pbiflyer

Flying on the company dime to Lisbon in February. With my status, I am sure I can score an Economy+ seat. I do not sleep on planes, so lots of movies, books, etc.
I can pick the above planes.
I can fly a 767-400 via Madrid, the 777-200 via CDC, or the A330-300 via AMS. All are Delta metal. The Airbus has the least convenient schedule, the 767 has the best.

All the planes have a 35" pitch in economy+.
According to SeatGuru, the 777 has 18.5" seat width, the A330 has 18" and the 767 with the tightest at 17.9".
The 777 has a 3-3-3 configuration, the A330 has 2-4-2 and the 767 has 2-3-2.

Seems like the Boeings have the best chance for an empty seat. That would be ideal. But if I don't get that, the 767 would seem to be the worst. Choosing the A330 means arriving 4 hours later and a longer layover.

Any thoughts? Experiences? Other points to consider?

Duke787

I've flown on all 3 this year in Y and C+. The A330 is the clear winner. Biggest and newest IFE and 2-4-2 seating.

The 27AB seats are good if you can't get C+.

764 sucks (small screen, no plugs in most of Y and even if they have USB they don't always work) though 2-3-2 seating is nice and connecting in MAD presumably to Air Europa is a definite no.

772 is fine if you can get row 44 but screens are small and same plug issue as 764 unless you are on a newly refurbished one and 3-3-3 isn't ideal unless in exit row where it's irrelevant

To me A330 is clear winner, 777 second (especially if you can confirm row 44), and 764 is a no.

My order of preference for Y/C+ on DL is: A330, 763, 777 (row 44 only), 764, 777 (all other rows), 757.

Doubt seats will go out empty to CDG or AMS unless connecting through secondary US DL hubs (RDU, IND, MCO). MAD flight might but wouldn't count on it (my JFK - MAD earlier this year went out completely full on a Saturday).

pfreet

The 767 wins in my opinion because of the 2-3-2 configuration. An aisle seat with just one companion for a long flight is terrific in coach

pbiflyer

Thanks, that is great info. Love first hand experience.
Upon closer examination, I can do a A330 from DTW-CDG without impacting arrival time. Will probably shoot for that one.
And I learned something new. Some planes have C+ and some have Premium Economy with the 777s. Thought that was only on the A350s now.

pbiflyer

As I get closer to purchasing the ticket, I am looking at that. I flew this with an empty seat last year. It just sucks if some one sits there at the last minute. And with it being Comfort+, they might opt for a middle C+ over a window or middle economy seat.

PHXflier

777s are getting refurbished to having PE rather than Econoy Comfort, so stay away from those. For me IFE is not all that important, and I would rate the 767-400 and A330 about similar.

Duke787

The ancient inside of the 764 isn't worth the upside of the 2-3-2 IMO -- especially since OP isn't sleeping, the IFE is dismal and no guarantee of my working plugs. Especially with the similarly comfortable 2-4-2 A330. I actively avoid the 764 if other options exist.

The 763 is a closer comparison and IMO a closer argument vs the A330 but that's not on the table for the OP.

Plus on the very off chance you get an empty A330, the "4" is perfect for poor man's lie-flat in both C+ and regular Y (managed to get that scenario once this year on the A330 and once this year on the 763 and the extra seat makes it much easier to sleep in poor man's lie-flat on the A330).

MSPeconomist

pbiflyer

Nope, all connections, either through CDG, MAD, or AMS. I am actually traveling in February, but due to the nature of the trip, will book later this month.

3Cforme

Four of 18 777/77Ls have gotten D1 suites and PS. See post #184 . Some people put a lot of effort into tracking aircraft refurbishments on this forum. (Yes, I know it says narrowbody in the thread title. Scope expansion!)

Delta Airlines Narrowbody Fleet Updates Master Thread

3Cforme

JFK-LIS is 4x weekly on a 757 in February. (IMHO, any widebody beats a 757 in coach TATL.)

Austin787

In my opinion, the best option is the nonstop JFK-LIS, even if it's on a 757. Next best would be the A330.

For me, a nonstop on a narrow body beats a connection involving a widebody. Especially if you have to take a narrowbody to/from the connecting airport.

RaflW

I can't imagine Air Europa MAD-LIS would be long enough to matter. I flew them MAD-CDG in October and had lounge access at MAD and the aircraft was clean and entirely ordinary. OK, cabin service was pay-only, but even on a 90 min flight, who cares?

Duke787

Fair and I would agree if OP had the option of a 763 or A330 to MAD but combining Air Europa with the 764 when you have the option of the better A330 to AMS makes the 764/MAD/UX option the worst choice IMO

bennos

I've done the 75S (75E at the time) TATL in Y a few times in both directions, and it's fine. If IFE is a concern (which it is for OP) the 75S IFE is superior to the 764 and IIRC the unrefurbed 777. The 75S also has more Y+ seats than any widebody, for what that's worth. Seat width is narrower than the others, though. Sadly, the best seats (row 35) are used for crew rest on INTL.