Delta Stock Soars as Ann Coulter Deems it 'Worst' Airline In America

Delta Air Lines Inc. (DAL) - Get Report has been called the worst airline in America by conservative columnist Ann Coulter after the carrier reportedly gave her seat away Saturday.

Delta shares soared in premarket trading Monday and are marked to open 2.3% higher at $56.40 after guiding a strong third quarter despite missing expectations in the three months to June when it reported earnings on Friday July 14.

Coulter took to Twitter to vent her frustration that a Delta gate agent, had apparently given her seat, which she had paid $30 to select, away to another passenger.

The columnist attacked the Airline and the passenger and even took pictures of the person who allegedly was given her seat. She also criticized the carrier for not having working WiFi and complemented Jet Blue Airways Corp. (JBLU) - Get Report on their WiFi.

Delta responded by saying that they would refund's Coulter's $30 but would not tolerate insults to its customers and employees.

Delta said its revenue, profit, unit revenue and margin all gained in the second quarter, despite unit revenue declines in the trans-Atlantic and the Pacific. But the carrier missed profit estimates.

"The June quarter marked Delta's return to unit revenue growth after two-and-a-half years," said President Glen Hauenstein in a prepared statement. "This improvement resulted from a strengthening demand environment and our commercial initiatives."

Delta guided toward third quarter unit revenue growth of between 2.5% and 4.5%, operating margins of between 18% and 20%, and a capacity gain of 2%.

Delta said it earned $1.22 billion in its fiscal second quarter, down from $1.55 billion in the same quarter a year earlier. Excluding items, the carrier earned $1.64 a share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had estimated $1.66.