continue to work with our partners and continue looking at this issue. It's not a done issue. We have to continue making progress. Our guests are telling us that. They're telling us, listen, we love the clubs. You need to fix the crowding," Roussel said.
In perhaps the clearest confirmation that
Qantas Airways downgraded a man from business class so that an off-duty pilot could take his seat, the man told Melbourne radio station 3AW.
The idea of an airport lounge elicits glamorous images of jet setting and flying first class. The reality is far more mundane: Airport lounges are increasingly common for anyone flying with a credit card, and increasingly crowded, rundown, and, well, not that exclusive.
What’s better than a trip to Denmark where you’ll explore the remote wonders of North Jutland and the culinary and cultural scene in Copenhagen? Flying to your destination via Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) in business class, of course. As travel becomes increasingly stress inducing, the aspirational allure of SAS business class shines brighter than ever. Beyond the mere act of getting from point A to B, this elevated travel experience can add another valuable dimension to your journey.
Qatar Airways is no stranger to glamorous inflight experiences and sometimes flashy media headlines. The Oneworld alliance member is a growing global carrier that is upending what travelers should expect from an airline. The carrier’s vision comes from its CEO, Akbar Al Baker, who is responsible for taking this once-small carrier to the global stage.
Until the end of June, everything I knew about business class travel came from observing its passengers as I made my way to the back of the plane.
I've been fortunate to experience business- and first-class seats when traveling, but since tickets can go for well over $10,000, I try to utilize frequent-flyer points to book them.
It’ll soon be easier for East Coasters to see the turquoise waters, pastel-colored houses, and world-renowned reefs of Bermuda in style.
Delta Air Lines has been directing more investment at enhancing what its customers experience at airports, and it relies on customer sentiment surveys to guide its progress.
Delta Air Lines is striving to boost its customer satisfaction scores, and the effort is led by Allison Ausband, executive vice president and chief customer experience officer. Ausband oversees about 60,000 workers in Delta’s airport customer service, in-flight service, and reservations and customer care divisions.
Good morning from Skift. It’s Monday, January 16. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.
Air Canada pilots are pressing for higher pay in the run-up to fresh contract talks, following recent gains secured by pilots at U.S. carrier Delta Air Lines, union representatives told Reuters.
Air France is upgrading its 12 Boeing 777-300ERs with the airline’s new long-haul business class product, a process that is expected to be complete by the end of the year. The aircraft will also get the same economy and premium economy seats as those found on its cutting-edge A350s.