Let’s be real: very few things would be cooler than landing at an airport and seeing a driver waiting on the ramp to personally escort you to your connecting flight in a Porsche. Fortunately, Delta Air Lines has made that experience a reality for some of its customers, thanks to a transfer service that the carrier launched in 2012. Let’s take a closer look at Delta’s Porsche transfer service and see what it has to offer passengers.
Who qualifies
As of the time of writing of this article, the transfer service is available at the following airports:
The details of the program are not publicly documented, so it is difficult to identify exactly who qualifies for the service. However, there have been reports of Platinum Medallion participating in the experience, so it’s safe to assume that anyone in that tier or higher is eligible.
The transfer service is always a surprise to all, including the chosen passenger themselves and even the flight crew on the arriving flight. The selection process appears to be completely random, though it does seem to favor those with tight connections (and reasonably so).
For those with a little extra cash, Delta also offers a paid VIP select service for flight transfers that costs $350 for the first person and $100 for each additional person. However, the service does not guarantee a ride in a Porsche and may instead end in an on-foot or golf cart escort.
The experience
Selected travelers are greeted at the gate of their arriving flight by a driver holding a sign with their name on it. Instead of stepping onto the jet bridge and making their way toward the terminal, they are told to deplane directly onto the apron via a separate staircase. There, they collect their luggage and are chauffeured straight to the aircraft servicing their next flight, where they have an opportunity to take a few pictures with their car–often times a Panamera. If the aircraft is ready for boarding, then the passengers will be among the first onto the plane; otherwise, they are simply escorted to their gate, where they wait out the remainder of their layover. The entire process takes 10-15 minutes and can save up to 30 for those that might otherwise have to take a shuttle or speedwalk between terminals.
What do you think of Delta Air Line’s Porsche transfer service? Have you ever been selected for the experience? What other creative amenities would you like to see airlines offer moving forward? Let us know in the comment section.
Sources: Destinations Unknown; One Mile at a Time
Delta is not keen on an equal split compromise either. Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
Delta Air Lines
- IATA/ICAO Code:
- DL/DAL
- Airline Type:
- Full Service Carrier
- Hub(s):
- Boston Logan International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, New York JFK Airport, LaGuardia Airport, Salt Lake City International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
- Year Founded:
- 1929
- Alliance:
- SkyTeam
- CEO:
- Ed Bastian
- Country:
- United States
