In today’s Flight review on AU Abroad, we take you on Delta Air Lines‘ brief connection service from Burlington, Vermont to La Guardia Airport in New York City in the USA.
Airline: Delta Air Lines (Shuttle America Connection)
Route: Burlington, Vermont (BTV) to La Guardia, New York (LGA) – DL3377
Seat: 15C (window, 1-2 layout)
Aircraft: Embraer ERJ145
Scheduled Flight Time: 1 Hour 25 Minutes (only 40 minutes in the air)
On Schedule? 3+ Hours Late
Frequent Flyer Program:
Delta’s program is SkyMiles, though one of their many partners is Virgin Australia, whose Velocity frequent flyer program is interchangeable with Delta’s own. There’s no lounge at Burlington airport.
Check-in & Baggage:
Though there is a priority boarding desk, Burlington is such a small airport it doesn’t make much difference for your check-in time. Two bags are included when you’re sky priority but otherwise there is a $25 fee for your checked luggage, depending on the ticket type.
Meal Service:
Due to the short flight time, there was only a water service on this flight. The flight was delayed for three hours on the ground, and the flight before it had been cancelled, so Delta had compensated passengers with some free water and snacks left out for passengers in the relatively tiny airport. “Local acclaimed eatery” Skinny Pancake was also set up to serve some burgers, crepes and beers – and this was the only retail outlet in the airport.
In-Flight Entertainment:
No entertainment on this flight.
Comfort:
This was an old, fairly run down plane, as the ERJ145’s often are. As a connection service, it’s also a tiny plane – with a 1-2 layout and baggage only available on one side of the plane. Very much from the era of “let’s just get you from point A to point B” and not “let’s try and let your legs fit comfortably in the space provided”. It may have only been a 40 minute flight, but with a 30 minute taxi in New York, it’s a lengthy time to feel crammed in like a sardine. Frustratingly, their air conditioning was also not working properly. It was a very hot plane until we were well into the flight. I’d definitely class this as an “uncomfortable flight”. Thankfully there wasn’t much turbulence!
Customer Service:
Though it was an uncomfortable ride, and the three hour delay was frustrating (there were some problems at La Guardia airport – we were just lucky our flight wasn’t cancelled like some of the earlier ones), the airline were kind, courteous and accommodating. They passed on information as soon as they had it, though of course weren’t able to keep everyone happy with the earlier cancelled flight. They left out snacks and drinks while we waited and regularly apologised for the delays. These things happen, as most travellers will know, and we all just have to stick it out and wait to see the result. Especially when they’re the only airline to fly the route – which is the case here.
The writer flew on his own expense in July 2015.
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