3 Reasons Delta Is My Favorite Airline (Hint: Delta Miles Are More Valuable Than You Think!)

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These days you can’t travel without interacting with lots of different companies.  And with so many experiences it can be hard for an airline or hotel to stand out from the rest.

You’ll have interactions that are good, okay, horrible, and others that are fantastic.  In the past few years, I have had incredible customer service with Delta.  Whether it has been for work or leisure travel, they have almost always exceeded my expectations.  Here are 3 reasons why Delta is my favorite airline, and I secretly get sad when I have to fly with other airlines.

If you’re looking to get the most out of your Delta miles, check out Delta’s weekly discounted award flights.  And be sure to search Delta’s site for flights too because there are always lots of unadvertised deals.

3 Reasons I Love Delta

Whenever I’m traveling domestically, I always try to fly Delta.  Here’s why I wouldn’t have it any other way!

1.   An Unmatched Flight Experience

From the time you arrive to check in your bag, to the time you are departing, the experience feels seamless.

There has been a large conversation in the airline community about the best way to board passengers.  Should you start with the back of the plane first?  Which airline has this science down best?  With Delta, they ensure their First Class flyers and passengers with status are escorted quickly, and segment their other flyers well with their group system.  I’ve flown anywhere from Basic Economy to First Class on Delta, and have never had an issue.

Even before boarding, innovation continues to be the a priority.  Delta is now experimenting with facial recognition at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to make getting through security that much more seamless.  This is saving passengers an average of 9 minutes, which causes less stress and makes your experience more enjoyable.

Lastly, for me personally, the word “fee” drives me insane.  Unfortunately, companies are implementing these left and right.  Last month, Delta CEO Ed Bastian announced that the airline is currently working on providing free Wi-Fi in the future.  While it is great to see something be complimentary, there is a deeper meaning here in my eyes.  Delta isn’t in the business to squeeze dollars from their customers, but to provide the best in-flight experience possible.  That is what moves customers into loyalists!

This will make the experience in-flight that much better when I don’t have to pull my credit card out and cringe at paying $19.95 for 2 hours of average speed Wi-Fi.

2.   Impeccable and Unforgettable Customer Service

A very famous quote reads, “They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”  This is exactly how I feel about Delta, and I have a few good examples.

I was flying from Salt Lake City to Austin, Texas for work and I finally earned my Delta Silver Medallion status.  While it isn’t much to brag about when many frequent flyers earn much higher status, it was a cool moment for me!  I told the flight attendants I was earning my Silver status, and they were extremely excited for me.  They made me a small to-go bag full of goodies including a bottle of wine, my favorite granola bars (Kind bars), and a hand-written thank you note.  A small gesture like this creates life-long customers.

Another time, my wife and I were flying back to Salt Lake City from Los Angeles the day after our wedding.  I told the flight attendants as we were boarding that we just got married.  They were so excited for us!  They congratulated us with free drinks, even though we were in coach.  Halfway through the flight, the captain announces to the plane and says “We want to announce we have 2 newlyweds on board, Brett and Kiersten!”  The entire plane clapped for us and it was an incredibly special moment.

Just recently, my wife and I were flying from San Francisco to Salt Lake City, and one of the flight attendants from that previous flight recognized both of us.  She was so excited to see us, and asked us about our honeymoon and how married life was treating us.  This sealed the deal for me.  I’m still in shock that this happened.

And the few times I’ve had small issues with Delta, such as delayed take offs or poor Wi-Fi service, they have always been quick to apologize and offer some sort of compensation.

Pro tip – If you are traveling for a special reason, be sure to let someone know!  They might just treat you to something special.  As my grandfather always told me, “It never hurts to ask. The worst thing someone can say is no.”

3.   Delta Miles Are Becoming Very Valuable

In the past, many people have joked that Delta miles are actually “SkyPesos” because of their lack of value.  Recently, Delta has had some incredible award sales that have raised the potential value you can get from an award ticket.

The best part is the AMEX Membership Rewards points I earn with my favorite credit card, The Platinum Card® from American Express, transfer to Delta at a 1:1 ratio!

Nothing is more frustrating than having a rewards program that isn’t worth a whole lot.  Delta prides themselves on rewarding their loyal customers, and I feel that I get solid value for my Delta miles.

Bottom Line

The many times I have flown with Delta, I have found the experience to outperform other domestic airlines I’ve flown such as American Airlines or Southwest.  However, I’m sure some of you reading have had poor experiences with Delta.  I’ve had 1 pretty bad experience in particular with Delta.  It was more with 1 specific employee, but no brand is perfect.

In a time where many of us are seeing horrible incidents connected with the airlines, the everyday positive stories get overlooked.  I’m loyal to only a few brands, and it is because of the way they have made me feel.  American Express, In-N-Out Burger, and Delta have made me feel appreciated and taken care of, and that is why I’m loyal.  It will take a lot for me to change my loyalty.

What companies (travel or not) do you have a deep emotional appreciation for?  Let me know in the comments!

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