While I enjoy flying Cathay Pacific for international trips to Asia, I had the chance to fly from Hong Kong to Seattle last month on Delta’s international business class product: Delta One. The flight time was approximately 11 hours on the Airbus A330-200.
At the Airport
Check-in went smoothly. There was staff members on-site to direct passengers to the check-in lines. Once we got through security, we visited the SkyTeam lounge. We were walking on the right side of the concourse, so we completely missed the entrance to the lounge near the center of the concourse. The lounge is located on the lower level.
The SkyTeam lounge is large with plenty of space and “real” food. I didn’t take pictures of the facility, as I want to enjoy the food. So naturally, I ended up with food pictures. I should duck my head in shame over my consumption of junk food (a bowl of gummy candies, really?), but it was just oh so indulging.
All Aboard Delta One
My brother booked this flight for me, so I didn’t realize I had a bulkhead seat. I normally wouldn’t opt for a bulkhead seat, due to the close proximity to the galley. It ended up being just fine.
In terms of the seats, it felt narrower than CX’s business class product. It’s also showing its age, at least when compared to the new Delta’s all-suite business class on the A350s. I’m not complaining when it’s got the biggest feature I care about for an international long-haul: a lie-flat seat.
The entertainment console screen is smaller than that on CX, but it was also fine considering that I spent my time catching up on sleep. I ended up watching the award winning film, “The Shape of Water”. I don’t know how I feel about that movie. Let’s put it this way. It’s not a bad movie, but I’m not convinced I would recommend it to others, either.
Amenities Onboard
The amenity kit was already on the seat when I boarded. Shortly after we got onboard, a friendly cabin crew member handed out Delta One PJ to passengers! I was pleasantly surprised. Not every airline offers PJ. I wasn’t expecting it for Delta. It was a very nice touch. I love it – a sporty style and very comfortable.
Food Onboard
Food options were plenty. We started off with a “Getting Settled” meal, and passengers can choose from the Chinese meal menu or a western menu. There are desserts, mid-flight snacks (dim-sum) and an “almost there” meal. Sadly, I was so tired that I slept through the “dim sum” service
In Summary
I enjoyed my flight on Delta One. It was a real treat. The hard product was comfortable, and the experiences with the Delta staff had been pleasant. In fact, in the last year or so, I’ve been flying Delta quite a bit. I like that the service had been consistent (in both premium and coach cabins). I have to admit that Delta is quickly rising to the top of my airline list.
Is Delta your preferred airline? What has been your experience flying on Delta or on Delta One?
