Welcome to Consumerist’s 7th Annual Worst Company In America tournament, where the businesses you nominated face off for a title that none of them will publicly admit to wanting — but which all of them try their hardest to earn. So it’s time to fill in the brackets and start another office pool. That is, unless you work at one of the 32 companies competing in the tournament. [More]
DELTA
Penguins Waddling Around On Delta Flight Elicit Squees Of Joy From Everyone Onboard
By 3.9.12 — Updated: 9.8.16
We’re a bit batty over airline news today, but this one just had to be posted: If anyone ever told you something unlikely would happen “when penguins fly,” you take this story and shove it right in that person’s face. Two penguins not only flew, but they traveled first class on the way to a premiere. Sure, they’re still technically flightless birds, but at least they got to see how the other species live. [More]
Wireless Is Free On Delta As Long You're Buying Stuff From Amazon
By 3.5.12 — Updated: 9.8.16
There’s some good news for Delta Airlines passengers is that they’re offering free in-flight WiFi. Score! Oh but there’s a catch — it’s only free to view Amazon.com sites so you can buy stuff mid-air. Yay…? [More]
35 Pets Died On Airplanes Last Year, Over Half On Delta
By 2.17.12
Animal lovers were justifiably critical of Delta Airlines after sixteen pets died in 2010 during or after flights in the cargo hold. But even after banning frequently-overheating short-muzzled breeds like bulldogs from the skies, nineteen pets passed away during or shortly after Delta flights in 2011. That’s out of a total of 35 pets that died on U.S. carriers last year. In addition, nine pets sustained major or minor injuries, and two were lost. [More]
Packing Valuable Items In Your Luggage? Check Your Bags Before You Leave The Airport
By 11.11.11
If you’ve got to take something valuable — especially something fragile and valuable — on a plane, it’s best to try to carry it on. And as Consumerist reader Cathy learned, if you must check those items, be sure to look at your bags before you leave the baggage claim area, just in case that item has gotten damaged or disappeared. [More]
There Are About To Be Even Fewer Cheap Seats On Delta Flights
By 10.20.11
Earlier this year, Delta introduced Economy Comfort seats that offer more legroom but which come at a higher price. Well it looks like enough people are interested in this option that the airline is adding them on most of its planes. [More]
Report: Whitney Houston Almost Booted From Delta Flight For Refusing To Buckle Up
By 10.13.11
Yet another non-Kevin-Smith famous person reportedly came oh-so-close to being kicked off a flight. This time, it’s apparently singer Whitney Houston who was almost given the heave-ho from a Delta flight for refusing to buckle her seatbelt. [More]
Delta Air Lines & Disabled Passengers Settle 3-Year-Old Discrimination Suit
By 10.1.11
Five disabled passengers have finally reached a settlement with Delta Airlines after a three-year battle against the carriers claiming discrimination at the Detroit airport. [More]
It Could Now Cost You Over $400 To Check A Bag On Some Flights
By 9.20.11
Fees for checked bags vary wildly, from absolutely nothing to arm-and-a-leg-and-an-ear. And according to a new round-up of fees from the various carriers, you might need to throw another limb in there if you’re checking an oversize bag on your international flight. [More]
Can You Get Booted From Frequent Flier Program For Being A Frequent Complainer?
By 9.19.11
In 2008, after nine years of membership in Northwest’s WorldPerks frequent flier program — three of those years with Platinum Elite status — a Minnesota man was given some bad news from airline: He had been removed from the program and had lost hundreds of thousands of miles. Why? Because his numerous complaints apparently constituted “abuse” of the program. [More]
If You Don't 'Look' Disabled, Expect Shoddy Treatment FromDelta
By 8.30.11 — Updated: 9.8.16
Alauna is disabled, unable to walk or stand for long periods of time. But she’s in her 20s and there is nothing obviously physically wrong with her at first glance. This meant that her requests for assistance during her recent Delta flight delay nightmare were met with resistance or eye-rolling. [More]
Delta's Inability To Properly Schedule Plane Maintenance Leads To 24-Hour Ordeal For Passenger
By 8.19.11
Consumerist reader Joan already had quite a bit of flying in front of her when she boarded a recent Delta flight from Anchorage to Minneapolis, where she would be connecting to another flight to Washington, DC. But her day got significantly longer when Delta waited until the very last minute to perform a required maintenance check on the plane. [More]
Breastfeeding Delta Passenger: Flight Attendant Publicly Humiliated Me
By 8.16.11
Earlier this week, a traveling mom who had just boarded a Delta flight from Indianapolis to Raleigh, NC, decided it was a good time to nurse her 8-month-old. A flight attendant didn’t agree. You can imagine how this one goes from here. [More]
Bat Ejected For Refusing To Sit Down On Airplane
By 8.10.11 — Updated: 9.8.16
On Friday, a Delta pilot was forced to return to the airport when a bat began flying around the cabin 15 minutes after takeoff and ignored instructions from the crew and his fellow passengers. [More]
Frequent-Flying, And Complaining, Rabbi Can SueDelta
By 8.8.11 — Updated: 9.8.16
A lawsuit by a rabbi, who says that Northwest Airlines booted him from its frequent flyer program for complaining too much, can go forward. The case had initially been dismissed by a lower court that said federal deregulation law pre-empted the man’s claim, but the 9th circuit reversed that decision on Friday. [More]
40 Of 100 Most-Delayed Flights Take Off Or Land In Newark
By 8.4.11
If you’re reading this story on your laptop or smartphone while waiting for a flight to or from Newark International Airport, we have some good and bad news. On one hand, there’s a decent chance your flight will be delayed. On the other, you’ll have plenty of time to file a complaint with the airline, airport and FAA. [More]
10.5% Of Spirit's Revenue Comes From Baggage Fees
By 8.4.11
Recently Delta caught attention because in 2010 it earned the most revenue from baggage fees, $952 million, of all the airlines. But when you compare it to their total revenue, they’re in the low-middle of the pack, with Spirit coming out on top. Let’s look at a chart! [More]
Senate Unable To End FAA Shutdown; Inspectors Working Without Pay
By 8.3.11
Around 4,000 Federal Aviation Administration staffers remain on unpaid furlough this morning and dozens of airport inspectors have been asked to continue working without pay while their employer loses out on millions of tax dollars it lacks authority to collect, after the Senate was unable to end the stalemate behind the FAA’s partial shutdown. [More]
