How’s that for alliteration?
Check out the latest computer renderings of Delta’s new full-flat seat we’ll be installing on the first of seven 767-400ERs this winter. It’s a really innovative design in that it’s 20% wider than the current seat, offers every customer in the BusinessElite cabin direct aisle access and provides for a very efficient cabin layout. That means we’re able to offer an enhanced full-flat product without decreasing the seat count.
The seats are all leather and recline to a full-flat 180 degree 6′5″ bed. They also feature a universal 110V power outlet, USB port, a large console, personal reading light, lumbar support and plenty of storage for all your stuff. And we’ve also improved the in-flight entertainment experience by increasing the size of the widescreen monitors by 50%. These seven aircraft will be used on flights between the U.S. and London Heathrow, and the ultimate goal is to upgrade to this seat across the entire 767-300ER and -400ER fleet in the near future.
Let us know what you think!
Chris B.
Manager - Product Development
November 3rd, 2008 at 3:49 pm
The seat cushions seem very flat. This may make sense when the seat is fully reclined, my concern would be when sitting up. There doesn’t appear to be much contour. I realize this is a rendering.
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:18 pm
This is great, but I’m wondering if any of these upgrades are going to filter down to the back of the plane, where most of us sit. I recently flew one of Delta’s 767s from JFK to LHR and was shocked that there wasn’t even an in-seat entertainment system. Delta will never be able to compete with other carriers on these routes until it can offer a similar product to ALL its customers, not just those with an expense account or a million skymiles to burn.
November 4th, 2008 at 3:24 am
When will Delta’s 767s get the suites? Will NW aircraft receive these seats? Will the first seven 764’s receive the new livery as well?
November 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
It looks very nice…but what about the whole B767-300 fleet?
November 4th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I am glad to see these coming to DL. For the past few years I stopped flying DL transatlantic due to the seats, and as I was living in Europe. Now that i’ll be back in the US, I will be flying US carriers again…..and I have gotten spoiled having a flat seat!
Dave
November 4th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Lukediver66…the plan is to refit the 767-300ER and -400ER fleet with the full-flat product.
November 5th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
the seat cusions do look thin. Tail bone pain!!!!!
does anyone know how thick the cusions will be?
November 5th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
HWGeek…this is a computer rendering. We’ll post pics of the actual seat in the aircraft as soon as possible.
November 6th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Tell you what, why not fit the 767-300ERs with seat back tvs first.
We fly Manchester to Atlanta soon and have been informed by your staff that when we enter your plane we may feel as though we gone back in time to 1980, as the only entertainment provided on a NINE HOUR FLIGHT will be overhead tvs.
In this day and age I can’t believe a airline like Delta would be championing flat beds in business while in coach they can’t provide what other airlines would consider to be a basic facility.
November 8th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
How many types of seats is DL going to have in the Business class section? They have the old seats, the pod-like seats on some of the 777s. now add the NW WorldBusiness Class lie-flat seats to the mix…no consistency in DL’s high-end product.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
See my other post (#8) over at http://blog.delta.com/2008/11/12/announcing-new-routes-to-africa-europe-middle-east-trans-pacific-in-2009/#comments
I know it is just a rendering, but at first glance, these look really uncomfortable. I’m hoping that what appears to be “hard leather surfaces” is really softer.
I’ve flown flat seats on many different airlines (AF, BA, LH, NW, TG, SQ, maybe one other). All of these carriers have various designs, but in my opinion, SQ is the best and most comfortable, NW maybe the worst. The main differences are “lie flat at an angle” vs. “lie completely flat”. I hope DL’s seat is in the latter category. For me, the biggest factor in getting good sleep is how they deal with the seams between the cushions and width of the seat. The center seam is most critical - if not just perfect, you’ve got a mountain poking you or a hole to fall in. On the width, I’m an average sized person and stomach sleeper. So, typically I like to put my arms up in a circle around the pillow. Many of the lie-flat seats are so narrow that it makes this position uncomfortable - it seems like the designers thought that everyone would lie on their back like a corpse with their arms parallel and very close to the side of the body.
I’m interested in the answer to DTWRedTail - why have so many different designs? The pods looked very cool. Are you keeping the NW seats or replacing them as part of the makeover? (Hint: please replace. They are old, have bad seam problems, and have not been maintained very well. Seems like there is always something not working with the seat and the FA has to “reboot” it).
November 18th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Chris, this is very exciting news! My fiancee and I are booked to fly between ATL and Zurich (outbound) and Milan to ATL (inbound) in August, 2009 in BusinessElite for our honeymoon and would love to see these new seats introduced to the 767-3 by the end of next summer. I realize you probably don’t know exactly when you would plan to carry these upgrades over to the 767-3s, but do you have a general sense of when you’d expect those to take place?
Thanks for any info you can provide me!
November 19th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I thought initially these types of seats would be fitted on the aircraft that fly between JFK and LHR only?
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:17 pm
I don’t know, maybe Chris can provide some insight. . .
November 27th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I have to agree that the seats do not look comfortable. Also, isn’t using these for JFK-LHR a waste? It’s one of the shortest TATL routes and the flight over - unless you skip dinner and go right to sleep - is barely long enough for more than a long nap. Why not use them on longer routes, when there’s time to get a decent night’s sleep and really take advantage of the lie-flat opportunity. I suppose DL wants to be competitive with BA but IMO, these would be put to better use on longer routes.
June 18th, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Hey
This sounds and looks amazing!
My flight is a boeing 767-400, but my flight is from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Madrid-Barajas Airport.
My flight leaves on Tuesday June 23rd 2009, Is this the Business Elite, the one that will also be on my plane? i sure hope so, because here it only says it for U.S to London. Please tell me this will also be the plane from Atlanta to Madrid, because my plane is also a Boeing 467-400
Please Respond here please, Or email me at Funster596@aol.com
June 18th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
sorry i meant to put Boeing 767-400 in the second to last sentence!