Delta Launches First Airline Social Media 'Ticket Window,' Revamps Home Page

Redesigned home page, ticket window are first steps in broader customer-facing technology improvements

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Aug 12, 2010, 09:04 ET

ATLANTA, Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today launched the industry's first social media 'Ticket Window' enabling bookings directly from its Facebook page and other social media sites. The Delta Ticket Window, along with a newly designed home page at delta.com introduced earlier this week, offers the first visual cues of the airline's planned transformation in customer-facing technology.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090202/DELTALOGO )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090202/DELTALOGO )

"Our customers are spending more time online and are looking for new ways to connect with us. We're now delivering technology where our customers are – from our own website to our Facebook page to Internet news sites and beyond," said Bob Kupbens, Delta's vice president – eCommerce. "We already know Facebook is the most used website by inflight WiFi users on more than 2,000 Delta flights every day, giving us the natural launching point for a new online Ticket Window."

Delta's Ticket Window allows any of Facebook's 500 million users to complete a full travel booking using a dedicated "tab" at facebook.com/delta without navigating to delta.com. Delta plans to expand its Ticket Window to other sites, including online banner ads to allow full booking capabilities within the airline's advertisements.

The redesign of Delta's home page is the first step toward a larger redesign which will continue to improve the online experience on delta.com and its affiliated technology, including airport kiosks, to offer more functionality to customers. The immediate home page changes include easier access to flight booking, status updates, online check-in and SkyMiles account information.

Earlier this month Delta enhanced its smartphone site and will continue to deliver other popular consumer applications. In the coming weeks, Delta plans to launch a new iPhone application to offer customers the ability to check in for flights, check flight status, review flight schedules, set a parking reminder, review SkyMiles account balance and use eBoarding passes (in select cities) directly from their mobile devices. Future releases of the app will enable customers to book flights, select their seats and track their Medallion status and other features that will streamline customer real-time travel experiences.

"Unlocking the full power of social media and mobile apps is the next step for Delta, while providing innovative travel tools and greater convenience in our customer's mobile world," Kupbens said.

Delta has continued to expand its interaction with customers on social sites, including facebook.com/delta, twitter.com/delta, blog.delta.com and is now providing real-time travel assistance at twitter.com/deltaassist.

Images of Delta's new home page and Ticket Window are available online.

About Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. With its unsurpassed global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 367 destinations in 65 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs more than 70,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, the world's largest airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 45 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.