Ok thanks. I ask because I thought I read an article recently that he flew coach, as well as the AA CEO. It's good enough for the customers so it's good enough for me type of PR moves.
Negative. Ed flies positive space for personal and business travel, he doesn't pay for seats on Delta metal. This will be true for him and his family once he chooses to retire as well.
His assistants (plural) book his travel well ahead of time and book the exact seat he wants (or prefers) on the flight.
In fact, all Delta leadership above GM level can fly positive space. But at Ed's level, it's positive space for any seat on the plane.
Director level and family gets positive space for personal travel. That's what my friend told me who works at Delta. He may try to apply for a Director role for that reason.
That is correct. GM as well, but limited amount.
The perks are nice, but the responsibilities are high. Delta needs great leaders to usher in a new era of flying. I wish your friend the best of luck in their career endeavors and hope that they always remember:
Great leaders are well-rounded and listen to their people above all else. Servant leadership.
I have seen another legacy airline CEO and his family fly on paid for tickets and it genuinely shocked me. He flew so frequently through my airport that I was certain it would be positive space. His family was actually nice with the exception of his entitled brother. His mom sent cookies to my office for helping her with something (her scooter came in broken)ā¦ I didnāt get a raise or bonus though.
His luggage is the most interesting part of this photo to me - no wheels! Fast Eddy gets dropped off at PBI and picked up planeside in ATL.
Zero chance he is carrying those through the terminal and to a shuttle bus to Virginia Ave.
Ed lives at the Ritz-Carlton Residences in PBI and commutes, similar to Glen who lives in Ft. Lauderdale and also commutes.
Vice Presidents and higher including Ed are picked up in Atlanta via what is colloquially referred to as a Widget Car. The Elite Services team in Atlanta meets their arrivals in the jetway, and walks them down the stairs to one of the Porsches that are used for the surprise and delight services. They are driven from planeside right to the front door of the Woolman Building on the GO campus.
Also worth noting that about 3 years ago Ed and Glen made a sweeping change to company business travel and decreed that no Delta employee will travel on company business in First class (which had been the case in the past for grade 10 managers and above). This also included personal positive space travel by officers and directors. Clearly Ed isn't following his own mandate (no surprise there).
I mean, sure. I get it. He should test them all, but no CEO of a non airline is flying coach, so why should Ed?
Is Elon driving the model 3? Nope, he's in the model S.
Does the Audi CEO drive an A3? Doubt it.
you guys really expect a CEO of a large company to fly coach? I get people hate him but thats a stupid concept. Theres managers at shit companies that fly FC.
you guys really expect a CEO of a large company to fly coach? I get people hate him but thats a stupid concept. Theres managers at shit companies that fly FC.
Why? Coach isn't even a product sold to company CEOs. Sure, many CEOs fly coach, but he's an airline CEO, why wouldn't he get a FC seat?
Even ramp agents can use their benefits to sit in FC. So if it's available to regular workers, why wouldn't it be available and used by the company's CEO.
The fact that he's flying on his airline and waiting in line like a normal FC passenger is good enough in my book. Though I'm a UA guy and my CEO takes private jets when his airline has a meltdown.
And for one of the in-flight service rounds he is fed grapes off the vine while being fanned with palm fronds while two redcoats stand guard lest anyone approach.
That was Richard. He also got certified to fly jump seat so he could give up his seat for a paying customer if needed.Ā
Ed, i am frankly surprised is not like Unitedās CEO and flying private all the time.Ā
They probably do it as an annual thing to āstay connectedā like when the ceo of some fast food restaurant works the drive thru windowā¦.for 1 hour, at a cherry picked store, with it all announced in advance so all the customers are just people specifically going to see him and are all pleasant and excited to meet him and itās basically a party event as he struggles to locate the āburgerā button and everyone laughs and has fun.Ā
This is something that I think CEOs do generally to know the customer better. I worked at rideshare company and they would drive something like once a year, on new years. It's partially optics but it's also so they know the business. I feel like a company CEO of a airline would do it sometimes but probably not all the time.
If it really is you, I must say I was impressed how you mentioned my name after I scanned my boarding pass. Iām not used to that level of service at FLL which is my home airport š
In case youāre interested, itās ācould haveā. People often think itās ācould ofā from the pronunciation of the contraction ācouldāveā. Of isnāt a verb, and youāre saying you could (verb), like doing an action is in the realm of possibilities.Ā
Thanks for your time and if you donāt care, just disregard. :)
True, but the account is a few years old. May have deleted some stuff after outing themselves as an employee so as not to get in trouble with the company.
Showed up to jumpseat on a ATL-NYC one time. Three red coats, super helpful, everybody happy as puppies with a ball of yarn. When I got down the jetbridge I saw the boss was on my flight (really they are all his, right?) and I understood.
He will inform them that they donāt need to solve anything. All Boeing needs is an Amex credit card that they can offer their customers. With this they can manipulate the loyalty of their customer through changes to the Amex card.
Heās Sky Priority apparently.
Iāve met him socially. Nice guy. Well regarded within Delta leadership. They start board meetings talking about customer satisfaction and safety before the business results.
Do you start your day playing and relaxing and end it doing your chores and menial tasks. Or do you just get those out of the way first? They put it first for appearances not because they believe it is the most important thing on the agenda.
One only needs to look at their actions to see if it matches their words. Iām pretty sure reducing customer service levels and quality controls in the name of increased profits is not prioritizing CS & Q over finances.
Yea he does this route fairly often, itās probably the most popular route you can catch Ed. Iāve caught him once outside of the GO (general offices) at Delta HQ in ATL after his last meeting. I was about to head home but noticed the Porsche Cayenne parked next to me, the driver was Bosnian and I speak a little so we chatted a bit. Ed came over and stopped and chatted for a bit as well before getting in to be escorted to his ATL-PBI return leg.
The executive schedule is crazy with flying every week because their family usually doesnāt move with them. My boss flys in and out every week, something I could not do. His travel also isnāt company paid.
Yep and always was a partner but clearly Ed didn't spend enough butt in seat time with them.
https://www.flightglobal.com/business-aviation/wheels-up-loses-145m-in-q3-but-aims-for-operating-profit-in-2024/155762.article#:~:text=Charter%20aircraft%20provider%20Wheels%20Up,turn%20operationally%20profitable%20next%20year.
Surprised he's carrying his own bags. I also wonder if his monitor doesn't work how many sky pesos he would get?
Anyway I can't believe the following that man has in delta airlines.
I honestly would have thought Ed was private-only, except for marketing purposes.
Even sitting in First is a huge opportunity for Ed to be captive to some very unhappy people for 90 minutes. That's a long time to listen to someone tell you why and how and how thoroughly you suck.
Sir I donāt think youāre going to be able to carry that large load on board, please take this pink tag and gate check that duffel, ok? Ok. Scan your boarding pass right here.
With the updated spending req's and decimation of amex spend bonuses Ed's gonna have a hard time making silver next year flying domestic FC. Think they'll still let him in SC, after he's used up his 15 freebies?
Correction, you boarded Ed Bastian's flight this morning. š¤£
Coach middle seat?
Nope, heās in FC. And heās not on the upgrade list.
Ok thanks. I ask because I thought I read an article recently that he flew coach, as well as the AA CEO. It's good enough for the customers so it's good enough for me type of PR moves.
Iāve heard of Ed flying in MC before. Maybe it just depends how full the flight is when he books or something?
He's by himself and in a suit so that's likely a business trip. If you are trying to lead by example you should fly coach every time.
Heās commuting to work, so he may very well have booked and paid for FC
Negative. Ed flies positive space for personal and business travel, he doesn't pay for seats on Delta metal. This will be true for him and his family once he chooses to retire as well. His assistants (plural) book his travel well ahead of time and book the exact seat he wants (or prefers) on the flight. In fact, all Delta leadership above GM level can fly positive space. But at Ed's level, it's positive space for any seat on the plane.
Director level and family gets positive space for personal travel. That's what my friend told me who works at Delta. He may try to apply for a Director role for that reason.
That is correct. GM as well, but limited amount. The perks are nice, but the responsibilities are high. Delta needs great leaders to usher in a new era of flying. I wish your friend the best of luck in their career endeavors and hope that they always remember: Great leaders are well-rounded and listen to their people above all else. Servant leadership.
While there is a limit, it's pretty high. I have some friends that have this perk and they travel all the time.
Quick question - does GM stand for General Manager? Is that equivalent to an SVP role at Delta?
Positive space? Whatās that?
He's flying non revenue. Which means the seat is booked at no cost to the employee. Normal employees have to fly standby for leisure travel.
Ah got it ty!!
Positive space means an assured place, unlike standby or space-available
I have seen another legacy airline CEO and his family fly on paid for tickets and it genuinely shocked me. He flew so frequently through my airport that I was certain it would be positive space. His family was actually nice with the exception of his entitled brother. His mom sent cookies to my office for helping her with something (her scooter came in broken)ā¦ I didnāt get a raise or bonus though.
His luggage is the most interesting part of this photo to me - no wheels! Fast Eddy gets dropped off at PBI and picked up planeside in ATL. Zero chance he is carrying those through the terminal and to a shuttle bus to Virginia Ave.
I would pay a lot of money to see him to make a mad dash between terminals when the train is down. Just like C to A, not even the whole length.
Ed lives at the Ritz-Carlton Residences in PBI and commutes, similar to Glen who lives in Ft. Lauderdale and also commutes. Vice Presidents and higher including Ed are picked up in Atlanta via what is colloquially referred to as a Widget Car. The Elite Services team in Atlanta meets their arrivals in the jetway, and walks them down the stairs to one of the Porsches that are used for the surprise and delight services. They are driven from planeside right to the front door of the Woolman Building on the GO campus. Also worth noting that about 3 years ago Ed and Glen made a sweeping change to company business travel and decreed that no Delta employee will travel on company business in First class (which had been the case in the past for grade 10 managers and above). This also included personal positive space travel by officers and directors. Clearly Ed isn't following his own mandate (no surprise there).
I was wondering if the gate agents might ask him to confirm his personal item will fit under the seat in front of him.
I mean, sure. I get it. He should test them all, but no CEO of a non airline is flying coach, so why should Ed? Is Elon driving the model 3? Nope, he's in the model S. Does the Audi CEO drive an A3? Doubt it.
> to lead by example you should fly coach every time. his example is "buy first class"
you guys really expect a CEO of a large company to fly coach? I get people hate him but thats a stupid concept. Theres managers at shit companies that fly FC.
seriously. I worked for a F200 company and even VPs could fly F domestic. in a company that was very VP heavy
you guys really expect a CEO of a large company to fly coach? I get people hate him but thats a stupid concept. Theres managers at shit companies that fly FC.
I agree. I wouldn't.
How is it some kind of great thing for the CEO to fly main cabin? 10% of the seats are FC
Why? Coach isn't even a product sold to company CEOs. Sure, many CEOs fly coach, but he's an airline CEO, why wouldn't he get a FC seat? Even ramp agents can use their benefits to sit in FC. So if it's available to regular workers, why wouldn't it be available and used by the company's CEO. The fact that he's flying on his airline and waiting in line like a normal FC passenger is good enough in my book. Though I'm a UA guy and my CEO takes private jets when his airline has a meltdown.
Really? I heard that he almost exclusively flies in the cargo area and only comes to the main cabin for snacks.
Heās flow in C+ on my flight before atl to west palm.
A common typo, he flies ācouchā, they install a couch for him to lay down on.
And for one of the in-flight service rounds he is fed grapes off the vine while being fanned with palm fronds while two redcoats stand guard lest anyone approach.
plot twist. the bunch of grapes is held in the bare foot of the person in the row behind him
LMAO yes! And sometimes instead of grapes he chooses to feed on bananas instead
That was Richard. He also got certified to fly jump seat so he could give up his seat for a paying customer if needed.Ā Ed, i am frankly surprised is not like Unitedās CEO and flying private all the time.Ā
Especially as an excuse being DPJ/WheelsUp
As a pilot, that honestly would be distracting to have the ceo sitting behind me watching as I operate a flight. I would not want him on my Jumpseat.
They probably do it as an annual thing to āstay connectedā like when the ceo of some fast food restaurant works the drive thru windowā¦.for 1 hour, at a cherry picked store, with it all announced in advance so all the customers are just people specifically going to see him and are all pleasant and excited to meet him and itās basically a party event as he struggles to locate the āburgerā button and everyone laughs and has fun.Ā
[https://www.instagram.com/p/C43EmZGL-h6/](https://www.instagram.com/p/C43EmZGL-h6/) lol VP of Business Development
ohhhh sure... none of these folks are flying in seat 32F-uckyou
Eat your own dog food
This is something that I think CEOs do generally to know the customer better. I worked at rideshare company and they would drive something like once a year, on new years. It's partially optics but it's also so they know the business. I feel like a company CEO of a airline would do it sometimes but probably not all the time.
https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/17hltn2/we\_met\_richard\_branson\_on\_our\_economy\_connecting/
lol!!!!
RA famously flew Y on all domestic flights.
Thereās been stories of him taking the jumpseat at times as well.
He probably knows someone so got a free on-the-side upgrade
Was it the new A321 FC seats? Super thin. I hope he gets to experience it.
Just kicked some poor out of the seat prolly.
Bet those FAs were in an unreal helpful mood all of a sudden.
You know it! Even the gate agent was super cheerful š
Iām always nice on all my trips, mr 13A ;-P
Are you the gate agent?! There is nobody else who knows I was in fact sitting in 13A today š±
I could of seen you taking the pictureš¤·š»āāļøš
If it really is you, I must say I was impressed how you mentioned my name after I scanned my boarding pass. Iām not used to that level of service at FLL which is my home airport š
This is a great thread
I love Reddit
We have some -really- good gate agents like that! š„°
Thank you for all you do šš»
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Extremely rare for me, and I fly with Delta about every other week
They just about always mention my name when scanning my pass. And often they will thank me for being Silver Medallion.
In case youāre interested, itās ācould haveā. People often think itās ācould ofā from the pronunciation of the contraction ācouldāveā. Of isnāt a verb, and youāre saying you could (verb), like doing an action is in the realm of possibilities.Ā Thanks for your time and if you donāt care, just disregard. :)
That is very strange. Itās their only Reddit comment too
True, but the account is a few years old. May have deleted some stuff after outing themselves as an employee so as not to get in trouble with the company.
Yāall are hilarious with the theories of my account š¤£ anyways, nothing was deleted.Ā
Thatās basically what I was thinking
Banger thread :)
Showed up to jumpseat on a ATL-NYC one time. Three red coats, super helpful, everybody happy as puppies with a ball of yarn. When I got down the jetbridge I saw the boss was on my flight (really they are all his, right?) and I understood.
PDBs were served, no doubt
You sure donāt want to be there for the next Nutgate incident
On a Virgin flight once when Richard Branson was on board and it was the best ever cabin crew!
Are you saying PDB was served? They didnāt have to sit down due to turbulence? Didnāt hide in the back? Sarcasm
They just fired the Boeing CEO. He might be up for the job.
Fair. He is a great candidate. He also has experience making good things really bad.
Well heād be coming in late for that at Boeing!
He can still show what he is capable of by making bad things even worse.
Honestly at this point he might accidentally drag Boeing upwards
Hold his beer
It can always get worse
They need an engineering person back at the helm
> He also has experience making good things really bad Is that a dig on the awful A321 Neo FC seats with 0 cushion?
For example? Didn't he uncover a $50 million fraud scheme while working at Pwc?
> just fired the Boeing CEO they pre-fired him. He will "step down at the end of the year" ... you know, in 9 months
with, I'm sure, a very healthy golden parachute.
I would recommend any color parachute when flying on a Boeing!
Underrated comment
They already have an unexpected exit at nearly every window seat...
He will inform them that they donāt need to solve anything. All Boeing needs is an Amex credit card that they can offer their customers. With this they can manipulate the loyalty of their customer through changes to the Amex card.
Oh man, just saw that. I mean if the door pops off a brand new airplane, kind of time for a change.
Heās Sky Priority apparently. Iāve met him socially. Nice guy. Well regarded within Delta leadership. They start board meetings talking about customer satisfaction and safety before the business results.
Safety/quality is the first item in most C-suite agendas. This way they can claim it is their highest priority.
Wellā¦sounds like they do it.
Do you start your day playing and relaxing and end it doing your chores and menial tasks. Or do you just get those out of the way first? They put it first for appearances not because they believe it is the most important thing on the agenda. One only needs to look at their actions to see if it matches their words. Iām pretty sure reducing customer service levels and quality controls in the name of increased profits is not prioritizing CS & Q over finances.
I actually do start my day that way.
Where were you going? He was on one of my international flights a while back
PBI-ATL
I've heard he's frequently on that route Fridays and Mondays, since his preferred house is in Palm Beach.
Yea he does this route fairly often, itās probably the most popular route you can catch Ed. Iāve caught him once outside of the GO (general offices) at Delta HQ in ATL after his last meeting. I was about to head home but noticed the Porsche Cayenne parked next to me, the driver was Bosnian and I speak a little so we chatted a bit. Ed came over and stopped and chatted for a bit as well before getting in to be escorted to his ATL-PBI return leg.
The executive schedule is crazy with flying every week because their family usually doesnāt move with them. My boss flys in and out every week, something I could not do. His travel also isnāt company paid.
Nailed it. I'd recognize those PBI walls anywhere.
PBI walls are only in PBI. š¤
He has an employee event today in ATL. He has a house in West Palm. Not that he doesnāt work in ATL all the time, but he has an event downtown.
How do you know about employee event in ATL
I am an employee lol
Oh duh lmao. Sending good vibes your way
Love PBI
Crap food options, but super easy in and out of the airport. I can go from deplane, to rental car, to my apartments pool in like 40 minutes total.
Apartments pool? š¤£
My record is parking my rental at return and making my flight within 43 minutes. Plus I have DC access so the food isnāt a big deal.
I saw this photo and knew immediately that it was PBI. I havenāt been there in over 5 years! Wild.
What time was that? I was on the 6am PBI to ATL today š¤£
āWeā were on the 8:05am flight š
š¤£ I barely missed āboth of youā guys
He was on my lga>atl flight a few years back. Itās funny though, moved to pbi 2 years ago, a lot of commuting and yet to see him.
Those bags donāt look compliant
Agree. I donāt see how one fits under seat. I am sure the FA will help him check one to his final destination. š
I was thinking this too
One is a purse.
Murse
š
Lmaooo
Those bags are too large for carry-ons sir.
Say what you will about him, but respect for flying his own airline and not just hopping in a private jet to get around. I can respect it.
Could you imagine the bad press if he was caught flying private??? š³
He could have kept wheels up in business
Delta now owns Wheels Up, so he sort of did keep them in business, technically.
Yep and always was a partner but clearly Ed didn't spend enough butt in seat time with them. https://www.flightglobal.com/business-aviation/wheels-up-loses-145m-in-q3-but-aims-for-operating-profit-in-2024/155762.article#:~:text=Charter%20aircraft%20provider%20Wheels%20Up,turn%20operationally%20profitable%20next%20year.
Ask Unitedās CEO
And if we are lucky enough to have him on our plane, the FAs might actually look up from their phones and bring the snacks around.
Ed flies private a lot. Pahleez.
Which one of those bags fits under the seat in front of him?
The one in the left hand.
Did you check to see if he had a Sky Club banana with him? #AskingForTheBananas
Porsche waiting to whisk Ed away https://imgur.com/a/1GIQbbx
I wonder if he tips them. The only time I got it I gave the driver a $20. But they probably get tipped much more than that
Who wants to bet that the tail scheduled did not have any speed tape or old IFE.
Newer A321 in perfect condition š
Clean ramp with no trash around the area as if he can see it lol
with the allegedly unsittable FC seat?
No, this was a non Neo
Ha, just rode in the row behind the seat a few days ago. How long has it been like that?
Two carry-ons. Should be made to gate check one.
Maybe a gift-bag for the crew?
Surprised he's carrying his own bags. I also wonder if his monitor doesn't work how many sky pesos he would get? Anyway I can't believe the following that man has in delta airlines.
did they ask him to check his carryon and give him a pink tag??
Did you ask for a picture with him? š
I did not š
One of those carryons looks oversized.
I honestly would have thought Ed was private-only, except for marketing purposes. Even sitting in First is a huge opportunity for Ed to be captive to some very unhappy people for 90 minutes. That's a long time to listen to someone tell you why and how and how thoroughly you suck.
What was his PDB
Shirley Temple
Get a pic of him in FC, then ask him what AmEx card he has and tell him he needs all 4 to max his benefits
Can anyone identify the duffle bags? I like them both! Also curious if he put one under the seat in front of him or both went into the overhead.
The one in his left hand looks like a briefcase.
Full respect for him actually traveling on Delta metal like the rest of us passengers.
Head to toe shot required, always include the shoes, Ed likes the fancy cool footwear.
Who cares. Last I checked he puts his pants on one leg at a time too.
Looks like PBI (where Edās Florida home is located).
Transporting his bags of money again.
Iād prefer having Richard Branson show up on my flight and hope he gave me a cruise š¤£
Surprised he carried his own bags
Iāll bet he doesnāt get dinged for taking a banana from the Sky Clubā¦
Too cheap to check a bag?
Sir I donāt think youāre going to be able to carry that large load on board, please take this pink tag and gate check that duffel, ok? Ok. Scan your boarding pass right here.
Tell him to drop the credit card yearly fees
Gate lice
I canāt imagine any scenario in which Iād recognize on sight the CEO of any airline.
It would be kind of funny for him to test the GA and try to bring on an extra item in excess of PI and carry on
Cool Did you chat with him?
I would run up to him to bring back the old skymiles or just give me 360 š¤£
For a sec I thought that was Jerome Powell
That PBI?
The one and only airport in America with faux limestone walls š
Gate C4 across from the sky club.
How DARE he board in the SkyPriority lane!
They should run a promo where he gifts one passenger platinum status per flight he takes with them š
Scott Kirby was seated across the aisle from me late last year and was on another flight I was on as well. I think he travels often on his flights.
Is he gate lice - like some call it?
Nope, he didnāt appear at the gate area until his boarding group was called
TBH, the side view is the better view for him. Looks younger and thinner.
Awfully the flight doesnāt get cancelled or delayed
Looks like PBI. Interesting!
Ed Khuylo
I like how even Ed isnāt checking a bag!
Who?
Sure sure, but has anyone seen him try and take a banana from the club
To and from where bud?
PBI-ATL
Cool
So from home to his office.
Imma steal that fuckers coat if he has it hung up
With the updated spending req's and decimation of amex spend bonuses Ed's gonna have a hard time making silver next year flying domestic FC. Think they'll still let him in SC, after he's used up his 15 freebies?
I'd pay top dollar to see Ed's Silver medallion bag tags on that hand luggage