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Even grounded for the better part of a year and a half, as an AVGEEK (or aviation geek), I have still longed to get back in the air and experience new things. One of those new things, at least to me, was a ride on the new-ish A220.
I say “new-ish” because Delta introduced this jet into the fleet about a year before COVID. There were, at the time, a flurry of folks booking tickets on BOTH of the two inaugural flights (in clear violation of Delta rules) but I was in the middle of some amazing Delta partner mileage runs to re-qualify for my Delta Diamond Medallion status. After that, I just could not seem to find a flight that worked within my normal routes of travel.
I finally had the opportunity to fly the A220 a few days ago.
My wife and I had time to visit the refurbished Detroit North A satellite Sky Club before the flight. The improvements are impressive and it has gone from a compartmentalized small feel to an open, large space. They even had a bartender serving drinks. Normally, I would have stayed in the club till the Fly Delta App alerted me that boarding had begun as our gate was just steps away from the club. But I wanted to be one of the first onboard to get a few shots of the A220 without fellow passengers in the way.
We boarded after a slight mechanical delay. The entry still shows a throwback to the original name for this jet, that is, the CS100 (BTW, our blog broke the news Delta was getting this stunning jet).
This jet has so much going for it from a passenger standpoint. It is 2-3 seating that is such a plus for couples travel. The windows are huge and at the right level.
This is hands-down the most gorgeous cockpit I have ever seen. The crew told me the A220 is a joy to fly and I would love such an opportunity (I am nowhere near qualified and have only about 10 hours in a Cessna but…)!
Speaking of tech – the IFE is HUGE and stunning. I very much enjoyed watching a movie with my NoiseHush headphones with Bluetooth transmitter (even with my mask on).
The view, from these HUGE windows, was also a mega treat for a smaller jet. I have to say the engineering in making this bird is all stunning and impressive. But…
Here is where my joy turns to sadness. When Delta first broke the news about the interior seat design I was simply shocked to learn they had picked a version of the Delta Premium Select as the “first class” seat. The legroom in the first row makes the horrid first row on the 737-900ER seem spacious by comparison.
And it gets worse.
Delta has restricted so many things due to COVID and has bragged up how clean they are making each aircraft before we board. Clearly, with the A220, cleaning the tray tables inside the armrests is not a priority. Did I mention it gets worse?
The seat design is so bad, with the try table in the retractable armrest, that I had to wedge a puke bag in the open space to keep the tray table from flopping around like a fish out of water.
Could things get even worse? Yep!
Even with a delayed flight, the gate agent did not clear upgrades at 40 minutes, as is the current protocol that was adjusted from the previous 30 minutes (see my conversation with the Delta CEO)…
With four loyal Delta Medallions on the upgrade list during COVID – first class went out with at least three empty seats in first on this 3+ hour long flight! Talk about #KeepDescending – why care about Delta’s Elite Accelerator program (that is still, as of today, massively busted when it comes to awarding points) when even now you can not trust that published benefits will be honored?
As I keep diving into this review, let me say as always, the Delta folks were amazing (other than the DTW gate agent, clearly). The problem is what the staff had to work with. There was no preflight water or beverage and the water is no longer Dasani but “Delta” branded water that had a strange flavor.
On this 3+ hour flight, over 900 miles that normally would be a hot meal flight, we started with a snack and wine in a plastic bottle and plastic glass (sigh). There is no reason for this other than cost savings as COVID is transmitted via air not via touch (as we all know now).
We got to choose from 2 snack boxes and it is noteworthy that EVERYONE gets to touch this menu again and again and it is NOT sanitized between passengers or crew. Beyond that, would you be happy with these choices if you paid full price first class?
Keep in mind that during COVID you should keep your mask on and only dip-N-sip etc. Lots of snacks and lots of plastic. Really not a first class meal even during COVID.
One of the things I was really looking forward to, even more so after the very disappointing wine, was trying the Delta margarita that Chris reviewed here. But… they were out. In fact, they were out on every single Delta flight I took on this trip that offered drinks!
I was so looking forward to this A220 first flight. I really love the jet but Delta has made the total experience lacking.
Let me end this review by again praising this stunning jet and crew. We landed in Austin in the middle of strong storms. Jets around us aborted landings and yet we touched down, with effort, smoothly. The weather was so bad that ground crews were not allowed to get our checked bags until the cell above the airport had moved on. Impressive!
After this trip, I am done flying until this fall and I am happy to stay on the ground. Not for fear of COVID, since I am fully vaccinated and taking precautions, but the lack of what Delta used to offer. I have little interest in flying Delta again until they bring back what was once the “Delta Difference” vs. what Delta is now sadly providing. – René
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I’m surprised you didn’t mention the window in the bathroom!
It would be incredibly disappointing if I were to be on a Delta meal service flight with a meal like what you were served, especially if the items were not kosher (which they easily could be in a snack box) and there were no special meal ordering option (Delta recently announced suspension of special meal service).
It’s time to stop using COVID-19 as an excuse and to get back to normal for those of us that are vaccinated, which ought to include everyone given the successful vaccination program and availability for all that want to be vaccinated.
@Barry – During COVID I avoid airplane lavatories. Yes the window inside is neat but there are a number of larger birds that also have this feature.
Disappointments aside, when I flew on one a few weeks ago from New York to DC, it was a great experience. I had the pleasure of sitting next to a Delta employee who was also very excited about the new plane.
Rene,
The Margarita is pretty good. I have 3 of them in my backpack. The FA said they were out of them for a while and just got them back in. Apparently much more popular than they anticipated.
Headibg to Nasville if you want one….. sitting in B sjyclub now.
Just flew near 1500 mile flight and experienced same offerings. Bistro and Market boxes are very bad substitutes for hot meals. Junk food. Ran out of choices. You can add agent required telephone response times – RUC/GUC and last I checked, using multiple travel credits for one flight require “help”. Agents seem new and refer to “supervisor” for a lot of tasks. I know it’s been a tough time, but time to “come back”, especially for those of us buying services.
Can you enlighten me as to what Delta “rules” you’re referring too, when you say, “a flurry of folks booking tickets on BOTH of the two inaugural flights (in clear violation of Delta rules)”. Last time I checked, Delta doesn’t care why people purchase tickets….
@Bryce – Happy to enlighten you. The Delta domestic contract of carriage Rule 16:E says:
“E) Duplicate, Fictitious and impossible/illogical bookings – Delta prohibits duplicate, impossible, or fictitious bookings, including but not limited to multiple conflicting itineraries for the same passenger on the same day or bookings with connections that depart before the arrival of the inbound flight. Delta reserves the right to cancel any such booking which has not been ticketed, and to cancel and refund any such booking which is ticketed at a refundable fare.”
Thus if you book a flight you do not intend to take (you can not take two flying at the same time) you are breaking the rules. Some folks did this for “both” inaugural flights and some fools even bragged about doing so in national papers.
Ah, I see. Okay, I actually knew of a lot of what is quoted there, but in my head I mistook what you meant when you said “both” fights as meaning the A220-100 and the A220-300 which were, of course, easily both doable as they were months apart. So, my confusion was more a misinterpretation of what you wrote .
Even if it were not a rule it’s still incredibly selfish. Thanks for sharing.
A question – when there are medallions on a flight who have requested an upgrade, and the flight takes off with seats in first class empty as mentioned above, do the medallions who should have been upgraded have any recourse?
@Harry – None at all. Once you board you give up any “right” to an upgrade.
Well you could – and should – complain to Delta about it.
@Barry – Delta does read the blog (we are able to track visits).
I got my upgrade today by waiting to the end. I was actually on the volunteer list (yes, they really were oversold) but someone didn’t show up. I got my Comfort upgrade at the last minute. I was about to board then asked if anyone in first class hadn’t shown up. She said everyone was checked on so I asked again, did everyone show up. She checked and saw that one person hadn’tarrived and gave me the seat. I’m sure that being very nice and happy didn’t hurt. They are under a lot of stress to leave on time and you really have to do what Rene said and wait to the end if you are top of the list like I was or even if you’re not top. This is not the first time I’ve got upgraded this way.
@Barry – #TeamBoardLast for the win still working in 2021!
@Rene, thanks! It did also occur to me that with all the effort in getting to Diamond, what’s the point if we just sit and watch our potential benefits go to waste without making the same effort that we used to get the status?
My only regret is that I didn’t have time to give the agent a Thank you voucher, so I’m going to write a nice letter to Delta instead to thank her.
Good to know, as someone that shares opinions here. I’m glad I am polite about Delta here even when I don’t like what they do!
Not cleaning upgrades on Delta when seats are open was not a one-off situation. This was ALL THE TIME. Reasons I would never fly Delta again (and haven’t in 4 years)
* Companion sat in coach while the seat next to me was open in 1st. (Yes I gave it to her and sat in coach)
*Delta is infamous for those 1st rows in 1st being crammed, its pretty much on all their aircraft and those are the most likely seats you will get as upgrades become scarce again
*Upgrading to Economy Plus on United is click the seats you want! On Delta it a crappy process
*No one does inflight food and beverage in First worse than DL
I could go on and on… I see nothing good about Delta. No idea why everyone raves about them.
Try flying aa first class on a 4 hour flight. Of course they did away with the seat back entertainment some time ago but their Covid excuse for replacing hot meals with a sandwich in a bag isn’t Covid related. They’re saving money and really don’t even try to hide it. Next time I’m paying for fc, I’ll book United. At least they’ve said they plan to bring back real dining unlike American’s chief of inflight services being quoted aa would do the opposite .
@Scott @SMR – I have not flown United for many many years but looking at a fall trip to Europe. United biz same price as Delta coach/PE mixed. Delta has lost what they once had that is for sure.
Not sure if you covered the other “fun” parts of this crappy plane. How about the aisle first class seats have severely restricted space to stow near your feet due to the center counsel wiping out the height in the center and the brace connecting the seat to the floor leaving not even enough space for a size 13 foot much less a computer bag or purse on the outside aisle space of the foot storage area. And those AWFUL!!!!! Padded seat belts. Bulky, restricting half padded belt that also does nothing but help you develop a sweat area when someone doesn’t dress warm enough for a flight cuz they’re flying to a warm location and whine it’s too cold so the FAs turn it to 75+. I’ll take the Embraer.
I don’t think it’s a crappy plane but I do agree with the concern about lack of legroom because of the “entertainment” system that I consider to be a complete waste of money given the abundance of devices that most people have on them.
For main cabin flyers…I would add two items: flights are VERY loud. Also, for those in seats C/D, you cannot reach the light or fan controls which are squarely above seat E. And for those in seat E, be prepared for those next to you to ask you to adjust the light/fan during your flight. I would encourage you to choose seat A or B on the new Delta A220s