After years of frustrating Zoom, Teams, RingCentral, Webex and other virtual meetings, I was thrilled to finally have a chance to travel for work for the first time since 2019. With plenty of options on the table to get from New York City to Nice, France, I opted for Delta Air Lines and its Delta One suite product on the Airbus A330-900neo to understand if anything material had changed in the two-plus years since I had tried it.
Delta's digital game was strong, but not without some weak points. The option to pre-order my meal was sent to me a few days before I left. The menu featured a few interesting selections that were specifically tailored for the high-value New York-Paris route. Most of the passengers around me used the pre-order option, so Delta is doing a good job of communicating this option before the date of departure.
The FlyReady platform that Delta uses for document verification was a letdown. The platform reverted back to pending status after I uploaded my proof of vaccination for entry into France. The system prompted me to fill out a passenger locator form, but I was not able to get proof that I had done so on the French website that I was brought to. When I told the system that I had finished the form, it reverted back to saying it was incomplete. I was able to receive my boarding passes in the Delta app without any issues, thanks to the information I provided.
The lounge at SkyClub at JFK T4 was overcrowded when I popped in for a few minutes before my flight. I was able to find a place to sit but it was not a relaxing spot.
The bar was well stocked and the hot food options were enjoyable as a pre-departure snack.
The Sky Deck, an outdoor terrace overlooking the ramp, was closed on a chilly day, but I understand why.
I took a look at some of the changes made since I last flew this product and settled into seat 2A. The kit and menu were waiting for me at the seat. The items are being served in a more eco-friendly way. The menu was a single page listing only the main meal options, while the amenity kit claims to be made from natural and recycled materials.
A page with the full menu of snacks and drinks was provided on the menu. The hybrid approach lets me see the important details of the meal, but doesn't waste paper telling me what beverages are available. This is a clever idea that doesn't require providing this information on the entertainment screen.
After a lengthy delay due to de-icing, we were on our way and the flight attendants were in high gear to serve us the main meal. A salad, soup, bread, main course, and ice cream were all included in my pre-ordered meal. On a redeye flight, I prefer speed and efficiency over presentation, so I wouldn't object to this method of serving a meal. I chose the beef short rib pasta dish with a delicious tomato-based soup as one of the two special meals.
I noticed that the Delta Flight Products entertainment system on the A330-900neo offered more content than the other Panasonic IFE-equipped Delta aircraft I had flown before.
There were over 300 movies, 566 television show episodes, and 784 audio titles on the home screen. The A330neo is still a better choice than the other Delta aircraft, but this flight is down a bit from a year ago. The interface flowed well.
The A330neo has upgraded satellite wi-fi compared to the rest of Delta's widebody fleet.
I tried to get as much sleep as I could, but I was not comfortable enough to do so. The footwell is too small for my taste, and the sliding door is nice, but I questioned the privacy benefit since I wasn't able to see any other passengers with the door open.
The Delta One suite on the A330neo isn't perfect nor is it my favorite seat, but it is leaps and bounds better than what. I would choose it again.
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