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The other day I had a giddy fun feeling in my gut that was something I had not felt for a very long time as a recovering Delta frequent flyer. I was working on an award booking and the prices kept going down in point cost and the flights just kept getting better and better (including stops). That excitement of getting not just a better deal but better flights (on a long trip) used to be common with Delta in years gone by.
So while this is one example of why I am more in love with AA than Delta when it comes to award pricing there are a lot of things that Delta just does better. Like what? Let me give you some first hand experiences.
- The App. Let’s face it the Delta app is light years ahead of the AA App. From what you can do to speed and function it is just better. AA has been improving so I think there it will get better.
- Changing bookings. While both airlines are very accommodating when you have to call with a schedule change if you want to make changes yourself on an award with Delta it is so simple and you simply (most times if you don’t have special things attached to the booking) change the flights and either pay more Delta points or get points back if the price is lower. With AA it is free to cancel and rebook and points are instantly back but if you don’t have enough points to cover the new flight you have to cancel and hope all goes well with the new booking.
- Seat back screens. Other than regional partners they are everywhere with Delta. I do love this and it is so much better than getting out my tablet to watch a movie on AA.
- First class seats. AA seats just feel less. Less space less leg room and clearly, as mentioned, less screens. Now when it comes to international full flat seats I would say it is a push as both are very good most of the time.
- Domestic first class meals. Again here Delta is just better. AA first class meals are just boring and I don’t get that they can not improve them (I mean if Delta can then AA can too right?)!
- Wifi. Delta is years ahead of AA here. I know AA has said they are going to offer fast free wifi (just like Delta) but it will take time to catch up. I am not paying for wifi with AA until then.
OK that is my short list of where I think Delta really does a better job. Now don’t get me wrong if Delta wants 450,000 points for a flight and AA wants 95,000 I can work with AA on all of these types of issues. But let’s switch to where I think AA has the edge.
- The value of frequent flyer points. Back in the day Delta points were like GOLD to me. Their value was something I worked for. They were always worth way more than 1 cent each and I made choices accordingly. Clearly Delta points are now, not worthless, but worth so much less than before that I view them nearly as trash. However AA points I see as VERY valuable and actively look to earn them.
- Partner choices. Please know I am not saying Delta does not have a bunch of Skyteam partners but closely tied to partners is how simple or hard redemption of award points is and how simple it is to fly with their partners. I have found Delta makes it much harder to do simple searches and to use points with the full list of partners (without doing your own research and then calling).
- Service onboard. Delta used to always be hands down the winner over AA but things have slowly changed. I have found AA flight attendants (other than the endless credit card sales pitches) have been improving while Delta attendants are now less enthusiastic than before.
- New bus service from SBN. Now this one I get is very specific to my home town airport that is a “secure” gate to gate bus service but Chicago airport has always been a love/hate option for me and this new included in the price of a ticket option is huge for me.
Bottom line AA does have a lot of catching up to do to become as good as Delta in many parts of the travel experience but at the same time Delta award prices are, most times, so completely out of whack that there is no way on earth I will ever pay them and be able to sleep at night.
You tell me. Have you too recently become a free agent and are always comparing each experience to Delta and what you like more about whatever airline than Delta and what you like less? – René
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Delta meal on the whole better (quality) but appreciate how AA does a complete meal service with toasted nuts and salad/appetizer on top of the slimmed down bread/entree/dessert combo you would get on Delta.
@Neil – Agree. It really is a nice little touch. Oh and the wine onboard AA is wAAy better than Delta.
Great post…I feel like I could have written the same things : )
Am AA Executive Platinum but just flew Delta First Class RT FLL-LGA this week and the seats ARE nicer, the seatback TV’s ARE better and the food is absolutely better than AA. UAL and Delta (per the NYT) are blowing by AA in earnings (admittedly juiced by their credit card tie ups) but also because they’ve done a better job on their premium cabin offerings. I am often left wondering what AA is waiting for/up to for their response.
That said, from the same NYT article this week:
Of course, no airline is unassailable, and the industry is rife with companies that went from roaring success to penury.
“The thing that’s going to ruin it for Delta and United is American,” said Nicolas Owens, an analyst for Morningstar, the financial services company. “If American spent a billion dollars and sent all their planes to the shop and redid the seating arrangement, would they not have the same outcome?”
Maybe AA will get the message (I doubt it…but…maybe…)
Another area where AA is better than Delta is achieving elite status. Having been granted lifetime (i.e., as long as the Medallion program exists) status with Delta, I decided to achieve Exec Plat with AA. I’ve really been enjoying it. Also, AA allows you to purchase main cabin and upgrade with SWUs, unlike Delta, where I must buy Premium Select to use my GUCs. Of course, one has to ponder whether elite status is worth pursuing at all. But that’s a whole other discussion.
FEWER screeens.