Delta’s Pizza Party: Surprise & Delight

For anyone who’s ridden an airplane lately, you are likely familiar with the ins and out (and ups and downs) of air travel. Travel is affected by so many factors that are out of anyone’s control: weather, delays at the airport, mechanical issues, and weather (again) that it can leave any happy-go-lucky-customer frustrated when things don’t go as planned.

While many airlines do their best to keep passengers informed and (somewhat) comfortable, it’s more often the case that passengers feel unimportant and uncared for. That’s why a story like the one below is so fun to share!

Delta’s Pizza Party

On Tuesday, May 26, several Delta flights were delayed heading into the airline’s largest hub, Atlanta, due to extreme weather. With dinner time approaching, and flights left to circle other airports and wait on tarmacs to eventually head to Atlanta, several Delta crews had pizzas delivered to the planes via baggage cart.

Delta spokesman Morgan Durrant told NBC Philadelphia (the origin of one delayed flight) that the pizza parties are part of the airline’s standard protocols.

“It’s part of a standing procedure at Delta to get food and beverages to delayed customers — whether it be a severe weather event that drove the diversion last night or a delay in airport due to an aircraft mechanical issue.”

A free pizza party won’t make the plane get off the ground any faster, but it sure does help lift the moods of passengers and make them feel cared for. One passenger reported that when the pilot announced they had ordered pizza that “everyone burst into cheers and applause.”

If Delta can get their passengers to cheer and praise their efforts on social media – all while being stuck on a plane – there’s surely something you can do to surprise and delight your customers today, this week, or this month.