In 2019, Delta Air Lines debuted a brand new business class product onboard its Boeing 767-400ERs. An upgrade to the older lie-flat seats the plane used to sport, Delta planned to fly the planes predominantly to London, where this hard product would have done well. Now, the planes are flying a mix of domestic and international services. Simple Flying got a chance to check out the cabin. To be succinct, the cabin is impressive and is one passengers should look to book if they can.
The Delta One cabin on the 767-400ERs
Delta Air Lines has a fleet of 21 Boeing 767-400ER aircraft. These planes underwent a complete retrofit in all cabins starting in 2019. One of the much-needed improvements was at the front of the plane, where Delta upgraded the business class cabin to meet newer standards of privacy and passenger amenities.
The retrofitted Delta One cabin has room for 34 passengers in business class. The entire cabin fits between the first two doors on the aircraft and is in a 1-2-1 configuration.
Like the older configuration, the newer seats maintain a staggered, forward-facing configuration that works on a Boeing 767. The 767 is narrower than other widebody aircraft, so Delta could not introduce its Delta One Suites on the aircraft without sacrificing a fair bit of capacity up front. Instead, it went for a modified version of the seat.
Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests.
The best seats
The best seats are the window seats for solo travelers, which provide direct aisle access and no neighbors. Note that not all window seats on this aircraft are created equal. The best seats are those in even rows, which are closer to the window.
The seats in even rows feature a larger privacy shield from the aisle and a table on the right-hand side of the seat. This gives passengers a few extra inches of separation from the aisle. This means fewer distractions or bumps from passengers boarding or service running through the aisles. Note that, while the 767-400ERs can board from the second door, sometimes, these planes are boarded from the forward door, which can lead to a lot of foot traffic while people are getting on the aircraft.
As you can see from the image, passengers in odd rows sit closer to the aisle and have a smaller privacy shield from the aisle. This keeps the seat more open and exposed. For sleeping, if you do get claustrophobic, seats in odd-numbered rows against the aisle should help prevent this.
The seats are staggered because the footwell for the seat is on the side table of the seat in front. This allows for greater utilization of space.
The center seats feature a privacy partition, which is great for solo travelers sitting next to a stranger. If you are traveling with someone, the center partitions can be lowered. Center seats are also staggered, so in each pair of seats, one is more exposed to the aisle, and one is removed from the aisle.
The footwell at the seat seemed plenty big enough. This can be a problem with many products.
Seat functions
The seats are adjustable and can do everything from upright to lie-flat. Seat controls are located in a panel just above the side table. Passengers removed from the aisle will find the full seat control panel in the privacy shield from the aisle, whereas passengers in seats flush against the aisle can look to the panel near the window or center partition for the seat controls.
The seat control panels include a series of pre-set positions, including the upright taxi, takeoff, and landing position. The other three include bed mode, relax mode, and lounge mode. Passengers can also change different parts of the seat themselves. The seat controls were intuitive.
On the side of the table, there is another simplified seat control panel. This comes in handy for passengers looking to alter the seat positioning while in bed mode.
The seat also includes controls for lighting and a “do not disturb” mode, limiting flight attendant interaction while a passenger is sleeping or lounging. More decorative than useful was the side lamp, which could easily be controlled from either side panel.
In bed mode, there was more than enough room for my 5’9″ frame to sleep. It was comfortable for a lie-flat seat, and Delta traditionally stocks the planes flying with the front cabin marketed as Delta One with a full pillow and comforter set.
On long-haul flights, especially when consuming a meal, having access to entertainment is an important component of an airline’s inflight experience. Delta has outfitted the jets with its own inflight entertainment system created by Delta Flight Products. Using wireless technology with tablet displays mounted on the back of the seat, the 18″ monitor is stocked with plenty of content to keep people busy. Delta also refreshes content regularly.
In the side table, hidden under a panel that lifts up, passengers can find a little mirror and a remote. The remote controls the screen, although it is also a touchscreen and is very easy to use.
Don’t miss this cabin
This is a cabin not to miss. One of the most popular routes this jet can currently be found is between New York and Los Angeles, where the jets are operating alongside Boeing 767-300ERs, which traditionally fly the route. If you have a choice, the 767-400ER is definitely the one to pick, as the product onboard is vastly superior compared to the 767-300ERs, which have not undergone a retrofit.
On nearly 20-year-old jets, the brand new cabin combines the latest in Delta’s product with the classic legacy of the Boeing 767. Whether you are an avgeek or road warrior, this is a cabin that is sure to delight.
Have you flown Delta One on the retrofitted Boeing 767-400ER? Let us know in the comments!
from Simple Flying https://ift.tt/3ePasXN
via IFTTT
Comments
Post a Comment