Seating choice in Delta One on Airbus 330-300 ATL to FCO
Jun 16, 2019, 10:18 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta
Posts: 22
Seating choice in Delta One on Airbus 330-300 ATL to FCO
If I want to be able to talk to my spouse during the flight, which seating arrangement is better in the Delta One First Class section of the Airbus 330-300(ATL to FCO)...the two seats together in the middle row that seem to have a broad partition between the two seats? Or, one middle seat next to one window seat to talk to each other across the isle? The two seats together in the middle seem like the obvious choice but I can't tell if the partition between those two seats would mean we have to lean far forward to talk to each other.
Jun 16, 2019, 10:55 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
Middle section. Unlike on the (pre-suites) 777, the seats are angled toward each other on this aircraft (as they were on the 747 lower deck).
Jun 16, 2019, 12:51 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta
Posts: 22
Thank you for the quick replies! I have a follow up question. Looks like the only choices left for middle seats would be the first row at the front of 1st Class or the last row at the back before Economy. Back near economy seams like you'd hear the noise from Economy, as well as the food service area. But the front row is just behind the front bathrooms, as well as another food prep area, and I've read that the flight attendants often talk all flight long even on long-haul/overnight flights. Any thoughts on best choice for sleep?
Jun 16, 2019, 1:02 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: DL DM, SPG Plat 100/LT Gold, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 2,988
Thank you for the quick replies! I have a follow up question. Looks like the only choices left for middle seats would be the first row at the front of 1st Class or the last row at the back before Economy. Back near economy seams like you'd hear the noise from Economy, as well as the food service area. But the front row is just behind the front bathrooms, as well as another food prep area, and I've read that the flight attendants often talk all flight long even on long-haul/overnight flights. Any thoughts on best choice for sleep?
Jun 16, 2019, 1:06 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
I know the D1 footwells are larger in the first row on the 767s but is this also true on the A330 with the angled seats?
Note to OP: D1 isn't FC.
Note to OP: D1 isn't FC.
Jun 16, 2019, 3:53 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
I also agree that first row is better, as all of the food prep and the main FA hangout galley is the one between coach and business class.
Jun 16, 2019, 9:53 pm
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
Jun 16, 2019, 10:33 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL PM, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 8,414
To explain further, this is an issue over technical terms. Many people do call Delta One "first class" because it is the nicest cabin that Delta offers. However, industry wide, "first class" on international flights refers to a level of service that is above and beyond anything that Delta offers. Confusingly, Delta's domestic front cabin is called "first class" even though this domestic cabin is not nearly as premium as Delta One, which is a business class cabin.
Jun 17, 2019, 9:02 am
#12
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Key West
Programs: DL Silver, AA EXP, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 401
D1 is a seat that's supremely more comfortable than coach with the ability to lay flat and snooze. There are other perks such as lounge access, separate check-in lines and sometimes fast-track security and immigration lines. You get airline food on real plates, drinks in glasses, a basic amenity kit and possibly be addressed by name. It feels pretty special unless you've flown in real first class.
Jun 17, 2019, 9:11 am
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,404
It's also a large cabin, a relatively narrow seat, and meals don't include luxury items such as caviar or good wine (although there's usually a relatively inexpensive French champagne served *up in the air*). DL doesn't have special FC lounges and normally doesn't provide airport escorts/assistants.
Jun 17, 2019, 9:47 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: So Fla & NYC
Programs: DL DM/2MM, UA MM, BV LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 23,766
The other kicker is that there are some companies whose traveling procedures restrict flying in "first class" but do not prohibit business class. This makes for some happy employees who need to fly long distances.
Jun 17, 2019, 10:03 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta
Posts: 22
Well, it's our first time flying in anything other than economy and also our first trip overseas/first long haul flight. I had my heart set on a lie-flat seat so I can sleep on the way over, and I think we have enough Skymiles to swing the upgrade both ways, which I'm thrilled about! I'm anxiously waiting to hear back from the travel company to confirm our miles will cover the upgrade. I welcome any other advice on seating choice, surviving long-haul flights, etc. I read that Delta might send out an email 3 days in advance allowing us to pre-select our meals, which would be nice.