Song: the new Delta Express

[Aisling]

I just saw on the news that the old Delta Express is now called Song. It's a pretty plane, green and white. It's supposed to start in April with fares to Florida "as low as $79 one way".

 

[Pooh's Pal]

I just saw it on the news here in Boston, they are suppose to fly out of Boston in May!...check out this link from our local news channel & The Assoc. Press.

http://wbz4.com/finance/finance_story_026173953.html

Hope the link works..

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I found this on USA Today's web site. Complete with a picture of the plane's color scheme. And get this .....

The planes are DIS green!

I've heard they're supposed to be flying into Richmond, and I really hope they do. Air fare in and out of here is expen$ive.

 

[n2mm]

Yesterday's Washington Post, Business section, said it wouldn't start out of Dulles/Wash. DC until October. It did say it would sell food on the plane, plus there WILL BE assigned seating (one of my concerns).

 

[Colexi's Mom]

I just booked with Delta Express for our May trip. Song is not supposed to start out of BDL until July (according to the Hartford Courant this morning). I specifically asked the Delta agent if the Delta Express flights would be converted to Song flights, and she said "NO", Song is a completely differently airline and they both would exist . I don't see why Delta would compete against itself in the markets that they are in. Unless Delta Express is still going to exist but maybe focus on a different market?? I was confused. At least it doesn't affect me at this point, so I'm not going to worry about it, but I'm interested to see what is going to happen!!

 

[disnurse]

our local paper also carried the info about Song. Interestingly TFGreen airport states that they have no information about this airline and there are no plans for it to fly out of here. Sounds like its similar to swa or bluejet. Low frills, lots of flights with quick turnaround.

 

[goofy4tink]

It's my understanding that 'Song' will be flying out of the larger airports...Logan, JFK into the larger airports..MCO. I booked Delta Express back in Oct for our Aug flight and it was cancelled and we got changed to a 757, on a different flight. Looks like we'll be flying Song. Love the color. Now everyone will know when the dis'ers are coming!!!

 

[Aisling]

I just read that Song is to compete with jetBlue. It has ESPN on board and hookups for video games.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Colexi's Mom, maybe not yet but eventually Song will indeed replace Delta Express eventually. Our trip is in December, still shows up as scheduled with Delta Express but it very well may be switched to Song by then, flying out of BDL.

I know several flights leaving out of Boston and NY were switched, so keep your eyes open and monitor everything to make sure you keep your requests.

I won't mind flying in such a kewl looking plane with amenities included!

 

[Chip126]

So does this mean that I should hold out on booking my airfare for December leaving from BDL??? Right now Delta is 250.50!! I was really hoping to get cheaper flights.

What do you think....book with Delta at 250.50 or wait???

Thanks
Kim

 

[TreeOfLife]

Tough call...

I booked with Skymiles, so I did not have to pay anything. However, if you book and Delta Express is replaced your flight is automatically switched to Song. If you get e-tickets they can issue a refund for the amount you overpay in the form of a voucher. If you get paper tickets you have to go to the counter for a refund...

So, I'd book now and guarantee the seats and itinerary you want and then check to see if your flight went down in price.

 

[GraceDVC]

There is a new site for Delta-Song. It is: www.flysong.com

It is a promo site, but you can place your e-mail address on it and you will be notified as progress takes place.

Coming from the New York area, we are delighted to hear that there will be an airline out of Newark Liberty Airport similar to the JetBlue flights out of JFK.

 

[BobH]

My daughter is flying to Orlando from Boston on May 27th. Returning on June 1st. Song is not supposed to start in Boston until May 31st according to the Boston Globe however I noticed that her aircraft are listed as 757s. Could anyone tell me if Delta Express ever uses 757s or have the planes always been 737s? I am trying to tell whether she will be traveling with Song even though her first travel date is prior to the supposed official start up date for Boston. PLane size is not really an issue but a change in times could be a problem. From what I read here it sounds like a larger plane could mean less flights and a schedule change. Has anyone ever been changed to an entirely different day? Or do they usually reschedule you on the same day? Thanks for any help.

 

[goofy4tink]

BobH...I'm flying Logan to Orlando on 8/16. I heard on this board that Delta was changing their flights for that time. Called Delta after checking their site and finding my flight was gone. They put me on an earlier flight, same day. I was on a 737, but now on a 757. I think that maybe they are switching their Boston-Orlando flights over to the bigger planes.

 

[eclipseSD]

JetBlue better watch out:

INTRODUCING THE WORLD’S MOST INNOVATIVE LOW-FARE AIRLINE SERVICE

New Product Designed to Fit Customers’ Individual and Changing Needs

UNIQUE AMENITIES SUCH AS VIDEO ON DEMAND, LIVE SATELLITE TV TO GREATLY ENHANCE TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

Fleet to Expand to 36 Boeing 757s Providing 144 Daily Flights Primarily between Northeast and Key Florida Leisure Destinations


NEW YORK – January 29, 2003 – Song™, a new airline service developed to change customer expectations for high-quality, low-fare air travel, was introduced today at a company event in New York City. Song, which will initially service Northeast to Florida routes, will fly its maiden voyage from New York City’s JFK to West Palm Beach on Tuesday, April 15, 2003. By October 2003, Song plans to provide 144 daily flights utilizing a fleet of 36 Boeing 757 aircraft.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines (NYSEAL), Song will meet air travelers’ individual and ever-changing needs through a variety of innovations, several of which are industry firsts. These include:

Regular updates to amenities and services based on customer feedback (Summer 2003). Customers will have the ability to vote products and services on and off via the Song Web site: www.flysong.com.

The first-ever airline Web site to find low fares across a range of dates. When searching for flights at flysong.com, customers can instantly view additional low fares by selecting a wider range of dates rather than starting the search process from the beginning, for an experience that offers more information and flexibility.

The most advanced in-flight entertainment technology available (October 2003). Song is partnering with Matsu****a Avionics Systems and EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQISH) and its DISH Network™ satellite TV service to provide a complement of on-board amenities, which will include:

Personal video monitors at every seat with "touch screen" technology and credit card "swipe" capability.

Live, all-digital satellite television programming from DISH Network.

Digitally-streamed MP3 audio programming, which will allow passengers to create a personal play list from an extensive library of audio files.

Pay-per-view programming available on demand, which will feature a wide-range of current offerings for all ages.

Multi-player interactive games that allow play between passengers.

Interactive iXplor moving map program with zoom capabilities and points of interest information.

Connecting gate information broadcast directly to personal in-seat video monitors.

Expandable in-flight entertainment technology which will facilitate the opportunity to integrate additional services in the future:

In-seat Internet connectivity

In-flight shopping and on-line product purchase capabilities

Premium branded food choices available on-board for purchase.

A simple low-fare pricing structure with most one-way fares expected to be as little as $79 and no more than $299.* Song will offer customers simple, user-friendly pricing options, including 14-day, 7-day, 3-day, walk-up fares and sale fares. Fares will not require a Saturday-night stay.

Service to all three major New York airports. Song will be the only low-fare service to operate out of JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports.

33 inches of legroom throughout the entire aircraft. This is the most legroom available from any low-fare service’s fleet and more than most major carriers.

Frequent flyer benefits through the Delta SkyMiles® program and other partner programs.

Simple, one-step connections with Delta’s worldwide service, including interline with SkyTeam™ members and other partner airlines.

"It’s our goal to make flying fun, exciting, interesting or simply relaxing – whatever the customer is looking for that day," said John Selvaggio, president of Song and a 30-year veteran of the airline industry. "We’re introducing choices back into the experience. And, we’re going to ask customers to vote products and service on or off the aircraft. So, when we say ‘the choice is truly yours,’ we mean it."

Selvaggio added, "Just as a song is the harmonious composition of distinct yet related elements, our Song will be in harmony with each individual's self-expression. It will recognize that people want to fly as the people they are and that each person has different expectations every time he or she flies."

Song plans to introduce a fleet of 199-seat, all coach Boeing 757 aircraft at the average rate of one per week for 36 weeks beginning in April. Song’s planned 144 daily flights will primary serve cities in the Northeast and key Florida leisure destinations. These markets include: New York City, Boston, Washington, DC, Hartford, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando.



Global Airline Parent Brings Assets Unique Among Low-Fare Segment

Technology: Unlike its competitors, Song has the advantage to leverage Delta’s world-class technological infrastructure to create the world’s first all-digital airline product, thereby offering customers a wide-range of conveniences, including:

Dedicated Web site – www.flysong.com. On the Web, Delta’s technology infrastructure will support flysong.com, a simple, easy to use, information-rich site on which customers can purchase tickets, find lower fares, check-in for flights and print boarding cards from the convenience of their home or office.

First-ever book to ticket automation. Over the phone, customers will book and complete purchases directly with Song through voice-recognition technology.

Self-service kiosks. At the airport, self-service kiosks will continue to help customers avoid lines by electronically executing high-demand transactions.

Efficient gate and boarding. At the gate, exclusive gate information displays will ensure that customers remain informed up-to-the-minute. Additionally, gate and boarding technology will facilitate efficient, expedited boarding.

Cost savings through higher aircraft utilization: Delta has developed a process that facilitates Song’s aircraft utilization rates to be among the highest in the industry – 13.2 hours per day, a 23 percent improvement over mainline Delta’s average 757 aircraft.

"Song represents an aggressive initiative to compete in the low-fare market," concluded Selvaggio. "It will not only offer low fares but lower operating costs, making it successful where previous attempts by other major airlines have failed."

Song is an innovative low-fare airline service, which will provide non-stop service between the Northeast and key Florida leisure destinations with 144 daily flights and a fleet of 36 Boeing 757 aircraft. Based in Atlanta, GA., Song is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines (NYSEAL).

*Taxes/Fees: Fares do not include a $3.00 Federal Excise Tax which will be imposed on each flight segment of your itinerary. A flight segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. Fares do not include Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $18.00, depending on itinerary, and September 11th Security Fee of up to $10.00 per round-trip. These fees are the responsibility of the passenger and must be paid at the time of purchase.

 

[lrodk]

The launch of Song might explain why I've had a heck of a time finding a direct flight to Orlando at a descent rate for my trip in October. Currently there are only two, and rates(which are normally around two hundred $)are $440 for one and $700 for the other. I couldn't understand why, but maybe this is the reason. I'm hoping there will be a whole slew of new flights announced out of Newark when Song begins selling tickets on 3/31.

Anyone know if Skymile members will be allowed to redeem Delta Skymile points for flights on Song?