Need metal advice for trip to Rome, Italy
I am looking at 2-leg (each way) trips this Fall from MCO to Rome with my wife in a Delta One cabin. I realize that it's usually just standard domestic first class for Legs 1 (out) and 4 (return). For the Delta One Legs 2 and 3, does anyone have a preference as to which aircraft to choose?
My choices seem to be: Airbuss 330-300 767-400 Alitalia 777-200-200ER Is one lie-flat pod better than another or is it just a crapshoot as far as which metal got revamped with which type of seat? |
I, and a good portion of this board, will tell you to stay away from the 767-400 "coffin" seats - they are widely (and, IMO, correctly) identified as the worst D1 seats that DL puts in the air. The A330 on the other hand are one of the best - given Alitalia's perpetually precarious position around going out of business, I would highly recommend the DL-metal A330 as being your best option.
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Originally Posted by Porter2112
(Post 29284871)
I am looking at 2-leg (each way) trips this Fall from MCO to Rome with my wife in a Delta One cabin. I realize that it's usually just standard domestic first class for Legs 1 (out) and 4 (return). For the Delta One Legs 2 and 3, does anyone have a preference as to which aircraft to choose?
My choices seem to be: Airbuss 330-300 767-400 Alitalia 777-200-200ER Is one lie-flat pod better than another or is it just a crapshoot as far as which metal got revamped with which type of seat? Otherwise, people generally prefer the A330 over the 764. You'll find most here don't like the J cabin on the 764 -- the claim it's narrow and coffin like. Personally, I find it totally fine. But others definitely have that view. |
It's all personal preference but the A-330 is a larger (wider) aircraft and just feels roomier.
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Avoid the DL 767 eastbound overnight. For a daytime westbound flight, the 767 is fine. Pick the bulkhead for extra large foot wells.
For your overnght flight, consider the distance also. I'd much rather fly ATL-FCO than JFK-FCO, as the longer flight means a better shot at a decent sleep. JFK to pretty much anywhere in Europe sucks... if you choose to take the meal, you barely get a nap before it's time to land. |
We haven't flown the Alitalia 777 so can't comment on the comfort or service on those flights. However we've done both the DL 767 & A330 and there's no question to us that the A330 is the better D1 choice.
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I preferred the az business on the a330 to the Delta, but it was a small preference based on better soft product and worse hard.
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I'm going to suggest Alitalia as well for the superb soft product and cabin crew service. The bankruptcy thing is a risk that you have to take but worst case you'll be re-booked to a Delta metal.
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Alitalia all the way. Fly the "Couples Suite" on Alitalia in business and kick Delta to the dirt. Enjoy better seats, service, and food. Enjoy!
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Originally Posted by manacit
(Post 29284910)
I, and a good portion of this board, will tell you to stay away from the 767-400 "coffin" seats - they are widely (and, IMO, correctly) identified as the worst D1 seats that DL puts in the air. The A330 on the other hand are one of the best - given Alitalia's perpetually precarious position around going out of business, I would highly recommend the DL-metal A330 as being your best option.
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To the OP:
If you're much above male median height - say, over 6'2" - you're going to run out of bed length. If you're morbidly obese, you're going to find the width confining. Otherwise, the DL 764 in business offers a lie-flat seat with aisle access. There are many worse seats going TATL every day -- including every seat in coach and every seat in premium economy of every carrier. |
Originally Posted by 3Cforme
(Post 29287948)
To the OP:
If you're much above male median height - say, over 6'2" - you're going to run out of bed length. If you're morbidly obese, you're going to find the width confining. Otherwise, the DL 764 in business offers a lie-flat seat with aisle access. There are many worse seats going TATL every day -- including every seat in coach and every seat in premium economy of every carrier. |
My limited D1 experience has been on 2 DL 333's, DTW-FCO and TLV-JFK. I'm 6'-3" so my feet were generally touching the wall of the footwell. I could compensate for that by having my seat not-quite flat. But what I found more annoying was that my inside leg (relative to the aisle) always seemed like it had to wrap around the base of the seat in front of me, so I couldn't really extend it straight.
Even with those constraints, I've gotten the best sleep on an airplane I've ever had in D1 -- maybe 3-4 (interrupted) hours DTW-FCO and about 5-6 (interrupted) hours TLV-JFK. Normally you can measure the amount of sleep I get on an airplane in milliseconds. Given the opportunity, I would definitely book D1 seats on a DL 333 again. |
I'm perhaps the rare person who had a great night's sleep in a 764. But I would only recommend the window seats that are next to the window (odd numbers A and D sides - my partner and I were in 3 and 5, we don't need to sit near each other when we're about to have 8 days of travel togetherness). I'm also 6'2" and not petite, but for a right side sleeper 5D on the 764 was good. Left side sleepers might prefer the A side? It's open to the sidewalll of the a/c.
Maybe I was extra tired that flight - and it was MSP-FCO, so it was long enough after dinner to actually sleep. Also the IFE was poor, so limited distractions! If the 764 is ATL-FCO, and the A330 JFK-FCO, as mentioned upthread, I'd at least consider the 764 for the longer rest time between meals (assuming your leg 1 is not impacted too much by choosing ATL connection). I do like the DL A330 in J, it is overall more comfortable than 763/764. It's a great choice for the return, since that is a movie day for me. I just think the gap in sleep comfort is small, though obviously some FTers think it is a comfort chasm. |
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