Airline simplifies and speeds ticket purchases at delta.com, upgrades
kiosk technology; curbside check-in now available for international
customers
Delta gives customers five million reasons to check in online with
Million Mile Sweepstakes; 161 lucky SkyMiles(r) members will speed
through delta.com check-in and win
ATLANTA, Nov. 19, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To provide customers with an even faster, more convenient booking and check-in experience, Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL), the world's largest airline, has simplified the ticket purchase process at delta.com and introduced an improved kiosk experience at airports throughout the country, as well as curbside check-in for customers traveling internationally.
"Delta is committed to providing faster, more convenient self-service options for our customers," said Josh Weiss, managing director of delta.com. "Whether they are visiting delta.com or checking in at a kiosk or curbside, these enhancements save time for our customers whenever they travel with us."
Delta's improved kiosk technology, now available at more than 1,300 Delta kiosks in 195 U.S. cities, reduces the number of screens a passenger clicks through when checking in. The new system also provides easier access to flight itineraries and real-time weather conditions at their destination. In addition, customers can elect to bypass baggage-check screens if they are not checking bags, trimming the transaction to as little as one click -- from start to finish.
Delta anticipates more than 26 million customers will check in using kiosks in 2008 and expects the new kiosk technology will reduce already quick transaction times by as much as a minute for many customers.
New functionality at delta.com allows customers to save their profile to reduce steps in the booking process, saving many online customers time by allowing them to complete booking in 30 seconds or less -- from start to finish. According to a recent Gomez Business Process benchmark study, Delta currently leads the industry in flight search response time and flight search availability(1).
To expedite the check-in process for passengers traveling internationally, Delta also introduced curbside check-in and baggage drop at all Delta domestic and select Delta Connection curbside locations. Delta, including its Northwest subsidiary, is the only U.S.-based carrier to offer this service at every U.S. curbside location the airline serves. Effective Dec. 1, Delta will discontinue the $3 curbside check-in fee charged for domestic and international customers traveling on Delta- and Northwest-operated flights at airport locations worldwide. Customers can save even more time by checking in for their domestic or international flight, and checking bags, at delta.com.
This month, Delta is giving its SkyMiles(r) members even more reasons to check in online, awarding a total of five million SkyMiles, including a grand prize of one million SkyMiles, in an online sweepstakes at delta.com.
To be eligible for the "Million Mile Sweepstakes," Delta customers must check in online and print their full boarding pass with destination highlights at delta.com between Nov. 18, 2008 and Feb. 28, 2009. The boarding pass will include a code customers can enter at www.delta.com/sweeps to participate in the sweepstakes. Customers can enter the sweepstakes a maximum of one time per day.
In addition to the one million mile grand prize, 160 prizes of 25,000 miles will be awarded to customers who check in online and experience delta.com's faster, more user-friendly check-in process. Sweepstakes winners will be selected at random and announced by March 15, 2009. Consumers may also enter without making a purchase. More details are available in the official rules.
With recently implemented features to expedite the check-in process for passengers checking in using delta.com, kiosks or personal digital assistants (PDAs), more than 80% of Delta customers are choosing to use self-service or curbside check-in.
Delta.com offers customers the airline's lowest fares available, as well as many services and conveniences available exclusively on the airline's website including:
* Optional risk-free cancellation within 24 hours of purchase -- no questions asked; * Online check-in, including international itineraries and baggage check; * SkyMiles redemption including multiple airline partners' award availability and easy management of SkyMiles frequent flyer accounts. * Seating assignment changes; * Up-to-the minute flight status, including the ability to sign up for Delta Messenger alerts; * Live online chat with a Delta agent who can assist with an online booking; and * The opportunity to purchase Crown Room Club one-visit passes, hotels, rental cars, and carbon offsets.
Delta Air Lines is the world's largest airline. From its hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita, Delta, its NWA subsidiary and Delta Connection carriers offer service to more than 376 destinations worldwide in 66 countries and serve more than 170 million passengers each year. Delta's marketing alliances allow customers to earn and redeem either SkyMiles or WorldPerks on more than 16,000 daily flights offered by SkyTeam and other partners. Delta and its 75,000 worldwide employees are reshaping the aviation industry as the only U.S. airline to offer a full global network. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.
The Delta Air Lines, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1825
(1) Gomez, Airlines Flight Search Benchmark, Sept. 1-30, 2008 http://www.gomez.com/products/viewbenchmark.php?btype=1
Delta "Million Mile" Sweepstakes Official Rules No purchase necessary -- purchase will not increase your chances of winning a prize
Enter by printing your Delta boarding pass online with destination highlights, and then visit www.delta.com/sweeps to enter the Entry Code from that Boarding Pass along with your name, email address and SkyMiles number. Boarding pass with destination highlights must be printed online between 12:00:01 AM, U.S. ET on 11/18/08 and 11:50:00 PM, U.S. ET on 2/28/09; entry must be submitted online by 11:59:59 PM, U.S. ET on 2/28/09. Limit 1 online entry per SkyMiles number and/or email address per day. Each Entry Code may only be used for online entry once by person named on boarding pass containing same. To enter without purchase, mail a 3"x5" card with name, address, phone and SkyMiles number, in hand-addressed #10 envelope to: Delta "Million Mile" Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 2863, West Caldwell, NJ 07007-2863. Limit 1 entry per outer mailing envelope. Mailed entries must be postmarked by 3/2/09 and received by 3/12/09. Subject to complete Official Rules at delta.com/sweeps. 1 Grand Prize -- 1,000,000 bonus miles under the SkyMiles program (ARV: $20,000); 160 First Prizes -- 25,000 bonus miles under the SkyMiles program (ARV $500 each prize). Odds depend on number of entries received. Open to legal U.S. residents, 18 or older as of 11/17/08. Void in PR, U.S. territories and possessions and where prohibited. SkyMiles account necessary (obtain one at no cost at delta.com/skymiles). All SkyMiles program rules apply to mile prizes. To review the rules, please visit delta.com/memberguide. All SkyMiles awarded will be bonus miles and do not count toward Medallion(r) qualification or Million Miler(tm) status. Taxes and fees for Award Travel are the sole responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time the ticket is booked. Award Travel seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or in all markets. SkyMiles offers are void where prohibited by law and other restrictions may apply. SkyMiles offers are subject to change without notice. Main Sponsor -- Delta Air Lines, Atlanta, GA 30354.