Part 1: Background Info

Part 2: LGA-ATL and Terminal D at LaGuardia

Part 3: ATL-LAX and The Club at ATL

Part 4: LAX in a few hours – The Standard and the LA Hotel Downtown

Part 5: LAX-ATL on the 77L

Part 6: ATL-LGA

Part 1: Background Info

It was the day after Christmas, I was visiting family in Argentina (hence the EZE of JFKEZE) and just before going out to walk the dog, I decided to check FlyerTalk and a few deal sites one more time. I saw what seemed like a weird fare of the forums at DansDeals… I recently discovered that site, and they sure have some good deals. The post referenced a deal on Delta using a site called Skiplagged. I assumed it was some sort of hidden city in economy and ignored it for a minute, then saw that the deal worked in First. That’s when things got really interesting…

I immediately alerted a few friends, I don’t usually fly Delta, but at such a low price, we all make exceptions, I also posted it on Facebook, and that one sentence “Transcons in First on Delta, under $100.. Book Now!” led to over 90+ responses, with me giving step by step instructions on how to book it and warning to not wait or think too much and just book it…

I ended up booking 4 tickets, two on Expedia.ca (which has always worked great with “special sales”) and once availability started to dry up, I booked two more on eBookers.ie, I was able to avoid Priceline/Travelocity and the associated issues. A friend booked a trip for 7 people to Las Vegas on one of those sites, it took several emails/phone calls but they finally honored those tickets also.

The dogs had to wait a few hours for their walks, but I knew as soon as I had my ticket numbers I was golden!

A few weeks passed and I started planning what to do on these trips. Not a big LA fan, but a friend had moved there last year so great chance to meet up for dinner. That’s just how I roll, crossing the country for dinner hehe

Part 2: LGA-ATL and Terminal D at LaGuardia
Delta 1647
New York (LGA) to Atlanta (ATL)
11:00 – 1:38 PM, 2:38 duration
First Class – 3C
Food – Lunch
Equipment: McDonnell Douglas MD-88

I tried to do a Same Day Confirm the day before, but since my ATL-LAX was booked into C, it was impossible to change the flights. I asked for advice on the Delta forum, @DeltaAssist but no go, so I was stuck with my original routing.

So it’s a cold January Saturday morning and I’m on my usual Q72 bus to LaGuardia, since I board the bus at the first stop, I have a seat for the quick 25 minute ride till I reach Terminal D. Seems like construction is still ongoing and after a short walk, I was able to find the PreCheck line. A few minutes later, I’m in the SkyClub.

Boarding started at 10:25 and a mini free for all started when “People who need additional time” were allowed to board before first. I’m ok with wheelchairs boarding early and other legitimate cases. But several people with 5 year olds boarded just to get the overhead space.
I’m used to MadDogs, but the 88 is a rare one for me. All the seats had a mini bottle of water (nice touch) and the FA came around offering PDBs! (a great plus), had a Coke Zero and we were off

The Sandwich was ok, a bit dry but on a hub to hub flight with minimal competition, and it wasn’t bad. Now the fruit salad, while it looked good, was simply horrible, tasted like a breakfast leftover. The cake came with a little surprise!

Several Jack and Coke Zeros later we landed in ATL.

Part 3: ATL-LAX and “The Club at ATL”
Delta 370
Atlanta (ATL) to Los Angeles (LAX)
3:15 PM – 5:19 PM, 5:04 duration
Business Class – 2E
Food – Lunch
Equipment: Boeing 767-300 (76P/76Q)

I did my research in advance, and at first I debated doing a tour of SkyClubs but later found out that a new club “The Club at ATL” had opened up in Terminal F, the International one. I had over an hour to burn so decided to board the train and do the trek to F.


It was now time to fly the 763 to LAX. I booked it thinking it was an international configuration, but soon discovered the horrible pitch that awaited me on my flight to Los Angeles. 37-38 pitch but it felt like the infamous Thai Airbus 300. Passengers were reclining their seats even during the takeoff roll but the crew didn't realize it

Decided to try the Delta Burger, it gets tons of praise on the Delta forum and for a burger at 35,000 pretty darn good, could be a bit less well done, but not bad. Several more Jack and Coke Zeros and we were landing in LAX.

Part 4: LAX for a few hours – The Standard and the LA Hotel Downtown

I originally had booked a Super Shuttle from the airport but at the last minute was able to get a ride from my friend. Delta dropped us off at Terminal 6 and I had told her to meet me at Terminal 5. SO I had to get over there, a Delta golf cart pulled up and the driver asked if anyone needed a ride, I said yes and we sped up down the tunnel to Terminal 5. It almost felt like the Thai golf cart in BKK hehe.

My friend dropped me off at the LA Hotel Downtown; this property used to be a Marriott and will become a Hyatt Regency later this year.

Then it was off to The Standard. Here’s a quick tip. Have a drink there before dinner and get a wristband, which allows you to skip the line later if you return after dinner.
First time here, nice pool, not too excessive with the cocktail prices ($13 for a Moscow Mule) after some catching up it was time for dinner.
Since it was LA Restaurant Week, lots of places were full but we made reservations at Rosa Mexicano. We ordered way too much food and might have gone overboard on the chips. Several Margaritas later, the entrees arrived and we were stuffed. We barely touched our entrees, asked for doggie bags and offered it to a Homeless person who seemed honestly grateful for the food.

Another drink at the Standard, now packed to the gills and then back to the hotel for a few hours…

Wow! What a nice trip report...More enjoyable. I'm glad you had a great time. Enjoy LA.

Rosa Mexicano in LA? Why?!

Thanks! I'm just starting to get into Trip Report writing, so again thanks for the kind words!


yes, don't judge! there are probably better options, but the idea was somewhere Downtown, nice and with space for a 8PM dinner on a Saturday night making the reservation the day before... next time, with more time, I can pick somewhere better or more authentic...

Cabin shot looks good, I can't wait for my 1 and only ticket.

That M88 First Class Seat looks very similar to the ones on the American Eagle CR7, is the aisle armrest raise-able so you can get out during meal times?

Jeez, that is a LEGIT nasty surprise!!!
Did you send the photo to Delta Twitter


OK, this Delta Burger does look a ways better than the AA burger but still begs the question, why a burger on a 5 hr transcon?!?
Enjoy the Jack and Cokes at Delta, sadly no more on AA


100 Dollar and Premium Service, what's not to like

Part 5: LAX-ATL on the 77L
Delta 80
Los Angeles (LAX) to Atlanta (ATL)
9:00 – 4:01 PM, 4:01 hour flight
Business Class – 2D
Food – Breakfast
Equipment: Boeing 777-200ER/LR (77L)

I slightly "overpaid" just to get this plane (relative to the other tickets); my total ticket price was C$146.74 versus C$ 90-110 for the other tickets. But how many times can you try the 77L!


Same cabin crew as yesterday, (DTW based) and I was kind of surprised to see them cross trained on an international configured plane. Since it was early morning and they didn’t have any sparkling wine, it was Screwdriver time! Towards the end of the flight I made the switch back to my regular Jack and Coke Zeros hehe


The seat was pretty good for napping but I felt that it lacked privacy. At times it felt like you were staring into the person across the aisle. Maybe taller walls would have helped a bit. Just 3:16 flight time and we were approaching Atlanta…

Another proof where Unlimited Upgrades fails Unlimitedly!!!
I'm praying AA will keep the stickers ^

That is odd, a crew cross-trained on 763 and 77Ls
Did the crew say anything like welcome back?

IIRC, DL's F/As are cross-trained on all aircraft.

I'm not sure stickers are any better. I was on a DFW-LAX flight on AA two days ago and, while I was on paid premium fare, I felt bad for those people on the list, as it was well beyond only 61 folks looking for an upgrade.

Part 6: ATL-LGA

Delta 886 (switched to DL 786)
Atlanta (ATL) to New York (LGA)
6:45 – 9:00 PM, 2:15 hour flight (5:45 – 8:00 PM)
First Class – 3C
Food – Dinner
Equipment: McDonnell Douglas MD-88

Since we landed early, I tried to standby on the 4:45 PM flight, but even if ExpertFlyer showed 4 seats available for sale, the seat map was full and I couldn’t standby on that flight. I did manage to get onto DL 786 which was leaving at 5:45.

Overall the lounge was ok, Jack Daniels is complimentary while it’s a premium drink at the Admirals Club. Free veggies and some small snacks.
Dinner options were a Reuben Sandwich or what looked like Fried Chicken. Went for the Reuben sandwich, decent meal for the 1:45 hour flight.
All flights had a full PDB but none of the flights had hot nuts.