DL One vs. UA ps
#31
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try out DL. The lounges in JFK are a lot better than UA's offerings. In flight I find them similar with Delta having better wines and IMO more consistent service. Seat is the same IMO.
#32
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Does the departure time mean anything to you? I would do absolutely anything to avoid a redeye of less than 8 hours block time, unless I'm arriving and going to sleep anyway in which case it's not a real redeye (just did HNL-SFO arr 5am and went straight to bed until noon).
#33
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#34
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
I've flown D1 JFK-SFO three times recently, getting the 767 every time (had one 757 swapped for a 767). Except for aisle access, which isn't a factor in your case, the Vantage 767 seat sucks. Definitely in the running for the worst flat-bed seat. It is a coffin (I'm 5'10" and average build). Tight around the torso. Small footwells. Hard to sleep. Bare-bones furnishings that are now well-worn (like floppy tray tables). Outdated IFE hardware. No privacy. Very little storage space. And it's simply uncomfortable in most positions. DL's cheap leather coverings don't help at all. And you know the 757 seat well, so yeah, there's your DL choices. Sure, it's miles better than Y, but that's not what you're paying for.
The D1 food was significantly better than the UA food from a couple of years ago and the service was better too but I would not touch the D1 seat again unless the flight price, route, or times outweighed the poor seat. I like JFK but not enough to fly D1 again. Next time it's either UA to EWR or AA to JFK for me.
#35
Join Date: Apr 2014
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Posts: 920
We've done it quite a few times. The last departure is not bad (12:50 a.m., with a 9:15 am arrival), except Andaz 5th is usually not able to get us into our room until late afternoon (damn late Globalist check-outs ). But a shower at EWR on arrival is really key, so this is now a big UA negative.
If you try out DL, doing a status match to platinum could help with the RDM part of the equation you mentioned in the first post.
Do UA lifetime miles matter much to you?
#36
Join Date: Aug 2007
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#37
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Walk from Penn Station to 5th and 41st with luggage? My GF would not speak to me the rest of the trip. I've also found NJT less than reliable. Uber has worked well for us from EWR.
Not at 1.1M and no chance of making 3M.
I have contemplated a DL status match though not sure I'd make much use of it as UA and *A continue to work pretty well for me most of the time.
#38
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The new SFO UC is almost always crowded IME.
If sleep is your goal, pick the UA 772. If consistent good service is your goal, go with DL.
From a hard product standpoint, I rate UA 772 > DL 767 > DL 757 = UA 757, assuming you can get window+aisle seats. Considering it's a red-eye, I'd put more emphasis on the hard product, and although the density on UA's 772 is high, the seats are quite comfortable for sleeping (as you know).
However, if you haven't flown DL much, sometimes it's fun to experience and compare another airline.
However, if you haven't flown DL much, sometimes it's fun to experience and compare another airline.
#39
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,324
The IPTE 777 C seats are indeed the best for sleeping.
Delta's 767 Vantage seats are awful. Cheap leather, and you sleep about an inch from the floor. Combine that with the fact you have plastic closing around all sides of you (plastic coffin), and you have the worst direct aisle access seat there is, in my opinion.
Delta's 767 Vantage seats are awful. Cheap leather, and you sleep about an inch from the floor. Combine that with the fact you have plastic closing around all sides of you (plastic coffin), and you have the worst direct aisle access seat there is, in my opinion.
#40
#41
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#42
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NYC: UA 1K, DL Platinum, AAirpass, Avis PC
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I swing between both on my trips.
Try out DL for a change on one leg.
Delta tends to feel more 'special' in flight - food is better presented though UA often ends up tasting as good or better, just with more clumsy presentation.
Wine is much better on Delta.
But beware the precheck / priority lines at T4 JFK, plus the extra long slog to the gate and club. Lines can be 20 minutes plus.
You'll find the Delta passengers to be a little more stylish looking on these routes - more of the creative types.
Try out DL for a change on one leg.
Delta tends to feel more 'special' in flight - food is better presented though UA often ends up tasting as good or better, just with more clumsy presentation.
Wine is much better on Delta.
But beware the precheck / priority lines at T4 JFK, plus the extra long slog to the gate and club. Lines can be 20 minutes plus.
You'll find the Delta passengers to be a little more stylish looking on these routes - more of the creative types.
#43
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 1,358
For most NYC travellers, I think the key factor should be which airport is easiest to get from to wherever you are staying/visiting in NY.
For example, I thought that the PATH train would be an easy way to get from EWR to Manhattan. For me -- I go to midtown Manhattan. But, now I see that one has to take the Airlink (?) train to Newark's train station, then the Path Train to Journal Square or Grove Street, then get off and change to the "other" Path train that runs to Herald Square (34th Street) in Manhattan. That's two transfers just to get to midtown Manhattan. Since I stay on West 44th Street, I then have to transfer to the subway (B/D lines) to get to where I stay.
This runaround is simpler if you are staying near the WTC. But, staying in midtown, public transport to midtown from EWR requires a lot of schlepping. Is it better than JFK? Hard to say.
For example, I thought that the PATH train would be an easy way to get from EWR to Manhattan. For me -- I go to midtown Manhattan. But, now I see that one has to take the Airlink (?) train to Newark's train station, then the Path Train to Journal Square or Grove Street, then get off and change to the "other" Path train that runs to Herald Square (34th Street) in Manhattan. That's two transfers just to get to midtown Manhattan. Since I stay on West 44th Street, I then have to transfer to the subway (B/D lines) to get to where I stay.
This runaround is simpler if you are staying near the WTC. But, staying in midtown, public transport to midtown from EWR requires a lot of schlepping. Is it better than JFK? Hard to say.
#44
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