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

Delta A330-300 vs. Lufthansa 747-400

Register
Social Groups
Search
Today's Posts
Mark Forums Read

Delta A330-300 vs. Lufthansa 747-400

   
Old Mar 18, 2018, 4:21 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 121
Delta A330-300 vs. Lufthansa 747-400
My family is going on a trip to Italy with this summer. Flying from DTW to Rome and home from Italy. We plan on flying first/business class. I have narrowed it down to the following for basically the same price:

1. Delta on the A330-300 or A330-200, or
2. Lufthansa on the 747-400 in Business Class (upstairs seems like it would be fun).

I appreciate your thoughts.
flannbarr is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2018, 4:40 pm
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Originally Posted by flannbarr
My family is going on a trip to Italy with this summer. Flying from DTW to Rome and home from Italy. We plan on flying first/business class. I have narrowed it down to the following for basically the same price:

1. Delta on the A330-300 or A330-200, or
2. Lufthansa on the 747-400 in Business Class (upstairs seems like it would be fun).

I appreciate your thoughts.
I think LH has the edge in soft product, but their business class seats are a bit awkward.

LH would require a connection too. DL should have a nonstop flight this summer. I’d pick that.
KDCAflyer is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2018, 4:44 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
I'll echo WWads. I've flown both. Delta has a superior hard product here - the A330 are probably Delta's best business class seat, whereas the LH 747-4 seats are not the greatest.
ethernal is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2018, 4:48 pm
  #4  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 121
Originally Posted by WWads


I think LH has the edge in soft product, but their business class seats are a bit awkward.

LH would require a connection too. DL should have a nonstop flight this summer. I’d pick that.
Thank you. From DTW, Delta does have nonstop. One stop from Venice.

What is awkward about the LH business class seats? I am 6'4" if that matters.
flannbarr is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2018, 4:50 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
Originally Posted by flannbarr
Thank you. From DTW, Delta does have nonstop. One stop from Venice.

What is awkward about the LH business class seats? I am 6'4" if that matters.
Hmm they normally have a seasonal nonstop.

If not DL would mean a stop in the US instead of Europe. I’d much prefer that.
KDCAflyer is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2018, 4:53 pm
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 121
Originally Posted by WWads
Hmm they normally have a seasonal nonstop.

If not DL would mean a stop in the US instead of Europe. I’d much prefer that.
The Delta return flight from Venice is AMS or CDG. If I stop in AMS, then I would fly the A350 home.
flannbarr is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2018, 4:55 pm
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: DL DM, UA Gold, Alaska MVP, Bonvoy (lol) Ambassador
Posts: 2,994
Originally Posted by flannbarr
Thank you. From DTW, Delta does have nonstop. One stop from Venice.

What is awkward about the LH business class seats? I am 6'4" if that matters.
The upper deck of the 747-400 is awkward because you play footsie with your neighbor (may be ok if you are traveling with family) with very little foot space. The lower deck on the 747-4 does not have this problem but is still a bit cramped spacewise (the 747-8i is similar with the footsie thing, although not quite as bad as the 747 upper deck).

In general I feel like the be length of the 747-400 is a little short too. The A330 has a generous bed length (I'm 6'4" as well and the A330 is one of the few I can really fit in).


edit: found a picture of the 744 upper deck.
ethernal is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2018, 6:47 pm
  #8  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 75
Have you ever flown on the upper deck of a 747? If not, I would seriously consider the 747. Nothing quite like flying Upper Deck in The Queen of the Sky. Like you guys, I am 6'4" and had no problems sleeping all the way to FRA.
rowsign is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2018, 7:53 pm
  #9  
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
Originally Posted by WWads
I think LH has the edge in soft product, but their business class seats are a bit awkward.
Originally Posted by ethernal
I've flown both. Delta has a superior hard product here - the A330 are probably Delta's best business class seat, whereas the LH 747-4 seats are not the greatest.
Totally agree, the seat on the DL 330 is much better.

I really like the LH soft product though . . . service is extremely professional and the food ranges from decent to excellent. LH also keeps its cabins in better shape than any US carrier.

Tough choice.
Kacee is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2018, 8:22 pm
  #10  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Originally Posted by flannbarr
The Delta return flight from Venice is AMS or CDG. If I stop in AMS, then I would fly the A350 home.
Depending on dates you might see Delta 764s VCE-JFK/ATL. Summer schedules do so some seasonal adds and aircraft changes.
3Cforme is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2018, 9:18 pm
  #11  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
You're choosing between two good options. The A350 coming from AMS could be a neat experience, too.

Ultimately if prices are what you'd consider inconsequentially similar, I'd just pick whichever airline has the best schedule and routing for your needs.
gooselee is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2018, 4:20 am
  #12  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 121
Originally Posted by 3Cforme
Depending on dates you might see Delta 764s VCE-JFK/ATL. Summer schedules do so some seasonal adds and aircraft changes.
You are correct. The day we are flying home there are options to fly through CDG on an Air France 777, AMS on the new Delta A350, ATL on the Delta 767-400 and JFK on the Delta 777.

All have similar durations. So many good choices.
flannbarr is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2018, 5:38 am
  #13  
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: SEA once more (previously CDG and NRT)
Programs: Former DL DM and UA 1k, now a J class free agent (UA Gold, AS MVP Gold)
Posts: 2,450
Originally Posted by flannbarr
You are correct. The day we are flying home there are options to fly through CDG on an Air France 777, AMS on the new Delta A350, ATL on the Delta 767-400 and JFK on the Delta 777.

All have similar durations. So many good choices.
The AF 777 is the best option if it is 1-2-1 configuration, and the worst if it is 2-3-2. The 767 is ok if in row 1, otherwise not great.
SEA-Flyer is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2018, 6:05 am
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 121
It is the AF 777-300 and it has the 1-2-1 configuration. Do you think that’s better than the A350 with the Delta One suites?
flannbarr is offline  
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2018, 6:26 am
  #15  
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: SEA once more (previously CDG and NRT)
Programs: Former DL DM and UA 1k, now a J class free agent (UA Gold, AS MVP Gold)
Posts: 2,450
Originally Posted by flannbarr
It is the AF 777-300 and it has the 1-2-1 configuration. Do you think that’s better than the A350 with the Delta One suites?
I haven't yet had the chance to try the A350 suites. But the AF 777 with 1-2-1 seats (known as BEST) is very nice. Much better than the DL 767 or 330. And the AF food and service will beat DL.
SEA-Flyer is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

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.