Early this year I did a one-way (on UA/EI) from Hawaii to the UK for an insanely cheap fare (under $500). That meant all my round-trips were originating from there, and so on.

This summer, I needed to go back to Hawaii, but it was more expensive to do it one-way on CO/NW than round-trip... so I booked a round-trip to EWR on CO, and a round-trip from EWR to Hawaii on NW, and all was well. I set my returns for the "distant future" - the end of October.

Wouldn't you know it - I wind up with return flights to the UK at the end of October, then find out I have to be in Japan right around then!

So after blocking off some time as "not available for work" and checking some fares, I changed my return flight ($100 fee - guess not even plats can escape that) to early October, picked up a cheap (sub-$400) one-way return on Delta (EQMs!) transcontinental and ATA to Hawaii. I'll visit a friend who's in grad school on the east coast, hopefully stop and see my folks, and visit another friend on the west coast on my way back.

And all this just so I wouldn't have half a ticket unused on NW!

(I may be a cheap-seater, but I'm loyal.)

Anyway, this is my first time flying Delta, at all, ever. I've got 3 segments lined up (PHL-ATL-LAX, LAX-OAK) and it'll be interesting to see what it's like. I'm not expecting any upgrades on it - but I'll certainly ask at the gate.

Out of curiosity, though - what should I expect on a coast-to-coast 737-800?

On ATL-LAX, you should get two bev services in Y. The initial service should be accompanied by a (free) box of mostly fatty snacks; on the second service you can have your choice of one a number of items (they rotate a bit, but generally the are Biscoffs, Sun Chips, some form of cheese crackers, peanuts, and granola bars). You should get a movie (overhead TVs)--headphones are $2 in Y, or you can bring your own .
(dual prong on the 737).

Hmmm, I may still have a set of dual prong headphones from my last CO flight... Doesn't sound too awful overall; do they do any water walks in between? That's not a short flight.

DL CRC in PHL was modest, nothing overly special. No free wifi? Bummer.

DL 579 pushed back on time, got into ATL early. I liked the choice of 3 snacks in Y, since I like peanut butter crackers. Drink cups in Y also seemed pretty decently sized. Noticed they put the armrests between Y seats UP by default which was an interesting change. Other than that, it was an uneventful flight, not a particularly new/upgraded/spiffy plane.

ATL was fogged in. And that's where it got interesting. More later.

Small club, one bathroom for both sexes, not the best place in the system, but still nicer than the gate. Wi-fi is free for CRC members only (even Biz pax have to pay for the CRC wi-fi).

Compared to NW it seems great, but this is a recent service cutback, apparently in preparation for BOB rollout (coming soon)--there used to be a couple additional selections.

I don't think this is standard DL procedure, as I haven't seen it myself.

As promised...

I wasn't in a huge rush to get where I was going (and honestly, having gotten there, if I'd known what it would be like, I'd have been in even less of one!).

ATL had a lot of fog at one point in the morning - barely saw the ground before we landed. Some other flights had misconnected and there were tons of people wanting to standby on my 12:10 connecting transcon. Our equipment was late arriving as well.

I asked the GA whether he needed volunteers and he said he didn't expect to, but would let me know if he did. Just before boarding, he called me and another guy (who had also asked) up and offered us seats up front on the 18:50 flight, plus $400 vouchers and 2 meal vouchers.

I accepted (duh) and the other guy (to everyone's amazement) accepted and asked to go on the last flight of the night - in coach! He just wanted the voucher. One or two other opportunists asked if they could volunteer too, but the GA wasn't taking any more at that point.

So I had 6 extra hours at ATL, most of which I spent in the CO PC because it has free Wifi. Wound up doing some work during that time, alas... then noticed a Chic-Fil-A near my gate and finally used one of the vouchers for some food.

My bump had moved me from 22C on a 738 to 3D on a 763 - but unfortunately it was a domestic-config one, pretty much like being in domestic F on a NW 753, but with 2 aisles. No footrests, though...

The food was okay, but there was apparently only one entree available - we could have anything we wanted as long as it was chicken. I have to say I prefer NW's domestic F offerings (even on much shorter flights) to what I got on this one.

By the time I got off my transcon, the miles from this morning's flight had already posted to my WP account. I guess at least one aspect of the IT is integrated! I didn't realize the elite bonus was lower (100% instead of 125%) but oh well, I'll live.

Delta is in the process of dramatically improving their First Class service. Currently transcons from JFK, and eventually all transcons, will have real glassware and silverware, a choice of entrees with a menu, a 3 course meal including a sundae, and the main course is a meal that would be served in Business Elite (Michelle Bernstein). Also there will be amenity kits, and pillows will return. Looks like Delta should be on par, if not better than CO in F, and if you like paying for delicious food instead of getting nasty free food, Delta will be in Y too. We will see how Delta looks in one year, I expect a lot of positive feedback.

Glad to hear it. And the things you've listed sound nice.

Fair enough. Let us know how it goes, wouldja?