The Delta Business Class Experience
We love to fly Business Class and in particular we enjoy the Virgin Upper Class Service, so trying out their partner airline Delta was the perfect option to get us to Seattle. Our holiday plan was to include a Rocky Mountaineer train journey and an Alaska cruise – Business Class was included to create the full memorable experience.
After trialling Delta I would most certainly recommend it if you’re thinking of flying across the Atlantic. As a business class experience, Delta Business Elite Class is a serious contender. The new daily Heathrow to Seattle service operates the Boeing 767-300ER air craft featuring lie-flat seats.
Our experience started with a 3 hour drive from Staffordshire, but upon reaching Terminal 3 we are greeted with a familiar welcome! A quick security check to ensure the ESTA’s were valid and we were checking the bags, before heading for the fast track security passage with boarding cards in hand. We reached the Virgin Club House in under 10 minutes of arriving at the Terminal ready for our first drink of the day! Champagne in hand, our thoughts turn to breakfast – Angela opts for a healthy selection from the Deli, whilst I decide to take a light bite breakfast sandwich from the menu. After a few emails and glasses of champagne later our flight is called.
A brisk 5 minute walk and we are priority boarding at the front of the aircraft, soon taking a pair of seats together in the middle, a couple of rows from the front. The B767-300ER aircraft has 36 Business Elite seats, 32 Economy Comfort and 143 Economy Seats. The Delta Business Elite Seats are upholstered in blue leather with a full lie-flat design in a 1-2-1 configuration, allowing for the feeling of plenty of space. A comfort amenity kit is provided with an eye mask, flight socks, various creams and toothpaste/tooth brush. There’s also bottles of water, a blanket and a pillow presented on the seat. With the early morning start we decide to try out the beds after the first round of drinks which was shortly after the take off.
The seats are remarkably easy to adjust with buttons to alter the reclining position of the seat and lumbar support and elegantly glide down to flat. There is power via USB and US power sockets beside the seat lighting. We take a brief power nap before a pre-lunch appetiser is served. A flavourful salad along with bread, olive oil & balsamic is served. This is followed by a soup which if served in a fine restaurant would delight any diner. We both chose Beef Tenderloin for our main course with carrots and spinach. After topping our wine the sweet trolley arrived, we kept it simple with a few fresh berries. The whole dining experience was certainly a delectable and enjoyable one.
By this time we were well on our way across the Atlantic and the flight crew decided to dim the cabin lights. We contemplated a movie but both decided after several glasses of wine we should opt for the eye masks, as the seats swiftly reclined and our eyes became heavy, a couple of hours of this journey disappeared before we knew it. During this time the cabin is wonderfully peaceful with the window blinds down and there is a useful snack/drinks self service set-up in the galley at the front of the Business Cabin.
Feeling revived and refreshed we decided to use the TV screens, sitting up to watch Russell Crowe in the movie Noah. The flight attendants constantly came around with bottled water, bar service and various tasty treats. Top marks for the warm cookies and milk we enjoyed mid movie. The entertainment offers plenty of choice for several long haul journeys – it’s clearly targeted at the American traveller, but with blockbuster movies and series like Game of Thrones on demand you are certainly not going to be short of choice.
As it was our first time in Seattle, we were delighted to realise we were only 10 minutes from landing and the captain started the final descent. As we to prepare for landing we came to realise just how comfortable the seats were when we return them back to the fully upright position. Seattle starts to appear through the windows and the backdrop of the snow topped mountains raise the excitement and anticipation in the cabin. We land and the crew waves us goodbye as we reach the gate within a few minutes.
I hope you get a chance to sample the Delta Business Elite experience soon, if you haven’t already.
