Since 2012, Delta has been executing their oft-touted - but rarely experienced - "Surprise and Delight" program. The concept is simple: select Diamond Medallion members with tight connections in hub airports are met at their arriving flight by a Delta representative, walked down to the tarmac, and whisked away to their connecting flight via a…
Continue reading: I Got A Porsche Ride From Delta! (And Probably Never Will Again)
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
And commentators on frequent flyer blogs still are confused as to why Delta has a great reputation with those that fly a lot. Good, thoughtful service here.
Happened to me once in the three years I was Diamond. NYC had a snowstorm, and people were still sleeping in T4 the day after. I got a call the morning of my flight to use T2 instead of T4, and that before security, I should call the number back and she'd get me and drive me over to T4. Sure enough, she took me through security, across to T4 in a Cayenne, and then down to the SkyClub in a cart. It was super nice and no idea why I was so lucky that day.
Step 1 should be become a delta 360 member have to believe they get priority over diamonds.
As a long time Diamond Medallion/multi-million miler and often with tight connections in DTW, I get these rides all the time. I even get them sometimes without a tight connection and they just drive me to a gate closest to the lounge. That only happens when they say there's no other DM with a tight connection.
I got 4 rides last year. I only fly for leisure and found that at non business traveler times (holiday weekends) and when I had a +1 on my reservation I was more likely to get a ride. I also had 3 of the 4 rides in Seattle.
It's funny how we (JFK Employees) look at it ..Delta doesn't have one single baggage cart in good condition, but have Porsches on the ramp.
Clowns!!
I would say ... be a DM and book a tight connection in MSP. I've gotten the cars there now 4 times, including once or twice when I really didn't need it. Yet close connections in ATL and DTW, nothing. Maybe it's just my luck, but it seems like MSP is more proactive about this program.
I have had this probably 5 times in five years. Best was on a vacation with the wife and seeing her reaction to being met at the bottom of the jet bridge and then getting into a Cayenne. Of course now she thinks all of my trips are just porsches and sky clubs and hotel lounges. I would say Seattle had the most frequent pickups for me though. And SLC second.
The worst time not getting a Porsche was in MSP. Landed late due to a mechanical delay and had 15 minutes to get from C22 to F11. Now as Steph mentioned this is a minimum 10-15 minute walk. My travel team was three diamonds and a platinum all on the same flights. Guess what wasn't waiting to meet us. I ran and made my flight but the other three were old and couldn't run that far. So it is a total crap shoot on getting one of these.
I think the Cayenne is a better choice for airport transfers.
On a different note, one doesn't have to spend lots of money and become a DM to get this. Save the money on travel on DL and instead rent a luxury sports car when you want to enjoy the weekend. Living in NYC, I don't own a care (who would?). My wife and I do rent nice cars once a while for our getaways. Significantly cheaper than trying to qualify for DM and being forced to fly DL everywhere.
I have been lucky enough to have it twice now!! I even got a special offer to visit the Porsche experience in Atlanta (I haven't been able to go yet though). And both times I have had this luck, I was never really expecting it, but boy was it ever fun!!
The steps to the jet bridge are very short due to the fact that they can adjust the height of the jet bridge based on aircraft size. If there was a 767 or another tall aircraft at the gate, the steps would look more normal.
Porsche and Delta have a marketing agreement. Those cars are no-cost to the airline and add a marketing glow to the airline
In August I took an "a'la carte" Jaguar XF ride to my flight at Wroclaw Airport, Poland. 178 PLN (~45 USD), Executive Lounge included. Highly recommended! 😉
Keeping that in mind, I can totally relate to your "once in a lifetime" enthusiasm!
@Kent - agreed, the Cayenne is a better choice, easier to get in and out of.
Also, while not entirely releveant here, the Panamera is stupidly ugly. Why anyone would pay that money for such a minger is beyond me. I'd still happily ride in one for free, though.
We been lucky to get Larry in ATL 3 times on short connections in the past and it's a great perk when you get off the plane and see someone standing there with your name on a iPad. He wouldn't accept a tip but on our second ride wife does charity work and so we donated money there. It was a win-win for everybody
Back in the day when Delta had me convinced that the shortest distance between two cities was via Atlanta I had a few Porsche rides. I am American CK now. The problem is it's totally sporadic and random and not a perk if you cant rely upon it.
Nice perk - From memory United has a similar program with Mercedez shuttles. Sounds like American needs to step in - oh might I suggest a Ken Block piloted Monster/American co-branded Ford in full opposite lock from gate to gate. I would immediately fly only American for that!
Being Diamond isn't always a requirement. I'm only a Silver member, but I received this treatment at MSP last week. The Delta rep who drove me around informed me that if they don't have any Diamond members to drive around they will look for other passengers in danger of missing connections and help them out as well.
At LAX, I constantly see the cars...like at least 50% of the time as the plane pulls up to the gate, maybe more. I've never been offered the service, but my friend did get it connecting in ATL just before NYE last year. She was flying with her dad (Diamond) and was drunk from the flight, so FaceTimed me from the car so I could ride along with them 🙂
This is indeed an elusive service. I have Diamond status since 2012 and I only got to experience this once at SFO when flying from SLC-SFO-PVG. I did not even have a tight connection (roughly an hour and a half).
As we were waiting to deplane in Seattle to pick up our connecting flight to Shanghai, I had struck up a brief conversation with the guy who was Diamond Medallion and was on our flight.
The Delta representative boarded the plane to surprise the guy and take him to the connecting flight which was a 20 minute walk and we had about 30 minutes to board. The guy and he asked if we could go along. She said "Sure!"
Was a great surprise and I doubt we'll ever have that experience again!
I've been a Diamond for the last ten years, and with almost 2M miles. I didn't know about this program until a few weeks ago when I got annointed at Sea-Tac. What a great surprise! With all of the negativity about airlines, you have to hand it to Delta! If I never get it again, I'll still be very appreciative of their efforts. Go Delta!!!
I fly AA from JFK to LAX, only Gold status, I fly First Class. I've been driven almost every time. No reason. It's a funny joke, because I've become friendly with one of the woman in the lounge. I wonder if that's why?
Recently received this service at SEA. Met at end of jet bridge by nice fella with my name on an iPad. For those saying Cayenne would be better, that's what they used for my treat. Mine wasn't for tight connection but because I had a late layover at S gates and the S SkyClub was closed, he drove me over to the A SkyClub. Was very impressed that Delta did this for me, and made me feel just a bit better about the two transpacific and one transatlantic trips I'd done in the 2 months prior to my Porsche adventure.
@Tom: Why Porsche? You should do your homework. I can guarantee you Delta does not pay a penny for those cars. It is about marketing. Delta offers that service to their top customers and many of those customers can afford to own a Porsche. Thus, by providing them with the opportunity to be on a Porsche will increase the chances they will go to a dealer and buy a car. Delta gets the car to offer the service and Porsche gets the customers to buy their cars. Also, Porsche NA HQ is based in Atlanta. Thus, it is an easy choice for them to partner with Delta. Those cars probably don't get too many miles on them since they are only driven inside the airport so once a year they are probably replaced by new models and Porsche sells them as CPO.
I’ve has several and they are a delight to say the least most recently last week at SLC when we would have otherwise surely missed our connecting flight after a hellacious day. Loved it!
Steph, you say your Diamond elite status with Delta is expiring, do you mean you are going to switch loyalty to another airline?
Happened once at DTW with a really tight connection in the process you described. Porsche Cayanne with my son and I. Was a great approach to show value in the dedication I've made to fly Delta so many years. Great idea they have and should continue with these special perks.
Am a DM and have been for 5 years. Used to fly every month and always in paid First. Never a ride. However last summer I bought an AF First Class sale fare and was treated to their car service on the tarmac. I must say, they do it right. It was a treat to be picked up in their BMW or Jag, to go down the stairs and up the stairs on the jet bridge. To be driven straight to the First Class lounge and never enter customs. It is truly a seamless service. So if I got a ride with Delta, it would be a treat, but thankfully I have had the real thing already.
AA = Cadillac
UA = Mercedes
DL = Porsche
Each has a respective airline-auto marketing agreement. (In other words, AA already has such a program for CK/5*. You recall correctly about UA for GS/VIP).
I got the ride a few years ago in SEA, despite never having Delta Diamond in my life. I had a connection with a very late inbound international flight, so maybe that helped in addition to having some sort of Delta status (probably Platinum back then).
I am a DL 360. I’ve had the Porsche service twice in 2 years both times I had plenty of time and didn’t need it but loved it. I have had a TON of tight connections and never gotten it, only when I didn’t need it.
My GF and I got a Porsche pickup at SEA on our way to AMS after a delay in SFO. This was all as a lowly Silver medallion traveling on a Delta One award trip. It was incredible and we would have absolutely missed our connection without it.
I’m a United 1K and have yet to experience the level of service I did on Delta that day.
I love how you "Geek" out on being on the tarmac! The jet bridge stair height is 5" on a 737/319-20. Count yourself lucky not to have had to climb higher as the steps adjust for the 757/321 & WBs. Good thing you didn't have stilettos! I've seen feet come out of shoe when this happens!
Don't forget about the "shortcut" of the MSP skybridge that runs from C12 to G17... that way you don't have to go up the C gates to the main terminal hall and over back to the G gates.
http://mspairport.com/sites/default/files/2018-06/T1_quickmap_4_2018%20copy.pdf
Hi Steph: I don't live in the US and I've never even flewn DL, so most of your posts aren't relevant for me. But they are such a joy to read, I always read each and every one of them from beginning till end (in contrast to many other posts despite more relevant content). Very glad you joined OMAAT, keep up the great work!
You can also pay for it,Pricing: ATL PRICING PER AIRPORT MEET: One Person: $350 | Two People: $425 | Each Additional Person: $125
JFK, LAX, LGA, DTW, MSP, SLC, SEA & SFO PRICING PER AIRPORT MEET: One Person: $250 | Two People: $325 | Each Additional Person: $125
LAX PRICING PER MEET WITH OFF-AIRPORT VEHICLE TRANSFER: One Person: $350 | Two People: $425 | Each Additional Person: $125
not cheap.
Fun and enjoyable article! I've never got such a ride, but i did get to ride in the circa-1975 mobile lounge / plane mate at IAD last week
You should status match to Alaska. They'll give it to you for a year. AS has two direct flights from Boston to SFO. While not exactly Hartford, with the amount of time you'd save not connecting in MSP, time difference would turn out a wash.... and four flights a day from JFK to SFO, where they have a new pretty cool AS lounge.... And, their transcon fares are rather cheap.
I sadly bypassed a Porsche ride in SEA without realizing it. I was sitting next to a deadheading pilot on the inbound, and he sat near me on the outbound, and asked why I didn't take the ride? Turns out I was so worried about the plane-train connection that I bolted off the inbound and didn't notice they had a tablet with my name on it! Doh!
It’s a great treat - I’m actually on a Delta flight right now trying to score one at LAX.
I’ve had this service with Lufthansa at Frankfurt whenever I’ve passed through on a first class international itinerary, 12 times or so over the years. The first class terminal is amazing!
I was coming back to PDX from Helsinki via Frankfurt with my wife a few years ago. She didn’t know I had scored a couple 1st class tickets on the A380 flight to SFO. We landed in Frankfurt and the flight attendant announced that we had two first class passengers on board so remain seated while they deplane. I said to her, “that’s you!”
We got off to an awaiting Porsche which whisked us to the 1st class terminal. It was a bit better than the bus that was waiting for everyone else.
I got my Porsche pickup today. I was QUITE surprised and yes, I had to get photos and video of being on the ground with the planes.
So I recently gotten the infamous Porsche transfer. I was leaving BOS and connecting through JFK. There was a slight delay but I still had about a 90 minute layover with the delay. So the flight attendants announced over the intercom there's a message for xxxx. I'm thinking wft did something happened . But I was met with a agent with my name on a sign and we went down the stair well, I definitely shocked. Because it's definitely a rare thing that happens and I got this service twice so far. This is my first time getting it as a Diamond member.
I also had this service in 2019 as a platinum member in DTW ( so diamond status isn't necessarily a factor per say).
I will say I was at my next gate and was questioned by a fellow passenger from my previous flight about the ride and why she wasn't chosen.
If and when you get it definitely take pictures and a mini video if possible. It's definitely a once and a lifetime type thing for most people who get it.
I experienced the Porsche transfer last week! We had an overnight in LAX and an early flight. There's construction at LAX and after clearing security, we were led to an area with a bus to transfer us to a different terminal. As we were heading toward the bus, there was a gentleman off to the side holding an iPhone that said "Delta 360, Diamond and Platinum". I happened to see it and said "I'm Platinum...what's up?". He asked to see my boarding pass and we were ushered around the bus to the other side where our chariot (Porsche) awaited. I was so stunned that I didn't even get a picture... 🙁
I was shocked (SHOCKED) when we were met as we exited the flight in SEA. Claudia was simply charming . She took our picture then gave us a spin around the tarmac before walking us into the Skyclub. While I was a Charter Diamond it has been several years since I held that status. We were surprised and delighted! It really added to the vacation.
I just had this experience for the second time at SEA… the first time was for a very tight connection but today I had a 4-hour layover and she still showed up to take me to SkyClub! I work for a luxury hotel company where we try to surprise and delight and it’s so wonderful to be on the receiving end once in a while.
The first time I didn’t tip the driver and I’ve felt guilty ever since so I made sure to tip her today and she declined. Maybe I should have insisted? Some companies tell their employees to only take a tip if the customer insists. Does anyone have insight on whether tips are customary for this type of service?