I don’t think my Delta Air Lines A321neo flight from Los Angeles to Seattle in first class could have been smoother: fast, free Wi-Fi, a delicious lunch, and excellent service.
Delta Air Lines A321neo First Class Review (LAX-SEA)
I flew from Los Angeles to Chicago via Seattle because Delta offered a very attractive $293 one-way fare in first class. That was about the same price as economy class on American or United on a nonstop flight. As long as I have internet on airplanes, I can work just as if I am on the ground, so it wasn’t like I was sacrificing much to fly on Delta.
While I am a SkyTeam ElitePlus with Scandivanica Airlines, that does not give me domestic lounge access at Delta SkyClubs (it would have given me access to the Air France Lounge), so I did not arrive early, showing up at the gate moments before boarding commenced.
Delta 1045
Los Angeles (LAX) – Seattle (SEA)
Tuesday, September 30
Depart: 11:45 AM
Arrive: 02:40 PM
Duration: 02hr, 55min
Distance: 954 miles
Aircraft: Airbus A321neo
Seat: 2D (First Class)
Onboard, I was warmly greeted by Thomas, the purser, and took my seat in 2D.
Seat
Delta’s A321neo first class cabin features 20 seats arranged in a 2-2 configuration. The CL4710 seat, designed by Recaro, offers 37 inches of pitch and 21 inches of width, with a fixed privacy “wing” that slightly wraps around your head for extra seclusion. While this isn’t a revolutionary product, it feels modern and well-built: Delta has done a nice job blending function and comfort.
Each seat includes an oversized tray table that slides smoothly from the center console, an adjustable armrest, and a large pocket beneath the center divider that fits a 15-inch laptop easily.
Power and USB-A outlets are easy to reach, and the 13-inch HD touchscreen offers sharp resolution and quick response. Oddly, there were two USB-A outlets (one above the 120-volt A/C outlet and one below the screen) but no USB-C port. I didn’t recline fully on this short flight, but the seat was comfortable for working and dining, with enough recline and legroom to relax.
Overhead reading lights and air vents were available.
I found the seat comfortable, though not anything unique from other first class seats, with the exception of the handy storage between seats (in front of you, not beside you) large enough for my laptop computer. It was very handy to store it there during takoeff and landing.
I did not try to sleep on this flight, but I suspect the “wing” would have helped if I had to lay back.
Overall, it’s a practical and comfortable product, certainly one of the better domestic first class seats flying today, though it doesn’t redefine the category. The mood lighting gave the cabin a calm and modern feel.
Food + Drink
Delta serves meals on flights over 900 miles in first class and this flight barely made the cut. Lunch was served after takeoff.
I find it interesting that unlike American and United, Delta does not serve warm mixed nuts (no food was offered with the initial beverage service), nor does it serve a salad or appetizer with the main course.
Instead, the lunch tray included the main course, a bread roll, and dessert.
Delta allows you to pre-order meals seven days in advance of your flight and the choices for my flight included:
- Mashama Bailey’s Beef Short Rib – spiced kanni sauce, garlic-thyme mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, scallions
- Chicken Greek Salad – romaine, feta cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, pepperoncini, lemon-oregano dressing
- Spinach Cannelloni – Bianco DiNapoli tomato sauce, mozzarella, parsley
From the online pre-order menu, two additional options were available:
- Makhani Chicken Curry – basmati rice, garlic spinach, red chill pepper
- Shake Shack Cheeseburger – Angus beef, cheese, toasted potato bun with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and ShackSauce on the side, served with crinkle cut potato chips and a brownie
Both this flight and my connecting flight from Seattle had beef short ribs on the menu, but I chose the short ribs on this flight because Mashama Bailey’s spiced kanni sauce (a West African spicy tomato sauce) sounded appealing…and it was. Chef Mashama Bailey is a chef specializing in U.S. Southern food who operates a restaurant called The Grey in Savannah.
Dessert was a cake somewhat resembling a chocolate tiramisu (very delicious, but I stopped myself after two bites).
Snacks were offered before landing (I love the pistachios on Delta) and multiple beverage refills during the flight.
Wi-Fi + IFE
Delta offers complimentary Wi-Fi to SkyMiles members on most mainline flights, including this one. It worked flawlessly, allowing me to have a very productive flight.
Seatback screens are loaded with content including live TV, music, movies, games, and television programming.
Complimentary disposable headsets were provided on request.
The view departing LAX are always nice from the left side of the plane, but the views flying over Puget Sound while coming into SeaTac were amazing…it was a beautiful autumn afternoon.
Lavatory
There is one lavatory in the front of the cabin reserved for first class passengers. It was clean and I loved the Grown Alchemist hand wash, which smelled so pleasant.
Service
Thomas handled the first class cabin smoothly and efficiently. He was kind, attentive, and quite gregarious. There was an older couple traveling across the row from me and the husband was a Delta 2 million miler…which prompted an extra shoutout from Thomas. He not only offered a full round of pre-departure beverages, but even offered refills…and we had not even taken off yet.
CONCLUSION
We landed 30 minutes ahead of schedule and I’d rate this flight as flawless. The lunch was delicious, seat comfortable, Wi-Fi functional, and service friendly.
I’m a free agent this year when it comes to flying and this is a perfect example of why. The price made sense and the flight could not have been better…you really don’t need frequent flyer status when you fly in the front cabin.
A PDB on Delta. I literally didn’t know that was a thing. Is it? I don’t think I ever received one before. I certainly haven’t this year.
Great review! Something good to note, the newer A321neo deliveries have USB-C outlets too1
As much as it hurts me to say it, this review is almost the exact opposite in every way to my recent AA FC flight. The food actually looked delicious but I’m surprised you didn’t order the burger again.
Maybe AA should send some of their attendants on a Delta flight with Thomas to show them how it done. Granted not all are bad but an experience like yours is certainly rare on AA many days.
Wow, $293 for that is a steal! Great review. Huge fan of the new a321neos. Delta did a good job with this. There’s no reason United, American, and Alaska cannot have IFE in each of their a321 and 373, yet, it’s hit and miss with United, and non-existent with American and Alaska. Same goes for WiFi, where Delta (and jetBlue) offers it ‘free’ for frequent flyers, yet United, American, and Alaska still charge, unless you have T-Mobile (c’mon!)
I appreciate how DL allows Zone 1 boarding before even its invitation only Medallion members; you get what you pay for. Compared to UA who boards first and business class in Group 1 which includes all Premiers from Gold and up, and after five pre boarding groups lol. DL certainly feels more premium in that regard.
Well, from my experience lately, all you need to board first is to fit yourself into the “people that need extra time to board” category. You board before everyone and more and more all you need is to walk in. I have seen dozens of passengers simply walk in, no questions asked. No wheelchair, no clutches, no cane, no limping, no nothing. Just feel you need that extra time and you are good to go. Unreal!
Just boarded a plane right now. GA called for Pre-Boarding for anyone that needed extra time to board. 14 people walked in. No wheelchairs, nothing wrong. Zero questions.
I hate that head rest on those seats. It looks ugly and claustrophobic.
Delta typically offers the full snack basket before lunch on longer flights. Your shorter flight did not allow time for this. So, you could have had more pistachios, rather than the mixed nuts, before the lunch service.
Indeed. And longer flights might also include a salad on the tray as well. No warm nuts, though.
They had a salad on all meals until recently. The bread is a new thing, looks like they did a swap.
Delta typically offers the full snack basket before lunch on longer flights. Your shorter flight did not allow time for this. So, you could have had more pistachios, rather than the mixed nuts, before the lunch service.
How about those new cream-filled biscoffs? Yummers.
No thanks! Didn’t like them.
Uh oh. How ’bout the Vegobears? Those gummies are pretty good. Well, I suppose you gotta fit in that nice suit, so, sticking to pistachios is probably for the best (not as ‘fun,’ though).
The delightful DELTA difference…
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Let’s add that, as of today, the average age of DELTA’s majestic A321neo fleet of 84 aircraft is 1.9 years.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Hmmm. Main looks good but on UA or AA you would get warm nuts with a drink service and a plated salad (plus appetizer on AA).
I too like Delta ‘s A321 first class, service and food are always excellent. I have done several LAX and Seattle to Hawaii flights this year on their 321s. While the new Recaro seats look great, the absence of USB C plugs is frustrating, I think people are less likely to have double ended USB B cables. I also feel that the previous seats were more comfortable, more padded than these new ones but this might just be me. But I agree, Delta service is best domestic. I’m in Australia and flew Delta to Sydney in prem select on their A350. They fed us too much! Wonderful flight, the flight attendants never disappeared once for the 14 h 20m flight, impressive.
For US-domestic First in recliner, yes, Delta is best (actual IFE, free WiFi for all members), which is better than equivalents at American, United, and Alaska.
Transcon is a different matter. DeltaOne, Polaris, Flagship First are obviously superior to standard (recliner) domestic ‘First.’ The new D1 lounges and Chelsea, Soho at JFK T8, are excellent (shame United doesn’t include premium lounge access with its routes.) However, jetBlue’s Mint, on-board experience may be superior both because of the lie-flat seats and the better food quality; yet, they don’t have lounges (until later this year at JFK T5, supposedly…)
Comparing to Australia (which I, too, recently visited, and flew Delta’s a359 in DeltaOne, and it was superb), on their domestic routes, I prefer Qantas over Virgin Australia, the only two carriers that have a similar First with recliners, but no IFE or WiFi included. Overall, the food quality and service is more attentive on QF than any of theUS carriers.
I spy two very handsome pics in particular. 😉
Forget the lack of a salad. It’s bizarre that Delta catered bread but no butter and no olive oil.
That too…but the salad was really missed. It would have made a good meal an excellent meal. It’s surprising to me to me that Delta is being cheap with dinner salads.
The last couple meals I’ve had with Delta have had some sort of side, but no bread. I wonder if the catering contract allows the local caterer to supply either a side or bread but not both. Back when Delta used to provide bread with every meal in domestic first, they always had mini-bottles of olive oil.
The lack of a hot towel and salad leave me glad that I fly AA and AS.
Great snag on a deal, though getting Delta F on LAX-SEA-ORD for the same price as economy on the AA/UA nonstop really doesn’t speak well to Delta pricing power in LAX, SEA, or ORD. Unless their revenue management just took a break that day