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Delta Passengers Are Angry, But Will Be Back. They Have Little Choice

Published

3 months ago

2024-07-29

Delta Air Lines’ service outage last week stranded an estimated half million passengers, leaving many sleeping on airport floors, dissatisfied and upset at their inability to complete their travels, unable to locate their bags or receive answers from the airline.

However, regardless of how angry they are, the majority of them will return to the airline in the future. To paraphrase an old song, most travelers find it difficult to end their relationship with an airline.

The fact of the American air travel system is that tremendous forces retain passengers traveling with the same airlines, even after service disruptions like Delta’s. American, United, Southwest, and Delta are the four largest airlines in the United States, accounting for more than 70% of total air traffic. Passengers who live near one of Delta’s major hubs, such as Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, or Salt Lake City, have even fewer flying options.

Delta Passengers Are Angry, But Will Be Back. They Have Little Choice

Many consumers also have frequent flyer accounts and branded credit cards that link them to specific airlines.

A disgruntled million-mile consumer.
That’s the case for Don Hooper, who has a million miles in his Delta frequent flyer account after years of traveling the airline once or twice a week while working as a banker near Atlanta.

Now semi-retired, he and his wife Dorothy fly Delta eight to ten times yearly. They were on vacation this month, visiting Glacier National Park and attending a wedding in Bozeman, Montana, and were on their way home when they became delayed in Salt Lake City. They eventually had to buy their own Spirit tickets to return home by early Wednesday morning.

“I would not say I am angry. “I’m disappointed,” Don Hooper told CNN during an interview. “We were never communicated with, or contacted. We were left on our own. They left people to fend for themselves without any help.”

The collapse occurred as Delta attempted to recover from computer problems that stopped its systems from tracking the location of its pilots and flight attendants, making it impossible to staff all of its flights. CrowdStrike, a cyber security group, triggered the disruptions, which resulted in severe computer issues around the world on July 19, including over 5,000 canceled flights by a variety of airlines on Friday.

However, the troubles were primarily isolated to Delta by Monday, as other firms resumed normal operations, adding to the passengers’ anger. Delta canceled more than 4,400 flights between July 19 and 21, according to flight tracking firm FlightAware. There were an extra 1,800 flights canceled on Monday and Tuesday.

“Other airlines, banks, and corporations appeared to have worked it out. Delta didn’t,” Dorothy Hooper explained.

The Hoopers claim their experience was not as horrible as other travellers’. The Hoopers had enough money to reserve a hotel in downtown Salt Lake City, so they had a place to sleep even though they still wanted to leave town that night. Others had a different experience.

“People are sleeping in line at the ticketing kiosks. People were running short of nappies and formula. “Some vendors were running out of food,” Dorothy Hooper explained.

“We came out of this fine,” remarked Don Hooper.

By Friday, their bags had been returned, and Delta had paid them for their out-of-pocket expenses while giving them an extra $100 each. Even before that, the Hoopers expressed excitement for their next Delta vacation to Greece and Italy in August, despite their unhappiness with Delta’s behavior during the meltdown. Past experience and Delta’s supremacy in Atlanta and Don Hooper’s frequent flyer miles would keep them loyal to the airline.

Who will and won’t return?
Other passengers were not as eager to fly Delta again.

According to CNN, Jeremy and Kaylee Jones married on July 20 and left Spokane, Washington, on Monday for their honeymoon. Five guests were unable to attend the wedding owing to flying complications.

They arrived in Atlanta early Tuesday morning to catch a connecting aircraft to the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. But they couldn’t obtain one.

They eventually had to travel to Orlando to catch another flight to St. Lucia so that they would keep the money they had spent on the accommodation. Despite pledging to compensate affected customers, Delta’s policy would not have reimbursed them for their St. Lucia hotel stay if they had canceled the trip.

“Maybe in the future, but once they’ve figured it out, I would say, not in the near future,” Kaylee Jones replied when asked if they would fly Delta again.

“As of right now, I would roll with that sentiment,” stated Jeremy Jones. “No Delta for me, for sure.”

However, several airlines have seen travel demand recover following comparable or worse meltdowns. Southwest experienced a 10-day glitch with its crew scheduling software, resulting in about 17,000 cancellations during the year-end holiday travel period in 2022. It experienced two months of low bookings. However, many of those affected travelers returned to the airline. It just recorded record revenue and traffic for the most recent quarter.

Lack of options
The hub structure protects so-called “network carriers” like Delta from competition on flights into and out of their hubs. Cirium figures show that it accounts for 83% of available seats flown in and out of Atlanta when adjusted for miles traveled.

“They have a stranglehold on Atlanta,” explained Zach Griff, senior aviation reporter for The Points Guy, a travel website. “Even if you choose to fly a rival, you can only reach so many destinations nonstop. It’s always worth remembering because people’s memories are short. The book based on schedule and price. This does not imply that some customers will not resent Delta for this. However, this could be a temporary hiccup.

On certain important routes, there are several options, though only sometimes with the same regularity as other airlines.

“At the end of the day, people are going to act in their own personal interest,” said Scott Keyes, founder of travel alert service Going.com. “Most passengers aren’t going to inconvenience themselves, to take a longer or a non-direct flight, simply to punish Delta.”

Many business travelers will fly with an airline that has a contract with their employer, leaving them no choice except to choose their own carrier. That was the situation with Dylan Steele, a government employee who was stuck in Atlanta for many days, unable to complete a trip to Washington for work. Except in emergencies, he must fly Delta for work. By Tuesday, he had abandoned his plans for this trip after three days of futile attempts to travel from Atlanta to Washington, DC.

Steele, on the other hand, was sympathetic to Delta’s troubles and felt sad for the staff who were at the airport assisting passengers in locating their luggage.

“It has undoubtedly been an experience. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “On a normal day, Delta is quite good. They are making every effort to assist us. “It is not their fault.”

Delta Passengers Are Angry, But Will Be Back. They Have Little Choice

Another factor that is likely to entice passengers to return to Delta is its reputation for providing exceptional service. Stats back up this claim: Delta said in its second quarter statistics that in the first half of this year, it topped the industry in the lowest percentage of cancelled flights and on-time performance, with 39 cancellation-free days. It also has a fairly low complaint rate.

Don Hooper said he’s always received excellent treatment from Delta staff in the million miles he’s travelled on the airline before to this, and that’s another reason he’s not about to switch, in addition to the fact that he lives close to the Atlanta hub and has all of the miles in his account.

“As a million-mile flier, you’ve had some negative experiences over the years. Don Hooper stated that Delta has previously responded well to this issue. “We have been flying Delta for 34 years. “And I still will.”

SOURCE | CNN

News

Emmanuel Macron Says France ‘Will Fight Hard’ To Keep Hit Netflix Show Emily In Paris In Paris

Published

4 hours ago

2024-10-12

Kiara Grace

Emmanuel Macron Says France ‘Will Fight Hard’, When Netflix’s blockbuster comedy “Emily in Paris” revealed at the end of season four that its lead heroine was leaving for Rome, many viewers were taken by surprise. French President Emmanuel Macron has now weighed in on the debate, stating that the country “will fight hard” to prevent the show from moving to the Italian capital.

“We will ask them to remain in Paris, ‘Emily in Paris'” in Rome does not make sense,” he told Variety in an interview published Wednesday.

The plot revolves around Emily Cooper, a 20-something American marketing executive played by Lily Collins, who relocates from Chicago to Paris for work and likes life in the French metropolis. It often ranks among Netflix’s most-watched episodes, and when the streaming service extended it for a fifth season, creator Darren Star stated that Emily will now “have a presence in Rome.”

Emmanuel Macron Says France ‘Will Fight Hard’ To Keep Hit Netflix Show Emily In Paris In Paris

Following the French president’s remarks, Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, made a tongue-in-cheek response on X, saying, “Dear Emmanuel Macron, don’t worry: Emily is doing wonderful in Rome. And one can’t control the heart; let her decide.”

In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter Roma, Gualtieri said, “Doesn’t President Macron have more pressing matters to worry about?”

Gualtieri speculated: “I would like to believe, at least I would like to hope, that Macron was joking, because he ought to know that a production company like Netflix does not take orders from heads of state or make decisions based on political pressure.”

Macron has had a lengthy association with the show. His wife, Brigitte, appeared briefly in season four when Emily met her in a café and asked for a selfie. In the show’s fictitious reality, Brigitte publishes one of Emily’s social media postings from season one, in which she expressed surprise that the French word for vagina, le vagin, was male.

“I was super proud, and she was very happy to do it,” Macron said of his wife’s appearance. “It was only a few minutes, but I believe it was a very positive time for her. I think it’s beneficial for France’s image. Emily in Paris is extremely positive in terms of the country’s attractiveness. It’s an excellent initiative for my own business.”

Emmanuel Macron Says France ‘Will Fight Hard’ To Keep Hit Netflix Show Emily In Paris In Paris

While some French fans have criticized the show for relying on Parisian clichés and disregarding topics such as homelessness in the city, a survey undertaken by France’s National Cinema Center revealed that it has increased travel to the country’s capital in January.

According to the study, around one-tenth of travelers opted to visit France after watching a certain movie or series, and in 38% of those cases, “Emily in Paris” served as the motivation for a French trip.

However, despite his wife’s involvement with the performance and its impact on tourism, Macron has no plans to make his own cameo appearance.

“I’m less attractive than Brigitte,” he told Variety.

SOURCE | AP

News

Watchdog Claims That US Control Over Boeing Aircraft Output Is Insufficient.

Published

1 day ago

2024-10-11

Salman Ahmad

(VOR News) – On Friday, a government watchdog expressed its Boeing disapproval of the control that the government Aviation Administration (FAA) exercises over the production of airplanes by Boeing.

The watchdog stated that the FAA did not have an effective mechanism to monitor the individual manufacturing facilities of the United States company that manufactures airplanes.

The FAA monitors “discrepancies and noncompliances within the Boeing production line.”

This statement was made by the office of the inspector general of the transportation department. In addition, the report said that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not addressed the long-standing flaws in Boeing’s control of suppliers, despite the fact that these hazards have been recognized for a considerable amount of time.

Despite the fact that Boeing is unable to resolve a strike by its employees, struggles to regain the faith of the industry in some of its aircraft and systems as a result of a string of accidents and incidents, and was forced to bring back its spacecraft from the International Space Station while leaving its astronaut crew behind due to safety concerns, the company is continuing to face a significant number of challenges in the business world.

Following the explosion of a door plug that was lacking crucial fasteners on a new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 airplane at 16,000 feet in January, the oversight of Boeing by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been subjected to greater scrutiny. This is because the door plug was missing essential fasteners.

In response to this incident, the Department of Justice has begun an investigation into possible criminal activity.

There were sixteen recommendations for enhancements included in the report. All of them were accepted by the Federal Aviation Administration, which remarked that it “is committed to continuously improving our oversight processes.” All of them were accepted.

According to a statement made by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the agency “is currently conducting a comprehensive, systemwide review of our oversight models.”

According to the findings of the investigation, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had not been successful in resolving charges of excessive pressure that were placed on Boeing staff who were acting on behalf of the FAA in a given amount of time.

The reason for this was that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had not enforced the requirements that Boeing furnish information that was adequate in relation to the claims.

In the absence of an instant response, Boeing did not offer a comment.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) “has yet to move from a reactive approach focused on addressing individual manufacturing issues to a more proactive, data-driven model to identify and address risk within Boeing’s manufacturing processes at all levels,” according to the report that evaluated the monitoring of Boeing 737 and 787.

This statement was made in reference to the FAA’s response to the monitoring of Boeing 737 and 787.

There have been a number of studies that have been released over the course of the past several years that have brought attention to complaints regarding the FAA’s regulation of Boeing.

The surveillance of the FAA was criticized by a United States Senate committee that was investigating the culture of Boeing at the end of the previous month. The committee cited papers that were obtained during an ongoing investigation as the basis for their criticism.

A month ago, it was reported that Mike Whitaker, the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will be modifying the personal safety management program that the agency uses. He has previously said that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had “too hands off” oversight over the actions of Boeing.

He did something that had never been done before: he forbade Boeing from raising the manufacturing of the 737 Max until the corporation had produced significant enhancements to the product’s quality. This was an action that had never been taken before.

SOURCE: TGN

News

Trudeau Commits $25-Million for Charities in Lebanon, One Allegedly Linked to Terrorism

Published

2 days ago

2024-10-11

Geoff Thomas

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen address the media - VOR Image

Canada is increasing its humanitarian aid package for Lebanon by an additional $15 million, raising the total to $25 million in response to the escalating conflict between Israel and the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah.

International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen announced that the newly allocated funds will support both Canadian and international aid organizations in delivering essential services such as food, water, emergency health care, and other forms of assistance in Lebanon, although specific distribution details remain to be finalized.

“The impact of this conflict on civilians in Lebanon and beyond is devastating,” Mr. Hussen stated during a press briefing. “Today, Canada has announced a commitment of $25 million to bolster humanitarian efforts aimed at aiding the most vulnerable civilians in Lebanon.”

The recent announcement of $15 million in new funding adds to the $10 million in aid previously disclosed by Mr. Hussen at the end of September.

Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announces additional $15 Million in Aid for Lebanon - Video Screenshot

Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announces additional $15 Million in Aid for Lebanon – CBC Image

He stated that $6 million of the previously announced funds will be allocated to both the Red Cross and the Humanitarian Coalition, which comprises 11 charities, to match up to $3 million each in donations received for their respective Lebanon aid initiatives.

His commitment to the Humanitarian Coalition persists even in light of allegations against one of its member charities, Islamic Relief, which is accused of funding Hamas and maintaining connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. In 2014, the United Arab Emirates classified Islamic Relief as a terrorist organisation.

Mr. Hussen reported that over 2,000 individuals have lost their lives in Lebanon, including two Canadians, with thousands more suffering injuries. The ongoing conflict has exerted considerable strain on the humanitarian organizations operating in the region.

He emphasized the urgent need for food, medicine, shelter materials, and emergency health care in Lebanon.

Melanie Joly, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, – VOR Image

On Wednesday, Global Affairs Canada announced that it has successfully assisted nearly 1,050 Canadians, permanent residents, and their immediate family members in departing from Lebanon. It reports that it has also assisted approximately 250 individuals from various countries in departing Lebanon.

The agency reports a decline in new requests for information on departure options, now receiving fewer than 100 each day. All eligible travellers have been provided with departure opportunities, have already departed, or are scheduled to leave in the upcoming days.

According to Global Affairs Canada, a total of 205 individuals departed from Lebanon on Monday and Tuesday.

As of October 8, over 25,000 Canadians were officially registered in Lebanon; however, officials indicated that the actual figure could be greater, as registration is not mandatory. Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has indicated that there are approximately 45,000 Canadians currently in the country.

On Wednesday, Mr. Hussen once again urged Canadians to evacuate Lebanon. A representative for Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that the current priority is assisting Canadian citizens and permanent residents, along with their spouses and children, in obtaining the necessary travel documents.

“Additionally, we are focusing on the processing of specific categories of family class permanent resident applications,” stated spokeswoman Renee Proctor in an e-mailed statement.