We’re proud to bring you our comprehensive Caribbean, Mexico and Latin American Travel Guide. Produced in cooperation with Recommend magazine, we hope you’ll learn more about your travel options and also see how much Delta is committed to this wonderful region.
When traveling to Latin America or the Caribbean, the possibilities are endless. From exotic, remote beaches to cosmopolitan, business-friendly cities, you’re bound to discover culture, beauty, and exciting opportunities whether you travel for work or pleasure. Most of all, what makes the region particularly welcoming are its warm, friendly people. Their heritage, unique outlook, and zest for life are all on display every day. And they’re happy to share it all with you.
Of course, many people flock to the Caribbean’s beaches to simply get away from it all, but there are quite a lot of activities to explore when the mood strikes you—watersports such as deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, windsurfing, snorkeling and others. Plus, you can head inland to experience rainforest tours, ziplining adventures, and world-class golf courses.
In Latin America, you’ll discover the perfect blend of bustling cities, historic colonial towns and beautiful scenery. A trip to this region is also a chance to experience famous sites you’ve only read or dreamed about. In particular, the man-made wonders of Easter Island, the monuments left behind by the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas, and the natural splendor of the Galapagos Islands all deliver unforgettable adventures.
One of the most exciting developments in this area of the world is the expanded business-friendly environment that’s powering growth and prosperity throughout the region. From high-tech and manufacturing to energy and logistics, the world’s largest corporations are discovering new opportunities in Latin America. Cosmopolitan cities such as Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, and Mexico City are brimming with opportunity and welcome business travelers with open arms.
The best way to make your trip as pleasurable as possible is to put your travel plans in our hands. We now offer over 15,000 daily flights to and from 44 incredible destinations in 28 countries. And we are continually adding new services and investing throughout the region. No matter when or where you visit Latin America and the Caribbean, all of us at Delta are eager to give you the travel experience you deserve. Welcome aboard!
Sincerely,
Nicolas E. Ferri
Vice President, Latin America and Caribbean
Delta Air Lines
DELTA TAKES SERVICE FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN TO NEW HEIGHTS
For Delta Air Lines, a key goal has been to become the best U.S. carrier serving Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 2005, the airline’s presence in the region has increased by nearly 50 percent. Delta’s expansion has been helped by having seven strategic hubs connecting Latin America to the rest of the world, including New York-JFK, Atlanta and Detroit.
Today, Delta operates more than 1,100 weekly flights to 45 destinations in 26 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. And new destinations and city pairs continue to be added.
But beyond expanding to new cities, Delta has also added more
frequent service. The airline recently added new frequencies from New York-JFK, Atlanta or Los Angeles to Guatemala City, Guatemala; Leon, Mexico; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and to São Paulo, Brazil. It also expanded some routes from seasonal to year-round, and increased the daily number of direct flights to several popular destinations. And the growth continues.
Delta’s expanded service to Latin American destinations also makes it easier for travelers to choose more convenient travel schedules, and as a result more convenient connections. Service now includes daily flights to all of Delta’s Central American destinations.
“We’re committed to being the best choice among U.S. airlines for service to Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Nicolas Ferri, Delta’s vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean. “By investing in more flights, cities, and personnel, our customers will experience a level of service other airlines simply can’t match.”
World-class airport facilities
Adding more cities and flight times are only one aspect of Delta’s growth strategy for the region, part of a $2 billion investment the company is making. The crown jewel of that investment is a $1.4 billion expansion at New York-JFK Terminal 4, which opened in 2013 to great accolades throughout the travel industry. The expanded main terminal features a much larger customs and immigration area, easier traffic flow between the domestic and international gates, and a new Delta Sky Club® featuring The Sky DeckSM, a stunning outdoor lounge that offers guests the ability to relax with a cocktail while enjoying breathtaking views of the JFK runways.
Twelve new security checkpoint lanes now shorten processing time, and an enhanced atrium makes it easier for fliers to browse at retail shops. Terminal 4 caters to Delta and SkyTeam’s elite “Sky Priority®” customers, offering 14 check-in positions dedicated to its Sky Priority customers.
Of course, many Latin American and Caribbean travelers pass through Delta’s (and the world’s) largest hub, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Big, exciting changes have been made there as well. The airport recently opened its new international terminal, which now serves as the gateway for customers traveling between Atlanta and international destinations. The new Concourse F includes 12 gates and eliminates the need for Atlanta-bound customers to recheck their baggage.
Putting exotic destinations within reach
When travelers want to visit new places, no matter how far away or exotic, they want to get there in the easiest manner possible. Now, destinations like Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Cancun, the emerald Caribbean beaches, the ancient Mayan or Inca routes, and the Galapagos Islands are all within reach. And travelers look for established airlines that can take them there with convenience and comfort.
Delta’s industry-leading global network makes these destinations easy to access and, together with its SkyTeam members, connects you to anywhere in the world you want to go. In fact, Delta flies to 312 destinations in 56 countries on six continents. Delta is also the leading U.S. carrier to Africa, with service to five African countries.
Making the journey easier
Investments in technology have also enabled Delta to provide industry-leading access to convenient travel tools. The award-winning Fly Delta app has been downloaded over five million times, and is available on iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and Windows phones. Customers can use the app to access their eBoarding pass, receive travel alerts, change their seat assignment, view flight status, check the weather, rebook a flight and even remind themselves where they parked. The Fly Delta app also allows passengers to track their bags as they move through the system.
And starting later this year, in an effort to enhance efficiency, Delta is equipping its 11,000 pilots with the Microsoft Surface 2 tablet. The device will provide flight crews easy access to essential tools and the most up-to-date flight-related resources and information, including navigational charts, reference documents and checklists.
Delta also operates the world’s largest WiFi-equipped aircraft fleet. With these and other technological advancements, it’s no surprise Delta was ranked by PC World magazine in 2012 as the “Top Tech-Friendly Airline in the U.S.”
Dreamy full flat beds on South American flights
Delta aims to make long flights as relaxing as possible, and over the last few years the airline has introduced full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite® class on flights between several U.S. cities and Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago and São Paulo. Each BusinessElite seat on board Delta’s Boeing 767-400ER aircraft offers a 180-degree, fully horizontal sleep experience along with a full-sized pillow and duvet, direct aisle access and more privacy. In addition, all seats in coach class cabin on these flights feature in-seat, on-demand video.
Look for full flat beds in Delta’s BusinessElite on every international wide-body aircraft very soon.
Stretch out in Economy Comfort™
For many passengers, a little extra room goes a long way. So Delta’s premium economy section, Economy Comfort, is now available on flights throughout the region. Offering up to four additional inches of legroom, 50 percent more recline than Delta’s standard international Economy Class seats, and Priority Boarding, Economy Comfort helps passengers relax during their flight. And it’s proving quite popular, as Delta has added a domestic U.S. version to more than 800 aircraft, including two-class regional jets. Plus, with more First Class seats on its U.S. routes than any other U.S. carrier, Delta provides more opportunities for passengers to upgrade.
“We want to make sure premium customers are sitting in premium seats,” said Richard Anderson, Delta’s chief executive officer. “Delta already offers more First Class seats than any other U.S. airline, and Economy Comfort gives our passengers more choices to select a premium seat on most of our flights.”
A better experience, even on the ground
The in-flight experience is only a part of Delta’s commitment to customer service. With more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs® worldwide, customers seeking to relax while at the airport have a welcoming place to go. Seventeen clubs across the Delta system have been opened or renovated recently, including the newly renovated Terminal 4 at New York’s John F. Kennedy airport. JFK is home to the new flagship Club, which features The Sky DeckSM at Delta Sky Club®, an award-winning outdoor lounge. Guests can relax and enjoy a cocktail outside while enjoying breathtaking runway views here as well as at The Sky Deck at Delta Sky Club at Atlanta’s Maynard H. Jackson airport.
While at the Delta Sky Clubs, passengers receive complimentary house beers, wines and spirits, healthy snacks, free WiFi, personalized flight assistance and private showers, in select locations. The Clubs also offer working zones that provide wireless printers and fax machines, charging stations and, in certain locations, meeting spaces for rent. For discerning travelers, Delta Sky Club’s Luxury Bar offers premium beers, wines, champagnes and spirits for purchase.
Get top priority with Sky Priority™
Every part of your Delta traveling experience should be comfortable and relaxing, even before you’re in the air. With the Delta Sky Priority suite of services, customers who have earned Gold Medallion status or above always go first—whether it’s through the airport, onto the plane, or out of baggage claim. So our best customers receive the level of service they deserve.
Passengers who are not Diamond, Platinum, or Gold Medallion members can still experience Sky Priority service anytime by booking a BusinessElite, First Class, or Business Class ticket, or by simply being a SkyTeam Elite Plus or Alaska Airlines MVP Gold member.
On-the-go support at your fingertips
Delta has made it a priority to give customers the ability to contact the airline at every touchpoint, so in 2010 Delta launched @DeltaAssist on Twitter to help with real-time travel issues before, during, and after a flight. Delta’s knowledgeable agents use Twitter to answer questions pertaining to policy and procedures, assist with lost baggage, rebook canceled flights, and help customers with general travel issues. The
@DeltaAssist handle is strictly for customer service issues, ensuring that response times are faster than any other carrier.
This service has been expanded to include Spanish-speaking customers with @DeltaAssist_ES. Portuguese speaking customers can use @DeltaAjuda, or check Delta’s Facebook page in Brazil for travel tips and destinations highlights at facebook.com/DeltaAirLinesBrasil.
Many ways to earn SkyMiles
Delta’s award-winning frequent flyer program, SkyMiles, offers Latin America and Caribbean travelers a variety of options to earn miles when flying on Delta and its SkyTeam member airlines. One of the longest running and most successful loyalty programs in the travel industry, SkyMiles has been recognized with industry accolades multiple times. Best of all, SkyMiles have no expiration date, allowing members to continue earning and adding miles over time.
Key alliance partnerships
To better serve our customers, Delta has deepened its partnership with several strategic partners in Latin America, including Aeromexico, GOL and Aerolineas Argentinas.
Aeromexico
Mexico has been a major pillar for Delta’s growth in Latin America with up to 464 weekly nonstop flights between Mexico and the U.S. during peak season. To strengthen our service in the country, Delta expanded its alliance with Aeromexico, linking Delta’s massive network with Mexico’s largest passenger network. The agreement positions SkyTeam as the only global alliance with a full-service, Mexico-based, international carrier.
GOL
Delta has also expanded its presence in Brazil through an alliance with GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes. This enables Delta passengers to easily access more interior Brazil points than any other U.S. airline, and covers nearly all of the destination points between Brazil and the U.S.
Passengers can now use Delta for service on GOL flights between São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasilia and many other popular Brazilian destinations. “Our alliance partners help Delta grow its network in Latin America. In Brazil, we are proud to be associated with GOL,” said Ferri.
Delta currently offers 42 nonstop weekly flights between the United States and Brazil, including service between Atlanta and São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia; between New York-JFK and São Paulo; and between Detroit and São Paulo.
Customers can also take advantage of the reciprocal frequent flyer agreement that brings together Delta’s SkyMiles and GOL’s SMILES program to earn and redeem miles for flights on either carrier.
Aerolineas Argentinas
A partnership also exists between Delta and Aerolineas Argentinas, the flag carrier of Argentina. This includes reciprocal benefits for their frequent flyers that include accrual and redemption of miles on all flights within their mutual system. Aerolineas Argentinas is now the second Latin American member of SkyTeam global airline alliance, allowing for even more customer benefits.
Members of either airline’s frequent flyer programs can enjoy reciprocal access to their lounges, including more than 50 of Delta’s award-winning Delta Sky Club lounges in 85 airports worldwide and Aerolineas Argentinas Salon Condor at the Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Buenos Aires.
Becoming the premier airline serving Latin America and the Caribbean
With continuous improvement and a lot of hard work, Delta is realizing its vision: Becoming the best U.S. carrier in the Latin America and Caribbean regions. Due to an extensive route network, improved services, state-of-the-art technology, facilities, products and partnerships, passengers around the world can look to Delta for unmatched service to this beautiful, unique and diverse region.
