travelling with delta for the first time (longhaul)
Feb 9, 2019, 4:46 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 14
travelling with delta for the first time (longhaul)
i am travelling with my family (kids are 4, 8 and 9) from amsterdam to the US. this is our first long haul flight with delta (economy). please could you tell us if there are any things different or special (usually we fly with lufthansa)? i would like to prepare the flight as good as possible for the kids. 
if there is something missing, e.g. snacks i would try to bring some to reduce the travel expenses.
1. could we get special meals? one of the kids prefers vegetarian meals.
2. are there unlimited drinks?
3. how many meals we get?
4. is there inflight entertainment with monitors at every seat?
5. only movies or more?
6. are there magazines?
7. what would you recommend to bring with us?
8. are there complemtary pillows and blankets?
9. are there complemtary headphones?
10 are there complementary amenity kits (economy)?
11. are there any hidden costs?
thank you so much.
if there is something missing, e.g. snacks i would try to bring some to reduce the travel expenses.1. could we get special meals? one of the kids prefers vegetarian meals.
2. are there unlimited drinks?
3. how many meals we get?
4. is there inflight entertainment with monitors at every seat?
5. only movies or more?
6. are there magazines?
7. what would you recommend to bring with us?
8. are there complemtary pillows and blankets?
9. are there complemtary headphones?
10 are there complementary amenity kits (economy)?
11. are there any hidden costs?
thank you so much.
Feb 9, 2019, 5:47 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 91
1. Yes- you can select from a range of special meals including vegetarian on the “manage my trip” section on delta.com. That said, there’s always a veg. pasta option (on lunch/dinner flights) as one of your three choices in coach, but you could get the special meal just in case the pasta runs out before they get to you.
2. Yes- and the drink list, even in coach, is extensive and complimentary.
3. You get one hot meal about 1hr into the flight, then about 1.5 hr to landing a smaller meal. I think the mid flight snack is now a chocolate chip cookie.
4 & 5: Yes - all long haul DL flights have free seatback entertainment (movies, TV series, games, music, flight map etc...). Some aircraft have newer systems than others. Best coach screens are in the A330 and B767-300 fleet (767-400 and 777 are in the process of being refitted; some are new and some are older)
6. Only magazine is the inflight magazine, “SKY Magazine”- you may want to stock up on a few others before the flight if you enjoy other magazines.
7. DL thinks of almost everything- not much extra to bring. Always enough food, water (full size water bottles at every seat), entertainment. Being your USB cable as most long haul aircraft have USB power at every seat
8. Yes- and the pillows were updated in November to a little higher quality than before
9. Yes- earbuds, but if you have a more comfortable pair, bring those along.
10. Yes. I think you get eyeshades & earplugs (and I think toothbrush/toothpaste in Comfort+)?
11. Nope. If you bought basic economy (fare class “E”) it would be disclosed to you already that there is a fee to check your first bag. That said, even in Basic Economy you can bring a full size roll aboard bag on the aircraft and DL will gate check it for free even though that’s a remote possibility as on the long haul widebody aircraft usually all bags fit.
enjoy your trip!
2. Yes- and the drink list, even in coach, is extensive and complimentary.
3. You get one hot meal about 1hr into the flight, then about 1.5 hr to landing a smaller meal. I think the mid flight snack is now a chocolate chip cookie.
4 & 5: Yes - all long haul DL flights have free seatback entertainment (movies, TV series, games, music, flight map etc...). Some aircraft have newer systems than others. Best coach screens are in the A330 and B767-300 fleet (767-400 and 777 are in the process of being refitted; some are new and some are older)
6. Only magazine is the inflight magazine, “SKY Magazine”- you may want to stock up on a few others before the flight if you enjoy other magazines.
7. DL thinks of almost everything- not much extra to bring. Always enough food, water (full size water bottles at every seat), entertainment. Being your USB cable as most long haul aircraft have USB power at every seat
8. Yes- and the pillows were updated in November to a little higher quality than before
9. Yes- earbuds, but if you have a more comfortable pair, bring those along.
10. Yes. I think you get eyeshades & earplugs (and I think toothbrush/toothpaste in Comfort+)?
11. Nope. If you bought basic economy (fare class “E”) it would be disclosed to you already that there is a fee to check your first bag. That said, even in Basic Economy you can bring a full size roll aboard bag on the aircraft and DL will gate check it for free even though that’s a remote possibility as on the long haul widebody aircraft usually all bags fit.
enjoy your trip!
Feb 9, 2019, 7:16 am
#3
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We never assume the onboard entertainment will be working correct, so we travel with ipad(s). Of course kids are okay with phones as to screen size. We also travel with our own headphones - again not trust the airline.
We also have a bag of snacks in case the selection is limited onboard, or we get hungry, or service is poor.
We also have a bag of snacks in case the selection is limited onboard, or we get hungry, or service is poor.
Feb 9, 2019, 8:08 am
#4
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You'll probably find DL service to be more American style friendly and informal versus LH efficiency. DL FAs don't have great foreign language skills either.
Feb 9, 2019, 8:57 am
#6
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 14
that is interesting. lufthansa fas has foreign language skills.
Feb 9, 2019, 9:07 am
#7
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I wouldn't say better or worse, but very clearly different style. Expect to be addressed by your first name (if any staff use your name at all) and on the AMS flight, don't expect there to be any FAs on board who are able to speak much if any German. [There could be one, but the odds are against this. For example, if you were flying CDG-USA, there would be one or two FAs on board who speak French, although not necessarily extremely well, but generally no German speaking FA unless this happens by accident, and no FA who speaks any other language either. From AMS, it's a bit more ambiguous as normally one would expect the flight to include someone who can speak Dutch (recorded announcements are in English and Dutch), but in Holland everyone seems to speak English and not to expect others to speak their native language. If you were on a nonstop from Germany to the USA there would be one or two FAs who can speak some German with varying degrees of proficiency.]
Feb 9, 2019, 10:30 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: atlanta, georgia, usa
Posts: 97
I'd bring some snacks just in case....usually the second "meal" is pretty bad and esp. the kids might be quie hungry that far into the flight. Even the main meal can be a bit sad, altho I usually find it edible. Be prepared, the FA will ask something like "chicken, beef or pasta" with little info as to what the preparation actually is - they used to give out menu cards with descriptions, I don't think they do that any more.
I actually do like Delta and only fly economy but I always bring some extra food along just in case. There will be pleny to drink choices - wine, beer, and liquor all complimentary and you can more of whatever as the flight goes along if you go back and ask the FA"s. Hope you have a ncie trip!
I actually do like Delta and only fly economy but I always bring some extra food along just in case. There will be pleny to drink choices - wine, beer, and liquor all complimentary and you can more of whatever as the flight goes along if you go back and ask the FA"s. Hope you have a ncie trip!
Feb 9, 2019, 10:34 am
#10
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Feb 9, 2019, 11:11 am
#11
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From what I've seen of special meal services, the FAs will do a sweep through the cabin shortly after takeoff, and put identifying stickers on top of the seats of the people who ordered special meals for easier correct service later. They might have been delivered at a slightly different time than the general meals. (memory's fuzzy there)
The standard vegetarian pasta is generally perfectly adequate though there is the risk of running out if you're further back in the cabin
Pillows and blankets are included for free, but are more decorative than useful so if you have someone who tends to be cold, I'd bring your own.
The standard vegetarian pasta is generally perfectly adequate though there is the risk of running out if you're further back in the cabin
Pillows and blankets are included for free, but are more decorative than useful so if you have someone who tends to be cold, I'd bring your own.
Feb 9, 2019, 1:50 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: MSP
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From what I've seen of special meal services, the FAs will do a sweep through the cabin shortly after takeoff, and put identifying stickers on top of the seats of the people who ordered special meals for easier correct service later. They might have been delivered at a slightly different time than the general meals. (memory's fuzzy there)
The standard vegetarian pasta is generally perfectly adequate though there is the risk of running out if you're further back in the cabin
Pillows and blankets are included for free, but are more decorative than useful so if you have someone who tends to be cold, I'd bring your own.
The standard vegetarian pasta is generally perfectly adequate though there is the risk of running out if you're further back in the cabin
Pillows and blankets are included for free, but are more decorative than useful so if you have someone who tends to be cold, I'd bring your own.
Feb 9, 2019, 2:16 pm
#13
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Great idea.
Feb 9, 2019, 2:18 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2013
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i am travelling with my family (kids are 4, 8 and 9) from amsterdam to the US. this is our first long haul flight with delta (economy). please could you tell us if there are any things different or special (usually we fly with lufthansa)? i would like to prepare the flight as good as possible for the kids. if there is something missing, e.g. snacks i would try to bring some to reduce the travel expenses.
1. could we get special meals? one of the kids prefers vegetarian meals.
2. are there unlimited drinks?
3. how many meals we get?
4. is there inflight entertainment with monitors at every seat?
5. only movies or more?
6. are there magazines?
7. what would you recommend to bring with us?
8. are there complemtary pillows and blankets?
9. are there complemtary headphones?
10 are there complementary amenity kits (economy)?
11. are there any hidden costs?
thank you so much.
if there is something missing, e.g. snacks i would try to bring some to reduce the travel expenses.1. could we get special meals? one of the kids prefers vegetarian meals.
2. are there unlimited drinks?
3. how many meals we get?
4. is there inflight entertainment with monitors at every seat?
5. only movies or more?
6. are there magazines?
7. what would you recommend to bring with us?
8. are there complemtary pillows and blankets?
9. are there complemtary headphones?
10 are there complementary amenity kits (economy)?
11. are there any hidden costs?
thank you so much.
Recently flew ATL-LHR, LHR-ATL with 2 two little ones.
1. Yes. Reserve online in advance. The FAs will take good care of you. On each of our flights, the "special" meals were always served first.
2. Yes. After the first and second drink service, you'll have to go to the galley to get your drinks.
3. One about 90-120 minutes after take off. A mid-flight drink service/snack. And another meal 90 minutes before landing. Our "pre-landing" meal was good. It was advertised as a pizza but it was pizza-like flavors inside of a burrito. The ice cream was good. There are snacks always available upon request. On both flights, we were given a card with a rough schedule indicating when to expect drinks/meals.
4. Depends on the equipment, but yes. In the unlikely event your plane does not have seatback entertainment, DL offers streaming options via your mobile device or tablet. Plenty of options to stay occupied. Our A332 offered seatback screens, charging ports, etc. Plenty to keep busy on an 8-10 hour flight.
5. Yes. Movies. TV episodes. Games (trivia, solitaire, poker, sudoku, etc.), audio options, etc.TED talks, etc. Plenty to keep you occupied.
6. Magazines were sparse. There may be a Delta magazine, but don't bank on many reading options.
7. Bring whatever you think you'll need. There are ample food/drink options. Our FA's were fantastic re: catering to our little ones.
8. Yes, but they're the quality you'd expect from an airlines I really wouldn't use the pillows, but the blankets are more than serviceable.
9. We were in Comfort+ and got complementary headphones. Every in-seat screen had a 3.5mm jack, so any basic headphone system would connect. No double jack requirement. I'm almost certain every passenger was given headphones upon request.
10. Again, we were in Comfort+, but we got eye masks, toothbrushes/toothpaste, head phones, etc.
11. Not that I know of. DL did a great job taking care of us on our flights. The FAs were overly-attentive to our kids and we sincerely appreciate their efforts
As others have said, in my experience, DL flight attendants were overly attentive to the needs of our kids. It really made the entire flight much easier. We received so much attention that I submitted comments via the website for both flights complementing the FAs for their stellar service. We've flown a ton with our kids, but this trip was our first long-haul adventure. The DL flight attendants were more than generous with food, drink, etc. My 4-year-old needed a "potty break" during the lunch service and the DL FAs moved the service cart out of the way for us. It doesn't sound like much, but every little bit helps when traveling long-haul with little ones. Each drink service, the DL flight attendants asked each of my kids what they'd like, and served it to them like they were royalty. Again, it's the little things that count, and we'll always remember DL for taking care of us on these trips.
Feb 9, 2019, 4:52 pm
#15
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: MidSouth
Programs: AA; Delta GM
Posts: 728
When traveling with children, I always assume that something won't work. (I assume the same with adults, but adults can usually cope better.) I always travel with extra snacks + books/toys/entertainment just in case something doesn't work.