I’m simply ending off my evaluation journey to Hong Kong, with a fast facet journey from New York to Los Angeles in Delta One enterprise class. Whereas I’ll share my preliminary ideas on the flight in a separate publish, on this publish I wish to speak in regards to the Delta One Lounges in each New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX), which I visited on each ends of my flight.
We’ve seen the opening of Delta One Lounges in current instances, that are Delta’s new premium lounges, meant to compete with American Flagship Lounges and United Polaris Lounges. The lounges appeared nice, so I had excessive expectations, however I used to be curious to expertise them firsthand.
I can’t even start to say how delighted I used to be by each of those services. Truthfully, they make American Flagship Lounges appear and feel like faculty cafeterias, by comparability. They usually even depart United Polaris Lounges within the mud. Hell, I’d argue that the Delta One Lounge JFK is among the many world’s greatest enterprise class lounges… and really excessive on that checklist, besides.
Anyway, sufficient of that. Under are my preliminary ideas, after which quickly I’ll have a full journey report.
The Delta One Lounge JFK units the usual in america
The Delta One Lounge New York (JFK) was the primary within the community to open, and it’s additionally by far the most important, at practically 40,000 sq. toes, with seating for over 500 individuals. Design-wise, the lounge is beautiful. It actually doesn’t really feel like an airport lounge, however actually feels extra like a high-end lodge, or one thing.
I additionally love Delta’s dedication to having outside terraces, that are even open year-round, and have direct apron views.
I additionally love the eating idea. There’s no self-serve meals in the whole lounge, however as a substitute there’s the market space, which is actually an all-day buffet with individuals within the kitchen who serve you, with limitless hot and cold choices. Truthfully, you’d in all probability be very completely happy if this was the extent of the eating, as this alone has extra meals than most enterprise class lounges.
However then you definitely even have an a la carte restaurant, which actually feels extra like a “actual” restaurant than an airport lounge restaurant.
Right here’s the factor — some airport lounges have what’s speculated to be a restaurant model eating expertise, however in actuality, it’s solely good by airport requirements. On this case, the meals was truthfully so good that I’d’ve been completely happy to pay for it at a high-end restaurant in a serious metropolis.
Pulling that off in an airport, particularly with the variety of visitors being served, is nothing wanting superb. Each time I’ve dined in a United Polaris Lounge, for instance, I’ve thought that the meals was fairly good for an airport, however not truly full-on restaurant high quality.
As an appetizer, I had the tuna crudo with avocado, shaved radish, sesame snow, and black bean sauce. YUM!
For the primary course, I had the pan roasted branzino with unique mushroom, tomato fondu, and herb butter. Once more, so good!
Then for dessert, I had the opera cake with espresso crumble and chocolate sauce, and my glorious server introduced a facet of ice cream, simply because she mentioned she likes it that approach. Adore it!
The lounge has loads of different facilities, like a wellness space, with every thing from relaxation pods, to therapeutic massage chairs, to spa remedies.
The Delta One Lounge LAX is small, however packs a mighty punch
The Delta One Lounge Los Angeles (LAX) is “solely” round 10,000 sq. toes, with seating for practically 200 individuals. I’ve gotta be sincere, after visiting the JFK location, I assumed the LAX location could be underwhelming, given its small dimension. To my shock, I truly favored the expertise simply as a lot, although admittedly they each have their benefits.
Very similar to the Delta One Lounge JFK, the LAX location can be fantastically designed, although it’s undoubtedly scaled down, because it’s solely round one-quarter the scale.
Right here’s what makes the Delta One Lounge LAX distinctive, although. Whereas the Delta One Lounge JFK has a devoted eating space, the whole LAX lounge has desk service. So it doesn’t matter the place you sit — whether or not it’s on the bar, or on the terrace, or on one of many couches — there’s a desk setting, and a server who continuously takes care of you.
Need a drink, or a three-course meal, or sushi? They’ll maintain it for you! I don’t know one other extensively accessible enterprise class lounge with that stage of service at each single seat.
I had an unimaginable mezcal negroni, which was nearly as good as you’d get at an costly cocktail bar, all the way down to having a giant dice.
Whereas there’s a big menu you would order off of, I used to be most intrigued by the lounge’s sushi choice, as there’s a legit sushi bar with cooks who freshly put together all orders.
You don’t anticipate to be served an unagi hand roll in an airport lounge, and truthfully, usually for those who’re being supplied one, you need to in all probability be skeptical and run the opposite approach. However gosh, Delta actually pulled it off, and the choice was excellent.
The desserts have been additionally fairly indulgent, with every thing from a little bit bar with sweets, to the popcorn ice cream sundae I had. Yum.
Regardless of its a lot smaller dimension, the lounge additionally has a wellness space. Whereas there aren’t any “human” remedies, there are seats for resting, and likewise a number of the most intense therapeutic massage chairs I’ve ever tried.
Delta One Lounges have superb & passionate workers
I wish to contact on one different facet of the Delta One Lounge expertise that basically impressed me — the workers. Merely put, each single particular person working within the lounge actually makes you are feeling welcome, and like they’re completely happy that you just’re there, and wish you to have a great time.
Delta has additionally tailor-made the expertise in such a approach that they’ve put thought into each facet of the passenger expertise. If you enter the lounge, you’re given a card with all of the facilities out there, the workers clarify what to anticipate, they usually even supply to retailer your baggage (no less than at JFK).
Whether or not at JFK or LAX, I couldn’t have been extra impressed by the service stage, and the friendliness and attentiveness of the workers. The place do I even start?
Usually I really feel sheepish taking lounge footage, and like I get the evil eye from workers (even once I do it in empty lounges, to respect the privateness of others). On the JFK location, one of many servers stopped me to say “I’m all the time so completely happy once I see individuals taking footage, it means they like what we’re providing.”
I overheard one other visitor inform the server within the restaurant how nice the service was, and the way it was higher than any lounge he had been to. He responded with “after we began working right here, Delta defined to us that the primary motive individuals select the airline is due to the service, and we wish to be a part of that, and ensure we go above and past so that you’ve a good time and depart completely happy.”
I additionally had superb service in each eating places — at JFK I used to be being served by Alex, and at LAX I used to be being served by Trey, and the have been each rockstars.
Simply to present an instance, I requested Trey which of the specialty cocktails weren’t too candy. He was sincere and mentioned that he finds them to all be on the candy facet, however he requested me what sort of drinks I like, and insisted on making a particular drink for me. I really like that stage of personalization and fervour.
There’s one different constant theme I heard, which gave me a chuckle. At each lounges, workers members saved asking if individuals had visited the opposite lounge (so in JFK they requested if individuals had visited LAX, and vice versa). Because it was defined to me, there’s a little bit of a rivalry between the 2 lounges, as to which is best. I sort of love that, as a result of it actually motivates individuals to ship a fantastic expertise.
Regardless of how good a lounge appears, for those who don’t have nice individuals working there, it will possibly actually take away from the expertise. Within the case of Delta One Lounges, it makes the expertise. I don’t understand how the airline is discovering such good individuals (particularly since most workers don’t work immediately for the airline), however stick with it.
Backside line
The brand new Delta One Lounge idea is a winner. Whereas Delta could be the final to the sport among the many “massive three” carriers with this idea, it left different carriers within the mud. As an American flyer, I’m unsure how I’m speculated to even return to a Flagship Lounge, as a result of it’s not even barely comparable.
Delta has performed a commendable job with its lounge idea, from stunning design, to considerate facilities, to restaurant high quality meals and drinks, to excellent service. Effectively performed, Delta, and I can’t await future visits to those lounges! I hope this stage of service will be maintained.
Should you’ve visited a Delta One Lounge, what was your expertise like?
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