Trip Report: Delta LAX to JFK Deltaone Business Class
Delta fly, as you'd expect, from one end of the United States to the other. In a retrospective look, Lux-Traveller checks out a flight that is one of the longest Domestic flights you can take, and a type of flight we will hopefully be going back to as the world opens up.
And this flight was one we were looking forward to for quite some time.
Arriving at Los Angeles in the early morning, in time for the 1125 departure of the Delta flight to New York JFK, in Business Class, or DeltaOne, as the airline likes to call it.
Gone at LAX is the old dedicated 'a-la-hotel style' DeltaOne checkin, and indeed gone is the old, Delta lounge, which was Brand New when it opened, with Delta making a huge shift to the other side of the airport, where it will, eventually, have it's own brand new Terminal.
Alas right now, it's stuck in the old facilities used by Virgin America (remember them) in Terminal 3 and the old Air Canada lounge in Terminal 2. It's not a pretty sight.
Delta Lounge LAX Los Angeles
Starting off in Terminal 3, we have already extensively reviewed the Delta Airlines Skyclub T3 Los Angeles Lounge.
It is very small, and split into two parts. Indeed, I couldn't but help be massively disappointed by the Delta Airlines Skyclub T3 Los Angeles Lounge.
Here, at least, there was a full sized bar. In effect you walk into an area that looks like a normal Delta Sky Club, but isn't. Indeed, the first room you come to is the only thing Delta about it, and other than that it is the old 'loft' lounge.
Further around is a small corridor with some food. Then there was a lighter brighter area, with the bar on the left, and seats along by the window. And that's about it. It was absolutely packed.
It was time to take the short airside bus to LAX Terminal 2, which at least means you can walk into the open air and out into across the tarmac for a minute.
The other Delta lounge at LAX is the Delta Skyclub Los Angeles Lounge Terminal 2 which again we've extensively reviewed.
It is a large L-shaped space with abundant daylight, views of the tarmac, and a prime location on the mezzanine floor. There are a few shower suites, although they're not as posh as the airline's current facilities.
There is a generous buffet with the airlines traditional food and beverage selection, and a small self serve bar.
This LAX T2 Sky Club features what Delta like to call the "open bar" concept. That means the bar has a few bottles of wine on a shelf, and you pour them yourself. There is another smaller bar at the other end of the lounge.
To my surprise, even though it was still early morning, the bar staff walked around the lounge offering cocktails from a tray.
Then it was time to head to the gate, but with virtually every passenger having Priority Boarding, it was much more of a scrum than I expected.
Delta Boeing 767-300 ER DeltaOne Seats
Delta calls it's Business Class DeltaOne, as a way of marking it as a notable upgrade over it's existing 'First Class' offering, which is rather akin to European short-haul premium economy, with old small recliners.
However, this aircraft, a Boeing 767-300 ER had the brand new DeltaOne seats. Business class adopts a staggered layout aboard Delta's Boeing 767s, with seats in a 1-2-1 configuration alternating between being closer to the aisle, and to the window or centre.
Rather unconventionally, but totally logically, seats were simply lettered as A-B-C-D, and being in 9D I found it on the right side of the aircraft, with the seat closer to the window; the seats ahead and behind me had the seat closer to the aisle and with a little table between you and the window.
Every seat transforms into a bed measuring approximately 190cm.
In the normal sitting mode, each seat has a foot rest, which becomes the end of the bed when you fold it down. In a side panel are the seat controls, which also included a rather aggressive massage setting.
The seat however doesn't have much stowage, with just a pouch for the inflight magazine, as well as a water bottle, with another small pocket just below it.
There is a large foldout table, and also a decent bench on one side of the seat, which is big enough to rest a laptop on.
There are, or rather should have been, mains power sockets, plus a USB. However a good half of the sockets on the aircraft, including mine, had tape over them and a sign apologising that they just didn't work any more.
Westin 'Heavenly' bedding with full-sized pillows are provided including a duvet, even on a daytime flight.
Most welcome, particularly as I had arrived into LAX on a long 14 hour flight, and I'd had very little sleep.
Well-stocked Tumi amenity kits are also provided: I was surprised at the quality and content for a domestic flight.
I did have a look at 'the back of the bus' and the economy seats (called Coach by Delta) there were as you'd expect: pretty cramp but about average for a rather aging 767.
DeltaOne meals LAX to JFK
The cabin crew came through the cabin offering drinks before take-off; there was orange juice, sparkling wine or a Mimosa being a mix of the two.
Menus were also distributed on the ground, and had a solid, upmarket, feel.
The full bar was available as soon as we were in the cruise. I was pleased to see Delta had it's signature cocktail on board, with a mix of Bombay Sapphire gin, cranberry & apple juice and ginger ale.
However, I opted for the Bon & Vin spiked grapefruit cocktail.
It was lovely, and went well with the BBQ Marcona almonds which were offered with every meal.
Table cloths were laid, along with proper cutlery and small salt an pepper pots.
Then orders were taken, although by the time got to me - only half way through the cabin - already one of the choices was exhausted.
I went for the Braised meatballs with gioia ricotta.
There was a Gem lettuce Caesar salad on the side, and a prosciutto mozzarella appetizer.
The food was surprisingly good: Delta has clearly gone to quite some trouble in the regard over the past few years, and it was much better than I was expecting. The prosciutto in particular was a step up from the normal airline fare.
For desert there was a cheese board, with Vermont Jasper Hill cheese with Wisconsin uplands and Crostini. The was followed by McConnels caramel chip ice cream.
The bar was equally good, with Lincourt Steel Chardonnay a tasty drop, followed by the Brown Estate Sauvignon Blanc.
This was very good, with hints of lemon grass plus notes of guava, lychee, and honeydew melon. It was bright and crisp with the slightest hint of tannins.
There were a couple of good red wines on board too, with the Morgan Cote du Crows Red a standout.
Drinks can be ordered at any time, and I wanted to try the beer as we flew ever eastward.
The Gate City Brewing Freedom Fighter IPA was a little sharp, however the Sweetwater 420 Extra Pale Ale, despite a rather gaudy can, very pleasant indeed.
Snacks came around about an hour before landing, with a packet of biscuits.
However, considering the late hour at which we were coming into JFK, a second meal service might have been preferable.
DeltaOne Boeing 767 inflight entertainment
There is full seatback entertainment, not just for Business Class, but also for economy with films, and full boxed sets of TV series.
The screen isn't the latest generation: indeed it is relatively small, and the glare from the lights in the cabin combined with a position just below my eyeline meant it wasn't the most comfortable of viewings.
The screens are touchscreens, but not very responsive: it was easier for me to use the remote control, which was underneath a small side panel.
Standard headphones were also provided, but for business class, it was a pretty poor quality low cost set: I recommend bringing your own.
Inflight Internet access is available, but at quite some cost: however there is free basic messaging via wifi for every passenger.
We landed on time, at just before 8pm.
Since there was no second meal service on board, I made straight for the Delta Skyclub New York JFK Lounge for a rather late dinner.
Again, we've extensively reviewed the Delta Skyclub New York JFK Lounge.
Delta LAX to JFK Deltaone Business Class review
So was it worth paying the full fare, of just over $700USD for the flight, compared to $200 in economy? Most definitely.
Delta are clearly on the up and trying to improve their game.
The lounges at LAX are undergoing a major revamp, with the Terminal 3 lounge already closed, and shortly to be replaced by the huge new Delta Terminal at LAX.
Meals are good, however a second snack would be great.
The seats are decent, but not quite as private as the main flagship Delta One Suites flying to London Heathrow, but for a domestic flight, it was great.
See the full Trip Report: Delta LAX to JFK Deltaone Business Class video:
Lux-traveller paid its own way for this Trip Report: Delta LAX to JFK Deltaone Business Class, and travelled incognito.
| Trip Report: Delta LAX to JFK Deltaone Business Class | |
|---|---|
Lux-traveller.com rating:7 out of10  | |
| Seats: | 6 - Good lie flat seats |
| Food: | 6 - surprisingly good |
| Service: | 7 - Decent, not exceptional |
| IFE: | 5 - OK, not the best |
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