Delta One Business Class – Buenos Aires to Atlanta
On a recent business trip to the US and South America, I had the opportunity to try out the heavily marketed Delta One business class product. I flew it from Buenos Aires to Atlanta. What I found may very well surprise you!
I booked my Delta flights as a first time Delta flyer. I was concerned about how good these flights would be because US airlines don’t have the best reputation in the airline world. The big three, American, United and Delta, all fly both domestically in the US, as well as on a range of international routes.
Delta’s elite business class service is Delta One. Delta One is only available on select business class flights. I was unsure of what to expect, heading into this trip, having not had a lot of positive experiences flying US airlines’ premium cabins before.
The Delta One Cabin
I was pleasantly surprised when I walked onto the plane in Buenos Aires. The cabin looked welcoming, with its trademark blue and red colour scheme everywhere. Delta One is laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration, similar to many other airlines’ premium business class cabins.
Arriving at my window seat, I found a premium set-up, with two pillows on my seat; a water bottle; headphones; and an amenities kit all awaiting me. My initial worries about whether a US airline would live up to international expectations, was quickly put to rest.
Everything looked perfect!
There was a large screen entertainment system. A good sized fold out table, which folded in on top of itself, and allowed easy access to the aisle when needed. Such thoughtful design Delta!
The Delta One Seat and Amenities
The seat was comfortable, reclining into a fully flat bed later in the flight. Noise cancelling headphones were provided by LSTN, partnering with Delta, to raise awareness for the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Great CSR work Delta One!
The Delta One amenities kit by Tumi, was also high quality. It was presented in a leather bag that could be used again and again after the flight. I hate waste, so reusability is something I value. Many of these overnight kits are simply thrown away! So far my Delta One flight was hitting well above the bar of my expectations.
The Food
Welcome drinks were offered on the ground, and again not long after take off. Delta One provides a beautifully branded menu, outlining the offer on this overnight flight back to their home base in Atlanta.
The Delta One crew were keen to get the meal service started quickly to allow passengers to maximise their sleep. This was excellent because it was a late night departure.
As you can see in the menu shots below, there were three or four choices in both the starter and the main course. An express menu was also offered, as were snacks throughout the flight. A light breakfast was served before landing into Atlanta.
For my dinner on Delta One I simply had the three starters. The pumpkin soup was very nice, with a chopped curried shrimp added to it. It was accompanied with focaccia bread.
The Caprese salad consisted of cherry tomatoes, bocconcini cheese, and croutons with a pesto dressing. It was delicious! To round it off, there was the eggplant dip with flat bread.
The mains consisted of a choice of beef, chicken, pasta or fish, giving every passenger a good range of choice. I wasn’t hungry enough to eat a main, so I passed on this part of the meal.
The Delta One onboard offer was thoroughly impressive. It was certainly on par with other international airlines’ business class offerings.
Drinks on Delta One
On long international flights, especially those departing in the evening, it is always nice to have a couple of drinks to relax into the flight and get you ready to sleep. Delta One, again surprised me, with a good range of wine and other drinks to choose from.
Flying from Argentina, I was happy to see some good Malbec on board.
The wine was presented to each Delta One passenger, in a wire basket, which was reminiscent of market day and the offer of trying the local samples. I loved it!
The Delta One Crew
US airlines don’t have the best reputation globally for their staff and customer service, especially in premium cabins. The crew on my Delta One flight were an absolute delight though. They were professional, friendly, and genuinely interested in my travel plans.
It was also clear that this onboard team worked well together. They supported each other in the busy dinner service period, bantering to each other, like good friends. This is always nice to see, especially on long flights when they have to spend so much time working together.
This comes across really nicely to the passengers and makes the total flight experience a delight. Great job by this Atlanta based crew.
Expert Traveller Recommends…
It’s a genuine pleasure when you are surprised by a new flight experience. Our first time aboard Delta One certainly did that.
US airlines often get bad press when compared to the standards offered by Asian and Middle Eastern airlines, so this flight was a pleasant surprise. It’s one we would recommend to anyone wanting an enjoyable premium cabin experience to or from the US.