Delta Opens up SKY360 Lounge in New York

by Grant Martin on

If you find yourself in New York any time over the next month, take some time to stop by the SKY360 Lounge that Delta opened up last week. Occupying an expensive piece of real estate on 57th street and 6th avenue, this new storefront is supposed to showcase the new changes happening at Delta over the coming months.

Among the cadre of activities for the public to experience within you’ll find:

  • A (complimentary) coffee and soda bar, serving cocktails in the evening, with little pods in which to sit and enjoy them. Bring your laptop for free wifi as well.
  • Samplings of the new, exotic menu items inspired by Delta’s celebrity chef. As dear Catherine and I pointed out last week, this is becoming the hip thing to do among airlines.
  • And my favorite, examples of the new leather coach and premium seats to be installed in the new 777 livery (pictured), integrated with the new Audio/Video On Demand (AVOD) system for your Sopranos fix.

Additionally, if you can manage to get your “friend in PR” to get you an invite, a variety of private events are happening in the evening, from an Esquire party to random hotties dropping in. I’m still trying to get there for a corporate event — keep an eye out for me.

Delta Requires Two Seats for Conjoined Twins

by Grant Martin on

In this week’s version of bizarre news, Delta is requiring that a mother traveling with conjoined infant twins purchase two seats instead of one. As the Arizona Republic reports, Mandy Bailey spoke with Delta ticketing agents before departure and they couldn’t figure out how many seats to sell her. After a brief period of evil-doing and cat-stroking, Delta replied that since the kids would need two oxygen masks they need extra seats. Then they told Bailey (I’m not making this up) to “call the Red Cross” for help paying for the other ticket.

I suppose I can see the concern with not having enough oxygen masks for conjoined twins. But what do mono-infants sitting in their parents’ laps do when the oxygen masks drop? In that case there is still only going to be one mask falling from the ceiling: for the adult.

In the end, Delta is put in a hard place because they’re trying to cope with nonexistant standards on conjoined lap infants against the simple human problem of a mother getting her girls out to see family in Maryland. Despite the defensive stance that any corporate entity has to take in this day and age, in this case I think they’re being a little conservative with their policies.

Spontaneous Weekend Trips: Los Angeles, Part One

by Jamie Rhein on

My spontaneous, solo trip to L.A. two weekends from now, Sept. 28-30 ,started with an e-mail. A friend who works for the City of West Hollywood sent out a mass invite about an event he is in charge of organizing. The Algonquin West Hollywood Literary Award Soiree is the first ever. “Great!” I thought, “looks interesting.” Then, when I saw Mark Salzman is the author who will receive the award, I thought. “Damn, I’d like to go.” He is one of my all time favorite writers–one whose book, The Laughing Sutra, I have taught and someone who has a humorous, interested eye on the world.

Next thought was, hmmm, I wonder how much the flights cost? After a visit to Travelocity, the wheels started to turn. Can you believe this? A round-trip ticket on Delta to L.A. from Columbus is $218.80, taxes included. Seriously. I was astounded. Skybus is now at $285 and that flight is to Burbank. After heading to Delta’s Web site, I saw a detail I also couldn’t believe. The ticket is fully refundable if it’s canceled within 24 hours of the flight. What?!!!

Even though the price was right, what about timing? The timing couldn’t be more perfect. It leaves in the evening on Friday, well after a conference I’m going to–and after the kids and husband get home. The flight back is a red eye that leaves L.A. at night. It will get me back to Columbus on at 6:30 AM or thereabouts, plenty of time to make it to my Monday commitments. This also gives me all day Sunday in L.A.

What about getting from the airport and where to stay? A good friend of mine who lives in Santa Monica was at a Dodger’s baseball game when I called him. “Sure, I’ll come get you and you can stay with me,” he said. That problem solved.

From the time I got the email to the time I got my ticket was about an hour. When I sat down to read my e-mails I had no idea that this trip to L.A. was in my future. Some details are still being worked out–but man, am I glad I didn’t try to figure out all the angles before I said yes. The West Hollywood event is open to the public. Anyone can get a ticket. Go the event Web site for details.

Still feeling skeptical though, I called Delta and talked to a person–a real person, to find out if the refundable ticket information is correct and to find out how often that flight to Columbus gets canceled or is late. Either she’s lying through her teeth, or she’s honest. She said she’d check.