Route: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)-Milan Malpensa (MXP)
Distance: 482 miles
Duration: 1hr 8min
Departure: 3:48PM
Arrival: 4:56PM
The Preflight
After landing in CDG from New York, my fiance and I headed to the Air France Lounge in the Schengen Zone in Terminal 2F. We easily passed through the border checkpoints within five minutes. The Air France 2F lounge is one of the newest lounges at the airport. Spanning two stories, the lounge had ample seating with two buffets one on each level. Because there was a large amount of passengers within the lounge during our visit I did not take many photos of the seating.
Throughout the lounge were various self-serve alcohol counters with an assortment of wines and liquor.
Additional drinks included espresso machines, water, soda, and beer. There were also loads of delicious French bread available.
Food at the buffet included a delicious asparagus grain dish and a chicken in red sauce. There was also a platter of sweet madeleine’s.
As the flag carrier of France, Air France had a variety of cheeses that were some of the best I have had. There was also a selection of cold cuts and a cucumber sandwich. The buffet also had a salad bar with pickled vegetables, hard boiled eggs, and a ham salad.
There was also an extensive dessert buffet with different cakes, yoghurt, fruit salad, and juices.
Separately, there was a special quiche station.
As with most Air France lounges, there was a Clarins Spa within the lounge offering complimentary treatments. Unfortunately, there were no more appointments for the rest of the day during our stay.
The lounge also had over half a dozen individual shower suites. Each suite featured a rain shower, mirror, hair dryer, and amenities including a dental kit.
After spending a few hours in the lounge, my fiance and I headed to gate 29 a few minutes before the scheduled boarding time of 2:50 PM. The terminal was packed with no seating and a mass of people standing shoulder to shoulder waiting to board. Boarding was delayed by 10 minutes.
Our aircraft was an A320-200, registration F-GKXZ, was a 14 year-old aircraft delivered brand new to Air France in December 2009. It was one of 38 active A320-200s flying short-haul for Air France.
The Flight
Air France has two separate configurations on their A320-200s. The most common configuration, the one we were on today, had a total of 174 seats arranged in a 3-3 configuration. As with most European carriers, the Air France business class had a blocked middle seat. The size of the cabin could also be adjusted by a movable curtain based on demand. On this flight, there were five rows of business class for a total of 20 passengers.
The B/E Aerospace Spectrum seats had a width of 18 inches with a recline of three inches. I found these seats more comfortable than Lufthansa or SAS, and as comfortable as British Airways on their short-haul A320s. My fiance and I were seated in the bulkhead row 1 in 1A and 1C.
The bulkhead legroom was decent with ample room for my 5’11” frame to sit comfortably in. The literature pocket was built into the bulkhead while the tray table was stowed within the armrest.
The bi-fold tray table was stored in the armrest. Each seat also had a USB-A port for charging.
Each business class passenger was also provided a refreshing wipe and a small bottle of water. These small amenities certainly set Air France apart from its competitors.
The aircraft was pushed back at 3:35 PM. Twelve minutes later we took off from runway 27L with a view of Terminal 1.
Once in the air, a three-course meal was served. The only option for the main course was a delicious pea puree with poached egg and a side of quinoa salad. There were two slices of cheese which paired nicely with a small loaf of warm French bread. The dessert was a tasty crunchy chocolate cream puff. The champagne on offer was an excellent Pommery.
After the meal, I had a cappuccino.
There was a single unremarkable lavatory at the front of the cabin.
By the time our meal trays were collected, we had already begun the descent into Milan. We landed at 4:55 PM and arrived at Terminal 1 four minutes later.
Air France remains one of my favorite airlines to fly across the Atlantic and within Europe in business class. Their lounges are superior to their main competitors Lufthansa and British Airways at its hub in Paris. The onboard amenities elevate it above its competitors as well. I would happily book with Air France again.
Route: Chicago O’Hare (ORD)-Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
Distance: 4,398 miles
Duration: 6hrs 56min
Departure: 8:47PM
Arrival: 10:43AM
The Preflight
After our flight from Indianapolis landed in Terminal 1 at Chicago O’Hare, we had a roughly five-hour layover. Our next leg of the journey to Vietnam would be with Air France to Paris. Earlier in the morning, we learned that our original Air France flight had been delayed by approximately one hour, from 17:30 to 18:30. Interestingly, Air France had also canceled the original flight number (AF137), and our new flight number was AF4081. This now left us with a six-hour layover in Chicago. We took the tram service from Terminal 1 to Terminal 5, where Air France departs. The check-in counters opened at 12:30, with a single Sky Priority lane.
After clearing TSA, we indulged in the luxury of the brand-new Delta SkyClub in Terminal 5.
The entire Sky Club was in the shape of an L with a bar located immediately upon entering the lounge. A variety of complimentary alcohol as well as premium drinks for purchase were available.
There were a few high-top tables and dining tables nearby.
A small build-your-own hot chocolate table was also set up.
Further into the SkyClub was the main open buffet area with a selection of warm and cold foods.
Copd options included a variety of salads, chicken breast, sandwiches, as well as pretzel bites with cheese.
There was also an extensive selection of desserts with a large charcuterie board as well. Hot food options included chicken, scalloped potatoes, green beans, as well as a two soups.
Self-serve drink options included fountain drinks, a flavored water dispenser, a few espresso machines, coffee, lemonade, and tea.
Further into the lounge was a large corridor with comfortable sofas and couches along the windows.
Near the end of the lounge was another dining area with a Chicago hot dog cart.
There was a second bar where the bar tender also staffed the hot dog cart.
There was another dining area with a few tables as well as another self-serve drink station. A variety of bar snacks were also available.
At the very end of the Sky Club were two large work tables, a few private booths for phone calls, and a large TV area.
The Sky Club also featured three nice shower rooms with fully stocked towels and toiletries.
After spending a few hours in the lounge we headed to the gate 15 minutes before boarding.
Our aircraft, an A350-900 registered as F-HUVE, was one of the newest additions to the Air France fleet. Delivered in December 2023, it was merely two months old at the time of our journey. Air France boasts a fleet of 27 A350s, with 20 of them being older models equipped with a different cabin product. Additionally, the airline has placed orders for 18 more A350s, seven of which have already been delivered with a new cabin product.
Boarding began at 5:50PM but we were held on the jet bridge for another 14 minutes and finally boarded at 6:04PM.
The Flight
The new Air France A350 boasts one of the finest business-class products available in the skies today. Each aircraft is equipped with forty-eight Stelia Opera business seats, arranged in a spacious 1-2-1 configuration, spread across two separate cabins. The larger first cabin, positioned between doors 1 and 2, accommodates a total of 32 seats.
The Stelia Opera seat was originally designed for single-aisle narrow-body aircraft but Air France successfully imported this product to their wide-body A350. In between the two center seats was a privacy screen that could be raised and lowered.
What sets the bulkhead seats on the Air France A350 apart is the notably spacious footwell at the front of each seat. Its size is truly impressive, comparable to the square footage found in some first-class seats on other airlines. Bulkhead seats on this aircraft include seats 1A, D, H, L and 10A, D, H, L.
At the front of the seat was a large 20-inch 4K Ultra-High definition touch screen. There was also an option to connect my own devices to the in-flight entertainment system but both Bose earphones and my iPhone would not connect.
Air France also decided to upgrade their A350s with both a tail-mounted and wheel-mounted camera.
Next to the large footwell in the bulkhead row was a personal closet with a coat hook as well as a mirror. Underneath the cushion was a small storage drawer.
The countertop next to the seat featured a wireless induction power charger for phones as well as both USB-A and USB-C ports.
Each seat also had a personal reading light, storage cabinet, and tablet which controlled the IFE and seat.
Within the storage bin, there was a small area to place personal items like glasses underneath a mirror. There was also a pair of headphones hardwired into the seat and a small Evian water bottle.
The personal tablet had options for seat recline, and seat lighting, as well as the ability to control the IFE and call the flight attendant. Unfortunately, both of our tablets were actually non-functional and kept erroring when we tried to use them to control the IFE system.
Directly beneath the counter top were a few buttons to control the seat, lighting, and call light. I did think there buttons were a bit too sensitive to touch as I would occasionally brush the buttons and accidentally recline my seat.
There was also a large sturdy tray tablet that folded out from underneath the countertop.
Beneath the tray table was a small literature pocket and universal power outlet. At the bottom of the seat, there was another small storage bin, but unfortunately, mine was broken and inoperable. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the seat and found the bulkhead ones to be fantastic, I was surprised to discover that several features of the seat were already either broken or malfunctioning, including the Bluetooth connectivity, storage bin, and tablet.
Along the door to the seat was an adjustable armrest.
At each seat was a simple but comfortable pillow and dense blanket. Air France also provided a coat hanger at each seat for our winter jackets.
Twenty minutes after boarding, the flight attendants came through the cabin and passed out the food and beverage menu.
Amenity kits were distributed after the menus. Contents included Clarins branded lotions, a toothbrush and toothpaste, ear plugs, an eye mask, socks, and a pen.
Pre-departure beverages were served next. A flight attendant came through the cabin with a tray of either champagne, water, or juice.
Unfortunately, there was an issue with the fuel truck and our aircraft, and our pushback was delayed by about 35 minutes. It appeared that the fuel truck had apparently stalled and could not be driven away from the aircraft. At 7:05PM, we finally pushed back.
At approximately 7:23 PM, the captain returned to the intercom to announce an unexpected development: we were returning to the gate due to a reported aircraft engine issue that required inspection by the mechanics.
After we returned to the gate, an hour past our scheduled departure at 6:30 PM, the flight attendants served drinks and cheese crackers while we waited for the mechanics to fix the engine issue. I chose a glass of Telmont Brut Reserve champagne.
The purser also came through the cabin with a box of snacks which included various chocolates, sweets, crackers, and madeleines. Pipping hot towels were also provided.
We pushed back for the second time at 8:24 PM, approximately two hours after our scheduled departure (and nearly three hours after the original AF137 departure time of 5:30 PM). After a brief engine test on the apron, we finally took off from runway 28R at 8:47 PM.
The flight attendants swiftly completed the meal service once we were airborne. Thirty minutes after departure, the appetizer was served along with a warm bread basket. The only option for the appetizer was a shrimp asparagus salad with fennel and tomato salad. Sides included a mixed green salad, a cheese plate, and San Sebastian cheesecake. Unfortunately, I found the appetizer rather disappointing, as all three dishes lacked flavor.
For my main dish, I opted for the cod served on a bed of quinoa with a ‘seafood sauce.’ Although the presentation was lacking, I was pleasantly surprised by the perfectly cooked cod, which boasted excellent flavors of roasted tomato and cream.
I appreciated the efficiency of the flight attendants, who completed the meal service within an hour, leaving six hours remaining on the flight. Although there was no mattress topper offered or turn-down service, I arranged my own bedding and found it very comfortable to sleep in. The ample foot space allowed me to adjust my sleeping positions comfortably throughout the flight.
With the suite door closed, the seat provided us both with an excellent amount of privacy. I truly felt I had as much legroom as some first-class products offered such as British Airways.
I managed to get about four hours of sleep thanks to the comfortable seat. Upon waking up, I visited the three lavatories in the business-class cabin. There was one larger lavatory behind the cockpit with two regular-sized lavatories between the two business-class cabins. Amenities included Clarins branded perfume.
Air France A350s also have onboard espresso machines and I had an excellent espresso served with a small piece of dark chocolate.
Breakfast was served exactly one hour before landing. Unlike most of their competitors, Air France actually offered a hot breakfast which was an egg omelet with a potato croquette. There was a side of fresh fruit, plain yogurt, and croissant.
After breakfast, the flight attendants passed out another hot towel.
We touched down on runway 26L at CDG at 10:43 AM, arriving two hours and twenty minutes later than our original scheduled arrival time of 8:25 AM. The taxi to gate F15 added another 15 minutes, and by 11 AM, we were ready to proceed with our connection to Hanoi.
I thoroughly enjoyed Air France’s new business class hard product on their A350s. The bulkhead Stelia Opera seats with privacy doors and ample legroom rival Qatar QSuites as my favorite seats. However, the more than two-hour delay and disappointing catering departing from the United States left some room for improvement.
After arriving in MSP from Indy, I had a short two-hour layover in Minneapolis. Thanks to my AMEX Platinum Card, I had access to the Delta Sky Club for my layover.
The lounge was incredibly crowded with holiday travelers and seating was very difficulty to find, even for just one passenger. Despite the overflowing lounge, the staff kept fresh food stocked in the buffet. I found the options very tasty.
With 10 minutes to boarding, I made my way to the gate where it was packed as well. Our B757-300 was originally delivered to Northwest Airlines in March 2003 prior to their merger with Delta Air Lines. On January 1, 2010, she was transferred to Delta and has been flying with them ever since.
The Flight
Delta Air Lines offers a total of 24 Domestic First and 210 Main Cabin seats on board their B757-300s. The main cabin is arranged in a 3-3 configuration.
I was seated in 27A, one of the main cabin exit row seats. Each seat was 17.3″ wide with about 31″ of pitch. There were a few extra inches of pitch in the exit row which I appreciated.
A significant differentiator that sets Delta apart from United and American is that they offer seat-back entertainment screens on all of their Main Cabin seats on mainline aircraft. Underneath each screen was a USB port as well as a headphone jack.
In between the seats were 110V outlets as well. For every three-seat row, there were two outlets available.
The aircraft was nearly 100% full and boarding took quite some time. Unfortunately, our departure was delayed by half an hour as a family of four who refused to wear masks were deplaned. We finally took off at 7:44PM.
Shortly after take-off the flight attendants came through with a beverage service. I decided to purchase a Gin & Tonic to go along with my Biscoff cookie.
There were a total of two Main Cabin lavatories on board the B757-300 located in the middle of the aircraft.
The rest of the flight was uneventful with dark skies outside the windows.
We landed at 9:39PM and had a quick taxi to the gate. Thanks for the ride!
All things considered, I enjoyed this mid-continental flight with Delta on their B757-300. I always enjoy flying the B757s given how few are left in the world. Combined with inflight entertainment screens, alcohol for purchase, and increased pitch at the exit row these factors made for a great flight.
Route: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)-Indianapolis International (IND)
Distance: 246 miles
Flight Time: 51min
Takeoff: 8:41AM (EST)
Landing: 9:32AM (EST)
The Preflight
I had a three-hour layover in Detroit between my flights from Seattle to Indianapolis. After getting off of my red-eye on board the Delta A330-900neo, I made my way to the Delta Sky Club for some breakfast and a strong cup of coffee.
I arrived just as the Sky Club opened for the morning with ample seating throughout the large rectangular space.
Breakfast options included scrambled eggs, sausages, cold oats, boiled eggs, and fresh fruit. There were also bagels, toast, muffins, and yogurt parfaits.
Boarding for my flight began 30 minutes prior to departure at 7:59AM.
The CRJ-900, registration N349PQ, was delivered brand new to Endeavor Air in January 2015.
The Flight
Delta Air Lines offers a total of 12 Domestic First-class seats onboard their CRJ-900s operated by Endeavor and SkyWest. The seats are arranged in a 1-2 configuration across the first four rows of the aircraft cabin.
I was seated in 4A in the last row of the cabin. Each seat was 19.6″ wide and offered 37″ of pitch.
There was a dedicated cup holder built into the armrest as well as a 110V outlet.
Within the other armrest was a bi-fold tray table.
Upon boarding, a small bottle of water was provided at each seat.
We took off at 8:41AM and had a smooth climb out of the cloudy Detroit metro area.
Fifteen minutes after take-off, the flight attendant came through the cabin with a drink service. Each drink was individually poured in the galley. I went with a Bloody Mary. After drinks, they came through with a snack basket with chips and cookies.
The lavatory at the front of the cabin was small but did have Malin+Goetz branded toiletries.
We landed at 9:32AM after just 51 minutes in the air.
Thanks for the ride!
Delta Connection offered a very basic Domestic first-class service on board their short regional flight from Detroit to Indianapolis. I was perfectly happy with the upgrade but definitely would not pay a large premium for Domestic First on this route.
Route: Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)-Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
Distance: 1,984 miles
Flight Time: 3hrs 14min
Takeoff: 11:34PM (PST)
Landing: 5:48AM +1 (EST)
The Preflight
I was heading back home to Indianapolis with Delta this evening with a red-eye to Detroit followed by a short regional flight down to Indy. Two hours before the flight’s scheduled departure time of 11:00PM, I visited the Delta Sky Club in the main terminal which was very festive given the upcoming holidays.
The Seattle Sky Club is one of my favorite Delta lounges given the ample amount of seating and excellent food selection. I find the Sky Club food to be much better than the Alaska Airlines lounges and on par with the smaller Centurion Lounge offerings. There very a variety of delicious packaged baked goods (cookies, brownies, rice crispies), chips, Oreos, and bars.
Hot food options included cauliflower mac n cheese, jasmine rice, and Thai salmon curry which was excellent.
Additionally, there were cold-cut sandwiches, cheese, salads, and various dips. There was an extensive bar selection as well as self-serve coffee available.
Boarding for our flight began 30 minutes prior to departure time.
Our aircraft today was an A330-900neo, registration N406DX. She was just under a year old and one of Delta’s newest aircraft. I had specifically booked the redeye flight from Seattle to Detroit to fly the A330-900neo as I had never flown this aircraft type before.
The Flight
Delta Air Lines has a total of 29 Thompson Vantage XL suites arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration onboard their A330-900neos. The entire business class cabin, branded as Delta One, was arranged between the first and second set of doors. The solo seats alternated between being closer to the aisle or the window on the sides. The middle seats alternated between being close to the aisle or the middle.
I was seated in 2A, which was flush against the window. Each suite had a 22.5-inch wide seat that could go fully flat at 80 inches in length. These seats felt more roomy and were wider than the Delta One seats on board the B767-400ERs. The Delta One suites also featured a fully closing door for maximum privacy.
Each suite had an 18.5-inch high-definition inflight entertainment touchscreen display.
Below the screen was a footwell. I find that almost all staggered configuration seats have footwells that cannot comfortably fit my size 11 feet.
Near the door of the suite was a small coat hook.
Next to the seat was a small countertop.
Underneath the armrest was a small personal mirror as well as the IFE remote. Below that was the medium-sized 21-inch tray table that slid out from under the countertop. There were also secondary seat controls built into the side of the console.
The main touchscreen suite controls had an extensive array of options for customizing the recline, light brightness, toggling the reading light, as well as activating the “Do Not Disturb” light. Each seat also had two USB ports, a 110V outlet, and a headphone jack.
Amenities provided to business class passengers included a sanitizing wipe, a small water bottle, and pair of headphones.
There was a slight delay in our departure as the First Officer had accidentally left his phone on the shuttle bus. He had to sprint back to the terminal but luckily was able to retrieve his phone. We pushed back 18 minutes late but still had a projected on-time arrival in Detroit.
We took off at 11:34PM with a smooth climb out of Seattle.
Service began 15 minutes after take-off with a beverage service followed by a snack box. I went with a Bloody Mary which was generously re-filled multiple times throughout the flight.
Unfortunately, Delta did not load any bedding for this domestic flight and I had trouble falling asleep. I spent the three-hour flight perusing the movie options.
There were a total of two lavatories designated for business class passengers. One lavatory was at the front of the cabin and another was at the rear of the rear of the Delta One cabin.
The cabin was prepped for landing 10 minutes out from Detroit and we touched down at 5:48AM.
Thanks for the ride!
I had a comfortable ride onboard the Delta A330-900neo on this short three-hour domestic flight from Seattle to Detroit. It was a luxury to be able to ride in the Delta One suite where normally the aircraft would have had a standard recliner seat.
Route: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)-Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)
Distance: 2,253 miles
Flight Time: 4hrs 58min
Takeoff: 6:20PM (EST)
Landing: 8:15PM (PST)
The Preflight
In between my flights from Indy to Seattle, I had a four-hour layover in Atlanta. Thanks to the American Express Platinum card, I had access to all of the Delta SkyClubs in Atlanta. I spent the majority of my time in the A concourse SkyClub which had fantastic views of the gates and aircraft.
There was a variety of hot food in the lounge including chicken curry, fried rice, and soup. Cold options included various salads, dips, and sandwiches.
Boarding began at 5:15PM, forty minutes prior to the scheduled departure time.
Our B767-400ER, registration N840MH, was delivered brand new to Delta in May 2001. She was over 20 years old but had recently been retrofitted with the new Delta One Studios. Only 37 B767-400ERs were ever produced making this aircraft one of the rarer wide-body jets.
The Flight
Delta offers a total of 34 custom Thompson Vantage business class seats arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration. Along the fuselage, the odd-numbered business class seats were closer to the aisle while the even-number seats were along the windows. All 34 seats were arranged between the first and second set of doors.
I was seated in 8A which was in the second to last row of the business class cabin. The seat itself was narrow at 20 inches wide. It found the seat padding to be very stiff and almost uncomfortable to sit in. When fully flat the seat was 77 inches long.
There was a sleek modern 18.5 inches touchscreen entertainment system that featured Delta’s extensive inflight entertainment options.
Below the screen was the foot well. As with almost all staggered configuration seats, the footwell was small and restrictive around my size 11 feet.
I found the seat design very stylish with the special Delta One branding.
Next to the seat was a storage space, large tabletop space, and seat controls.
The storage space included a headphone rack, water bottle holder, and literature pocket.
The touchscreen seat control panel had options to turn on a “Do Not Disturb” light, adjust the reading light, seat recline, as well as leg rest. Each seat also had two USB ports, headphone jack, and 110V outlet.
Underneath the tabletop space was an IFE remote, a personal mirror, as well as a few additional suite controls.
Each studio also had a large sturdy bi-fol tray table.
A few amenities were provided to business class passengers including a bottle of water, sanitizing wipe, and headphones.
All passengers boarded by 5:48PM (seven minutes ahead of schedule). We pushed back at 6:03PM followed by a 17-minute taxi to runway 27R.
Service began quickly after take-off. First up was dinner which included three options: roast beef sandwich, charcuterie, or a buckwheat noodle salad. I went with the buckwheat salad which included a small bag of wasabi peas and a pumpkin pound cake.
Drinks were served after dinner. I had a sad plastic cup of gin & tonic.
Half-way through the flight there was a small snack service. Options included either goldfish or Biscoff cookies.
There were two dedicated business-class lavatories in the cabin. One lavatory was located at the front of the cabin and one was located at the rear of the business class cabin. The lavatories were clean but unremarkable.
The rest of the flight was uneventful. With 20 minutes prior to landing, the flight attendants came through to prep the cabin. We landed at 8:15PM local time in Seattle and arrived at the gate 16 minutes later.
Thanks for the ride!
I found the Delta One Studio on board the B767-400ER a luxury for this mid-continental flight from Atlanta to Seattle. The lie-flat seat was a definite plus over the standard recliner domestic first-class seats onboard narrow-body aircraft. However, I did find the seat cushioning to be very firm and potentially uncomfortable for longer trans-continental flights.
Route: Indianapolis International (IND)-Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
Distance: 502 miles
Flight Time: 1hr 13min
Takeoff: 1:10PM (EST)
Landing: 2:22PM (EST)
The Preflight
I was heading to Seattle on a short trip for the weekend and flying with Delta Air Lines through Atlanta. I arrived two hours before the scheduled departure time of 1:10PM to a relatively empty Delta check-in area. Since it was the first week of December, the terminal was decorated for the holidays.
Thanks to PreCheck, I was airside within five minutes of getting my boarding pass. I made my way to the only lounge at IND, the Delta Sky Club, once I cleared security.
The Delta Sky Club at IND in a small intimate square room with a buffet in the back along with a bar along the side of the room.
Lunch was available and included a few hot options. There were chicken wings, mac and cheese, and Spanish rice.
Cold options included pico, salsa, raw veggies with ranch, hummus and pita, cold cut sandwiches, and a variety of salads.
There was also decadent chocolate brownies for dessert. The bar had a few packaged chips as well.
I made my way to the gate at 12:15PM, forty five minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. Our A321, registration N361DN, was delivered brand new to Delta in August 2018. She was one of 99 active A321 flying for Delta.
Boarding began at 12:20.
The Flight
Delta Air Lines has a total of 20 first-class seats on their A321s arranged in a 2-2 configuration. Each seat is 21 inches wide and has 37 inches of pitch. I was seated in 4A.
Each seat had a personal entertainment touchscreen with a USB port and headphone jack. Below the screen were four separate seatback pockets.
Each seat also had an individual 110V outlet as well as a USB port located between the seatbacks above the floor.
In between the two seats was a tray table with a small cocktail tray, as well as armrests. The tray table was stored underneath the armrest.
Upon boarding, each passenger was given a small sanitizing wipe. Pre-departure beverages were not offered.
Boarding was completed at 12:52PM and we pushed back 10 minutes later. At 1:10PM, we took off from runway 5R.
We had wonderful views of downtown Indianapolis on the climb out.
Service began 20 minutes after take-off with drinks. I had a glass of Woodford served pre-poured in a plastic cup. Snacks included either Biscoff or Goldfish.
As we neared Atlanta, I used the forward first-class lavatory.
Just an hour after take-off we began our descent into Atlanta. On approach, we had great views of downtown Atlanta and Mercedes-Benz stadium.
We landed at 2:18PM followed by a five-minute taxi to the gate. Thanks for the ride!
Delta offered a perfectly average short domestic first-class flight between Indianapolis and Atlanta. While the food and beverage presentation could be improved, I appreciated the friendly service and comfortable seat.
Route: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta (ATL)-San Diego (SAN)
Flight Time: 4hrs
Distance: 2,007miles
Departure: 8:10PM (EST)
Arrival: 9:28PM (PST)
The Preflight
After landing in Atlanta from Indy, I was alerted on my Delta app that I had been downgraded on the flight from Atlanta to San Diego. My original flight, DL702, had been swapped from a B767-400ER to a B767-300ER. That meant business class went from 34 to 26 seats and I had been downgraded to economy.
Delta was actually on top of this event and a few minutes after landing I received a proactive phone call from a Delta agent. She offered either $200 or 20,000 SkyMiles as compensation for the downgrade. Another choice was that I could take the later San Diego flight (DL918) in business class and still receive compensation for the delayed arrival. I elected for 20,000 miles and to take the later flight in business class.
What was originally a three-and-a-half-hour layover in Atlanta turned into a five-hour layover. I decided to walk all the way to the F terminal and then lounge hop the various Sky Clubs. The F Terminal Sky Club had an outdoor patio area with expansive views of the apron and taxiway which I enjoyed on this beautiful day.
There was an extensive offering of food options in the lounge as well. Cold options included a very tasty grilled chicken bahn mi sandwich.
There were also Asian-style noodles, tabouleh, carrot salad, and grilled chicken.
Hot food choices included stir-fried rice and teriyaki chicken.
Two soup options were vegetable and lentil soup and a chicken tortilla soup.
There was also a dip bar with hummus, cheese dip, cubed cheese, and tortilla chips. Dessert options included rice crispy bar, cookies, brownies, and pound cake.
I then made my way to the A concourse Sky Club. This gave me a great view of our B767-400ER pulling into the gate.
Our B767-400ER, registration N830MH, was delivered brand-new to Delta back in September 2000. She was over 20 years old and had spent her whole life flying for DL.
Boarding began at 7:32PM, about 25 minutes prior to our scheduled departure time.
All passengers boarded through the second door on the left side which meant business class passengers turned to the left after stepping on board.
The Flight
Delta Air Lines offers a total of 34 Delta One Studios onboard each B767-400ER arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration between the first and second set of doors.
The Delta One Studio seat is a modified Thompson Vantage seat. They are in a staggered configuration which meant odd-numbered seats were closer to the aisle while even-numbered seats were closer to the window.
Each seat is 20 inches wide.
While there was no door at the seat, there was a small wing panel next to the headrest which gave a semblance of privacy.
Each seat had an 18.5″ touchscreen IFE display which was high-definition and responsive to controls.
Below the IFE screen was the footwell. As with most staggered configuration seats, the footwell was small and restrictive.
Along the window was a very large console with smooth tabletop space.
The IFE remote and a small mirror were underneath the armrest.
A large and sturdy bi-fold tray table popped out from beneath the armrest.
A few seat controls were arranged along the console side.
Beneath the countertop was also a large storage bin. Seats that are flush along the window lack this storage space compared to the seats along the aisle. The seat was incredibly dirty…
Directly to the right of the seat were a literature pocket, water bottle, and headphone storage shelf.
I found the seat controls very intuitive.
Each seat also had two USB ports, a 110V outlet, and a headphone jack.
Next to the headrest was a small privacy wing. One thing that did bother me in the seat was the firmness of the seat. The cushioning was incredibly hard and by the end of the flight, I found it uncomfortable.
Awaiting each passenger at the seat was a small water bottle. At the door, flight attendants were distributing sanitizing wipes.
Each seat also came with a pair of noise cancelling headphones. The quality was not too bad but still not as good as my Bose QC35s.
The high-definition IFE screen was massive at 18.5″ and was highly responsive.
Boarding was completed at 7:58PM and we pushed back 12 minutes later.
We took off at 8:29PM after a twenty minute taxi to the runway.
Service began twenty minutes after takeoff with a beverage service. I had a Gin & Tonic which was pre-poured in a small plastic cup.
The “dinner” service was provided just two minutes later. Options included a turkey sandwich or superfood grain bowl. I went with the superfood grain bowl which came with a side of chocolate and crackers. The serving was pitifully small but tasty.
Throughout the flight, flight attendants would come through the cabin and refill drinks. I never went without an empty beverage.
Once dinner was finished, I reclined the seat and manage to nap to about two hours. I appreciated the “Do Not Disturb” button that Delta installed on the seats.
As we began our initial descent into San Diego, I used the Delta One lavatory behind my seat. It was nicely renovated with mood lighting. Malin+Goetz branded amenities were also provided.
I really did enjoy the lightening that Delta installed in their renovated B767-400ERs. The illuminated seat backs and blue hue gave a cabin a futuristic feel.
We began our final descent into runway 16 and then landed 11 minutes behind scheduled at 9:28PM.
The taxi to gate 48 took 13 minutes. Thanks for the ride!
Route: Indianapolis International (IND)-Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
Distance: 502 miles
Flight Time: 1hr 9min
Departure: 13:06
Arrival: 14:23
The Preflight
I was going to visit family for a few days in San Diego and managed to get a SkyMiles award ticket through Atlanta and then to San Diego onboard their B767-400ERs in Domestic First. The first leg from Indy to Atlanta was onboard Deltas regular A321. Once I parked in the economy lot and took the shuttle bus to the terminal, I made my way to the Sky Priority check-in counter.
There was a good amount of people today and there was even a line for the Sky Priority check-in counter.
Security took just a few minutes thanks to TSA Precheck and I then made my way to the Sky Club. This happens to be the only lounge at IND.
The lounge was quite full and just a few scattered sofas and chairs were available. Pictures of the lounge seating can be found in my previous trip report. Alcohol offerings included a good amount of tap beers, wine, and liqours.
Next to the bar were packaged chips and self-serve water.
Dessert was hidden in the corner of the lounge and options included cookies, brownies, and french toast.
On the other side of the bar was a Starbucks branded espresso machine.
In the center of the lounge was the buffet. The theme of today’s hot food was Mexican and choices included seasoned rice and beef barbacoa. There was also a soup available.
Cold food offerings included veggies, charcuterie, shrimp, and tortilla chips with salsa.
The seasoned shrimp and cocktail sauce were very tasty.
There were also sandwiches, salads, and hummus.
The lounge food was very good and I had an excellent lunch there. Five minutes until scheduled boarding was about to begin, I headed to the gate area.
The A321 taking me down to Atlanta today, registration N105DX, was delivered brand-new to Delta just over a year ago in September 2020.
Boarding began at 12:31PM.
The Flight
Delta Air Lines offers a total of 20 Domestic First class seats onboard their A321s arranged in the standard 2-2 configuration.
I was seated in 4A in the second to last row of the cabin. Each recliner seat had 37 inches of pitch and was 21 inches wide.
There was a very nice IFE screen as well as a variety of seatback pockets.
Underneath the screen was a USB port and headphone jack. I really do appreciate how Delta is the only airline in the United States to consistently have personal seatback screens in their Domestic First cabins.
Inbetween the seatbacks were 110V outlets and an additional USB port.
The center armrest had a small cocktail holder and an additional holder that popped out from underneath.
The large bi-fold tray table was stored underneath the center armrest.
The other armrest had the seat recline button.
Upon boarding, each passenger was given a small sanitizing wipe.
The Flight
Flight attendants closed the boarding doors at 1:00PM and we pushed back six minutes later. The taxi to runway 5R took 10 minutes as there were a few aircraft taking off before us.
On the climb out, I had clear views of the Speedway race track and downtown Indy.
Once we hit 15,000 feet, the flight attendants began service with beverages. I was served a pitiful Bloody Mary in a small plastic cup… Snack choice included Goldfish, Cliff bar, or Biscoff.
Thankfully, the flight attendant was proactive in getting me a refill.
On our way down to Atlanta, we passed by a nuclear power plant.
We began our descent into ATL just 40 minutes after taking off from IND. The approach was smooth and provided me with an awesome view of downtown Atlanta.
At 2:23PM we touched down on runway 18R followed by a nine-minute taxi to gate T6.
We made our way to the Clear line which we both have thanks to our AMEX Green Card. There were two other passengers in front of us. Clear allowed us to jump to the front of the TSA Precheck line which was about 30 passengers deep.
Once through security, we made our way to the Delta Sky Club located in the F/G concourse.
This lounge was also packed. Social distancing was impossible but we both felt comfortable thanks to our vaccinations.
There was an assortment of complimentary beverages, alcohol, and food available.
There were self-serve coffee containers, fountain drinks, tea, water, and espresso machines.
Bar snacks included pretzels and peanuts. Two bartenders were working behind the bar and were very efficient.
Cold fresh food options were served cafeteria style by lounge staff. Options included a grain bowl, tomato cucumber salad, caprese sandwich, BBQ chicken wrap, and turkey club sandwich.
Other cold dishes included pasta salad, spinach salad, salsa, hummus, and raw veggies with ranch.
There were also two hot offerings; a meatball sandwich and Italian beef sandwich. Dessert was salted caramel cookies, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, and blondies.
Other snacks included oranges, Rice Krispies, and potato chips.
With 10 minutes until boarding, we headed towards gate G14 for a 3:04PM scheduled boarding time. The aircraft taking us down to Chicago was a 2.2 year-old A321, registration N377DN, that was delivered to Delta Airlines in April of 2019. She was one of 99 active A321s flying for Delta.
Boarding began four minutes after the scheduled time at 3:08PM. Comfort+ boarded after First Class and Diamond Medallion members.
The Seat
All of Delta’s A321s feature 20 First, 29 Comfort+, and 142 Main Cabin seats. The Comfort+ seats are arranged in a 3-3 configuration between rows 10-14. We were seated in the last row of Comfort+ and originally had the window and aisle with an open middle. However, the flight ended up going out completely full with a non-rev taking the last seat in our row.
Each seat was 18 inches wide and had 34 inches of pitch. I found the padding to be very comfortable for this short hour long flight.
Unlike American, Alaska, and United, Delta has installed seat back entertainment screens on the vast majority of their mainline fleet. The touchscreen was fast and responsive. Below the screen was a headphone jack and USB port.
I loved the Delta inflight entertainment which provides a plethora of information about the flight and our aircraft.
There was also a standard tray table.
Despite the literature pocket being low, I found that there was plenty of room for me to stretch my legs out. Between each seat was a power outlet and an additional USB port.
The recline button was located in the right hand armrest.
Delta has done a phenomenal job branding their seats and cabin, giving the Comfort+ section a very premium feel.
The Flight
Upon boarding, every passenger was given a sanitizing wipe. I have found the distribution of these wipes to be hit-or-miss at this point in the pandemic, with each flight being 50-50 on whether they are passed out or not.
Boarding was complete at 3:40PM about half an hour after it began. We pushed back two minutes late at 3:44PM and had a 20 minute taxi on hold on runway 30L before finally taking off at 4:03PM.
Service began 20 minutes after takeoff with drinks and snacks. Due to COVID-19, Delta has greatly cutback their inflight service. Since this flight was less than 400 miles, drinks in Comfort+ included coffee, tea, water, beer, or wine.
Snack choices included either a Biscoff or pretzel bag.
We had a very smooth rest of the flight cruising over Southern Minnesota and Northwestern Illinois.
Just 10 minutes after getting my coffee, we began our initial descent into Chicago and I was forced to down the rest of my drink quickly. With a westerly approach there were no views of the Chicago skyscrapers.
We landed at 4:55PM local time at O’Hare on the dreaded runway 9L (the furthest runway from the terminals). The taxi to Terminal 2 took almost 20 minutes and we finally pulled in at 5:14PM at gate E11.
