Delta Launches New Branded Boarding

Delta Launches New Branded Boarding

PHOTO: Delta branded boarding

Delta Air Lines is making zoned boarding a thing of the past.

Starting on January 23, 2019, boarding with Delta will be by branded fare purchased.

The new boarding structure builds on Delta’s progress to provide consistency, simplicity and clarity to the gate and boarding experience, which have, so far, delivered all-time high customer experience scores.

The new boarding process will continue to give priority to SkyMiles Medallion Members and eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Credit Card Members.

Delta will introduce new branded boarding that distinguishes new color accents for each of Delta’s fare products. Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Delta Comfort plus, Delta Premium Select/First Class and Delta One will each have a complementary color from booking through boarding.

“Every customer values consistency and a sense of knowing what to expect when they’re traveling,” said Tim Mapes, Delta’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “We have been listening to our customers about the stress they often feel at the gate before boarding, and implementing small changes for years. This latest enhancement further refines how Delta’s process works and is designed to better link the Delta product they purchased to differentiated experiences throughout their journey.”

In January, boarding zones for Delta-operated flights will be renamed from numbers to the branded fare purchase but will also still reflect customer loyalty. This will lead to an increased number of boarding zones, which also means fewer people will be lining up at the gate area at one time.

The boarding order is as follows:

Delta One

Delta Premium Select or First Class

Delta Comfort plus

Sky Priority

Main Cabin 1

Main Cabin 2

Main Cabin 3

Basic Economy

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Delta Bans Emotional Support Animals from Longer Flights

Delta Bans Emotional Support Animals from Longer Flights

Delta Air Lines announced Monday it would be updating its policies to ban emotional support animals from flights scheduled to last longer than eight hours.

In addition, Delta also revealed it will no longer allow service and support animals that are less than four-months-old on any flight. 

The new rules and regulations apply to travelers purchasing tickets on or after December 18, with customers purchasing tickets before that date being permitted to still travel with their animal.

Starting February 1, the ban on emotional support animals on longer flights and animals less than four-months-old will be in effect for all customers, regardless of booking date. As a service to valued customers, Delta’s Reservations and Customer Care team will contact impacted travelers to adjust reservations.

“We will continue to review and enhance our policies and procedures as health and safety are core values at Delta,” senior vice president John Laughter said in a statement. “These updates support Delta's commitment to safety and also protect the rights of customers with documented needs – such as veterans with disabilities – to travel with trained service and support animals.”

Delta’s decision to update its policy again comes after an 84 percent increase in reported incidents involving service and support animals since 2016. The issues include urination, defecation, biting and even a widely reported attack by a 70-pound dog.

The changes were influenced by the animal vaccination policy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the principles outlined in the United States Department of Transportation’s Air Carrier Access Act.