Appreciating Delta's night flight service now.....
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
Appreciating Delta's night flight service now.....
I've usually flown Delta on overnight flights the past few years-- mostly to and from South America, also some Europe flights.
Booked a KLM codeshare on the new 787-900, a great plane, friendly crew, and Economy Comfort upgrade due to my Delta Platinum status.
BUT-- KLM serves v e r y S L O W L Y-- on a flight time of seven hours 15 minutes, the lights were on for a total of about 4 hours, 30 minutes-- about 2 hours 30 minutes for dinner (9:30pm to midnight) and then after 3 hours of dark, the blazing lights were back on for the last 2 hours for the breakfast service.
I really think DL offers a full 60-90 minutes more of dark time on its overnight flights.
It is lights out within 60-90 minutes on takeoff after serving a quick dinner, and usualy the breakfast doesn't start until about 75 minutes are left in the flight.
Better for the crew, done with the service quickly-- and the passengers too, especially on short redeye flights.
Booked a KLM codeshare on the new 787-900, a great plane, friendly crew, and Economy Comfort upgrade due to my Delta Platinum status.
BUT-- KLM serves v e r y S L O W L Y-- on a flight time of seven hours 15 minutes, the lights were on for a total of about 4 hours, 30 minutes-- about 2 hours 30 minutes for dinner (9:30pm to midnight) and then after 3 hours of dark, the blazing lights were back on for the last 2 hours for the breakfast service.
I really think DL offers a full 60-90 minutes more of dark time on its overnight flights.
It is lights out within 60-90 minutes on takeoff after serving a quick dinner, and usualy the breakfast doesn't start until about 75 minutes are left in the flight.
Better for the crew, done with the service quickly-- and the passengers too, especially on short redeye flights.
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
As a very general observation, Europeans tend to eat dinner later and more slowly than most Americans.
However, I'm surprised that an airline that does full meal service on very short flights would need to wake everyone for breakfast so early. Their FAs are accustomed to serving and retrieving meal trays very quickly and efficiently, so it seems pointless to start breakfast so early unless bad turbulence was expected near the destination.
However, I'm surprised that an airline that does full meal service on very short flights would need to wake everyone for breakfast so early. Their FAs are accustomed to serving and retrieving meal trays very quickly and efficiently, so it seems pointless to start breakfast so early unless bad turbulence was expected near the destination.
#4
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
#5
#6
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tokyo
Programs: DL Diamond, ANA Platinum
Posts: 1,532
Appreciated it back when HND-LAX was a redeye. Who the heck wants to have a full meal at 1AM?
This kind of irks me with the EK/QR's redeyes as well (also from HND). By default, they assume you want to eat a mediocre airplane meal even though it's 2AM local time. One time I even tried using those "Don't Wake Me Up" stickers but the FA didn't see it. :/
On a recent redeye from SIN to HND, JL didn't wake me up. So grateful for that.
This kind of irks me with the EK/QR's redeyes as well (also from HND). By default, they assume you want to eat a mediocre airplane meal even though it's 2AM local time. One time I even tried using those "Don't Wake Me Up" stickers but the FA didn't see it. :/
On a recent redeye from SIN to HND, JL didn't wake me up. So grateful for that.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
#11
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM MM SC; GE; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Diamond
Posts: 2,310
#12
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: MIA
Programs: Delta 1 Million Miler, Delta DM, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 241
Appreciated it back when HND-LAX was a redeye. Who the heck wants to have a full meal at 1AM?
This kind of irks me with the EK/QR's redeyes as well (also from HND). By default, they assume you want to eat a mediocre airplane meal even though it's 2AM local time. One time I even tried using those "Don't Wake Me Up" stickers but the FA didn't see it. :/
On a recent redeye from SIN to HND, JL didn't wake me up. So grateful for that.
This kind of irks me with the EK/QR's redeyes as well (also from HND). By default, they assume you want to eat a mediocre airplane meal even though it's 2AM local time. One time I even tried using those "Don't Wake Me Up" stickers but the FA didn't see it. :/
On a recent redeye from SIN to HND, JL didn't wake me up. So grateful for that.
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
I agree that on the ground, I have no desire for a meal at 1:00am local time. But my rule of thumb while traveling is to eat when food is offered, if at all possible. This is because sometimes your next planned meal doesn’t occur as planned, delays happen, cancellations happen, diversions happen, misconnects and inadvertent overnights happen, etc. I prefer to not have to look for food in the midst of those issues, too, if I can prevent it. That’s just me and my two cents. Not saying those are reasons enough for an entire plane full of people to eat at 1:00am local/body clock time.
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: DTW, but drive to/from YYZ/ORD
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards 2MM, Diner Club points
Posts: 31,920