FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - AirTran Business Class and Delta First Class FLL-ATL-CLE-ATL-FLL

Mar 14, 2014, 9:06 pm

#4

LPDAL

Join Date: May 2012

Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Programs: IAMAW Local 368/HAL 2 Star Mariner

Posts: 740

(cut-off)
Another reason I love the 757 is the customary "turn left" once you board, allowing easy photo opportunities without the Economy and Delta Economy Comfort passengers breathing down your neck, hurrying for no apparent reason to claim their seats. When I got to gate B22, First Class pax were already boarding while the Y pax held short of the jetway. Very exciting to get 3 717s and a 757 on a single trip report.

KATL (Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Interntional Airport) - KFLL (Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport

Airline: Delta Air Lines (DAL)
Airline IATA Code: IATA Code # DAL
Airline IACO Code: IACO Code # DAL
Airline Callsign: Radio Callsign DELTA
Airline Flight Number: # DL 1427
Aircraft / Equipment Used for Flight : Boeing 757-232
Aircraft / Equipment Registration: Registration # N676DL
Aircraft / Equipment Nationality: United States of America-FAA-Registered A/C / Equipment,
Aircraft Manufacturer: The Boeing Company
Aircraft Sub - Manufacturer: Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Aircraft's First Flight: May 8th, 1992
Aircraft Test Registration: Test Registration N676DL
Aircraft Config: F24W28Y131
Aircraft C/N: 25981
Total Number of Passenger Seats: 173 Seats
Aircraft Construction Number (MSN) : # 455
Aircraft Delivery Date: May 28th, 1992
Aircraft Powerplant (s) : 2x PW PW2037
Aircraft Owned by / Leased from: WELLS FARGO BANK NORTHWEST NA TRUSTEE
Cabin: Delta First Class
Seat Assignment: Seat # First Class 6A
Row Assignment: First Class Row # 6
Airline Flight Date: March 8, 2014
Boarding Call Time: 4:46 AM EST, March 8th, 2014
Boarding Zone: Boarding Zone # 1
Departure Time: 10:20 PM EST, March 8th, 2014
Arrival Time: 11:44 PM EST, March 8th, 2014
Time Aloft: 1 hour 24 minutes (84 minutes)
Filed Speed: 464 KIAS
Filed Cruising Altitude: 37,000 feet
Flight Distance: Direct: 582 SM | Planned: 642 SM | Flown: 646 SM
Routing Waypoint (s) : BRAVS7 WALET OTK JINGL4
Average Fare: $123.52 USD (Economy Class)

FLIGHT DATA SOURCE (S):

1.PlaneSpotter.Net Data

2. FlightAware Live Flight Tracking Data

Gate B22.

Boarding

Y apparently has it's own coffee supply (don't you just hate it when you unintentionally rhyme...)

After turning left into the First Class cabin, I was amazed to see that pretty much the whole cabin was girls around my age, with a few adults upfront. Apparently they were all a cheerleading squad going to a match, with the girl in 6B being one of the captains. We didn't converse a lot, but I learned some basic information about her (no, unfortunately I did not get her number.)

The giganticly-wide FC seats on this 752.

Superb legroom.

Delta 757-200 Cabin while boarding.

"Delta Radio" as well as audio for the overhead TV programming. Complimentrary Delta earbuds were passed out, although they were of a very low quality and I elected to use my own instead.

Snapping out of the girl phase and remembering the real reason for this trip, I quickly started snapping away at this 22-year-old 757s cabin-she was built strong to last long. AFAIK Delta seems to have two main types of domestic 757s-One is this type with no IFE and overhead screens but extra large seats, and the other has two more seats in the front, creating a seventh half-row of seats on the left side, PTVS, and less padding. This 757 was the former.

The girl seated next to me was quite cold and so was her friend across the aisle, to which they told the purser. To be honest, it was a bit chilly, so I gave the girl the complimentary blanket and she took it without saying anything. I took some pictures of the engine cowl and when i looked back she was asleep.

The F/A seemed extra enthusiatic about his crew, introducing everyone to each F/A by their names, and stating how glad he was to have us on Delta. I always notice the FLL flight attendants give excellent customer service before, during, and even after the flight, with pride in their work and employer.

As we pushed back at about 10:10 Delta's new 1980's themed safety video began playing, which was really directed great. The whole video flowed well, just like the "Deltalina" video. Katherine Lee even shows up in the middle of the new film which is a great thing for Delta to do.

The Delta 1980's Safety Video can be watched here:[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eduNjwNvcH4]Delta's 80's In-Flight Safety Video

Listening to the video, pushback commenced and we made our way down to runway 26R for an on time departure. I really have to expand upon the excellently gregarious engine noise of the two Pratt and Whitney 2000 turbofans hanging under the wings, is matched by no other engine. No other powerplant roars by except for the equivalent RB.211. We flew down the taxiway before completely jumping off the runway and ascending due south. The girl next to me woke up again-guess she wasn't used to the pushing-you-back-in your seat feeling that the 757 gives..

Pushback from Gate Bravo 22 at ATL.

Taxiing

Turning onto the runway.

Takeoff.

Nearing cruise altitude.

As always with First Class....you get...yep, a snack basket! However this time it had some different choices in it, most notably almonds, Twix Candy, and Goldfish snack crackers. I had the last few coffees and cokes for the night.

Starting up with a late night coffee.

Snack basket, first pass.

What I like to call a "continental snack".

Snack basket, second pass.

First Class cabin snoozing away while TV reruns play overhead.

And in the blink of an eye, the captain announced we were on approach to FLL, ending The Tale of Two 717s. We flew the normal way in from the Everglades into a straight-in westerly approach on runway 9L.

Our heavily laden, full aircraft had an extremely long slow down time, but we were off like a shot into the gate. When we deplaned, the entire concourse was empty, everything was shut down or closed.

After we parked I asked the F/A to get a picture of the cockpit of this 22 year old 752, and he complimented me on my plans to become an airline pilot-how nice.

Everglades sliding on under us as we fly westward.

FLL from the air at night.

Short final.

Touchdown on runway 26R.

Taxiing on in.

Parked.

Grand finale of this trip report: The B752 Cockpit.

Continuing the tradition of Airworthiness certificates.

Delta Boeing 757-200 First Class Cabin.

Grabbing the registration number of this 752, N676DLm as I left.

My friend picked me up, drove me home, and I got some much needed rest after that much flying.

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Please read my other trip reports

and leave a nice comment if you will

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-LPDAL

Last edited by LPDAL; Mar 14, 2014 at 9:14 pm

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