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UPDATE 7OCT15: Bloomberg News confirms updates to Delta jets as posted below!
The SVP of in-flight services, Allison Ausband, today told Delta flight attendants that Delta is investing “millions of dollars” toward the improvements and fleet modifications that are starting today and will continue thorough 2018.
Thanks to RenesPoints twitter follower Eric we learn that Delta is: “taking 472 seats OFF of 179 aircraft (MD90/739/A321) to expand FAs work area” and I have confirmed this with another source as well.
He goes on to tell me that FAs will have locked storage for their belongings and new beverage carts as well as shifting of supplies on plane to help speed up service.
All of this is great news for us as passengers. Some of the galleys on Delta jets have become intolerably small. As a passenger it is very frustrating when, for example, the Comfort Plus section gets service before the first class cabin but that is often what happens. Perhaps this is due to lack of space and this will now change.
I am also impressed that Delta is NOT, it would seem, just reducing passenger space to improve the flight attendant work space (what one would expect would happen). Clearly Delta is wanting to make both passengers and flight attendants happy with this change.
What impact will the reduction in seats have on Delta profits? I reached out to Delta for this and additional information about these changes, but no one from the company has responded to my requests at this time.
Happy FAs make for happy passengers so I am thrilled with these changes! Plus, more power on jets that currently have no power is always a good thing. We also know from SkySpa’s to whatever it takes, Delta wants to make sure they keep Flight Attendants happy! – Rene
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A321’s? Delta doesn’t have A321’s.
@Matt – Could be the ones on order? http://news.delta.com/delta-add-15-airbus-a321-aircraft
You’re like the TMZ.com of Delta news! 🙂
Do you think Delta will further increase FCM and decrease SkyMiles award availability because someone has to pay for the upgrades AND the birds replacing aircraft being phased out?
@Chris C – We know they want to drive FCM to 80% and we also know, next year, 1st class points UGs on tickets could cost as much as a LEVEL 1 or 2 award on it’s own. You can better your bottom $kyRuble it will be you and ME paying for these changes one way or the other! Well that is if “we” are flying Delta next year. 😉
@rene – the FAs call the MD90s “mad dog 90s” due to that terrible aisle jog that they have to do with the beverage cart from FC to the start of the delta comfort seats.
I sat in the right aisle seat first row of DC (right behind FC) on a flight last week and really regretted it. lots of legroom but my legs are in the aisle and had to scrunch over to the right every time the cart went by.
Hope they fix this! but not sure how they would be able to …
dont you think this will decrease availability not only in award space but fare class and thus raise prices? Passengers don’t get more leg room for it right?
@Jane – We are getting no public info from Delta. They are tight lipped. So, it looks like they are not reducing leg room for us. To me, less seats = less seats for awards in coach but I was never “that” good at math. Plus I would also think less seats = higher prices. Either way there is only so much room on a jet. You either remove seats or reduce space. Those are the choices right? 😉
Sounds like great news until we find out the seats being eliminated are First Class seats.
@Kevin – It sounds like coach seats but you know they are clearly not putting out much info about this. Most of the time that means bad news for us. Come to think about when they DO release info it also often means bad news for us!
Where are these retrofits taking place?
Darn certain its not on US turf. So why any right to be protectionist against ME 3, et. al.