For the second section of my Allegris around the world journey, I flew Delta Air Strains’ Airbus A319 first-class on the 3hr25min flight from Minneapolis (MSP) to Vancouver (YVR).
All-in-all, this was a wonderfully nice flight, although inferior to the Delta Boeing 737 first-class flight from Miami (MIA) that I had simply come off of. Whereas Delta’s A319s have a snug first-class cabin with nice leisure and Wi-Fi, the snack on this flight left a bit to be desired. There was additionally a fairly humorous state of affairs within the cabin, which I’ll get right into a bit later…
How I booked my Delta first-class ticket
I made a decision to fly Delta from Miami to Vancouver by way of Minneapolis, provided that the airline had the very best first-class fare and schedule for my final minute reserving. Particularly, I booked the next in first-class for $762:
5/01 DL1565 Miami to Minneapolis departing 6:00AM arriving 8:51AM
5/01 DL2489 Minneapolis to Vancouver departing 10:05AM arriving 11:56AM
On this installment I’m reviewing Delta’s A319 first-class from the second section, and within the earlier installment I reviewed Delta’s 737 first-class from the primary section.
Delta first-class lounge & boarding
I had a roughly 75-minute connection in Minneapolis, however resulting from a delay on my inbound flight, I ended up attending to the departure gate for my Vancouver flight the second boarding began.
My boarding cross indicated that boarding would begin at 9:10AM, 55 minutes earlier than departure, which positive appears aggressive for an A319 (although I acknowledge that early boarding is as a result of that is a global flight). Boarding really began at 9:25AM.
Whereas I didn’t have time to go to the lounge, there’s a reasonably new Delta Sky Membership in Minneapolis, which I’ve heard nice issues about. I hope to test it out subsequent time.
Delta A319 first-class cabin & seats
Delta’s Airbus A319s characteristic a complete of 12 first-class seats, unfold throughout three rows in a 2-2 configuration. Seats have 37″ of pitch and 21″ of width, in order that’s fairly normal for home first-class inside the USA.
Delta does an unimaginable job with preserving its cabins trendy, even when plane aren’t. For instance, the A319 I used to be flying on was 22 years outdated, however you wouldn’t have identified it based mostly on the inside. I additionally like how Delta’s seats are stitched and have some accent strains and the Delta widget, because it makes it a bit extra fascinating than American’s first-class seat, for instance.
I assigned myself seat 3B, the aisle seat on the left aspect within the final row of first-class. I’m normally a window seat man, however this was the final accessible seat once I booked.
The seats as such have been mainly the identical as on the 737, with a seat again tv, and three separate seat again pockets.
Along with the USB-A outlet beneath the private leisure monitor, there have been additionally two AC energy shops beneath the middle seat console.
The tray desk prolonged from the middle console as nicely, and may very well be folded over in half, and was fairly flimsy.
My one frustration with Delta’s first-class seats is that it looks as if the seats recline fairly a bit. When the individual in entrance of you reclines, you virtually must recline as nicely, or else the seat will mainly be in your face.
Delta’s A319s have bigger overhead bins that allow you to retailer luggage on their sides, to maximise the quantity of area. Nevertheless, it appears individuals actually battle with utilizing these, since they routinely shut, so it’s arduous to carry your bag whereas additionally preserving the bin open.
Lastly, I actually like the private consoles above the seats, with studying lights and particular person air nozzles, which really feel fairly trendy.
Delta first-class facilities
There was a bottle of water ready at every first-class seat upon boarding. On prime of that, the flight attendant supplied pre-departure drinks of selection, and I made a decision to order a glowing water.
Earbuds have been additionally distributed, not simply in first-class, however all through the cabin.
Delta doesn’t supply pillows and blankets in normal home first-class, aside from redeye flights.
Delta A319 first-class leisure & Wi-Fi
Delta has among the many greatest inflight leisure of any airline on this planet, when it comes to each seat again programming and Wi-Fi.
Delta Studio is the title of Delta’s seat again leisure, which incorporates an enormous choice of programming, from films, to TV exhibits, to reside TV, to audio. The choice is spectacular when it comes to amount and high quality, and nearly everybody should not have any points staying occupied all through the flight.
Delta additionally affords free inflight Wi-Fi for all SkyMiles members. You simply must log-in along with your SkyMiles account data, after which you possibly can join with one click on. Delta makes use of Viasat for its inflight Wi-Fi on A319s.
I discovered the speeds to be fairly good, although inferior to on American. That is sensible, when you think about there’s much more demand for Wi-Fi when it’s free, and in the end bandwidth is a restricted useful resource within the sky.
Because of Delta Sync, there’s every kind of streaming leisure you possibly can watch by means of your individual system, although I can’t think about that’s used all that a lot, given the seat again leisure choices.
Delta’s leisure is hard to beat, so kudos to the airline for that.
Delta A319 departure from Minneapolis
Boarding was fairly environment friendly, and by 9:55AM (half-hour after boarding started), the primary cabin door was closed. At this level the captain made his welcome aboard announcement, informing us of our flight time of 3hr25min, and our cruising altitude of 34,000 ft. Moments later, the protection video was screened.
At 10:05AM we started our pushback, after which at 10:10AM we started our taxi. It was solely a brief distance to the departure runway, and we have been airborne by 10:15AM. Since I wasn’t in a window seat, I couldn’t actually take photos outdoors.
Delta first-class snack service
After takeoff, the flight attendant got here by means of the cabin to take drink orders. I made a decision to order a Food regimen Coke, served in correct glassware.
After that, the flight attendant handed by means of the cabin with a fundamental snack basket, containing Biscoffs and roasted almonds.
That is the place it will get bizarre, although. Previous to my flight, I observed that I couldn’t pre-order my meal, as is normally attainable when flying in Delta first-class. I figured that was only a glitch for some purpose, however nope. Because it seems, Delta simply served a boxed snack on this flight.
The alternatives have been described as a rooster breast salad and grain bowl with balsamic French dressing, or a fruit and cheese plate. By the point they received to the third row, they solely had the previous accessible, in order that’s what I had.
This was served in a disposable field. I imply, not less than the presentation was fairly first rate so far as boxed snacks go, however nonetheless…
The primary portion of the snack appeared tasty, however I discovered it to style bland. Nothing had a lot taste, all the pieces was mushy, and the dish was additionally room temperature.
This was served with some packaged sourdough flatbread, plus a chocolate chunk cookie.
I’m somewhat confused by this, so does anybody perceive why Delta would serve this on a 3hr25min flight departing at round 10AM and arriving at round 12PM, not accounting for a two hour time change?
Delta’s web site signifies that the airline serves meals on flights of not less than 900 miles over “choose departure occasions,” and notes {that a} “restricted variety of flights could serve recent meal containers.” Right here’s my confusion:
- Is there no full meal service as a result of Delta considers this flight to be between normal meal occasions? That appears actually low cost if that’s the case, since this flight leaves at 10AM and arrives at 2PM based mostly on the place the traveler departed from, so a meal appears acceptable
- Even when Delta views this as a snack flight, why serve it in a disposable field, slightly than have it correctly plated?
- Is that this as a result of Delta roundtrip caters the flight to & from Vancouver, and gallery area is restricted? However even when that’s the case, why isn’t there sufficient room within the galley? There are many routes which are roundtrip catered with correct plating
Anyway, the entire thing simply felt low cost and disappointing, particularly when departing a hub, and given the wonderful meal I had on the earlier flight.
Delta A319 first-class bathroom
Delta’s Airbus A319s have a firstclass bathroom situated on the entrance of the cabin, by the cockpit. The rest room is a bit greater than on the 737, and like the remainder of the cabin, felt trendy.
An fascinating seat mate state of affairs within the cabin
Essentially the most memorable a part of this flight wasn’t even something having to do with the airline, however slightly a few the individuals seated in entrance of me. Truthfully, it virtually felt like this was a plot from a film.
There have been two surgeons seated in entrance of me (a youthful lady, and a center aged man), who have been going to some form of surgeon convention in Vancouver, or one thing. A couple of minutes after settling in, it turned clear that they really knew each other.
Let’s simply say that there was some noticeable “vitality” between the 2, to place it mildly. You may lower the stress with a (surgical) knife. And I wasn’t even eavesdropping, or something, it was simply actually evident to anybody inside a few rows of them. Heck, the flight attendant even mentioned “are you two single, as a result of if that’s the case…”
When the flight attendant later discovered they have been each surgeons, she appeared to mainly view the flight as a medical session, and began asking them about what sort of procedures she ought to get achieved, in the event that they suppose her physician is doing a superb job with botox, and so on.
Delta A319 arrival in Vancouver
I spent many of the flight working, and earlier than I knew it, we have been getting near Vancouver.
At 11:10AM Vancouver time, the captain was again on the PA to announce that we’d be touchdown in round half-hour. At that time the seatbelt signal was instantly turned on, and flight attendants have been informed to arrange the cabin for touchdown.
Our descent was clean, and the views on the method have been breathtaking, because it was a ravishing day in Vancouver. That is undoubtedly an method the place you desire a window seat, if attainable.
Certain sufficient, we had a clean landing in Vancouver at 11:40AM. We then taxied to the ramp, however our gate was nonetheless occupied, so we needed to look forward to round 10 minutes. We lastly arrived at 11:55AM, only a minute forward of schedule.
Backside line
My Delta A319 first-class flight was a blended bag. On the plus aspect, Delta has trendy cabins (regardless of the older aircraft), intensive seat again leisure, free Wi-Fi, and energy ports. On the identical time, I used to be confused by the service on this flight. Not solely wasn’t there a full meal, but it surely was served in disposable packaging. That simply simply feels low cost, and I’m curious why that form of service is obtainable on this flight.
What do you make of Delta’s Airbus A319 first-class?
