Flight Review: Delta One A330 Domestic JFK – ATL
On this trip:
Lounge Review: Delta SkyClub Terminal 4 JFK
Thankfully, 2020 has come and gone, now we can turn over a new leaf and start afresh. But then, starting afresh also means that we all have to start thinking about (re)qualifying again for those elite status since everything resets to zero at the beginning of the year.
Taking the FIRST flight of the year 2021 in the Delta One cabin was a great way to get the year started. Thanks to a great deal I was able to snag on points and miles.
CHECK-IN EXPERIENCE:
It was the first Sunday of the year, and despite the rise in COVID-19 cases across the country, surprisingly many people travelled for the holidays and most people were returning back to their various destinations.
Departing out of Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport, the Sky Priority lane was a bit hidden in one corner, although there are signs which I think could make use of some directional arrows. With the few passengers in line, check in took about 5 minutes.
With about 90-minutes before my first flight on 2021, I headed straight to the Delta SkyClub Terminal 4. The walk to this lounge was like a long walk to freedom, but it was worth it at the end of the day. If you are flying out of a different terminal and still wishes to use the Terminal 4 SkyClub, I’ll suggest you prepare for a 15-minute walk from Ticketing/Check-In (one way).
Read More: My $20,000 Emirates First Class Experience
The line at the boarding gate wasn’t surprising giving the number of people found at the check-in counters earlier. Surprisingly though, the number of active-duty military that boarded during the pre-boarding process was like half the entire flight.
Before settling in at my Seat 2J, I couldn’t help but take a few pictures first. With Westin Heavenly Inflight Pillow and Duvet in their respective sealed bags stacked on the seat, and headphone provided to enjoy some entertainment from Delta Studio.
LIE-FLAT-SEAT BED:
Give me a lie-flat-seat on a long / short haul and I’ll make the flight a memorable one. Well, I’m not technically saying all lie-flat seats are comfortable, but I’d rather take a lie-flat seat any day, than a regular first-class seat.
While I’ve stayed at many luxury hotels, The Westin Heavenly bed is still one of my favorites of all time. And as much as I want to have the Westin bed, the thought of paying about $250 in shipping is still a no-no for me. Let’s blame that on my frugality.
The bed was quite comfy with more than enough room, and even though I didn’t sleep during the flight, being able to just lie-in-bed while watching a movie at 35,000 feet is a no-brainer. It doesn’t get any better than this, especially during the pandemic.
But on a negative note, the flight experience would have been even better if the reverse side of the duvet wasn’t ripped.
Read More: Emirates A380 Business Class
FOOD & BEVERAGE:
The most disappointing part of the flight was the food and beverage experience onboard. A snack bag was distributed, followed by a snack box. The snack bag generally is what everyone gets, regardless of the cabin in which you’re in. While the snack box is what the passengers in Delta One / First Class gets.
Again, it was disappointing to see that Delta Airlines is ONLY offering Beer and Wine alone. No coffee, no tea, no juice, no soda, nothing. Just beer and wine. I found this to be very dumb of the airline, especially since there were diverse kinds of beverages available at most of their lounges. Thank goodness I had a can of pineapple juice I brought with me from the SkyClub before I boarded the flight.
CONCLUSION:
The Delta One provides some level of privacy and exclusivity, and that’s one of the things that makes it unique. Despite the few things that were lacking during this flight, it was still a great experience to a certain level. One question I’d like to ask Delta Airline is, why provide beer and not provide juice / soda?
We understand most airlines have modified their inflight services, but what we do not understand is not providing any soft-drinks onboard a Delta One flight. We hope things gets better soon and we cannot wait for us to be back onboard our next Delta One flight. Until then…
Nigeria-born, California-based.
Kayode currently holds higher status on multiple airlines and hotel programs. He has visited 4 continents, 30 countries, and 35 of the 50 US states.
He began his adventure journey after selling his first cellphone ever, and used the money to apply for his first passport. He said to himself, “I’d rather have a passport than a cellphone”. And since then, he has been globetrotting.
Great question at the end. Keep us posted on what Delta has to say.
Thanks Abigail,
That was one question I kept asking myself. hopefully we get a response from Delta soon. Until then, we’ll keep our fingers crossed.