Watch out Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic.
When Delta Air Lines (DL) takes delivery of its first Boeing 777 early in 2008, with essentially the same flat bed Contour designed business class seats, there”s going to be real competition about.
Delta may have been trading in insolvency for the last 19 months but that does not mean it has been sitting still. With approval of senior management, whose first priority was to stay in business, the marketing team has been very busy. A priority has been the upgrading of the increasingly important long haul business class product.
Their choice for the future was to all intents and purposes the Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Suite with, they claim, improvements, also successfully introduced by Air New Zealand.
It is another major coup by Contour, the seat manufacturer, whose major production facility is in South Wales. Contour never gives out the names of its customers but its clients include ”a major European airline” for the Airbus A380. A pair of Boeing 777LRs due next February will be the first aircraft fitted with the seats.
But what for now? It is no good literally painting over the cracks and expecting all the blemishes to be covered up. Delta has today a very good, if dated, ”classic” J class product with reclining seats and 20th century lounges. Its UK base is currently Gatwick, and here it is established at the North Terminal with a large airy executive area, distinguished by dark brown wall covering, so popular with US airlines in the 1990s.
It is not however as gloomy and dreary as some and, for a morning flight to Atlanta, cereals, croissants and light refreshments were available.
Delta operates the Boeing 767-400 on key routes across the Atlantic and, although not the most modern of aircraft, nor the quietest, has a well thought out layout.
With 42 Business Elite seats in a 2+2+2 configuration, there is a sensibly-sized galley and adequate rest rooms. The pitch for the traditional reclining seats is a generous 60” (152cm).
It's all somewhat old fashioned for travellers used to the latest pod products and plenty of storage space, as with Delta there is nowhere to put anything. However the latest individual TV units give fine definition and are selective in their offering, with a go-fast option. The film choice is somewhat limited. Can we recommend noise suppression headphones for the new 777s? They make an enormous difference.
What Delta offers today is simply the best cabin service yet experienced on an American airline. No grumpy old timers dishing out the meals and then disappearing for most of the trip, but a keen, attentive crew, always available, and always wanting to help.
Business class passengers are welcomed on board with a smile and the offer of coat storage. Delahaie is the brand of Champagne available, and mimosa - bucks fizz in the British language. Orange and water are on the welcoming tray too. Once settled into the flight a drinks round is quickly organised with warmed cashews and hazel nuts. Nourishing.
The standard of food and service is outstanding, dinner served ”anytime”, with a five-course meal designed by American celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein. Soup is on offer, on the trip in question a ”roasted corn” and ”bell pepper chowder.”
Even the menu is welcoming, itself a quality publication describing the various possibilities and their nutritional value, and going into much detail of the 16 wines available. Grilled salmon accented by a red wine glaze, served with Napa cabbage, Shiitake mushrooms and cauliflower puree was your reporter's choice.
The ice-cream was delicious too and on an eight-hour-plus flight, Delta found storage space for a proper high tea style second meal, a massive improvement on the (usually dry) sandwiches that its North Atlantic competitors choose to offer. The hamburgers offered were excellent and seemed to have real meat in them.
The present Delta Air Lines Business Elite is good, very good. With the new seats it could be outstanding and if the airline gets into Heathrow and introduces the product, more than a match for the incumbents on the North Atlantic market.
It may have had a spell trading in chapter 11, but the future for Delta Air Lines looks bright. Delta was always a good airline. It hit bad times. The turnaround has been remarkable. The customers are flocking back and it is making a profit.