Northwest vs Delta First Class
 

Have enough Delta miles to fly First class to Hawaii on Delta in May (though we really wanted Continental) for honeymoon. Two questions: Is it a safe bet to book these even though Delta declared bankruptcy? Also, the Delta flight uses Northwest for one of the legs. How does first class service compare on both airlines - is it worth it? Heard Northwest has poor safety record, any comments? Thanks for the input!

FC on any airline isn't what it used to be. FWIW, Ive flown both and the edge goes to Delta. Don't worry about their Ch 11 filing....hell, every airline right now it seems is either in Ch 11 or on the brink. NWA's FC is an absolute sham. Its a larger cloth seat and you get a $7-12 type "meal" with your styrofoam cup full of coffee. Delta is respectable. Better seat, a bit better food/service, and IFE.

If you can, I'd shoot for Continental FC, which trumps DL and NWA But I know how hard it is to redeem on CO.

Good luck.

kdinino is right, NWA has just more room and a little better meal. Last time I flew first class on NW it was a late night flight from DTW to TPA. Food was okay. The flight attendant forgot I had a scotch in my glass a before I could stop her she refilled my glass with white wine. :confused: She was sort of apologetic and got me a new scotch.
Anyway FC is not what it used to be. When I can get CO FC it is much better (my experience). Domestically I think it is the best
Delta is a downer to me because when I fly them I never get upgrades with CO elite status...so my vote goes to NW over DL

My vote goes to NW over DL but be thankful there is available FC seats to your redeem miles.

I had flown both to HNL. They're both not that great, but not as bad as people say either. The seats in NWA seems slightly better, wider and more leg room. NWA has mai tai onboard. DL doesn't. But DL's food is better (shocking, I know). DL's FA are also alot better, much friendlier. They even gave my in laws a bottle of wine as it was their anniversary. DL's award availabilitiy is also better, at least for me.

You should choose base on where you fly out, and the time that fits you the most. And if you're paying, just pick the cheaper one.

I much prefer NW. Real glassware, I personally have had great service on NW FC on most occasions....many FAs greet by name, remember drinks and generally enjoyable....DL is ok too....though plastic cups?

I've had the pleasure to fly on both Delta and Northwest to/from Hawaii.

First, here are pictures of their meals (password for photos: flyertalk):
Delta: http://slippahs.smugmug.com/gallery/733724/2/32269551
http://slippahs.smugmug.com/gallery/733724/2/32269555
Northwest: http://slippahs.smugmug.com/gallery/733724/1/24382786
http://slippahs.smugmug.com/gallery/733724/1/24382830
(Please note, photos are not to be reproduced without written consent).

As for service, both are up to par with Delta likely being a bit friendlier. Last HNL-ATL flight I was on, one of the captains (there's three on board these flights) came out during boarding and shook everyone's hand, thanking them for flying Delta. On Northwest, however, I can 90% of the time be assured to be addressed by name and thanked for being an elite member of their airline.

Here's the difference. Leg room. Out of MSP, Northwest operates their DC-10-30 aircraft with ample leg room and almost lie-flat seating. Delta seats don't even come close. Here are pictures of the First class cabins on both airlines:

Delta: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/104076/M/
Northwest: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/411481/M/

Hand's down. For the seating, I'd go with Northwest. Delta's 767-400 seating is a bit too cramped for my tastes.

As for entertainment, with Delta, you'll have a choice of movies. With Northwest, you'll have to watch what's given to you with the rest of the plane. But on both airlines, you do get your own TV.

That said, if you're flying the ATL-OGG non-stop for Delta, they're using the 767-300ER aircraft with B/E seating...

Hope this helps.

Great answer, Slippahs
 

I hope I can come up with a question some day that you can answer. Great job! Even photos? Nice. ^

Thanks! No issues with Northwest safety?

I fly them 3-4 weeks a month and I have no safety concerns. In fact they seem to have things under control from the mechanics strike, and I have not seen a rise in delays as a result.. They had replacements trained and certified lined up before the strike and it only caused a small ripple.

I gotta believe that the replacements were mechanics who had been laid off from other airlines so it was not like you got someone right out of technical school.

I would not let safety concerns stop me from flying NW.

Patrick Smith, the author of _Ask the Pilot_ and also author of the column in salon.com by the same name, discusses this very issue about safety with airlines in bankruptcy.

You can go to http://dir.salon.com/topics/ask_the_pilot/ to see a list of his columns. The most recent one will address your question.

Note that you'll have to view an ad in order to read the column if you're not a paying member of salon.com.

This guy has a lot of great info. I'd highly recommend his book, too. I've shared it with several folks who commented that it helped them relax while flying. A little knowledge can go a long way!

happy flying,
big V

I'm flying NW from LAX to HNL FC tonight -- will try to give a report. (I have CO FC redeye return tomorrow night -- that should be nice!).

Both have the same below average FC product.

But DL wins this one over NW simply because in my experience every NW plane I've been on had been as dirty on the inside as AF's are supposedly on the outside.

Well, I've had the opposite experience -- I've seen some Delta FC cabins on MDs and 767s that looked like a frat party had just taken place in there -- so I think it's a wash.

I don't perceive any NW safety problem either.

My recent Delta "first class" seat from Atlanta to San Francisco had no leg rest and minimal leg room. I could not believe that they can get away with calling it first class. But my business class seat on Delta from Zurich to Atlanta was far superior. Go figure.