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What Is the Best Delta Platinum Choice Benefit?

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

So what is the best Choice Benefit for Platinum Delta elites? That depends on your needs, but certain perks have more value than others.

Here is the guide to the Choice Benefits options for Platinum members who are aiming to get the most value out of their Delta status tier.

» Learn more: The complete guide to Delta Medallion elite status

Delta Platinum Choice Benefits

Delta offers Platinum elite members one of four choices:

Four regional upgrade certificates.

20,000 Delta SkyMiles.

A $200 Delta travel voucher or $200 Tiffany & Co. gift card.

Gift Silver Medallion status to your favorite traveler.

Regional upgrade certificates

The regional upgrade certificates are the most valuable Platinum Choice Benefit since premium-class tickets rarely come cheap.

These certificates must be booked and flown within a year of issuance, so don’t choose this benefit unless you’re sure you’ll use it in time. The certificates can be used anywhere in the 50 states for an upgrade to Comfort+ or first class. You can even use it to upgrade to the premium Delta One class; normally flown on international flights, the option does exist on a few domestic routes. The upgrades can be used on any tickets except basic economy or award tickets.

What to watch out for:

These certificates do not guarantee availability. Check with Delta when you book a ticket to see where upgrades are available or to ask to be placed on the waitlist. If a seat opens, you will be moved into it. Delta advises that you could clear from the waitlist at the gate, so the wait may be a nail-biter.

Don’t use the certificates for Comfort+, which is Delta’s premium economy product. As a Platinum elite member, you’re likely to get that upgrade for free.

20,000 SkyMiles

Don’t want the upgrade certificates? Then your choice comes down to money or miles.

The 20,000 miles are probably your best bet. One-way flights can be found for less than 5,000 miles, so you can do a lot of flying with 20,000 miles.

If you have a Delta credit card, it’s an even better deal. Almost any Delta card, including the free ones, like the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card , make you eligible for the Pay with Miles perk. This perk allows you to redeem 5,000 miles for $50 toward a flight, making it easy to mix cash and miles. That comes out to a value of 1 cent per mile (close to our Delta points valuation ). Terms apply.

$200 Delta travel voucher or Tiffany & Co. gift card

Certainly one of the simplest selections, you can opt for a $200 travel voucher with Delta or a gift card to the jeweler famous for its signature shade of blue. The $200 Tiffany & Co. gift card is handiest if you have plans to give that special someone jewelry or pick out a nice bauble for yourself.

Note that when you use the Pay with Miles perk outlined above, your 20,000 miles are worth the same as the Delta $200 voucher, but, importantly, the miles option gives you more redemption choices. You will still earn more miles for the portion of the ticket that you pay cash for. This means there's potential to get more value out of the 20,000 miles perk than this straight voucher option.

» Learn more: Which Delta Air Lines credit card should you get?

Gift Silver Medallion status

Gift one lucky friend Delta Silver Medallion status for a year.

Silver status comes with a bunch of benefits, including potential upgrades, priority check-in and priority boarding. But the best feature that Silver status offers is a waiver on several fees, such as baggage fees. A Silver Medallion member could save not only $30 for their first bag, but also the first bag for up to eight travel companions.

If you choose this benefit, give it to someone who doesn't travel with you frequently, since your travel companions already enjoy your Platinum elite benefits.

The bottom line

Delta Platinum Choice Benefits get you at least $200 in value, but if you choose your benefit well, it can be worth a lot more. Opt for the four upgrade certificates if you know you will take at least that many flights over the next year.

If deciding between miles or vouchers, the miles have potential for more value. If you're feeling generous, gifting Silver status could certainly bring a friend of yours a lot of value, too.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Earn miles as you use miles on select vacations.

Restrictions/luggage fees may apply. Travel may be on other airlines.

Last day: Which Delta Choice Benefits should you pick?

Update : Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

Today is the last day for Delta Platinum and Diamond Medallion elites to pick their Choice Benefits for the 2021 Medallion year.

Delta elites have until Jan. 31, 2022, to pick these benefits. As a refresher, these are awarded to Delta Platinum and Diamond elites after earning or requalifying for elite status. Delta also gave 2021 Choice Benefits to members who had elite status extended during the coronavirus pandemic.

Choice Benefits range from Sky Club memberships to upgrade certificates. While we usually recommend choosing the Global Upgrade Certificates, they're being devalued on Feb. 1. Further, not everyone is traveling internationally as often as they once were, so they might be of less value to you.

So, which benefits should you choose?

I'll discuss the different options in this article and show you what the TPG staff and our readers chose for their benefits this year. Again, travel still looks a little different in 2022, so don't be surprised if you see some nontraditional choices.

For more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter .

Picking a Delta Choice Benefit

When researching which Delta Choice Benefit to pick, we surveyed TPG readers in the TPG Lounge Facebook group and Delta Platinum and Diamond Medallions on staff. Here's a rundown of what Choice Benefits they picked.

One quick thing before we start: You have until Jan. 31, 2022, to pick your 2021 Choice Benefits. If you requalified for status this past year, you'll get another set of Choice Benefits, which you can begin to select on Feb. 1, 2022, through Jan. 31, 2023. Those who had their status extended but did not organically requalify will not get another set of Choice Benefits.

Related: Elite status devalued? What Delta's 2nd elite status extension, MQM rollover means for elites

Many Delta elites still picked upgrade certificates

As it turns out, many TPG staffers and readers still picked upgrade certificates this year. These certificates are normally valid through the end of the Medallion year associated with that Choice Benefit selection. However, due to the pandemic, Delta is extending all certificates selected this year so that they may be booked and flown by Jan. 31, 2023.

Delta Platinum elites can select four Regional Upgrade Certificates as a Choice Benefit while Diamond elites can pick from the following:

• Four Global Upgrade Certificates.
• Eight Regional Upgrade Certificates.
• Two Global Upgrade Certificates and four Regional Upgrade Certificates.

As of Feb. 1, 2022, Global Upgrade Certificates can only be used for one-cabin upgrades. This means that those booked in Main Cabin will now upgrade to Premium Select — or premium economy when flying partners — on three-cabin international flights. Those on Delta flights will be waitlisted for Delta One 24 hours prior to departure.

Still, this devaluation isn't stopping Diamonds from selecting this as a benefit.

TPG Points and Miles Editor Andrew Kunesh is a Diamond Medallion. He chose Global Upgrade Certificates as a Choice Benefit because he's optimistic that long-haul international travel will continue to ramp back up this year, and hopes to use his certificates for upgrades to Delta One on international flights.

"I picked upgrade certificates because it's still possible to get great value with one-cabin upgrades," Andrew explained. "International Premium Select is still far cheaper than Delta One on most routes, so the value is still in the thousands on routes I'm looking at booking."

Likewise, TPG reader Paul told us he's picking the package with two Global Upgrade Certificates and Four Regional Upgrade Certificates as one of his Choice Benefits. His reasoning is similar to Andrew's — he's holding out hope that international travel will ramp up .

Other readers mentioned picking regional upgrades as Platinum members. These readers overwhelmingly hope to use the certificates on transcontinental routes from New York-JFK to Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO), which have full-fledged Delta One cabins.

It's worth noting that you can only select upgrade certificates once, even if you have other Choice Benefits available to you. Think through your future travel and see if regional upgrades, global upgrades or a mix of the two mesh well with your travel plans.

Related: The ultimate guide to getting upgraded on Delta

Some readers opted for bonus SkyMiles instead

We also saw a handful of readers opt for bonus SkyMiles as a Choice Benefit.

Platinum members are eligible for 20,000 SkyMiles, while Diamond members receive 25,000. TPG values Delta SkyMiles at 1.46 cents apiece, so these benefits are worth $292 and $365, respectively.

Readers that chose this benefit were more pessimistic about the future value of upgrade certificates with the upcoming devaluation. Readers don't want to be forced to pay more for a premium economy seat in order to upgrade to business class.

On the other hand, another reader said he picked miles because he can use the Pay with Miles feature included with cobranded Delta credit cards . This feature lets you use miles toward paid flights at a set value of 1 cent per mile. SkyMiles never expire , so this can be a good bet if you aren't traveling much yet.

Related: Delta SkyMiles sweet spots worth saving up for

Others chose a $200 Delta travel voucher

One reader mentioned she opted for the $200 Delta travel voucher because of its flexibility and ease of use. The travel voucher can be used on Delta flights and on Delta Vacations packages and is valid for one year from the date of issuance.

However, this is a poor value proposition, especially if you have a Delta cobranded card.

You're better off with the miles as they don't expire, and you can use the Pay with Miles feature for a similar credit. Plus, Delta Diamond members get 25,000 SkyMiles, equal to $250 when using Pay with SkyMiles.

If you do go with the travel voucher option, though, be sure to use it within 12 months of issuance.

Related: Delta cuts Tiffany & Co. elite perk — and we won't miss it

A Delta Sky Club executive membership could be worth considering

We also saw a couple of readers select a Delta Sky Club executive membership. This is only available to Delta Diamond elites as it requires two Choice Benefits to select. It's different from a standard Sky Club membership in that it lets you bring up to two guests with you to the Sky Club whenever you visit.

This is great for those who travel with friends, family members or coworkers on Delta flights. Likewise, it's better than the Sky Club access included with The Platinum Card® from American Express and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card since these cards don't allow guests. Enrollment required for select benefits.

Alternatively, Diamond members with an Amex Platinum or Delta Reserve card can add guest access to their existing Sky Club membership for one Choice Benefit. This can be another excellent choice if you're traveling with friends or family this year. Just like the executive membership, it will let you bring two guests into the lounge.

Note that Delta Diamond members can also select a Delta Sky Club individual membership for one Choice Benefit. This can be a good option if you're flying, but only if you don't already have access through a credit card.

Related: The ultimate guide to getting Delta Sky Club access

Gift status to a family member

You also have the option of gifting Delta elite status to another traveler . Platinum members can gift Silver status, while Diamond members can gift Gold status.

While we don't think it's worth gifting Silver status, Gold could be worthwhile if you're a Diamond member with a friend or family member who travels frequently. Gold status includes complimentary upgrades, preferred seat selection in economy and SkyTeam Elite Plus status on partner carriers.

Just remember that you can already pass on some of your elite benefits to travelers on your same PNR (confirmation number), like upgrades, international lounge access and free checked bags. With that in mind, you should only gift status to someone who doesn't travel with you frequently.

For reference, TPG values Delta Gold Medallion status benefits at $2,120 when earned organically. The value the recipient will get from the status varies based on their travel patterns, but it's a very nice gift regardless.

Related: 5 things you need to know about Delta SkyMiles

Bottom line

In the end, it's up to you to take a look at your travel plans before you select your 2021 Choice Benefits.

Despite the upcoming devaluation, upgrades will likely be the best bet for most elites. Remember, you can use these on Delta One transcontinental flights from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Otherwise, you may want to select SkyMiles or opt to gift status to a friend or family member. Just keep in mind that these may provide lower value than the upgrades.

The $200 travel voucher and soon-to-be-discontinued Tiffany & Co. gift card are almost certain to provide less value than SkyMiles. Likewise, there are easier ways to gain access to Delta Sky Clubs than redeeming two Choice Benefits, though upgrading your credit card access to include guests can make sense if you often travel with others.

But act quickly: today is the last day to pick Choice Benefits.

Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh.

Feature photo by Benji Stawski/The Points Guy.

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A Complete Guide to Delta Fare Classes — and How to Score an Upgrade

Here's what you need to know about Delta One, Premium Select, Comfort+, and Main Cabin.

Cabin Classes on Delta

How to choose a cabin class, fare class breakdown, how miles are earned, how to redeem miles for upgrades.

Courtesy of Delta

Flying Delta? Before you book your flight, take a look through our guide to Delta's cabin classes, which range from Delta One to basic economy. Discover the benefits associated with each class — and find out how to get upgraded from one to another using miles.

Delta One and Delta One Suites

Delta One is Delta's business-class product with lie-flat seats. (Delta One Suites are the same class of service, but the seats have a half-height sliding door for additional privacy.) These are most frequently used on transcontinental domestic flights as well as long-haul international routes.

Seats: While all Delta One seats are lie-flat, the specific design varies per aircraft, and some seats are better than others — some are quite old, offer little privacy, or require you to climb over your neighbor to reach the aisle. When booking a flight, you can usually look up what type of aircraft you'll be flying, but that's always subject to change before departure. You're not guaranteed a specific aircraft, and you might end up with an inferior Delta One seat if there's an equipment swap.

Meals: Delta One passengers are served plated hot meals; alcoholic beverages are complimentary. 

Amenities: Delta One passengers receive an amenity kit with Grown Alchemist toiletries, noise-canceling headphones to use during the flight, and a mattress pad for the seat (on some flights).

Baggage Allowance: Delta One passengers can check two bags weighing up to 70 pounds each for free.

Other Perks: Delta One passengers are granted access to Delta's lounges, known as the Sky Club. They're also given Sky Priority check-in and early boarding.

Premium Select

Premium Select is Delta's premium economy product. This is the newest cabin class, and it falls in between Delta One and Comfort+. Only some of Delta's fleet has this cabin — it's most commonly found on long-haul international routes.

Seats: Seats are not lie-flat, but they're more spacious and have a deeper recline than economy. They also have footrests for additional comfort.

Meals: Premium Select meals are not plated like those in Delta One, but they're more elevated compared to economy dishes. Alcoholic beverages are complimentary.

Amenities: Premium Select passengers enjoy a scaled-back version of the Delta One amenity kit — Grown Alchemist lip balm, an eye mask, a toothbrush and toothpaste, ear plugs, and socks — as well noise-canceling headphones. Bedding includes a memory foam pillow and a blanket.

Baggage Allowance: Premium Select passengers can check two bags weighing up to 50 pounds each for free.

Other Perks: At check-in, Premium Select passengers can use the Sky Priority desk, and they're given earlier boarding.

First Class

Delta's first class is the top cabin class on most domestic and short-haul international flights. (Delta planes don't have both Delta One and first class; they'll have one or the other.)

Seats: Seats are more akin to spacious armchairs, not like economy's benches with armrests. They do not lie-flat, but they do have extra recline.

Meals: Meal service depends on the distance of your flight and time of day. Some flights enjoy hot meals, others have cold dishes, and a few have extensive snack baskets.

Amenities: First-class passengers are given either earbuds or noise-canceling headphones, depending on the plane and route.

Baggage Allowance: First-class passengers can check two bags weighing up to 70 pounds each for free.

Other Perks: First-class passengers are given Sky Priority check-in and can board the aircraft first. They are not granted Sky Club access.

Comfort+

Comfort+ is technically in the economy cabin, but it offers a higher class of service and more legroom than Main Cabin seats. It can be found on all Delta aircraft on all routes.

Seats: The seats are standard economy seats, but they have more legroom than those in Main Cabin. They're also located in the front of the plane.

Meals: Meal service depends on the distance of your flight and time of day. On long-haul flights, you'll be served a hot meal; otherwise, you'll just be offered snacks. Most notably, alcoholic beverages are free for Comfort+ passengers.

Amenities: On long-haul international flights, Comfort+ passengers are given an eye mask and earplugs. On all flights, Comfort+ passengers are offered earbuds.

Baggage Allowance: If you're in Comfort+, you'll have to pay to check a bag. You can take a carry-on and personal item on board for free.

Other Perks: Comfort+ boards before passengers in Main Cabin.

Main Cabin is the standard economy class, found on all Delta planes on all routes.

Seats: You know the drill — economy seats are fairly small with limited legroom. Main Cabin passengers can pay to sit in an exit row for more space.

Meals: As with Comfort+, meal service depends on the distance of your flight and time of day: you'll either get a hot meal or snacks. Alcoholic beverages are available for purchase.

Amenities: Main Cabin passengers are given earbuds. On overnight flights, you may be offered a blanket and pillow.

Baggage Allowance: Main Cabin passengers are allowed one personal item and one carry-on bag; checked bags cost extra.

Basic Economy

Basic economy lies within the same area as Comfort+ and Main Cabin — that is, the economy cabin — but it's a heavily restricted and therefore discounted fare.

Seats: Basic economy seats are the same as those in Main Cabin.

Meals: Basic economy passengers are served the same meal as those in Main Cabin; alcoholic beverages can be purchased.

Baggage Allowance: You must pay for checked bags, but a carry-on and personal item are free.

Amenities: Basic economy passengers are given earbuds. On overnight flights, you may be offered a blanket and pillow.

Other Perks: There are no other perks given to basic economy passengers, unless you count the discounted fare.

Choosing a cabin class is largely a personal choice, factoring in budget and comfort. The one rule we tend to stand by, though, is skipping basic economy if you your budget allows. It's the most restrictive ticket, as you won't be able to pick your seat in advance, meaning you'll likely end up in the middle, nor will you be able to earn frequent flier miles.  

If you thought you were only picking a cabin class, think again. Fare classes are specific codes that ultimately indicate the price and terms (whether you can get an upgrade, refund, or more) of a specific ticket. Within each cabin, there are numerous fare classes: With Delta, there are around 20 standard fare classes overall, plus a handful of exceptions such as ones for award tickets (that is, those booked with miles) and upgraded fares. Full-fare tickets cost more than discounted fare tickets, but it's really difficult to pick your fare class.

Delta's website typically shows one to two fare classes per cabin when booking online: fully refundable and non-refundable. "If you're looking for full-fare tickets you can generally buy those online, but if you need to specify a particular fare class, you'll need to call and speak to an agent," says Gary Leff, travel expert at View From the Wing .

Now, why does fare class even matter? For most fliers, it probably won't, as it's more of a technical detail for the airlines to manage inventory. But fare class sometimes does make a difference to those chasing status — higher fare classes command higher prices and therefore more Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs), Delta's metric for earning elite status. So, if you're a status chaser, it might behoove you to book a higher fare class to earn more MQDs.

If you want to figure out your fare class, look for a letter in parentheses. "Once the search starts, Delta displays the actual fare code with a letter, say Z for discount business or D for more flexible business, typically at a higher price point," says Gilbert Ott, director of partnerships at Point.me . 

Delta's loyalty program is called SkyMiles , and it's fairly straightforward to earn miles through it. Once you sign up for a free SkyMiles account, you will earn a certain number of miles per dollar spent on flights, regardless of your cabin class. But the number of miles does increase for those with elite status. Here are the SkyMiles earning rates based on status tier.

Status: SkyMiles Member; Miles Earned: 5 SkyMiles per $1 spent

Status: Silver Medallion; Miles Earned: 7 SkyMiles per $1 spent

Status: Gold Medallion; Miles Earned: 8 SkyMiles per $1 spent

Status: Platinum Medallion; Miles Earned: 9 SkyMiles per $1 spent

Status: Diamond Medallion; Miles Earned: 1 SkyMiles per $1 spent

After booking your ticket, you may be offered a chance to upgrade to a higher cabin class using cash or SkyMiles via the app or website — but not always. And if you're offered a deal, the rate presented might differ from your travel companion.

"Delta is among the best in the world with data collection and partner data sharing. The airline has been able to glean brilliant insights by understanding how people spend in their daily lives thanks to their Amex partnership, Starbucks, and more," says Ott. "This allows them to personalize offers based on a variety of factors to incentivize behavior. Some airlines can discern that a person has more to spend and if they just try the better experience, they might love it and buy it outright."

But because of this, it's not reliable to hold out for an award upgrade, since there's no regularity. "Delta doesn't want to make it easy and predictable to get a good buy-up offer, or else you'll just wait for that — they'd be undercutting their own pricing," says Leff. "Their goal is to extract revenue they wouldn't otherwise receive when discounting." So, if you really want that higher cabin class, your best bet is to pay up at the get-go.

And even if you're offered an award upgrade, is it a good deal in the first place? Well, it's better for your wallet to spend miles rather than dollars, but Delta SkyMiles isn't necessarily the most valuable rewards program out there. 

"SkyMiles has done its best to reduce the value you're going to get for your points so that it's rare to get an outsized return. In my experience, Delta miles are worth less than those of most competitors," says Leff. "That's even frequently true when redeeming miles for partner business class awards, although the best value for SkyMiles awards is when your trip doesn't touch the United States — for example, Mexico to Europe rather than the U.S. to Europe."

There's no right or wrong way to spend your miles, so you'll have to weigh your specific situation before making any decisions. Ott says, "It really depends on the value being offered at the time, and how your cash finances relate to your Delta SkyMiles points balances."

Delta Bets Premium Travel Trend Is Here to Stay

Madhu Unnikrishnan , Skift

April 13th, 2022 at 1:15 PM EDT

Is Home Depot's loss Delta's gain? Americans have spent two years hoarding cash and spending money on home improvement projects. But now Delta believes they're ready to spend their savings on travel and experiences, and the Atlanta-based carrier says it's waiting for them.

Madhu Unnikrishnan

Delta Air Lines doesn’t quite think the pandemic is behind it, but it increasingly thinks the traveling public will treat Covid-19 as a recurring seasonal disease. The airline believes this trend is reflected in how consumers are spending money now, shifting spending from retail to travel and experiences.

“Consumers have not been traveling over the past two years, so they’re prioritizing that spend now,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian told investors during the company’s first-quarter earnings call on April 13. “They are looking for experiences.”

Bastian pointed to credit card data from both Delta’s co-branded credit card with American Express and from increased spending on hotels and rental cars. During the depths of the pandemic, consumers redeployed cash they ordinarily would have spent on travel to home-improvement and other retail purchases. “You’re seeing a pretty significant shift coming out of goods and retail into experiences and services,” he said. “And that’s not just the fact that people haven’t traveled, they’ve also saved money as they’ve accumulated some meaningful cash and discretionary income for what they have been doing over the last couple of years.”

Consumers in the U.S. are sitting on $2.5 trillion more in savings than they had before the pandemic, due largely to decreased spending on travel, restaurants, and other services curtailed by quarantines and lockdowns, data from the Federal Reserve Bank show. Although the household savings rate has declined from its pandemic-era high of more than 30 percent to pre-pandemic levels of roughly 7 percent, many higher-income households in the U.S. have significantly more to spend than they did before March 2020. This is despite the higher costs of goods and services from the highest rate of inflation in 40 years.

Leading from the Front of the Aircraft

And when they spend money on travel, consumers are more likely to spend it on premium seats , Bastian said. Delta has bet heavily on the front of the aircraft, investing in new cabins on much of its fleet of aircraft, including a new premium-economy cabin. The airline is positioning itself as an upscale brand, and is well placed to capitalize on the trend, he said.

“Over the next few years, we expect premium seat growth to continue to outpace [economy], and we’re confident in the consumer shift towards higher-quality products is here to stay,” president Glen Hauenstein said. “To date, premium recovery has been led by consumer, and we see further upside as more and more business travelers return to the skies.”

Delta reported its March domestic premium revenue was 100 percent of 2019 levels. Premium travel to Latin America and Europe also has recovered, with no measurable decline in demand due to the Ukraine war, and Delta sees significant growth possibilities in this segment as corporate travelers return.

In March, domestic corporate travel was 70 percent of March 2019, and transatlantic business travel was roughly half. The federal pre-departure testing requirement for passengers returning to the U.S. is depressing demand for transatlantic travel, but Bastian said Delta is “encouraged” by signs that Washington may lift the requirement soon. He did not outline a timeline for when the requirement may be dropped.

Business travel also is expected to increase as more companies reopen their offices. In 2020 and through last year, small- and medium-sized businesses led the business travel recovery while large companies largely grounded their staff. This is changing, Bastian said, as a survey of Delta’s corporate clients revealed that 90 percent plan to travel more in the second quarter. But travel increasingly is skewing toward meetings and events – group travel — than it was before the pandemic, he noted.

Delta expects strong demand across its network this summer with one exception: Asia. Although demand has spiked in response to South Korea and Australia easing travel restrictions, travel to Japan and China remains difficult. “We expect that heavily restricted regions, such as China and Japan, will continue to put pressure on overall Pacific unit revenues until borders fully reopen,” Hauenstein said. The company expects most restrictions to ease in the third and fourth quarters of this year.

A Hiring Spree

By this summer, Delta will operate 84 percent of its 2019 capacity — or number of seats its flies — and is on a hiring spree in order to staff its operations. The carrier has hired 15,000 people since January of last year, with 4,000 joining the company since the start of this year. These employees are replacing the 18,000 Delta employees who took voluntary separation packages when the carrier downsized in response to the pandemic.

Where Delta most needs employees is on the ground: Staff at airports, reservations centers, and maintenance personnel. It competes directly with retail and other industries for these employees. The company has not struggled to hire pilots and flight attendants, although Bastian admitted training these employees will take time. “Pilots have a training pipeline and it will take some time before pilots are fully in category and where we want them positioned; it’ll probably take another year or two,” he said. “Flight attendants, [and] likewise, we’re hiring flight attendants and there’s a queue as to how much many people we can put through the training pipeline.”

Delta is raising all employees’ pay by 4 percent in May. As of April 1, the company dropped its $200 insurance surcharge for unvaccinated employees, as Delta moves toward treating Covid-19 as a recurring seasonal disease, Bastian said.

And Now, the Numbers

The first quarter was split into two halves: The first, with demand dampened by the Omicron variant; and the second, a dam break of pent-up demand for travel. After the February Presidents Day holiday in the U.S., demand rose sharply, Bastian said. The carrier reported an adjusted loss of $793 million for the quarter, but was profitable in March and generated an operating margin of almost 10 percent.

The Ukraine war has caused oil prices to rise, but Delta so far has not faced any pushback from passing on its increased costs to consumers. Fuel costs almost 30 percent more than it did in the fourth quarter of last year. But these costs are partially offset by the jet fuel Delta takes from its refinery in Pennsylvania. The company realizes a benefit of 20 cents per gallon of jet fuel from its refinery, especially for its New York flights.

Delta reported first-quarter revenues of $8.2 billion, 21 percent lower than the same period in 2019. Cargo revenue of $289 million was 51 percent higher than in 2019 and is expected to rise in the second quarter as companies scramble to restock after lockdowns in China disrupted the supply chain. Delta expects revenues to recover to 93-97 percent of 2019 in the third quarter, and the company is forecasting an operating margin of 12-14 percent.

“We are thrilled with the performance of our team. We have been waiting two years to see this,” Bastian said. “We are ready to go. Customers are ready to go. We are looking forward to a strong summer season.”

The Daily Newsletter

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Tags: delta air lines , earnings , paxex

Photo credit: Delta is expecting strong summer demand as consumers shift back to spending on travel and experiences over retail. Delta Air Lines

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Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

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To continue this Moscow itinerary, next you may want to go inside the Kremlin walls. This is the center of Russian political power and the president’s official residence. If you’re planning to pay Kremlin a visit do your best to visit Ivan the Great Bell Tower as well. Go there as early as possible to avoid crowds and get an incredible bird’s-eye view. There are a couple of museums that are available during designated visiting hours. Make sure to book your ticket online and avoid lines.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

Blair Villanueva

OMG I dream to visit Moscow someday! Hope the visa processing would be okay (and become more affordable) so I could pursue my dream trip!

Yup, visa processing is the major downside! Agree! Time and the money consuming process…

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Delta ofrece este verano el mayor programa de vuelos internacionales y nuestros clientes están listos para ver el mundo.

Antes del Memorial Day, Delta publicó su segunda lista anual de los destinos internacionales más buscados. Recopilada a partir de datos de búsqueda* en Delta.com, la lista da a conocer las ciudades que los clientes tienen en mente para los viajes de verano entre mayo y agosto.

La lista de los 10 destinos top revela que muchos viajeros estadounidenses buscan diferentes experiencias culturales en entornos lejanos, siendo Atenas la ciudad que experimentó el mayor incremento (248 por ciento de aumento) en las búsquedas con respecto al año pasado. Las siempre populares ciudades de Londres, París y Roma encabezaron la lista junto con Dublín, Barcelona y Vancouver, Canadá, como nuevas incorporaciones este año.

Las búsquedas de estos 10 principales destinos internacionales aumentaron más del 150 por ciento desde 2023, destacando la fuerte demanda de viajes internacionales luego de los 11 días de mayores ventas de la aerolínea en su historia, todo ocurrido este año.

Aquí hay un vistazo a la lista completa:

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En cuanto a los viajes nacionales, los destinos más buscados (excluyendo los hubs de Delta) incluyen Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami y Honolulu, lo que indica un gran interés por escapadas soleadas y ciudades que celebrarán importantes eventos deportivos este verano.

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Para obtener más información y ver las últimas ofertas de vuelos, visite Delta.com .

*Los datos se obtuvieron de búsquedas de EE. UU. en Delta.com desde el 1 de noviembre de 2023 hasta el 18 de marzo de 2024 para viajes entre mayo y agosto de 2024.

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Moscow parks – leisure, nature and historical

Moscow is the most green megapolis in the world. There are over a hundred parks and green spaces like gardens, squares and boulevards. You will definitely bump into a few of them wherever you go. Whether you are interested in memorial, historic parks, parks of wildlife or you just want to have a calm break from the speedy city life – city parks have something special for everyone.

Moscow leisure parks

The leisure Moscow parks are undoubtedly the most popular and famous with the locals and travelers. Today such parks provide a great number of exciting entertainments for Muscovites and city guests, adults and children.

The Gorky Park

Gorky Park opened in 1928 and was the first holiday park in the Soviet Union with playgrounds, a sports stadium, exhibition halls and attractions for kids. Today it has a fresh, vibrant appearance. The park features bike rental stations, a comfortable business area with Wi-Fi, an outdoor movie theatre and a greenhouse where you can buy fresh greens such as basil and lettuce. To contemplate the sky and the stars, go to the observatory and look through the telescope while listening to fascinating stories from astronomers. Enjoy many sports in the park: volleyball, handball, football or a peaceful jog around the beautiful surroundings.

Zaryadye Park

Opened in September 2017, Zaryadye is the youngest on our list. Located just a few minutes away from Red Square, it includes various activities like the floating bridge with its thin V-form extension, an ice cave, also concert hall and an amphitheater. The entire territory of the park was divided into four zones of Russia: forest, steppe, tundra, and the floodplains.

Neskuchny Sad

By walking along the Moskva River’s bank from the Gorky Park towards Vorobievy Gory (Sparrow Hills) you’ll reach Neskuchny Sad («Not Boring» garden), a wonderful place in the Moscow center, one of Moscow’s oldest parks, charming slice of wildlife. The park mostly consists of pristine forest, dotted with old summer pavilions, ponds and quaint little stone bridges. There are a lot of opportunities for different activities lots of children playground, a ping-pong and chess clubs, football fields and tennis courts, horse riding, tree climbing and having rest in one of the nice cafes.

Museon Park

Hermitage Garden

Hermitage Garden has always been known as an amusement, entertainment center with theatres, shows, cafes, summer pavilions, pergolas since 1830. Shalyapin, Sobinov, Nezhdanova – great Russian opera singers starred on the garden stage. Famous Russian composer Rakhmaninov conducted the orchestra. Sara Bernar, Maria Yermolova, outstanding actresses, played in the open air performances. Tolstoy and Lenin had a stroll in the garden. So lots of celebrities from different epoques liked it a lot and spent their time in Hermitage Garden. You can find here three theatres in the garden: Hermitage, Sphere and New Opera. During winter an ice rink works here and in summer a musical stage is assembled to host jazz and brass band festivals.

In Sokolniki Park visitors can play billiard, chess or draughts, table tennis, as well as go cycling, roller blading and swimming in the summer and ice skating or skiing in winter. Each season is highlighted by special memorable and bright events, for example, Summer Jazz Festival or Baby Fest (for future mums), open air beach disco parties, Ice Cream Day, International Clown Festival and many other shows and exhibitions. The park has an observatory, kids center and a co-working zone with free Wi-Fi which is really nice for spending high quality work time there.

Moscow nature parks

The nature parks are national reserves with the amazing forestry and incredible variety of animals and plants there. The breath of wildlife and the chance to be closer to the virgin nature excites both children and grownups. Hundreds of different species of animals can be found in Moscow nature parks. The richest woodlands with old and even ancient trees, like a 200 years pine-tree in the Elk Island National Nature Park, are the point of passionate interest for visitors.

Aptekarsky Ogorod

Aptekarsky Ogorod (Apothecary Garden)

Aptekarsky Ogorod (Apothecary Garden) is one of the oldest gardens in Moscow. It was founded in the XVIII century by Peter the First (great Russian emperor). A larch that he planted himself still grows in the garden, so it’s more than 250 years old. At the time of its foundation, it was a garden with herbs and medicinal plants and was used as an educational center for doctors. Today there are the orangery with its tropical palms, the carp pond, and the immense trees that dot the landscape and turn wonderful golden shades in the autumn. Several restaurants and cafes work here making it a very nice spot for relaxation no matter what season it is. You can book a special tour or join the guided excursion group.

Losiny Ostrov

Losiny Ostrov (Elk Island Park)

Losiny Ostrov (Elk Island Park) is located at the north of Moscow. It covers 22 km from the west to the east and 10 km from the north to the south and it’s one of the most beautiful national parks in Moscow. Two rivers, Yausa and Pechorka begin here. You can find lots of fields, ponds, meadows, streams in the park as well as elks. Here you can enjoy guided tours, available in English. You can choose a guided tour about flora and fauna of the area, you’ll learn why elks are there, which animals are their neighbors. Or enjoy another excursion, which is totally devoted to historical past of ancient tribes once lived there, you’ll know about old Russian mythology, rituals and traditions.

Serebyany Bor

Serebyany Bor (Silver Forest)

Serebyany Bor (Silver Forest) is a famous pine forest in the west of Moscow. The park has 230 forms of plant life, and is also home to watersports complex, providing a lot of activities for visitors. The layout of Serebryany Bor is unusual, as it is located on an artificial island between a meander in the Moscow River and a channel. There is an artificial lake, the Deep Gulf and picturesque Bezdonnoe (Bottomless) Lake in the depths of the forest. Serebryany Bor’s beaches are the cleanest in the city and very popular among Muscovites. On weekends it is difficult to find a free spot here, especially because a whole range of services are offered to visitors, from simple deckchairs to catamaran and yacht rides. Driving is prohibited on the territory of the island so be ready to use trolleybus to reach the entrance.

Botanichesky Sad

Greenhouse of Botanical Garden

Main Botanical Garden of The Russian Academy of Sciences is the largest and most famous is Moscow. The garden is a real museum of nature with a very rich (more than 18000 types) collection of plants. The park was founded in 1945 at the place of the 17th century Apothecaries’ Gardens. The garden’s collection is turned into botanical expositions, made with use of modern receptions of landscape architecture. Here you can see a tree nursery, a shadow garden, hothouse complex, collection of flowers, a rosary, exposition of coastal plants, garden of continuous blossoming, Japanese garden and expositions of cultural plants and natural flora plants. The biggest part of Garden is the Tree nursery occupying the space of 75 hectares. About 2 thousand wood plants grow here. Another big exposition of the Garden is nature Flora, divided into six botanic-geographical collections: European part of Russia, Caucuses, Central Asia, Siberia and Far East. Pride of the Main Botanical Garden is the collection of tropical, coastal and water plants, which is considered as the best in Europe. The Japanese garden, a great model of Japanese landscape gardening art has a 13-level stone pagoda of the 18th century, stone Japanese lamps, ponds, falls and streams, tea lodges and more than 100 species of the most character Japan plants. It is especially decorative in spring, during Oriental cherry blossoming and in fall, when foliage blazes in crimson colors.

Moscow historic parks

Historic nature parks and estates once were the mansions of the Moscow aristocracy. At that far times the estates were outside the Moscow city limits, but after the city expansion and urbanization, they became easily accessible.

Kolomenskoye

Kolomenskoye Museum and Park

The chief attraction of the park is undoubtedly the stone Church of the Ascension of the Lord. It was constructed in 1532 by order of Tsar Vasily III to commemorate the birth of his son and heir, Ivan the Terrible. But there is a lot more to see in the park: the pretty Church of the Icon of Our Lady of Kazan – with its bright azure domes and plenty of gold. Further into the park there is a charming Church of the Beheading of St John the Baptist, built by Ivan the Terrible to mark his coronation.

Kuskovo Park

Kuskovo Park is one of the oldest country estates in Moscow. It was given to General Sheremetev by Peter the Great in 1715, but was left to fall into neglect before being plundered by Napoleon’s troops in 1812. Nowadays the estate has been restored to its former glory and is a good example of Russian 18th Century imperial architecture. The palace is a fine and rare example of wooden neoclassicism. It was completed in 1775, and the rich interiors remain unchanged since 1779. It includes a room hung with exclusive exquisite Flemish tapestries, an abundance of silk wallpaper and an impressive collection of 18th century European and Russian paintings. The palace looks onto the lake, which is surrounded by smaller pavilions: pretty Italian, Dutch and Swiss Cottages, Blank’s Hermitage and the old Orangery, where the State Ceramics Museum is located now, an extensive and absorbing collection of porcelain from the 18th century to the present day. On the other side of the lake is a large wood popular with local cyclists and joggers.

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Moscow-City: 7 surprising facts about the Russian capital’s business center

1. Guinness World Record in highlining

The record was set in 2019 by a team of seven athletes from Russia, Germany, France and Canada. They did it on September 8, on which the ‘Moscow-City Day’ is celebrated. The cord was stretched at the height of 350 m between the ‘OKO’ (“Eye”) and ‘Neva Towers’ skyscrapers. The distance between them is 245 m. The first of the athletes to cross was Friede Kuhne from Germany. The athletes didn't just walk, but also performed some daredevil tricks. Their record is 103 meters higher than the previous one set in Mexico City in December 2016.

2. Domination of Europe's top-10 highest skyscrapers

7 out of 10 Europe’s highest skyscrapers are located in Moscow-City. Earlier, the  ‘Federation Tower’ complex’s ‘Vostok’ (“East”) skyscraper was the considered the tallest in Europe.

Left to right: the lower of the ‘Neva Towers’ (296 m), Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt (300 m), Gorod Stolits (“City of Capitals”) Moscow tower (302 m), Eurasia tower (309 m), The Shard’ skyscraper in London (310 m), Mercury City Tower (339 m), Neva Towers (345 m).

However, in 2018, the construction of the 462 meter tall ‘Lakhta Center’ in Saint-Petersburg was completed, pushing ‘Vostok’ (374 m) into 2nd place. The 3rd place is taken by OKO’s southern tower (354 m).

3. The unrealized ‘Rossiya’ tower

If all the building plans of Moscow-City were realized, the ‘Lakhta Center’ in St. Petersburg wouldn't have a chance to be Europe's highest skyscraper. Boris Tkhor, the architect who designed the concept of Moscow-City, had planned for the ‘Rossiya’ tower to be the tallest. In his project, it was a 600 meter tall golden cylindrical skyscraper ending with a spire that was inspired by traditional Russian bell towers. Then, the project was reinvented by famous British architect Sir Norman Foster. He had designed ‘Rossiya’ as a pyramid ending with a spire. The skyscraper itself would have been 612 meters tall, and the height including the spire would have reached 744,5 meters (for comparison, the ‘Burj Khalifa’ in Dubai, UAE, would have been just 83,5 meters taller). Unfortunately, the investors faced a lot of economic problems, due to the 2008 financial crisis, so the ‘Rossiya’ skyscraper was never built. A shopping mall and the ‘Neva Towers’ complex was constructed at its place in 2019.

4. Changed appearance of ‘Federation Tower’

In its first project, the ‘Federation Tower’ was designed to resemble a ship with a mast and two sails. The mast was to be represented by a tall glass spire with passages between the towers. It was planned to make a high-speed lift in it. The top of the spire was going to be turned into an observation deck. But the ship lost its mast in the middle of its construction. Experts at the Moscow-city Museum based in the ‘Imperia’ (“Empire”) tower say, that the construction of the spire was stopped, firstly, due to fire safety reasons and secondly, because it posed a threat to helicopter flights – the flickering glass of the spire could potentially blind the pilots. So, the half-built construction was disassembled. However, an observation deck was opened in the ‘Vostok’ tower.

5. Open windows of ‘Federation Tower’

We all know that the windows of the upper floors in different buildings don’t usually open. Experts say that it’s not actually for people’s safety. Falling from a big height is likely to be fatal in any building. The actual reason is the ventilation system. In a skyscraper, it’s managed with a mechanical system, and the building has its own climate. But in the ‘Zapad’ (“West”) tower of the ‘Federation Tower’ complex, the windows can open. The 62nd and last floor of the tower are taken up by a restaurant called ‘Sixty’. There, the windows are equipped with a special hydraulic system. They open for a short period of time accompanied by classical music, so the guests can take breathtaking photos of Moscow.

6. Broken glass units of ‘Federation Tower’

The guests of the ‘Sixty’ restaurant at the top of the ‘Zapad’ tower can be surprised to see cracked glass window panes. It is particularly strange, if we take into consideration the special type of this glass. It is extremely solid and can’t be broken once installed. For example, during experiments people threw all sorts of heavy items at the windows, but the glass wouldn’t break. The broken glass units of ‘Zapad’ were already damaged during shipment . As each of them is curved in its own way to make the tower’s curvature smooth, making a new set of window panes and bringing them to Russia was deemed too expensive . Moreover, the investors had financial problems (again, due to the 2008 financial crisis), so the ‘Vostok’ tower even stood unfinished for several years. Eventually, the cracked window panes were installed in their place.

7. The highest restaurant in Europe

‘Birds’, another restaurant in Moscow-City, is remarkable for its location. It was opened at the end of 2019 on the 84th floor of the ‘OKO’ complex’s southern tower. Guests at the restaurant can enjoy an amazing panoramic view at a height of 336 meters. On January 28, the experts of ‘Kniga Recordov Rossii’ (“Russian Records Book”) declared ‘Birds’ the highest restaurant in Europe, a step toward an application for a Guinness World Record.

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Delta's New Boarding Process, Explained

I f there's anything that sparks spirited debate among airline passengers, it's the flight boarding process. No matter what system the airlines develop, the process always feels like a struggle, and some passengers are invariably left disgruntled. Airlines must balance the often-conflicting goals of loading a plane quickly and efficiently with rewarding passengers who purchase high-fare tickets or have airline status that includes an early boarding perk. Given airlines' constantly increasing fees for checked bags, the passenger battle over early boarding in order to snag coveted carry-on space is likely to only get worse.

Enter: the latest attempt at rethinking the way passengers board. Delta this month introduced an update to its boarding process with a new numbered system, launching May 1. This new system replaces Delta's eight-tiered Branded Boarding process with an eight-tiered Zone Boarding process. Delta's Zone Boarding system will be similar to that used by most other airlines, including United and American , while differing from outlier Southwest Airlines with their love-it-or-hate-it three-tiered open seating system . United modified its zoned boarding process last October with separate zones loading sequentially for window, middle, and aisle seats (but only for regular-fare, non elite-status passengers) in the hope that it will speed the process.

What does Delta's change mean for you, the passenger? Almost nothing. Delta's old-to-new conversion chart shows that each of the previously used branded boarding zones translates directly into the new numbered system. So, the same passengers with a given ticket fare or frequent flier status will board in the same order in May as they did in April. For example, first-class and Delta One passengers will still board first, only now with "Zone One" printed on their tickets, while basic economy passengers will still board last, in Zone Eight.

So why is Delta going through the hassle of rebranding its boarding zones if nothing is really changing?

The new Zone Boarding process is expected to "provide customers more clarity into the boarding sequence and make the boarding process more intuitive-especially for infrequent travelers and/or customers who might face a language barrier at the gate," Delta said in a statement to AFAR.

In essence, Delta is acknowledging that it is a whole lot easier for everyone to understand that Zone Four boards fourth, rather than trying to remember that Sky Priority boards between Delta Comfort and Main Cabin One. This is in stark contrast to Delta's 2018 Branded Boarding launch, which boasted that "Zone boarding, an aviation standard for decades, will soon be a thing of the past."

Delta's reintroduced Zone Boarding system "will also align more closely with our joint venture and international partners," the airline said in its statement, "providing international customers a more simplified, consistent experience," particularly when traveling using different aircraft and code share partners during a multi-stop itinerary.  

The change in the boarding system even merited mention in Delta's most recent quarterly earnings call. CEO Ed Bastian touted the reintroduced Zone Boarding, saying, "When you have a number and you're standing in line, we are all trained to know when it's our turn."

But while Delta's naming conventions are simpler, expect the same boarding issues (or rewards for first-class passengers) to continue going forward with Delta and most other airlines.

While airline enthusiasts and operations analysts may dream of the day of innovative new systems being introduced, like strict WilMA (Window-Middle-Aisle) passenger loading , or the Steffen method of alternate-row back-to-front passenger entry, change may be slow to come. Ultimately, the airlines don't want to give up the billions of dollars they are making from checked luggage fees , and passengers don't want to give up their status benefit of priority boarding to claim valuable carry-on luggage space. So, expect a continued carousel of cosmetic changes like Delta's numbering system for the time being.

6 Best Airline Stocks to Buy This Year

Airline travel numbers are above pre-pandemic levels and likely to increase in summer, making these six airline stocks a good momentum investment.

6 Best Airline Stocks to Buy

Getty Images | iStockphoto

These stocks may incur some turbulence, but have long-term gain potential.

Flight has been part of the human imagination for centuries. Not even a global pandemic could keep people's feet on the ground for long.

Airline travel numbers have continued to increase between 2023 and 2024 and are now above pre-pandemic levels, according to Transportation Security Administration data. This is helping bolster airline investments with the U.S. Global Jets ETF (ticker: JETS ). The exchange-traded fund, or ETF, tracks the airline industry and is up over 9% year to date.

What's more, stock analysts are coming out with clear favorites in the industry. If you're willing to weather some near-term gusts for potential long-term gains, these are six of the best airline stocks to buy now based on analyst opinions:

*As of April 24, 2024

Delta Air Lines Inc. ( DAL )

With 21 out of 22 analysts giving Delta a "buy" or "overweight" rating, it's a natural choice to kick off this list of best airline stocks for 2024. The company's latest earnings report exceeded analyst earnings per share, or EPS, estimates by $0.08 per share thanks to record revenue for the quarter.

CEO Ed Bastian is feeling bullish for summer – a peak travel season – for which he told shareholders to "anticipate continued strong momentum" for company and even more record revenue.

"We forecast a return to single-digit revenue growth with a healthy economy and as consumers begin to slake pent-up demand," writes Nicolas Owens, an equity analyst for Morningstar who covers the stock. "We expect Delta to return to 2019 levels of capacity in 2024, and we expect revenue passenger miles will be approximately 22% higher in 2028, our midcycle year, than in 2019."

Morningstar analysts raised DAL's fair market value by 15% to $39 per share.

SkyWest Inc. ( SKYW )

If you're looking for more of a bargain buy in the airline industry than DAL, take a look at SkyWest Inc. The holding company for SkyWest Airlines operates through partnerships with United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines. Morningstar estimated a $75 fair market value for the stock.

SkyWest operates nearly 500 aircraft that travel to 237 destinations around North America. Together these planes transported 38.6 million passengers in 2023. With a market cap of $2.9 billion, it's a smaller name in the industry. But SKYW's small size could work to its advantage. Smaller stocks have more room to grow, or so the theory goes.

SKYW ranked as an "earnings gainer" by U.S. News after reporting a 10% revenue boost year over year for fourth quarter 2023. This allowed the stock to exceed analyst EPS estimates for that quarter by $0.27 per share. Analysts covering the stock give it a "buy," "overweight" or "hold" rating.

Ryanair Holdings PLC ( RYAAY )

Ryanair is Europe's dominant low-cost carrier with a playful ticker symbol. Ryanair entered COVID-19 in good condition and made it through the pandemic without taking a crippling financial blow. Indeed, the airline has made solid gains over the past year, clocking more than 40% gains since April 2023.

Ryanair has been gaining market share for years thanks to its incredibly cheap prices. The stock receives a "buy" or "overweight" rating from 19 analysts and a "hold" from two others. This is despite falling short of analyst EPS estimates by $0.38 for its latest quarter.

Ryanair shares have more than doubled over the past decade, reaching a new all-time high in April 2024, making it one of the few long-term winners in the airline industry.

Southwest Airlines Co. ( LUV )

Southwest is the blue-chip of airlines, combining both a robust balance sheet and a great low-cost business model. It exceeded analyst EPS estimates for its most recent quarter by $0.25 per share with record fourth quarter and full year operating revenues.

President and CEO Bob Jordan told investors to look forward to $1.5 billion in incremental year-over-year pretax profits, if the company's initiatives to align its route network with new demands goes as planned.

Analyst opinions are a bit more mixed on LUV, with 17 giving it a "buy," "overweight" or "hold" rating and five giving it an "underweight" or "sell" rating. But Owens believes the near-term outlook for the company is "quite rosy."

"Southwest has the best balance sheet of all the U.S.-based carriers," he writes. "We think the best-positioned airlines are firms like Southwest, which came into (the pandemic) with relatively little debt and an efficient cost base."

Copa Holdings SA ( CPA )

Copa is a Latin American carrier based out of Panama. This centrally located home base gives the airline an advantage in that it can easily add capacity in Mexico, Colombia, Peru and other markets where ailing airlines may need to pull back. Copa also enjoys high-margin flights in its Central American market, where there is minimal discount carrier competition.

The airline's load capacity, which represents the percentage of available seats that are actually used, increased by 12.3% year over year in March 2024. Like SKYW, CPA also ranked as an earnings gainer by U.S. News after higher-than-anticipated earnings in the most recent quarter. CPA EPS exceeded analyst estimates by $0.55 per share in fourth quarter 2023.

Copa shares are hovering around $100, slightly down from their $110 pre-pandemic levels, but a far cry above the bottom of $31 in 2020. It's currently fairly valued, according to Morningstar analysts. All 13 analysts covering the stock give it a "buy" or "overweight" rating.

United Airlines Holdings Inc. ( UAL )

United Airlines takes the crown as the largest airline by available seat miles – or the number of miles available for purchase – of which the airline has 293 billion. Each year, it transports 140 million customers to more than 300 destinations worldwide.

The airline saw a double-digit increase in demand in the first quarter of 2024 relative to pre-pandemic levels. It posted revenue of $12.5 billion for the first quarter of 2024, up 9.7% year over year and well above analyst estimates. This led to EPS of $0.39 above what was expected of the airline.

Morningstar's fair market value estimate for the stock is $35 per share, with 14 analysts giving it a "buy," three giving it an "overweight" and four giving it a "hold" rating. One analyst rates it "underweight." No one says it's time to sell.

10 Best Tech Stocks to Buy for 2024

Wayne Duggan April 8, 2024

Tags: money , investing , Airlines , Delta Airlines , United Airlines , Southwest Airlines

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Shocked passengers watch liquid leak down airplane aisle from bathroom on flight: Video

Passengers on board a Spirit Airline flight headed to New Jersey witnessed an unexpected and strange sight midair when they watched a mystery liquid flow down the aisle, seeping from one of the plane's lavatories.

Video shows some passengers sitting in the aisle of the plane gawking at the fluid during this week's flight, while others laugh, some recording footage of the unexpected situation from their phones.

According to a Spirit Airline spokesperson, the incident took place Monday on Spirit Airlines flight 1595.

The plane departed just after 3 p.m. on Monday from Atlanta Hartfield Jackson International Airport and landed at Newark Liberty International Airport at 5:18 p.m. according to the online site Flight Aware, which tracks flight paths.

Cockpit no-no: FAA launches investigation after MLB coach posts video from cockpit during flight

What caused the liquid to spill?

A maintenance team met the flight upon arrival in Newark due "to an issue with a potable water line connected to a sink in the rear lavatory," a Spirit Airlines spokesperson said in an email to USA TODAY.

The issue was addressed and the aircraft was cleared to continue with its next flight, the spokesperson said.

Another Boeing plane issue? Don't fall for the headlines

No injuries were reported.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

How to place bets on Kentucky Derby 2024 online and in state outside of Churchill Downs

Part of the fun surrounding the 2024 Kentucky Derby — aside from the food, festivities and fashion — is betting on the race.

Sports betting has been legal in Kentucky since September, so fans have more options to wager on the 150th Kentucky Derby , which is scheduled May 4 at Churchill Downs .

Last year, the money wagered during Kentucky Derby Week broke the 2022 record of $273.8 million .

Mage won the 149th Derby at 15-1 odds, clocking 2:01.57 .

The total amount of bets on the 2023 race was $188.7 million from all sources, according to Churchill Downs.

Bets on all 14 races in 2023 reached $288.7 million, and for the first time, total wagers on all Kentucky Derby Week races broke $400 million.

In previous years, TwinSpires Racing , the online horse racing wagering platform owned by Churchill Downs Inc., operated as the official online betting partner of the Kentucky Derby. The commonwealth now has several in-person betting sites, and other online gambling sites also are available.

In-person betting sites for Kentucky Derby 2024

Derby City Gaming | Louisville

Ellis Park | Henderson

The Mint Gaming Hall | Bowling Green

The Mint Gaming Hall | Williamsburg

The Mint Gaming Hall | Cumberland Run

The Mint Gaming Hall | Franklin

Newport Racing and Gaming | Newport

Oak Grove Gaming and Racing | Oak Grove

The Red Mile | Lexington

Turfway Park | Florence

Where to place online bets for the Kentucky Derby

Reach sports reporter Prince James Story at [email protected] and follow him on X at @PrinceJStory.