by Judith Richards

Created on: December 05, 2008

I recently took a round trip from Eureka, California to Hartford, CT on Delta Airlines. The airline had just recently added a stop at our small airport and we were anxious to try it. Before Delta came we were limited to one airline, recurring delays at connecting airports and uncomfortable travel.

The following are 10 reasons why I and you'll like Delta Airlines:

1. Most of their airplanes have more room between the seats. I found this to be true on both the small commuter craft and the large planes. I did experience one leg on a cramped plane, but 1 out of a total of 6 legs was not bad.

2. Personal viewing screens located on the seatback in front of you. They offer free TV and movies or games for purchase. I loved this option. You can purchase their headphones for $2 yours to keep - or you can use your own.

3. Every effort was made to get the planes in the air on time. Every flight I boarded was the same. They boarded people in zones, starting with window seats and back rows. As you searched for your seat, you were constantly reminded by announcements to step out of the aisle and let people go around you before you stored your bags. Another announcement encouraged people to take their seats quickly so they could depart the gate on time and even counted down the minutes remaining until the scheduled departure. It worked.

4. Early arrivals. I arrived at all our connecting airports either early or on time and never had to worry about making connecting flights. De-boarding was quick as ramps came alongside quickly. My husband experienced one delay due to weather, but was still able to make his connections.

5. Delta allows plenty of time for delays due to air traffic, etc. I never really checked this out, but my belief is that the airline extends its published flight time to allow for possible delays. We had delays, but they never hurt our arrival times. They also made up time in the air.

6. Friendly staff; plenty of help on large flights. I know all or most airlines have their staff greet passengers as they board and then see them off, but I got the feeling that this airline really appreciated that we'd flown with them. They had plenty of staff for the larger flights and everyone was very helpful and courteous.

7. Variety of snacks, meals and drinks. Delta offers a choice of three snacks for free along with their beverage service. Peanuts, biscotti cookies, or peanut-butter crackers were free. You could purchase a larger snack Peanut M & Ms or trail mix for $5.00 or a meal from a menu. I enjoyed the variety, a nice change from eating the same snack all day long.

8. Online check in and self-service kiosks at the airport. I printed my boarding passes from home, used the kiosk to check my bag and then headed for the gate. Very fast.

9. No hidden fees. There were no fees for window seats, blankets, etc.

10. Delta hubs and airports. Delta Airlines offered us the opportunity to fly East without going through San Francisco, which experiences many delays. We could fly to Salt Lake City, then to Atlanta and on to Hartford. The airports in Salt Lake City and Atlanta were excellent. One had carts available to take passengers with short connection times and both had a good variety of restaurants, some where one could sit and eat.

If the above are important to you and influence your choice of carriers when traveling, then you'll like Delta Airlines. If they fly from your airport, give them a try. They're working hard to keep the passengers from feeling like cattle in a boxcar and everyone on staff seems dedicated to making Delta Airlines a preferred airline among travelers.

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