On domestic flights in the US, Delta Air Lines is known for distinguishing itself from other majors by offering seatback IFE and free Wi-Fi on most mainline aircraft (with free Wi-Fi also now in the cards for its Boeing 717 subfleet and regional jets).
But internationally, Delta is also no slouch, as the carrier exemplified on a recent night flight from Minneapolis Saint-Paul to Amsterdam. Even in economy class, your author enjoyed a well-honed product underpinned by excellent and professional crew members.
My ground experience with Delta was efficient. Arriving at Minneapolis Saint-Paul from a connecting flight, I went straight to the gate where boarding was already in progress.
Because I was in the penultimate group to board, I took a seat and waited patiently for my turn. After about 10 minutes, I was invited to board and was warmly welcomed by the crew as I entered the Airbus A330-900neo .
Whilst some parts of Minneapolis Saint-Paul are getting a makeover, and are presently not terribly attractive, the ground experience was quick and painless. Image: Fintan Horan-Stear
As I passed through the long 2-4-2 economy class cabin of the A330-900neo, I was struck by how traditional the plane looked. Despite being almost brand new, the cabin aethetic felt like something from the 2000s, with rows of blue-grey seats and plain white walls with no accent features.
My seat (51B) was comfortable enough with reasonable legroom for this 6’4/193cm journalist, and the in-seat IFE screen was large, bright and crisp. There was one power outlet for the two window seats and each had individual air vents.
Delta’s color, materials and finish (CMF) choices are somewhat staid, especially for such a new plane. Image: Fintan Horan-Stear
As boarding continued, the crew demonstrated excellent skills in cabin management. Assisting passengers in depositing their carryon baggage in the overhead bins, they maintained polite and calm engagement — even when some passengers were less than polite with them.
This level of professionalism and, to be frank, crowd control made the whole boarding experience feel relaxed, and I immediately felt at ease.
Once boarding was complete, I inspected my amenities. Each seat had a pillow and bedding, which felt disposable but of much better quality than Delta’s SkyTeam partner KLM, which I experienced on the Amsterdam-New York JFK leg of my trip.
The Delta crew then offered ear plugs, an eye mask, and disposable headphones ‘by request’, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability that is admirable. Alas, the items were distributed while the safety video played on the seatback screen, distracting me from the content.
The video itself was framed around a theatre show, and seemed to focus more on visual effects than the safety instructions.
The safety video’s theme was distinct but could have been clearer. Image: Fintan Horan-Stear
Following the video, I inspected the IFE. This is where Delta really shone for me! Not only did it have all the recent blockbusters like Oppenheimer and Barbie, but it also included a treasure trove of cult classics from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.
As a frequent traveller, I like to watch films in-flight that I wouldn’t think to watch at home. In short, I appreciate solid IFE content curation.
On Delta, I wasn’t stuck rewatching a blockbuster from 2023. I selected the quintessential queer film But I’m a Cheerleader, which kept me hooked. I also considered using the $40 Wi-Fi, but with no pressing deliverables to make, I felt no need given the 600-plus content choices in the IFE system.
I had wanted to watch this film for some time, so I’m grateful to Delta for the opportunity. Image: Fintan Horan-Stear
Shortly after takeoff the meal service began. As is usual in economy, I was among the first to receive the pre-ordered vegetarian meal, an Asian-inspired medley of a pickled cucumber salad, paneer curry, and mango and pineapple fruit salad to finish.
It was served in individual containers on a lightweight tray with bamboo packaging. Overall, it was warm and filling and came together well.
Often a fruit salad suggests a lack of imagination, but the mango and pineapple paired well with the main. Image: Fintan Horan-Stear
The drinks were served shortly thereafter with the main service, and I enjoyed some canned sparkling wine. It was sweet but had notes of peach and stone fruits, putting it far above KLM’s drinks service, which doesn’t including any sparkling wine in economy.
The crew said the sparkling wine was a new offering, so I was glad to try it. Image: Fintan Horan-Stear
Six hours from Amsterdam, the crew completed the service and dimmed the lighting. I tried to get some sleep, but the cabin was surprisingly very cold, and I had to change back into my jumper to rest. Nevertheless, I managed to snag a reasonable couple of hours! Throughout the flight crew members passed through the cabin checking on passengers. A snack bar was available at the rear galley.
About 90 minutes before landing, the lights were raised and the crew began the breakfast service, which consisted of a cheesy pizza twist and teas and coffees followed by a pre-landing chocolate. The twist had quite a strong taste for such an early hour, but was nonetheless tasty and warm. Notably, the crew dispensed it with cheeriness.
The snack was a bit of an odd choice for breakfast, to be honest. Image: Fintan Horan-Stear
As we landed in Amsterdam, I concluded that Delta offers a very compelling economy class service across the proverbial pond.
On this flight, the crew members were friendly and warm but remained professional. I felt truly at home on board!
Secondly, the IFE service was a delight thanks to a crisp screen and many unique content offerings.
And finally, the food and beverage service on board was generous, with a full bar and large snacks offered throughout the flight. Even in economy, whilst seated in perhaps one of the cheapest seats, I felt catered to!
All in, Delta delivered a memorable full-service economy experience, which really shone despite the seemingly old-fashioned cabin design.
Related Articles:
- Room for improvement in KLM economy class aboard the 787-10
- JetBlue offers elevated economy PaxEx on A321neoLR across the pond
- Network design helps KLM Eurobiz shine despite Schiphol quirls
- United delivers stellar Basic Economy experience on 767-300ER
Featured image credited to Fintan Horan-Stear
