Delta Air Lines Wins 5 Forbes Travel Guide Air Travel Awards

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines is basking in its industry recognitions from Forbes Travel Guide (FTG). The legacy carrier shared on Monday that it topped five categories in the luxury air travel ranking, including being named “Best US Airline.”

It comes after the airline experienced a rough patch over the summer – the meltdown spawned by a faulty update from software company CrowdStrike led to a year’s worth of flight cancelations in one weekend. Delta has since filed a lawsuit against the company for the damages.

Best of the best?

The airline credited its “strong reputation for its consistency, loyalty program and customer service,” for achieving the top position in the Forbes’ first Verified Air Travel Awards. With five titles, the carrier achieved the Best US Airline award.

Photo: Croatorum | Shutterstock

Delta’s EVP and Chief Customer Experience Officer, Allison Ausband, commented on the airline’s achievements.

“We continue to make significant investments throughout every point in our customers’ travel journey to deliver the elevated experiences they want and deserve.”

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The FTG reportedly surveyed 5,000 well-traveled people in the hospitality industry to determine the winners. The results were validated and backed by Forbes experts and a star ratings system over 60 years old. Along with earning the title of best carrier in the US. Delta also took the top spot for:

• Best Domestic Business Class
• Best US Airline Lounge
• Best Loyalty Program
• Best Airline App

Onboard & airport experiences

Delta’s business class – Delta One – is the airline’s most premium travel experience. It begins before passengers board their aircraft at the Delta One Lounge. However, if a specific airport does not have a Delta One Lounge, passengers could have access to Delta Sky Clubs and Sky Priority services. While onboard, travelers are pampered with luxurious elements such as plush bedding, Missoni-designed amenity kits, more beverage options, and a seasonally inspired onboard menu.

Photo: Delta Air Lines

The newly opened Delta One Lounge at its hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) was crowned as the best in the US. The nearly 40,000-square-foot space opened in June and features a terrace open year-round, nine relaxation pods, eight shower suites, and a full-service bar. The lounge, which was the first of its kind, paved the way for the other Delta One Lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), which opened last month.

Loyalty & technology

With several top-notch airline loyalty programs around, the Delta SkyMiles program offered passengers new experiences this year. On select aircraft, SkyMiles members have free WiFi on most domestic flights. The airline is working to expand the perk to more aircraft and international flights soon.

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The Fly Delta App is a user-friendly resource that provides travelers with a multitude of options to upgrade their seat, track bags, find Sky Clubs, receive changes to flight itineraries, and much more. Delta rolled out an update to the app earlier this year, which introduced even more features, functionality, and experiences.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Technology is a continued area of focus for the airline as it recently unveiled Digital ID at a sixth hub – Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC). It uses biometric facial matching to eliminate the need for an in-person agent to check identification documents.

“These recognitions are a testament to each of those efforts and to the Delta people who go above and beyond in bringing these experiences and innovations to life,” Ausband stated.