In late 2023, Delta Air Lines opened an unusual store at New York Kennedy Airport (JFK). The airline is now extending this concept, with a new location having opened today.
In this post:
Delta Window Seat Shop SEA now open
Today (November 23, 2024), Delta has opened the Window Seat Shop at Seattle Tacoma Airport (SEA), which is the second time we’ve seen the Atlanta-based carrier open an airport retail store to the general public.
The retail store is located in Terminal A, near the Delta Sky Club.
Delta describes the Window Seat Shop concept as “a new way to grow your world,” as the shop offers souvenirs from around the globe. Note that in addition to being able to make purchases at the actual store, you can also buy this stuff online.
So, what kind of stuff can you expect to buy with this concept? Politely, I’d describe it as random, kitschy junk, at highly inflated prices.
Earn MQDs for shopping at the Delta Window Seat Shop
Between November 23 and December 8, 2024, Delta is awarding Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) for all purchases at the Window Seat Shop, whether online or in-person. You’ll be rewarded at the rate of one MQD per dollar spent, so that’s the same rate at which you earn MQDs for flying.
In order to qualify, you need to be the basic card member of a Delta SkyMiles Amex card, and need to provide your SkyMiles number at the time of purchase.
It almost feels like this is the primary reason that the store exists, and why it’s open late in the year. For those looking to qualify for status late in the year, I guess Delta wants you to buy all this garbage to earn MQDs, so that you can be higher up on the list of people denied for an upgrade, given the percentage of first class seats Delta sells.
Bottom line
Delta has opened the Window Seat Shop in Seattle, following the opening of a similar concept in New York last year. This store sells souvenirs from around the world, and for a limited time, it’s possible to earn MQDs for purchases there.
It seems pretty clear that this store exists primarily for people who simply want a way to increase their MQD total through non-flying means. But like, goodness, maybe Delta could just take donations inflight by credit card, and have those count as MQDs?
What do you make of Delta expanding the Window Seat Shop to Seattle? Would you buy something here?
I'm super bummed, I used miles to fly up to Seattle for the day to get my metal luggage tag as a loyal Delta card holder and when I got home my free mug and tag were not in my bag. I bought the stackable fish glasses and supposed to receive a free mug w/purchase. My box with the mug was just an empty box. Total waste of time and miles to receive no tag...
I'm super bummed, I used miles to fly up to Seattle for the day to get my metal luggage tag as a loyal Delta card holder and when I got home my free mug and tag were not in my bag. I bought the stackable fish glasses and supposed to receive a free mug w/purchase. My box with the mug was just an empty box. Total waste of time and miles to receive no tag and no mug, my bad for not double checking my bags. I tried to contact customer service but there is no number to talk with anyone about trying to me another luggage tag. If you anyone is willing to help me, please reach out. I would like the luggage tag if possible..
Including dates and hours of operation in the article would be helpful. Anyone know that info?
Apparently all this crap has sold out.
I don't know whether to be impressed by Delta for pulling it off or to be depressed by the sad state of consumerism in our society, where we buy literal junk to achieve near useless "loyalty" status.
i dropped in online an hour or so after the store opened to see what crap they're selling this year and most things were sold out. And the stuff makes last year's stuff look awesome. It's like Delta can smell desperation.
I see they offer an Egypt theme product. Perhaps a fake passport featuring Ben’s name for trolling entry officials at CAI?
Excuse me, it's *premium* junk.
The SEA shop is also giving out a free bag tag made from Delta's retired B747.
this is clearly just an ego concept that will not make money -which further validates that Delta makes so much money flying passengers and getting people to use their Amex cards that they have to come up with ways to lose money so that the difference in DAL's finances are only 33% higher than their closest competitor instead of the 3X higher level they could be if they didn't engage in such ridiculous merchandising efforts.
There.
I said it.
"have to come up with ways to lose money"
LMFAOOOOOO
You're right that it's an ego concept, though
Told ya.
Like what I said 2 weeks ago. People still buy all of this stuff.
Now BA should start doing this too. If Tim Dunn would buy Delta craps, I know one pedophile poop reader who would buy BA craps.
An airline that can't clean their planes or fix a tray table offers this kind of BS. Talk about contempt for your customers...
But then if their customers are really like Tim Dunn they've nailed it...
Thank God I don't live anywhere near Atlanta.
“ For those looking to qualify for status late in the year, I guess Delta wants you to buy all this garbage to earn MQDs, so that you can be higher up on the list of people denied for an upgrade”
How stupidly cynical can you be? Maybe someone is $100 short of Gold and wants Sky Team lounge access?
Also as a frequent Delta customer who primarily flies via SEA or SLC, I’ve gotten...
“ For those looking to qualify for status late in the year, I guess Delta wants you to buy all this garbage to earn MQDs, so that you can be higher up on the list of people denied for an upgrade”
How stupidly cynical can you be? Maybe someone is $100 short of Gold and wants Sky Team lounge access?
Also as a frequent Delta customer who primarily flies via SEA or SLC, I’ve gotten many comp upgrades and I’m just a measly Silver.
One final word… it might be “junk” but the online store is essentially sold out at this point.
@Redacted, you have a point that upgrades are easier on the west coast. But most DL customers fly out of east and midwest hubs, so they don't share that experience.
Of course it’s all considered junk and a ripoff. But that’s not really the intention. As Redacted mentioned, this is just another way Delta is helping their members to reach status, especially if you’re only a few hundred dollars or less to Platinum or Diamond. It’s the easiest way to get to the next level without traveling. There are folks who travel in December just to get the status. Instead of spending and wasting time...
Of course it’s all considered junk and a ripoff. But that’s not really the intention. As Redacted mentioned, this is just another way Delta is helping their members to reach status, especially if you’re only a few hundred dollars or less to Platinum or Diamond. It’s the easiest way to get to the next level without traveling. There are folks who travel in December just to get the status. Instead of spending and wasting time in the air, just spend your dollars on some possible crappy gifts at a one-to-one ratio of MQDs. You can’t get that spend with the Delta credit cards.
Thank you. Nice to get a common sense reply. I’m in that camp myself this year. I could take a pointless Skywest flight and waste half my day… Or drop $150 on stuff that I can give away at white elephants this year. The answer was easy.
$570 for a soapstone *anything* is a ripoff.
Lollll at these prices. I guess there are enough people that will pay. Hey, at least no tips right?
When Ben wrote this: ‘I’m kind of amazed that Delta is expanding this concept, since it kind of just seems like they’re largely selling random, kitschy junk, at highly inflated prices. I’m curious if these shops are independently profitable, if Delta somehow views it as a brand extension, or what?’
I knew it would trigger Tim D. Ben should know by now that anything Delta is always premium. Tim knows this so it must be...
When Ben wrote this: ‘I’m kind of amazed that Delta is expanding this concept, since it kind of just seems like they’re largely selling random, kitschy junk, at highly inflated prices. I’m curious if these shops are independently profitable, if Delta somehow views it as a brand extension, or what?’
I knew it would trigger Tim D. Ben should know by now that anything Delta is always premium. Tim knows this so it must be true. And Tim would tell Ben that this is definitely profitable because DL is the most profitable airline so anything that they do is considered premium profit and not just profit.
nowhere did I say anything about their profitability.
I have repeatedly said that Ben is desperate to create page clicks and clearly has the (journalistic) morals of an alley cat but facts can't be ignored.
I did accurately say that United has a long track record of copying DL's strategies, openly acknowledging that they are copying DL, and yet Ben somehow seems to manage to praise UA.
Maybe Ben takes 3 years to figure...
nowhere did I say anything about their profitability.
I have repeatedly said that Ben is desperate to create page clicks and clearly has the (journalistic) morals of an alley cat but facts can't be ignored.
I did accurately say that United has a long track record of copying DL's strategies, openly acknowledging that they are copying DL, and yet Ben somehow seems to manage to praise UA.
Maybe Ben takes 3 years to figure everything out and doesn't get anything for that long.
I can call a spade what it is.
UA will undoubtedly do something similar and Ben will think it is great.
and the strategies that UA really came up w/ on its own - DL strategies on steroids like massive fleet growth and Nextifying its old narrowbody aircraft - won't get done until years after DL has finished two strategies before UA's latest.
Sorry I have to disagree with you Tim. Ben clearly states all over the blog, that Delta currently is the best carrier of the big 3. Usually his praise is that the others are catching up or in some aspects even over superior products. I’m pretty sure he will not praise the same thing for other airlines, and also in his original article for the first store he highlighted the usefulness to get the last...
Sorry I have to disagree with you Tim. Ben clearly states all over the blog, that Delta currently is the best carrier of the big 3. Usually his praise is that the others are catching up or in some aspects even over superior products. I’m pretty sure he will not praise the same thing for other airlines, and also in his original article for the first store he highlighted the usefulness to get the last points. I understand his critique/skepsis more in regards to the physical store than the concept of buying points.
You clearly have deep insights into Delta but by taking the slightest criticism personal and ignoring Ben’s praise (sometimes obvious and sometimes implicit by writing how the other 2 are “catching up”) you make it very difficult to read your post objectively.
Hello Timmy!
Have you already forgotten the comment you posted 14 minutes prior to this reaction? It's all about profitability, that one. So stop being a liar. It's enough that you are unhinged, no need to add even more toxicity to the mix.
Nowhere does Ben say that this blog is journalism. Ben experiences traveling, has a very keen eye for frequent flyer programs (and even makes a living out of all this),...
Hello Timmy!
Have you already forgotten the comment you posted 14 minutes prior to this reaction? It's all about profitability, that one. So stop being a liar. It's enough that you are unhinged, no need to add even more toxicity to the mix.
Nowhere does Ben say that this blog is journalism. Ben experiences traveling, has a very keen eye for frequent flyer programs (and even makes a living out of all this), tons of experience from a passenger viewpoint and actually dares to be honest enough to call an outdated flying garbage can for an outdated flying garbage can, as he did on his way from Atlanta to Mexico City, for example. And he actually posts photos as evidence for his claims and observations. Have you ever actually read a word he wrote? Because if you did, then you'd have seen a ton of criticism on UA and praise for DL where praise is due. it's called nuance, you should try it some day. It might save you from calling people 'alley cats' and other ugly things.
So yeah, if you knew anything about Ben, you'd know that he and UA aren't exactly a lifelong love story. But you don't. Because you have somehow decided that Ben is a UA fanboy and are unwilling to change your point of view. Just like you have decided that only Delta can do things the right way and only Delta can be the world's industry leading trailblazer. United can't be given any praise for opening daring and innovative routes to Nuuk and Ulanbataar. They can't get any praise for actually having a real business class product on some narrowbodies like the A321XLR. Because Delta is leading the way by announcing that they'll start flying 3 times weekly to Copenhagen, yet another SkyTeam hub - with a widebody! So innovative! Who could have seen that coming? Think of all the profitability on that balance sheet! What an unprecedented piece of evidence of leading the industry and just imagine how Danish and Skåne people will be looking forward to a tired and worn out 767 experience - premium tired and worn, of course. You know what it gets you, Timmy? Zero credibility.
And of course you have to make an unrelated statement about fleet growth and bring your imaginary competition on fleet size between the Big Tree again. Because this one didn't work for balance sheet (one of your other go-to's) as you denied having ever said anything about it. Right?
You know what, Tim? All of the Big Three in the USA suck like a black hole in your granny's buttocks.
There.
I said it.
Who is "Timmy?.
Delta fangirl/influencer who has made a career out of the comments section here.
are you talking about the person that has all of you wrapped around "his" (he/his) finger and gets a kick out of watching you et al?
You were sh!tcanned by DL…yet continue to slurp them 24/7. How pathetic.
Many of the items people claimed to be junk seems to be sold out in JFK last year.
This stuff looks like garbage! The pictures don't even look good, why would anyone ever buy this.
Because they’re $50 shy of Platinum and want access to Sky Team lounges?
If they're that focused on optimizing they can purchase something w/ their Delta Amex that they actually need to get the remaining MQDs.
Consumerism has gotten us to the point where we buy junk for the sake of it.
You mean if they have Platinum or Reserve?
I’m talking Gold.
An overpriced gift crap shop for shoppers to lazy to care. Sad.
Who cares if it’s selling junk? If you’re within a couple hundred dollars of Platinum/Diamond this is an easy way to level up.
Plus… With the switch to MQD being the only metric for status, we can’t know for sure that Delta will round up anymore.
So yes the products are silly but when literally the ONLY other ways to earn MQD without a Platinum or Reserve CC are flights and Delta vacations, I’ll take it.
I’m $230 from Platinum with a 3 month old and no time or energy to travel before December 31; I’ll be purchasing three bread lamps.
Those actually look pretty nice on the pics! If they are decent quality it could be a quirky gimmick or even a conversation piece.
A 'leg lamp' would be more premium than a bread lamp.
United will be doing the same thing in 3 years and Ben will think it is the greatest thing since sliced bread
Nah, but maybe the greatest thing since Toast-B Bread Lamp.
Looks like a flea market that is trying to sell their products at a 300x markup
@Julie
Exactly . You can get those bracelets from Brazil on Paulista Av for a few bucks.
I thought it might be some kind of cool shop when I got an email advertising it.
I was wrong.
I wouldn't even bother walking in there if I were across the walkway at the lounge.
Will they sell framed portraits of Timmy?
Makes no sense. I'd much rather shop for Delta/Skyteam branded items.
Yep, a junk shop. And not a very interesting one at that.
exactly, none of this is anything i would ever pick up in real life, the only reason i'd buy a souvenir of some kind is because i went somewhere. this, meanwhile, is extremely expensive junk. who on earth wants an $88 bread lamp?? this has nothing to do with travel, delta, or even Japan.
as an unrelated note, remarkable...
exactly, none of this is anything i would ever pick up in real life, the only reason i'd buy a souvenir of some kind is because i went somewhere. this, meanwhile, is extremely expensive junk. who on earth wants an $88 bread lamp?? this has nothing to do with travel, delta, or even Japan.
as an unrelated note, remarkable how many of these are destinations Delta doesn't even fly to. DL hasn't flown to the UAE since 2016 -- yet there are 2 UAE products -- and they also don't fly to Egypt.
My primary airport is SEA, and I see absolutely nothing that interests me here. I'll walk by for sheer curiosity but I can't imagine buying anything.
(Full disclosure: I'm loyal to AS, given that I love in NW WA. I truly don't think this would interest me regardless, even if I often flew DL, which I would if based elsewhere.)
*I live