Tami in Tejas
Uno Mas, Por Favor
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Today's Travel News
Delta Builds Homes in Chile
Delta Air Lines' recent announcement about increased charges for checked luggage, despite their savings from lower fuel costs, really irritated me. Seemed opportunistic if not downright greedy.
But today I read about a Delta program that helped me feel good about the airline.
They call it Delta's Force for Global Good, a "voluntourism" plan that, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity, tries to make a difference "in and around destinations we serve, creating a positive and direct impact on the development of communities that have welcomed us into their country," says Edward H. Bastian, president of Delta and president and CEO for Northwest.
Delta has been involved in similar projects in South Africa, Ghana and India. Within the United States, Delta's Force for Global Good volunteers also built houses in New York, Mississippi and Georgia.
More than 60 Delta Air Lines employees and two customers are trading their laptops and cell phones for hammers and saws during the line's first "voluntourism" project in South America. This one started November 7 for two weeks in Chile. The team will construct 12 homes during a Habitat for Humanity project in Casablanca, located 43 miles west of Santiago, Chile's capital.
The trip is made possible by Delta's Force for Global Good through which Delta customers, community partners and employees, including new colleagues from Northwest Airlines, work together to effect positive local and global change. For some, the trip to Chile will be their second or third Delta/Habitat for Humanity build.
Since 2002, Habitat for Humanity Chile has trained and organized more than 100 national and international teams to build homes in partnership with 3,500 families in five regions of the country through its "Building Houses Without Limits" program. Habitat for Humanity Chile also works with mothers who are heads of household to offer them workshops that cover topics such as home economics and small business administration.
Plans were for Delta volunteers to be joined by Thomas Harley of Pompano Beach, Fla., a Delta SkyMiles® member who bid 261,000 miles in an online auction to win the voluntourism package. The miles will be donated to Habitat for Humanity and will add to the more than 8 million frequent flyer miles that have been donated through Delta and Northwest in recent years. Harley invited friend Bryan Tanori to accompany him on the trip and participate in the build.
Habitat has been an AirCares® partner with Northwest since 1996. The Northwest Airlines AirCares charitable support program provides financial and travel support to help charitable organizations around the world achieve their goals. Delta and Habitat launched their partnership in 2006 when the airline unveiled the first 767-300 featuring a unique Habitat for Humanity livery and a Delta Force for Global Good decal.
Habitat for Humanity International welcomes all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built nearly 300,000 houses worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.5 million people. For more information, visit www.habitat.org.
Delta Air Lines, since its merger with Northwest, is the world's largest airline. From its hubs in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-JFK, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita, Delta, its NWA subsidiary and Delta Connection carriers offer service to more than 376 destinations worldwide in 66 countries and serve more than 170 million passengers each year. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and flight status at delta.com.
Now, Delta, how about volunteering to rethink the checked baggage penalty program? That, too, would do a lot of good - for loyal Delta flyers.
- Rich Steck & Judi Janofsky
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