Delta is expanding aggressively at LAX with new routes and added frequencies — and reminding everyone, repeatedly, just how premium it all is.
Fly LAX-IND a lot. Back when Delta and American both had 1x daily (2025) flight Delta was empty American was full and more expensive. Delta sometimes wasn’t even flying daily and down to 4-5x weekly. Now American has 2x daily flights (2026) while Delta still has 1 and Delta is still cheaper. Clearly this is a route that could support 14x weekly but not on Delta not sure what’s up here on the premium airline and Delta still didn’t up this route for next summer
At this point Delta doesn’t need a marketing department, they need a thesaurus. “Premium” this, “premium” that — I’ve heard “premium” so many times I expect the next Delta press release to announce a premium restroom, premium boarding, and premium oxygen between Atlanta and LAX.
what's worse is that the amount of liberally added b.s. also speaks of a population who no longer question what they're being told
Premium is literally the name of any seat that isn't main cabin in the airline industry. They're literally just referencing statistic and people are losing their minds lol.
July seems awfully late to add extra Seattle service, since the Alaska cruise season starts in May - whatever will people do to get to their ship if they can’t premium their way there on DL?
Jokes aside, is this service expansion being supported by new aircraft deliveries or a reduction in flying elsewhere?
If you want a good laugh, "Jetlanta" on a.net had quite the Delta Goebbels spin take on this. Basically, that adding little new means delta is "perfect" and couldn't possibly improve. If you ever wanted to read a more "delta" comment from an ex employee in love with them... this is your take.
I mean, hey. For an airline with the lowest mileage penetration in Southern California, I admire his dedication to 2005 Delta and personal ID association with an airline he hasn't worked for in decades.
It's not that much extra service, it's going from 7x to 8x daily. I wouldn't pay that much attention to the timing. SEA to LAX is basically just a commuter/feeder route.
The PHL add is the interesting one, given AA flies it up to 8x daily.
FYI @yolo2x
the joke is that Delta marketing is making it out to be a joke. When it's very very little.
In theory more competition and capacity should benefit consumers flying from LAX.
And what could possibly be more premium than an E175 to Monterey?
Is AA just going to have its fortress hubs and not compete anywhere?
Premium refers to any seat that isn't main cabin. It's a statistic.
@ Powerball Winner -- A majority of the references aren't regarding the number of seats, but rather, are about the overall experience. A "premium journey" does not refer to a specific number of seats.
Me thinks that the site's favourite commenter in Tim Dunn is their newest PR hire 😉
I boarded behind Delta's most frequent flier, their Tom Stuker equivalent, on a SAN-LAX operated by UNITED.
He is SAN based and used that leg to get onto Delta ONE metal.
5x frequency helps him. I suppose it's one way to avoid adding CLD service.
Monterey service will be a welcome change from United Express. The addition of a MRY to SLC is great news for skiers.
Now for international flights from LAX, the Delta One lounge is within range.
"Singapore Airlines just won the Skytrax World’s Best Airline award." - for which Delta isn't in the top 10.
As Trump has shown us…. if you keep repeating something over and over again people will start to believe it no matter what the truth is.
SAN to LAX is 109 air miles. Do people drive down there from Orange County, just because parking is available? If you think climate change is a hoax, you have to love how Delta supports the jet fuel industry.
No one (well, almost no one) uses SAN-LAX to fly between the two cities. There are many airports in the US that cannot be reached nonstop from SAN. So if one has to make a connection out of SAN (with SFO, PHX, DEN, IAH, DFW being the major options, at least for domestic), a flight via LAX is faster than driving to LAX and flying from there.
And of course, for international flying, LAX has a far greater range of flights than SAN. So I've used those connections many, many times, but never to fly just between the cities.
I understand that short hop is usually the first or last segment of a longer trip. I disagree that it's faster than driving, but that isn't an environmentally friendly solution either. The Southern California infrastructure doesn't yet support better alternatives, but the fares being collected don't reflect the federal and local tax funds required to make this "convenience" available.
"but the fares being collected don't reflect the federal and local tax funds required to make this "convenience" available."
You sure make declarative statements, without much to back them up.
To parafrase Thatcher. Being Premium is like being a Lady, if you have to tell people you are, you are not
They’re really promoting LAX-PHL, but then use a lame a321neo with recliners… transcon redeye without lie-flat ain’t ‘premium’ friends.
(Will this be the story that brings Tim back?)
“Will this be the story that brings Tim back?”
You’re playing with fire.
Candyman.
Candyman.
Candyman.
Candyman.
Candyman.
Excited to see San Antonio get the LUV. With additional gate access to come in the new Terminal C, I’m curious if Delta will continue to grow, either taking on Alaska to Seattle (which I believe has gone from 2x to 1x daily), or Breeze’s 3x weekly to RDU. Additional frequencies to LAX plus the new SAT-BOS flight, a good couple wins for the other central Texas airport.
Will all of the BOS flights be D1?
I'll agree with other posters - I'd /really/ like to see some more TCON routes getting lie-flats. Ah, well, maybe when the seats get sorted out...
Premium: a product, service, or pricing tier that offers superior quality, exclusive features, or high brand prestige, commanding a higher-than-average cost that consumers willingly pay for perceived surplus value.
Exactly what does DL think makes them premium compared to AA or UA? I have flown all three up front and in the back in the last three months. There is really no appreciable difference. Sure, each airline excels in different areas that one might consider premium, but no US airline stands out as meeting the premium threshold. The smoke DL, AA and UA up people's rear ends is starting to get old.
Delta is still getting crushed by United. I don't know how Delta can claim premium given their horrible internet plans. Even Southwest has more flights than Delta at LAX and they don't think that equates to being premium.
Whether DL is premium or not is not the issue at LAX.
Most of the highest revenue routes from LAX are to other airline hubs and no airline has 100% coverage to every other airline hubs from LAX.
The addition of a single daily to PHL is a small start but IAD, CLT, and STL are still notable additions DL needs to make.
Let's keep in mind that jet fuel is over $4.50/gallon and while DL is paying less due to its refinery, this is not the time for moon shots either in the US economy or anywhere in the global airline industry.