First Delta experience.
 

I just completed the first sectors on my first ever Delta flight - LHR-ATL-SDF in Economy Comfort. I thought I'd share a few thoughts. Before now I've mostly travelled long-haul with British Airways, Qantas or Emirates and thought it would be fun to try a new airline.

We were travelling on a fairly newly refurbished 767-300 and the cabin was clean and in very good order. The IFE system was excellent - worked well and had lots of choice. Unfortunately it did add random subtitles to movies - I'm guessing it wasn't just my seat as the man in front of me was watching Superman with Chinese subtitles (he wasn't Chinese!)

Lunch and the hot snack were both very nice, but just too tiny to be filling enough - my partner and I were both really hungry when we landed at ATL. By comparison BA World Traveller Plus (the nearest equivalent of Economy Comfort) serve a Business Class main course as the main element of the meal. This is much more substantial.

The crew were very experienced and the service was very slick. I did have a problem with the stewardess - before lunch I had a rum and ginger ale, and a second one with lunch. On the post-meal bar run I asked for a third.

"That's strong liquor sir, one drink in the air is the equivalent to four on the ground. Are you sure you want another?"

I was in no way intoxicated! I felt like a 14 year old with fake ID. I had the drink! Later on the final tea/coffee/water run I asked for a water. "Have a bit of a headache Sir?" I almost said something quite rude - but restrained myself.

I had a great exit row seat with loads of legroom, but the seat was really hard - needs more padding.

Unfortunately the ATL-SDF flight was delayed by and hour. And then by a further three hours for technical reasons - break problems, then the flight deck crew going over their hours. The cabin crew managed the situation very well with extra refreshments and a friendly smile.

All in all a good flight - but don't offer booze if you're not willing to serve it!

Your experience with booze on Delta isn't uncommon. I'm still not sure if they do this to save $ or if they are concerned about their liability or if they've just had too much experience with drunks on planes.

On a recent flight NRT->LAX I ordered a woodford and coke before the meal. Then another woodford and coke along w/ some wine during the meal. After meal service was over I asked for another beer and was told she would serve me 'one more for the flight' but only after I promised that I did not/would not take any pills to help me sleep.

I'm 6'7" 240lbs, can handle my booze pretty well and dont like taking meds on flights. On one hand I appreciate the concern, on the other, I paid for my ticket and i was nowhere close to being a problem.

You clearly don't understand the laws and liability issues in the USA.

Sounds like overall you had a good time. The booze is interesting, as it definitely is a result of an overly-cautious FA. I flew from LAX-LAS in F earlier this year and my seatmate had 2 Woodford and Gingers on the ground, 4 at cruise as he waltzed about the whole cabin, and 2 during descent (the FA was very nice, willing to serve even after initial descent had begun and stating cabin service was discontinued). Needless to say my seatmate was a little happy. When he started to spit in his empty cups, I knew he'd had too much. He ended up using the barf bag (at my suggestion when I saw his face pale) on approach. FAs can go both ways, serve too little and be overly-cautious or have no limits and over-serve.

Definitely an overly cautious FA, but I would probably send in a complaint online about the smug comment. Honestly, that's just too unprofessional for me. I understand that they've likely seen their fair share of people overindulge in the air, but to treat you like a child is unacceptable.

My experience is that a small percentage of FAs in the US are anti-alcohol in general and take it out on the customers. I have also seen FAs at the other extreme who seemed to want to see me stagger off the plane. One encouraged me to have another glass of wine to "finish the bottle", and then offered to open another one!

+1. I didn't mean to diminish the fact that the FA was blatantly rude and unprofessional.

Not really a fair comparison. WT Plus on BA is a separate cabin with biz class-lite amenities. EC on DL is just a few seats at the front of the coach cabin with minimally enhanced legroom and the occasional (if grudgingly-served in your case) free pass of the liquor cart.

I cant take this thread seriously. Three posters have suggested diluting Woodford with either ginger or Coke. I know it is a free country but that is ---I am lost for words. :td: ;)

1 drink in the air equals 4 on the ground? I call BS. A pressurized cabin is what.. 6000 ft or so? Everyone in Denver would be loaded after just 3 drinks.

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I've experienced both extremes. FAs who seem intent on making sure I can barely stagger off the plane and FAs who go out of their way to make sure nobody gets so much as a second drink. In economy comfort on international flights I've pretty much only experienced the latter. They really need to just advertise "one free drink" in economy comfort because that's probably all you're going too get.

Hey to be fair I never suggested drinking what the MBA student next to me thought was a good bev. :D

^^^

I usually drink it on the rocks but may switch to neat now that cold weather has finally arrived. I suppose the dilution makes it last longer when you can only get three drinks on an 8 hour TATL. ;)

Yes, I will similarly have to add some spring water to mine on the 9 hour CDG-DTW I'm on next month since I'll be in EC. Don't want to incur the wrath of the overly vigilant FA.