Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Delta Air Lines | SkyMiles
Reload this Page >

Appreciating Delta's night flight service now.....

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

Appreciating Delta's night flight service now.....

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 28, 2017, 12:51 pm
  #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.
kyushuman is online now  
Old Dec 28, 2017, 2:28 pm
  #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.
MSPeconomist is offline  
Old Dec 28, 2017, 6:33 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,079
Originally Posted by kyushuman
after 3 hours of dark, the blazing lights were back on for the last 2 hours for the breakfast service.
I hate this. Why can't they eat their gruel in the dark while I sleep?
flyerslc is offline  
Old Dec 28, 2017, 9:54 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
Originally Posted by flyerslc
I hate this. Why can't they eat their gruel in the dark while I sleep?
I think it’s more for the convenience of the flight attendants serving the meals, to be honest.
BenA is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 1:37 am
  #5  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Hilton Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,045
Flew the 1030pm redeye LAX-JFK. Lights kept off the whole time. They served in the dark so people could sleep.
flyerCO is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 1:59 am
  #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.
FireEmblemPride is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 3:29 am
  #7  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LHR
Programs: DL DM 2MM, BA Bronze, Various Hotels
Posts: 10,187
This is why I use an eye mask. Lights on. Lights off. Do not care too much.
ijgordon likes this.
rwoman is offline  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 8:15 am
  #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
Originally Posted by rwoman
This is why I use an eye mask. Lights on. Lights off. Do not care too much.
my very good eye mask couldn’t block the blazing full lights on KLM 787 😁
kyushuman is online now  
Old Dec 29, 2017, 9:04 am
  #9  
pvn
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: MEM
Programs: Starbucks Green Card
Posts: 5,431
Why do you think it's "very good" then?
pvn is offline  
Old Jan 1, 2018, 8:41 pm
  #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
Originally Posted by pvn
Why do you think it's "very good" then?
Yawn.
It's never been a problem on other flights.
Anyway, you shouldn't need an exceptionally good eye mask to survive KLM's night flights.
kyushuman is online now  
Old Jan 2, 2018, 6:54 am
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: DL PM MM SC; GE; Bonvoy Titanium; IHG Diamond
Posts: 2,310
Originally Posted by FireEmblemPride
Who the heck wants to have a full meal at 1AM?
I was on a 12:40am CPT-CDG flight on AF last week and they offered meal service. Didn't have many takers.
ShopAround is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2018, 7:03 am
  #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
Originally Posted by FireEmblemPride
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.
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.
bosman and RumPatrol like this.
DLDiamond2013 is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2018, 12:35 pm
  #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
Originally Posted by DLDiamond2013


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.
I learned this as a young age, traveling with my parents.......even on car trips, meals didn't follow a schedule as my mother tended to be fussy about hygiene.
MSPeconomist is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2018, 12:56 pm
  #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
Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
.even on car trips, meals didn't follow a schedule as my mother tended to be fussy about hygiene.
so where did you eat
rufflesinc is offline  
Old Jan 2, 2018, 1:15 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: MSP
Posts: 165
Since it's tangential, what should I expect in terms of meal timing for Delta One MSP-AMS leaving at 10 PM? Food in the dark? I don't expect I'll be too hungry, but when in Rome and all that
sjackson12 is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.