We have it SOOOO good at Delta
Oct 27, 2017, 3:20 am
#31
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
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There's only 11 UA 767s left flying in the old economy configuration (their only international widebody planes with looping video), and the rest are being completely re-done inside. The majority of UA's 767 fleet is virtually identical to DL's international 767s in the economy cabin with some slight advantages to the UA fleet such as 110V power throughout Y and no subfleets with older IFE (DL's 76L).
Oct 27, 2017, 4:12 am
#32
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Vietnam & USA
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 455
I've been flying DL trans-Atlantic since they took over Pan Am.
Almost always in the back, though even as a FO, i got upgraded about a quarter of the time until the GA's lost the power to do so, about 8? years ago.
I always thought the service in the back was pretty good, though there were certainly flights in which the FA's seemed to disappear behind their curtain for almost the entire trip. Oh, and NOT coincidently, those flights were much warmer than normal.
Occasionally, as I watched DL continually reduce amenities and services, I's fly the competition or KLM. While I liked KLM, the other US carriers were always worse, no matter how bad I thought DL had become.
In the past 12 months, I've now had 4 trips to Asia, 1 on DL, 2 on KAL, 1 on JAL and 1 to Europe.
While the service is better on KAL and JAL, DL offer much better selection of entertainment. In part because they seem to have a lot of foreign films that probably cost them nothing, though I like them a lot.
Almost always in the back, though even as a FO, i got upgraded about a quarter of the time until the GA's lost the power to do so, about 8? years ago.
I always thought the service in the back was pretty good, though there were certainly flights in which the FA's seemed to disappear behind their curtain for almost the entire trip. Oh, and NOT coincidently, those flights were much warmer than normal.
Occasionally, as I watched DL continually reduce amenities and services, I's fly the competition or KLM. While I liked KLM, the other US carriers were always worse, no matter how bad I thought DL had become.
In the past 12 months, I've now had 4 trips to Asia, 1 on DL, 2 on KAL, 1 on JAL and 1 to Europe.
While the service is better on KAL and JAL, DL offer much better selection of entertainment. In part because they seem to have a lot of foreign films that probably cost them nothing, though I like them a lot.
Oct 27, 2017, 6:47 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,485
btw, TPG's ranking on transcon economy class
https://thepointsguy.com/2017/10/bes...economy-seats/
Oct 27, 2017, 9:04 am
#34
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
I'm curious which amenities or services you view as being reduced on Delta over the past recent years? In my view the major reductions were around 9/11 and then into the recession, and that over the past 8 or so years DL has generally been investing in the onboard experience, especially for intercontinental travel.
Oct 27, 2017, 9:39 am
#35
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: DL PM MM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,276
Other than the window seats, how is the width at torso height different than the seat width? If a seat is wider, there is more shoulder and torso room.
Oct 27, 2017, 9:41 am
#36
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It depends on how wide the armrests and dividers between the seats are, for example if there's a tray table or AVOD screen that folds down between the seats.
Oct 27, 2017, 9:45 am
#37
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 23,057
There is no difference in food and drink service between C+ and Main Cabin on long haul international flights (the C+ "premium snacks" are only offered on domestic and short-haul intl flights over 900 miles -- where there is no meal service in Main Cabin). C+ gets a better Amenity kit than Main Cabin, but they both have eye shades and ear plugs (Main Cabin just gets a "sleep kit").
Last edited by xliioper; Oct 27, 2017 at 9:56 am
Oct 27, 2017, 10:53 am
#38
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
The snack basket is offered on the transcon routes (that serve meals) in C+ as a pre-arrival snack. This is in addition to the mid-flight ice cream bar.
Oct 27, 2017, 11:26 am
#39
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: DL PM MM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,276
But, I think unless you are in an exit or bulkhead, there isn't usually a fixed arm rest in Y and the remaining arm rests are pretty standard from airline to airline.
Oct 27, 2017, 11:54 am
#40
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: DL Plat
Posts: 352
After praising DL so much earlier in this thread, I'll add the major flaw that I see the DL experience. Partner Skyteam lounges and access rules are far worse than what UA/AA members receive on * and oneworld. This is likely to affect people traveling outside the US as DL lounges are only domestic (except NRT and SCL).
Oct 27, 2017, 12:21 pm
#41
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After praising DL so much earlier in this thread, I'll add the major flaw that I see the DL experience. Partner Skyteam lounges and access rules are far worse than what UA/AA members receive on * and oneworld. This is likely to affect people traveling outside the US as DL lounges are only domestic (except NRT and SCL).
Oct 27, 2017, 12:33 pm
#42
Join Date: Oct 2017
Programs: DL Plat
Posts: 352
While it's an issue for people with an SC membership only, as a DL Gold/Skyteam ElitePlus you get access to partner Skyteam lounges on international Skyteam flights just like UA and AA elites get access to their partner lounges. It's the third party lounge access where DL is more restrictive. Even there, if you are flying a Skyteam partner rather than DL, you will get access to the third party lounges as a Skyteam Elite Plus member. Even when flying DL, I find that I'm often given access to the third party lounges even though the DL website says I shouldn't. Last month, I was flying NCE-JFK on DL and was given lounge access to the third party lounge in NCE.
Though some lounges are on par with domestic lounges. For example, the rat I saw in the VN lounge reminded me of the AA PHL lounge.
Last edited by runningformqm; Oct 27, 2017 at 12:40 pm
Oct 27, 2017, 1:09 pm
#43
Join Date: Jun 2015
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I'll get my hat now, but while I am on the way out, yes DL is significantly superior to United and American, but part of the difference is the customer demographic. DL doesn't chase the bottom feeders the way the other US bus companies of the sky do. As a "foreigner" I have seen the difference. DL pax are generally of better quality than the other two legacy airlines. It might be the routes, or the regions I fly, but no matter the shape, size, colour or aroma of the customer, DL pax are usually nicer. To me this translates into a more pleasant flying experience. Considerate and polite pax do make a difference and all I know is that Delta is an airline that still manages to elicit some genuine affection from its customers. Love is to Delta what hatred is to United.
Oct 27, 2017, 9:30 pm
#44
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Oct 27, 2017, 10:48 pm
#45
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