V-Flyer

Looking at a trip to NYC next month.

Dates preclude VS sale fares but expedia have some good Business Elite fares.

So what are Delta like?

We commonly refer to Delta here as "Don't Even Leave The Airport". Generally I would pick other carriers over Delta any day.

I've had a couple of Delta flights including one HNL-SFO in First . Wasn't allowed into the lounge as we had no status with them but somehow a young teen Aer John, batted his eyes at them and won them over with his lilting Irish accent and in the words of the lounge dragon, "asked very politely". Food wasn't bad but not exceptional. The most notable thing was that the flight attendant kept on topping up my drink in spite of my protests! (Yes, I was protesting. I wanted to sleep)

The rest of them were bog-standard internal US flights.

I've never really had any problems with Delta.

Completed an MCO to PHX via DFW with no issues and also back on PHX to MCO via SLC.

On all sectors I found the flights on time and fairly comfortable - no IFE but the crew were pleasant.

Firstly, as it is an international flight you will get lounge access.

As long as you get a 764 (which you should) you will have a flat bed seat.

The food IMHO is better than on VS.

IFE is AVOD.

As Scrooge says, most of DL's flights from LHR are on 764s with the staggered flat bed seats, not the new UCS-like arrangement on their 777s.

I would definitely consider DL transatlantic, I think they've upped their game a lot, a colleague flew last month and rated the food very highly. It's not VS and Upper, but very good all the same.

An American friend came to visit me last year and flew Delta in business. He raved about it (compared to United and American admittedly) so much so that I intend to try it myself this year.
As others have said the Delta togethers with its bad rep seems to have gone now and it is now seen as a major contender in the trans altantic stakes.
Give it a go Tonty, write a TR then I can make my decision

I think DL/UA/AA/US/CO are all pretty much of a muchness. Grumpy crew, out-dated onboard product, and not a patch on British and Asian carriers.

Thanks all

Sorry yes would be LHR-NYC flight

decisions, decisions

Go for it.

Flew on them around three years ago LGW-ATL-TPA and had excellent service on all four sectors.

I was down the back in Y and the food was excellent- much better than I have ever had on VS and included a hot pre arrival snack.

AVOD throughout as well, based on the Panasonic system that is so highly talked of by many (VX use the same system).

Without a doubt book up. Also found the crew to be much more friendly and less interested in 'galley fm' but as we know all airlines have bad and good crews so not really much of a pointer.

Certainly they have turend a corner and are now a massive player in the world airline scene.

clarkeysntfc wrote:I think DL/UA/AA/US/CO are all pretty much of a muchness. Grumpy crew, out-dated onboard product, and not a patch on British and Asian carriers.

This! I try to avoid all US based carriers whenever possible except for Southwest, Jetblue, and VX. But of all of them, I think US Airways is the worst, as I have never been on a plane with them that was clean.

In November flew out Affaires Air France on a new Plane and the food & service on that flight was shockingly bad.

I did the return on Delta business JFK-MAN. I wasn't expecting much as I'd done the NY Marathon that day and wasn't looking forward to 7 hours on an old small plane but service & food was excellent some of best I've had in business. y)

Delta/CO/UA are generally portayed to me as the best of the bunch for US carriers - especially on international routes.

My own experience (limited though it is) essentially backs this up.

My own experience also tells me to avoid AA like the plague!!!

I think the choices change when considering internal US flights, as aposed to intl ones...

clarkeysntfc wrote:I think DL/UA/AA/US/CO are all pretty much of a muchness. Grumpy crew, out-dated onboard product, and not a patch on British and Asian carriers.

The shame of it is, DL/UA/US/CO have newer products than VS, at least in J the seats and AVOD are a newer design.

richconw wrote:In November flew out Affaires Air France on a new Plane and the food & service on that flight was shockingly bad.

I did the return on Delta business JFK-MAN. I wasn't expecting much as I'd done the NY Marathon that day and wasn't looking forward to 7 hours on an old small plane but service & food was excellent some of best I've had in business. y)

hmmmm food for thought as one of the AF flights on offer outbound is on the A380 and part of me is saying 'fly on the BIG plane' Delta is offered on the way back so could maybe experience both ....

I too was looking forward to my first trip on A380... However as nice as the plane was the Affairs seats aren't the best food was laughable beef "swimming in oil" and an item of food that I still don't know what it was!!! but probably worst thing ever put into my mouth! Also as ever CDG airport a real pain. And to make matters worse surrounded by "Cheese eating surrender monkeys".

right have taken the plunge and have booked Delta - well a KLM codeshare as that was a few quid cheaper (will never understand that pricing policy)

Was checking websites tonight and whereas a few days ago booking direct was only a few quid more than expedia tonight they were significantly more so expedia it was going to be (other sites already given the boot due to credit card fees) when I thought I would check AMEX and that was a few quid cheaper than expedia (even allowing possible quidco cashback) so AMEX got my custom.

VS were well out of it - they were not offering Thursday departures in the sale and I even tried the PE route but no upgrades offered during booking.

So I is happy and Tonty and Beary continue their international jet setting !

We do of course expect a TR from you

Scrooge wrote:We do of course expect a TR from you

Of course and it will be quick turn round when I get back - my name is NOT 'mdvipond' ! 8D 8D