There wasn’t much data on this route in D1 since the change occurred this Spring so I thought I would provide a run down of my ATL-HNL experience last week. This was a paid D1 ticket. The good news is it appeared that 2 people were upgraded either at the gate or in the few hours leading up.

I have flown D1 on trans-Atlantic routes, LAX-SYD in each direction, and between JFK and LAX. This flight was not up to D1 standards. Maybe this is the new normal on domestic D1 flights but for a flight time of 9:50, you would think they would give it more of an international experience.

Upon boarding, PDB were offered with FA’s coming down the aisle with trays containing cups of Champaign, cans of Heineken, and Orange Juice. They did accommodate requests for other things. All
drinks were served in plastic cups. Menus were distributed after PDB service with a blank wine page, it just said something along the lines of ask your FA.

Before departure, the flight lead came through taking meal orders. They started at 1A and proceeded down that aisle before stopping at the 6th row and then going around to the other aisle and the starting from the back. The flight number was 837. The crew was ATL based and came across as very surly. I think they were trying to be funny but it didn’t land that way. The gentleman in front of me said that he wanted the salad and not the shrimp starter. The flight lead told him that she was only interested in the main. If he didn’t like the shrimp she said he didn’t need to eat it or look at it but that it was already on the tray.

When service started in the air, the D1 drink carts were brought down the aisle. I asked the FA about the wine selection and there was a lot of confusion. There were 4 bottles on the cart. The FA told me she had 2 Pinot Noirs, a Chardonnay, and another white but they didn’t know what it was. She said that this flight gets the mismatched D1 leftovers from other flights. They might have “a bottle of this and a bottle of that”. I asked what the other White was. The FA held it up, read the label and said “ I have no idea”. It was clearly a red based on the tint. She said that she would open it when someone ordered it and give me a taste. I ended up asking for a glass of Champaign and they said that it was only available on the ground and not in the air. That seemed kind of crazy and just went with the Pinot Noir...which they ran out of soon after but had another to replace it. Mismatches...

The FA’s were pretty hands off until the final pre-arrival snack. Orders were taken at the seat off of a cart. It was basically a domestic first sandwich or chicken orzo.

The plane itself was ok. I really don’t mind the 767-400 set up however they are definitely showing their age. The storage area lining fell out on take off and was loose throughout.

At the end of the day, this flight was nothing to write home about. Even with the 9:50 flight time, Delta is treating it like we have been hearing they are treating other domestic D1 routes.

We we shall see if the return is any better but I am not getting my hopes up.

Well, from reading this review and other previous comments, ATL-HNL went from "D1 lite" on the 330-300 to actual D1 on the 767-400 starting in April, but domestic D1 was seemingly downgraded around the same time to something that appears to be below or at best no better than what "D1 lite" was previously. Also the 764 is now scheduled even during the Christmas holidays - a few months ago there were some weeks then that switched back to the 330.

At least the D1 fares have come down - even for December dates I'm seeing $2400 which is less than they started out asking when they first went to D1.

As an aside, the meals in Y on this route have been seriously downgraded since the special ATL-HNL menus were done away with. At this point I would rather they just go back to buy on board but cater enough food to meet the demand on this flight - what they are serving now is pretty bad. Some of those buy on board options were decent.