Good Lifestyle

Whether it's a mechanical issue delaying or grounding a flight or a sudden change in a service schedule, there's nothing quite as frustrating as being let down by an airline. It's especially difficult for travelers who remain loyal to certain carriers so they can enjoy certain perks and benefits like seat upgrades or rewards tickets. Now, Delta is coming under fire from some of its long-time devotees after the airline made a significant change to one of its offerings. Read on to see which popular perk is getting an overhaul.

Basahin ito sa susunod:Southwest Is Adding Flights to These 3 Major Cities, Starting June 5.

Recently, Delta drew the ire of some flyers when it announced it would be dropping its mask mandate on flights after a U.S. District judge in Florida overruled the federal requirement on April 18. While almost all other major airlines immediately followed suit in updating their face mask policies, Delta received more backlash due to a statement it released announcing the change. Specifically, the company said it was "relieved to see the U.S. mask mandate lift to facilitate global travel as COVID-19 has transitioned to an ordinary seasonal virus" in its original press release, per NPR.

The statement immediately stirred controversy among fans of the airline and health experts alike who claimed the airline was making light of the deadly virus that has killed more than six million people worldwide to date. "I don't care what you think about masking, but Delta's comment that #SARSCOV2 has transitioned to become an 'ordinary seasonal virus' is just bonkers, has no basis in science, and is outright misinformation misleading their customers (of which I am one!)," Gregg Gonsalves, PhD, an epidemiologist and associate professor at Yale, tweeted on April 19.

The company's statement spurred others to swear off the airline from their future travel plans. "I know sometimes people say something like 'I'm never flying Delta ever again'—but I am actually never flying Delta ever again," Matthew Cortland, a lawyer and healthcare rights advocate from Massachusetts, tweeted on April 18 in response.

Now, Delta has stoked customer frustrations for a different reason. In an email to customers on May 4, the airline announced that it would be changing its access policy for its Sky Club passenger lounges in airports around the world. The carrier said that travelers would now be limited to entering the lounges up to three hours before their flight's scheduled departure. Passengers will also lose access to the lounge at their arrival airport unless they're flying the airline's Delta One long-haul business class.

However, the airline specifies that the new three-hour rule doesn't apply to anyone with a long layover at an airport awaiting a connecting flight, so long as the ticket is booked on the same reservation. Passengers on delayed flights will also still have access beginning three hours before their initially scheduled departure. According to the announcement, the changes will go into effect on June 1.

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News of the change quickly riled up some longtime customers, some of whom took to social media to air their grievances with the airline. "Extremely disappointed to hear this," one customertweeted at the airline. "As someone who's frequently taking red eyes, I rely on the lounge to change and get ready for my next meeting when I land. I'd encourage you to reconsider for certain situations."ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb

"So frustrating the arrival takeaway," another regular flyer complained in a tweet. "Does Delta not understand how business is done[?] Arrival lounge to do phone calls and send a few emails is [a] critical feature."

Others lamented the loss of a long pre-flight lounge experience that many business travelers use as a mobile workspace. "Disappointed, to say the least. There are times that I arrive at the airport more than three hours before departure due to scheduling," one commenter replied to a post from travel blog Eye of the Flyer detailing the changes. "My travel schedule is already hard enough to book, and now I have to remember the three-hour rule—and no [Sky] Club entry upon arrival."

Sa kabila ng galit na tugon mula sa mga customer, ipinaliwanag ni Delta sa anunsyo nito naovercrowding sa mga lounges nito pinangunahan ang kumpanya upang pigilan ang oras ng pag -access. "Tulad ng mas maraming mga customer na pinahahalagahan ang karanasan sa Delta Sky Club at isang pagtaas ng bilang ng mga customer na bumalik sa paglalakbay, ang aming mga club ay nakakita ng isang lumalagong bilang ng mga bisita sa mga nakaraang buwan," sulat ng carrier. "Ang aming layunin ay upang matiyak na ang pinakamahusay na karanasan sa club ay nananatiling magagamit sa iyo, habang tinitiyak na masisiyahan ka sa serbisyo at eksklusibong kapaligiran na inaasahan mo sa pamamagitan ng Delta Sky Club. Habang patuloy kaming namuhunan sa aming pangmatagalang paglago Sa mas malaki at mas mahusay na mga club sa buong aming network, pinahahalagahan namin ang iyong pag -unawa habang sinisikap naming balansehin ang katanyagan ng aming mga club na may nakataas na karanasan na nararapat sa iyo. "

Habang ang mga pagbabago ay maaaring mukhang menor de edad, ang mga bagong patakaran ay gagawa ng mga patakaran sa pag -access sa silid -pahingahan ng Delta ang mahigpit ng mga pangunahing tatlong Amerikano na carrier, kabilang ang American at United Airlines, Travel News Outlet Ang mga puntos na ulat ng tao. Iba pang mga tanyag na lounges ng transit, kabilang ang mga American Express Centurion lounges, dati nang itinatagIsang tatlong oras na limitasyon para sa mga panauhin. Ngunit ang ilang mga regular na manlalakbay ay itinuro na si Delta ay nagkaroon lamang ng sisihin para sa labis na pagpasok sa mga club ng Sky.

"Tiyak na hindi tinulungan ni Delta ang mga bagay kapag binigyan nila si Carte Blanche ng pag -access sa lahat na may isang AMEX Platinum card," isinulat ng isang mata ng komentarista ng flyer. "Ang Centurion Lounges ay napuno na dahil nagbibigay si Amex ng pag -access sa lahat at sa kanyang kapatid. Ito ay isang oras lamang bago ang mga kard ng platinum ng Amex at ang kanilang mga bisita ay nasobrahan ang mga lounges ng Delta."

Basahin ito sa susunod:Pinuputol ng Delta ang mga flight sa 5 lungsod na ito, simula Sept. 5.