Delta drops lie-flats from NYC to San Diego, leaving JetBlue as solely luxe choice

Flying domestically in a lie-flat seat is a uncommon deal with, and transferring ahead, there’s going to be one fewer choice to expertise this thrill.

That is as a result of Delta Air Strains will now not function lie-flat-equipped jets to San Diego, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by the provider.

In recent times, the airline has deployed a mixture of wide-body jets and Boeing 757-200s which might be outfitted with lie-flat Delta One pods within the pointy finish of the airplane on choose frequencies on the two,446-mile route from the New York John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to the San Diego Worldwide Airport (SAN).

These have been in style flights with premium vacationers seeking to splurge for extra consolation on these roughly six-hour transcons.

By providing flat beds in enterprise class, the airline may provide its signature Delta One product on these routes, which often commanded a income premium over flying on a competitor, corresponding to Alaska Airways, that did not provide such posh seats up entrance.

Whereas that technique could have labored prior to now, particularly when enterprise journey was at report ranges earlier than the pandemic, Delta seemingly is not seeing sufficient demand to help flying a lie-flat-equipped Boeing 757 to San Diego.

Feb. 11, 2023, will mark the ultimate lie-flat service that Delta operates to San Diego, and going ahead, the provider will solely function Boeing 737s on this route.

“As with every route, we’re consistently evaluating which plane is best-suited to function the service, and starting early subsequent yr, Delta’s JFK-SAN route can be operated on the 737,” reads the assertion shared by provider spokesperson Drake Castadena.

Delta’s Boeing 737s are outfitted with home recliners in firstclass, and these seats aren’t almost as spacious or comfy because the lie-flat pods on extra premium planes.

As such, it’s going to be fascinating to see if Delta adjusts its pricing technique for the ahead cabin on these flights to account for the truth that the onboard product will not be as good.

Going ahead, Delta loyalists who need to cross the nation in model might want to fly between New York and both Los Angeles or San Francisco to take pleasure in lie-flat seats. (Delta transcons from Boston and Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles additionally function Delta One pods on the Boeing 757-200.)

With Delta pulling its luxe seats from the New York to San Diego route, it leaves JetBlue Airways as the only real provider constantly providing a lie-flat product on these flights.

JetBlue’s well-regarded Mint enterprise class is obtainable for buy on a minimum of one day by day frequency from New York to San Diego. (The provider additionally flies a Mint-equipped Airbus A321 from Boston to San Diego, too.)

These planes function JetBlue’s unique Mint product, with 16 seats organized in an alternating 2-2 and 1-1 configuration.

This unique Mint expertise, which first launched again in 2014, is actually beginning to present its age. Between the outdated inflight leisure methods and seat cushions that regularly deflate within the air, flying in Mint is not essentially as premium because it as soon as was. That mentioned, the meals and beverage choices and above-average onboard service proceed to shine.

And, should you’re on the lookout for a lie-flat choice to San Diego, JetBlue goes to be your solely alternative going ahead.

United Airways is the one different provider that typically flies lie-flat-equipped jets from the New York space to San Diego. Through the years, the provider has deployed Boeing 757-200s and Boeing 767s on some flights from its hub on the Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) to the California metropolis.

However, based mostly on United’s present schedule, solely 57 flights from Newark to San Diego are deliberate to be operated by the Boeing 757-200 by means of November 2023. The remainder can be operated by Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s — customary home jets — Cirium schedules present.