Delta news bits for week ending August 26
Delta Air Lines had several interesting news announcements last week. None were worth a full post, so I thought i would summarize here.
Delta first U.S. airline to offer video chat for reservations
Delta is launching a pilot project at DCA to allow video chats with reservation agents (Photo: Delta Air Lines)
In a pilot project at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Delta will become the first U.S. airline to offer video chats with reservation agents.
“Five interactive digital screens with individual receivers are now featured at the redesigned Delta Sky Assist so customers can connect face-to-face with Delta specialists. Customers simply pick up a receiver, initiate the live video chat with one touch on the screen and are on their way to anything from changing a flight to sharing feedback.”
As video chatting becomes more common, Delta wanted to make that option available to customers when contacting the airline. The way I see it, options are rarely a bad thing, but this holds little to no interest for me. I am not a big video chatter with family and friends. When interacting with a business, I try to do as much as possible via the web and only call customer service as a last resort.
Upgraded TUMI amenity kits coming later this week
Delta One passengers will receive updated TUMI amenity kits starting September 1 (click to enlarge) (Photo: Delta Air Lines)
Delta has a partnership with TUMI to provide amenity kits on its international and U.S. transcontinental flights. While I see TUMI as a premium luggage brand and love my TUMI wallet, on a recent Delta flight to Europe, I was underwhelmed with the current international kit. The TUMI logo was cheaply attached to the front of the pouch and half of it broke off before we arrived in Brussels. Hopefully, quality will improve in the upcoming refresh of Delta's TUMI kits.
Starting September 1, "Delta is refreshing its TUMI amenity kits in the Delta One cabin, featuring a new look and feel that customers can make uniquely their own." Customers will be able to have their kits monogrammed at no charge at any TUMI store (airport and outlet locations excluded). An included patch can be brought to the store for monogramming. The kits will include Kiehl's products (and, similar to what I have written about hotel toiletries, lotion and lip balm are almost all the same to me, regardless of brand!). There will be hard-side and soft-side kits which will be available depending on where you are flying.
“The kits will be available on all Delta One flights, including coast-to-coast flights between JFK and LAX/SFO, BOS-SFO and DCA-LAX, and will feature hard- and soft-cased TUMI kits. Customers will enjoy a silver hard-sided amenity kit outbound from the U.S. and a soft-sided black amenity kit inbound to the U.S., allowing them to add variety to their amenity kit collection each way. ”
Customers in Delta's new Premium Economy cabin will receive a new soft TUMI amenity pouch.
Trip SkyMiles on Airbnb
Delta SkyMiles members can earn miles for Airbnb stays booked by October 31, 2017.
Delta SkyMiles members can earn SkyMiles for Airbnb stays booked by October 31, 2017. The promotion is already underway.
- Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on every Airbnb stay worldwide.
- Plus, new Airbnb Guests can also get up to 2,000 bonus miles and $25 towards first qualifying booking.
Stays must be completed by October 31, 2018 and customers must book at deltaairbnb.com.