Glory Lost and Found: How Delta Climbed from Despair to Dominance in the Post-9/11 Era

This book was way, way too long. I had the impression the authors simply got out every past issue of airline trade journals, picked up whatever was said about Delta, and put the news clips in chronological order, separated by news about what was going on in the world at the time for context, then repeated what they had written in the next chapter on the assumption readers would be unable to remember what they had read. Despite their contention at the end of the book that it was written independently, I had the impression it was commissioned by Delta management. Yes, it's wonderful that Grinstein, Anderson, Bastian, et al engineered an amazing turnaround -- that is why I wanted to read it -- but there are simply too many references to their brilliance and business acumen to believe that this book wasn't paid for by Delta. It reads like one extremely long press release. Delta's biggest ideas, apparently, were to A) starting using long haul planes it had been flying around the US, where people weren't flying, to Europe and to B) DO NOTHING about the airline's geriatric fleet but redo the interiors and avoid investing in state of the art aircraft, a strategy that is going to turn around and bite them one of these days. I read this aboard six Delta flights on ancient cramped 757s -- four in first class domestically and two in Delta's God-awful new Premium Select class which is offered in lieu of Delta One on select international flights. None of the other legacy airlines offer anything better but the fact is, Delta is clearly run for its own convenience, and the next time there's some sort of crisis -- and there will be, it's endemic to airlines -- Delta is going to fall harder and faster than the others due to its focus on profits rather than its customers.

Extremely informative, but read more like a textbook than a novel. Many expressions were used excessively and detracted from the reading of the book. Among these, the phrase "to be sure," was used way too much. Other aspects of their writing also bogged down the fluidity of the read, such as the sometimes-disjointed themes within and between the chapters.Sometimes the background information included was unnecessary and diminished the overall story about Delta. While I understand the need for context around a situation, I felt the authors spent too much time on items like the history of Alaskan Airlines as it pertained to the storyline with Delta.The economics of this book are very well explained and the theory is clearly laid out for those not familiar with the airline industry. The authors clearly demonstrate their authority in the airline industry. However, if you're not into the airline industry, this book didn't get you there. On the other hand, if you are familiar and like the airline industry, this book offers an incredibly detailed overview of not only Delta, but the entire airline industry as a whole.

The best book on the industry that I have worked in for the past 25 years - should be required reading for all airline management! At first I thought it was going to be a very long read with over 400 pages of excruciating detail, but it was a book I couldn't put down. I loved that it covered all areas of the airline industry like revenue management, GDS, fleet planning, government regulations, antitrust immunized joint ventures, and industry consolidation. I cannot say enough good things about Glory Lost and Found! I hope Seth Kaplan and Jay Shabat write another book soon I will be one of the first in line to purchase it.

Glory Lost and Found helps readers understand the complexities of the industry, with a clinical explanation of how fuel and labor costs, route networks and fleet size make a successful airline. But the book is more than that. It's also a page-turner, with interviews of key executives that shed light on some of the biggest events of the last 15 years. The book's blow--by-blow account of the 2006 hostile takeover attempt by US Airways is particularly engrossing. A great read overall.

Good airline industry read but lacked a linear focus and succession. While no carrier exists in a vacuum there were many abrupt transitions such as discussing Delta's international network makeover followed by Southwest fuel hedges a mere paragraph later. While there are many remarks attributed to senior leadership it would have been nice if they'd incorporated more from Delta rank & file especially since as the writers repeatedly assert Delta takes a different and more collaborative approach to labor relations with its largely unrepresented workforce. Too much of the labor relations angle focused on DALPA and Lee Moak specifically, which may lead uniformed readers to assume DL leadership disregarded other workgroups.

This book is a must read for anyone that flies and anyone in the business world. The airline industry has been much maligned in the past decades and this book explains the factors that led to such criticism--the one exception, though, was Delta. But even Delta wasn't immune to the 9/11 attacks and subsequent run up in oil prices. This well written book explains how Delta managed a turnaround that not only returned Delta to profitability but made it one of the world's leading airlines and a much beloved brand (a rare accomplishment). Fliers will learn more about the complex industry that helps and frustrates while business people learn lessons from one of the most improbable turnarounds in history.

I found the book to be boring. It goes in to a lot of unneeded detail and repeats itself in many places. I use the book to make me fall asleep at night and it does a good job. Author defends many of the fees that Delta and other airlines added such as fees to reserve seats, check bags, etc. Should be about 100 pages to get the same information across.

A well researched description of the trials and successes of a respected airline. I found the jumping backwards in time a bit irritating because it meant for repetition. I could see the point when comparing with other airlines. The book made me see why you now have to pay for food and luggage on US airlines. Myself, I prefer it when one fare covers all.

Great read. Pair that with the audiobook, makes your flights go by very quickly!

Informative but a bit of a dry read.

Excellent I highly recommend it, lots of details but very well brought together.