My journey from New York to Los Angeles on a Delta Air Lines 767-300 in “Delta One” business class was a mixed bag, though the Delta One Lounge in JFK and LAX truly make up for what is now an uncompetitive onboard product.
Delta Air Lines 767-300 “Delta One” Business Class Review
In recent years I’ve flown Delta’s A350-900 and A330-900neo in “Delta One” business class, but it has been several years since I’ve flown on Delta’s 767-300. These workhorses are still the mainstays for Delta’s premium transcontinental flights and many flights to Europe.
My flight from New York to LA was 122,500 SkyMiles or $1839. Which would you have chosen? SkyMiles remain very valuable on many routes that do not start or end in the USA, but for US customers…don’t expect any great deals, particularly for premium cabin redemptions. Delta SkyMiles American Express cardholders can get a 15% discount on award travel when using miles on Delta flights, which dropped the effective rate to 104,125. I was on a work trip so my ticket was paid for…
Yesterday I reviewed the Delta One Lounge at JFK and I must emphasize what an important part of the package this is. While you’ll soon read about how the onboard product really was no better overall than what you can expect on United Airlines or JetBlue, the lounge is really something to make time for…I was very impressed.
> Read More: Delta One Lounge New York Review (JFK)
My flight departed from gate B28 in Terminal 4 and boarding began 45 minutes prior to departure.
Delta Air Lines 773
New York (JFK) – Los Angeles (LAX)
December 2024
Depart: 9:55 AM
Arrive: 1:16 PM
Duration: 06hr, 21min
Distance: 2,475 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 767-300ER (76K)
Seat: 05C (“Delta One” Business Class)
Seat
Delta’s 767-300 includes 26 Thompson Vantage seats arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration. Seats are 20 inches wide 77 inches long in lie-flat mode. These are very common seats you can find on carriers including Austrian, Aer Lingus, SWISS, and JetBlue.
To Delta’s credit, it has recently reupholstered these seats and the cabin looks fresh, especially when the mood lighting is turned on. However, I don’t find these seats comfortable…the padding was too hard for me and the seat was not stable: it rocked slightly if you leaned back. Furthermore, there is very little storage and the footwell is very narrow.
Quite candidly, you feel like you are in a coffin…or an MRI machine…when in lie-flat mode.
Hey, I’ll take any lie-flat I can get, but I do not find this seat very comfortable compared to most of the other seats on the market, including even the B/E Diamond 2-2 seats American Airlines uses on its A321T aircraft and United and Delta use on their 757-200 aircraft.
There are individual air vents (always appreciated) and each seat has universal 110-volt A/C outlet and two USB-A sockets.
Bedding is excellent, including a soft duvet and pillow. I did try to take a nap on this flight, but failed…while the seat may have contributed, it also was the middle of the day and I don’t generally take naps.
Food + Drink
After takeoff, a hot towel followed by beverages and warm mixed nuts were offered. The nut mix included pistachios and pecans.
Delta managed to both delight and disappoint when it came to lunch onboard. There were no printed menus (though I had pre-ordered on the Delta app). There were no ice cream sundaes. The deviled egg appetizer (no choice) was revolting (I just don’t like deviled eggs or anything with mayonnaise or curry powder).
But the cocoa-braised short ribs were delicious… beautifully presented, tender, and full of flavor. It was an excellent lunch and the sort of thing I would make at home or order in a restaurant…a delicious meal.
I stuck to sparkling water to drink…no wine list either, even online.
A choice of pineapple upside cake or cheese (or both) was offered for dessert.
A snack basket was offered during the flight and a warm cookie 60-minutes prior to landing.
Amenity Kit + Slippers
Delta has partnered with Missoni to offer new “premium” amenity kits, presented in a very attractive (faux) leather case. Contents included:
- Toothbrush (with Marvis toothpaste) – I love Marvis, but I immediately throw away any wooden toothbrush…it reminds me of having my tonsils checked as a kid…worse than paper straws!
- Earplugs
- Pen
- Socks
- Eyeshdae
- Grown Alchemist lip balm + skin creme
It’s an excellent kit and far better than what American, United, or JetBlue offer on their transcontinental flights.
Slippers and a water bottle were also placed at each seat:
IFE + Wi-Fi
The screen is only 10.1 inches…very small.
But Delta does offer an impressive library of movies, TV shows, films, and games…
Even better, wi-fi was complimentary for SkyMiles members (simply log in with your SkyMiles number and passwords and enjoy fast, free internet for the entire flight without data caps).
Noise-canceling headphones are not nearly as nice as the Bang & Olufsen headphones American Airlines offers on the same route, but were functional.
Lavatories
Two lavatories are located in the front of the cabin. They were and refurbished (far more modern looking than on United’s 767-300). Soap was from Grown Alchemist. There was even a drop-down seat like you sometimes find on Japanese carriers…
Service
The service was not outstanding…it was rather abrupt and casual, and I did not sense friendliness or attentiveness…just going through the motions. Pre-departure beverages were offered (kudos) but without a smile or “welcome onboard.”
One flight attendant seemed almost annoyed that I asked for a drink refill midway through the flight…I think I never should have had to ask in the first place. Glasses sat empty for many passengers in the cabin. The lights were turned out after lunch and FAs largely disappeared until the hot cookie came out.
This wasn’t the “premium” service I was expecting on Delta, though it was by no means hostile or even bad.
CONCLUSION
I was thankful to fly in Delta One and enjoyed a very productive journey to Los Angeles with fast free Wi-Fi and a delicious meal. I don’t find the seat competitive, but it was quite workable for a daytime flight.
Delta plans to keep this aircraft in service until 2030 and is unlikely to retrofit it further. With added touches like fast free wi-fi, a nice amenity kit, and most importantly an outstanding ground product, Delta is very competitive on this transcontinental route, though I would not necessarily label it the best.
“Which would you have chosen?” Neither! Nor would I have felt comfortable charging a client or an employer for it.
As for the deviled eggs, why on earth would they serve that onboard? It makes me sick thinking about it
JetBlue cost even more, United was sold out, and AA was the same price.
Matthew, good review. I took the same flight at the end of January returning from Buenos Aires via JFK.
I had the chicken meatballs…they were good, too.
Did you mean to compare the amenity kit to “American, Delta or Jet Blue” or maybe substitute United?
As far as the crew is concerned, I’ve found, in my almost 40 year airline career, that it’s hit or miss. Mostly hits, but a miss every now and then.
Thanks again for the good review.
Bruce
Matthew,
Agree – good honest review. I did this flight in January 2024 on a new A330-900NEO and OMG what a difference in the privacy and seating comfort. Big screen and wonderful support electronics/connections around the seat.
My service and food were excellent and I too must shout out about the Delta One lounge at JFK. If you ever do this flight again, even if the timing is not optimal, go for the A330-900NEO. You will not regret it.
Only bad part of the trip – LAX really sucks………
Not sure what you are talking about as the JFK-LAX leg solely is operated by 767s at the moment…
Apple,
RTFP – I posted I did this a year ago. I don’t follow the details of aircraft routings. I have a life.
Do people really use that pump soap in the lav that has no secure lid? Perverts have been known to make “deposits.”
Can you cite any examples? Or just blustering out your own paranoia a’la Gary Leff about these things? Or perhaps you just have a rich imagination as to some fantasy you hold you close…
“Our Public Safety Department is investigating an unusual substance found in a few of our soap dispensers during the last week,” said airport spokesperson Erica Donerson in a statement. “The Airport Authority takes incidents involving health and safety very seriously.”
This is just one example at DTW. Have you noticed hotels secure their dispensers?
How do you know the bottles weren’t “secured”? Just about every bottle I have seen on an airplane has a locking twist cap. It looks normal – but doesn’t open.
Liquid soaps have sodium laurel sulfide. Some (me) find it harsh on the skin. It also requires more water to remove than the solid little bars of the french milled soap that I travel with.
I flew Delta from LAX to MCO and back last week for work in measly main cabin (exit row though) on their 321-NEO. After trolly service, a F/A walked down the aisle with a tray of hot coffee. I asked, “When you get a chance, can you bring me a cup full of ice and some hot tea?” She asked if I was going to make myself iced tea. And I said yes, and she laughed and said that she knows how to make iced tea and she’ll make sure the cup is filled to the top with ice. Within a few minutes, my request was delivered with a smile. Then, 2 times throughout the flight, flight attendants walked the aisle with trays of water for passengers. On the return flight, it was almost ash and repeat. Flight attendants were as attentive as if they were serving first class passengers. And again, I wasn’t flying comfort plus, just plain old main cabin.