Is there a rollout schedule posted somewhere for the rest of the transatlantic flights? United has such a plan posted on their web site, although they are really slow with the implementation (UA’s new flat seats are great, the old biz seats are scary-80s, just a shade better than coach). You can also check which routes have the new seats.
The old cradle-style Business Elite seats just are not very comfortable for sleeping and they are no longer competitive with other airlines serving the transatlantic routes for similar prices (like AF, KL, LH, BA). DL’s food and wine are great, significantly improved over the last 18 months. But if I’m tired due to lack of sleep when I arrive and go to my European office, it sort of negates the productivity benefit that presumably is factored in the corporate travel office’s ROI for business over coach.
Hopefully you have good news that these seats will appear on other routes soon.
I just ticketed a December flight from ATL to CDG, and then back from CDG direct to CVG.
It’s my first foray in a long time going East, and in looking for aircraft and seating arrangements (I’m particular, way too much time in the air not to be…) I started reading about the Lie Flat seat transition.
I’m hoping that by the first week of December perhaps Delta will have some of the 767-400′s to CDG outfitted with the new seating.
Question to Delta: Any updates re upgrades to flights other than to LHR??
I’ve heard the new seats are rather narrow. Is this true? Will Delta roll these seats out through all of the international aircraft or are these seats just being tested?
When can we expect flat bed seats to Asia? I fly to Narita for connections elsewhere in Asia about a dozen times a year. Have been using Korean Air for most of my flights (going through Seoul) because they have a flat bed product on that route. Would love to get back to Northwest/Delta for these trips if flat bed seats are installed. Will it happen? Any idea when? Thanks.
Maybe the video doesn’t do the new seats justice, but they just don’t look all that comfortable. It appears as though the passenger slides down/forward, almost like you’re being put in a coffin. How easy is it for the passenger to get up from the seat when in a full-flat position?
I have flown United’s new lie-flat biz class seat on both the 747-400 and 767-300. Though narrow, it is comfortable. United also appears to have larger video screens than DL (UA’s screens are approx. 15″ diameter). A downside to United’s configuration on the 767 is that it is 2 x 2 x2. If you’re in the window seat reaching the aisle is difficult if the passenger who is actually in the aisle seat is fully reclined.
It looks like this new seat was developed by Delta’s Revenue Management department, rather than Marketing or in-flight. I really like flying Delta, but this just doesn’t seem compelling enough to get me to switch.
With the termination of the CVG-LGW route, leaving only the ATL-LGW route at LGW, are there any plans to move the remaining ATL flight to LHR (as the second daily ATL-LHR flight) and use a flat bed 767-400? If my calculations are correct there should be sufficient aircraft and a landing slot at LHR available from NWA’s old SEA-LHR routing that doesn’t appear to have been replaced. Really hope so, as connections can be a problem with DL 9 and 10.
As Chris B mentioned, the seats are actually wider than the cradle seat that they replaced. While I’m sure no seat is perfect, we think this one strikes the right balance – it is 180-degrees full flat (the video may not look perfectly flat, because it was shot on a real airplane but on the ground. Since the 767 flies at a 3-degree angle, the seats are set to account for that).
In addition, each and every seat has direct aisle access – so no more gymnastics to get to the aisle. Just stand up and you’re in the aisle.
I’ve flown the JFK-LHR route many times on the new plane and have to say it’s a big improvement over the old cradle seat. Take note of the tip and reserve a seat along the window, they are slightly bigger, but it makes a difference. Having also flown the LAX-SYD trip this summer, I have to say I like the 767-400 seat better.
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August 26th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
This has been bugging me for a while: What are the Ethernet ports for (seen in this video) in BusinessElite on the 777 & 767?
August 26th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Nice if you fly the Heathrow route…which I don’t.
Is there a rollout schedule posted somewhere for the rest of the transatlantic flights? United has such a plan posted on their web site, although they are really slow with the implementation (UA’s new flat seats are great, the old biz seats are scary-80s, just a shade better than coach). You can also check which routes have the new seats.
The old cradle-style Business Elite seats just are not very comfortable for sleeping and they are no longer competitive with other airlines serving the transatlantic routes for similar prices (like AF, KL, LH, BA). DL’s food and wine are great, significantly improved over the last 18 months. But if I’m tired due to lack of sleep when I arrive and go to my European office, it sort of negates the productivity benefit that presumably is factored in the corporate travel office’s ROI for business over coach.
Hopefully you have good news that these seats will appear on other routes soon.
August 26th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Good thing I am skinny…any reason why the seats are so narrow? Were there any pre-installation tests done with “average-sized” individuals?
August 27th, 2009 at 9:50 am
Great question Cincyworldtraveler!
I just ticketed a December flight from ATL to CDG, and then back from CDG direct to CVG.
It’s my first foray in a long time going East, and in looking for aircraft and seating arrangements (I’m particular, way too much time in the air not to be…) I started reading about the Lie Flat seat transition.
I’m hoping that by the first week of December perhaps Delta will have some of the 767-400′s to CDG outfitted with the new seating.
Question to Delta: Any updates re upgrades to flights other than to LHR??
August 27th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I’ve heard the new seats are rather narrow. Is this true? Will Delta roll these seats out through all of the international aircraft or are these seats just being tested?
August 28th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Quick question-why did you decide not to have a divider between the 2 seats in the middle of the cabin? Just curious. Thanks.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
croz…the ethernet ports are used for testing and troubleshooting the IFE system.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
DiscoPapa…these new flat-bed seats are 20% wider than the BusinessElite cradle seats they replaced.
August 28th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
MarkaMik…current plans call for these 7 aircraft to be dedicated to the Heathrow market.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
When can we expect flat bed seats to Asia? I fly to Narita for connections elsewhere in Asia about a dozen times a year. Have been using Korean Air for most of my flights (going through Seoul) because they have a flat bed product on that route. Would love to get back to Northwest/Delta for these trips if flat bed seats are installed. Will it happen? Any idea when? Thanks.
August 28th, 2009 at 11:15 pm
Maybe the video doesn’t do the new seats justice, but they just don’t look all that comfortable. It appears as though the passenger slides down/forward, almost like you’re being put in a coffin. How easy is it for the passenger to get up from the seat when in a full-flat position?
I have flown United’s new lie-flat biz class seat on both the 747-400 and 767-300. Though narrow, it is comfortable. United also appears to have larger video screens than DL (UA’s screens are approx. 15″ diameter). A downside to United’s configuration on the 767 is that it is 2 x 2 x2. If you’re in the window seat reaching the aisle is difficult if the passenger who is actually in the aisle seat is fully reclined.
It looks like this new seat was developed by Delta’s Revenue Management department, rather than Marketing or in-flight. I really like flying Delta, but this just doesn’t seem compelling enough to get me to switch.
August 30th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
With the termination of the CVG-LGW route, leaving only the ATL-LGW route at LGW, are there any plans to move the remaining ATL flight to LHR (as the second daily ATL-LHR flight) and use a flat bed 767-400? If my calculations are correct there should be sufficient aircraft and a landing slot at LHR available from NWA’s old SEA-LHR routing that doesn’t appear to have been replaced. Really hope so, as connections can be a problem with DL 9 and 10.
September 1st, 2009 at 5:18 pm
royal-jet-service, et al:
As Chris B mentioned, the seats are actually wider than the cradle seat that they replaced. While I’m sure no seat is perfect, we think this one strikes the right balance – it is 180-degrees full flat (the video may not look perfectly flat, because it was shot on a real airplane but on the ground. Since the 767 flies at a 3-degree angle, the seats are set to account for that).
In addition, each and every seat has direct aisle access – so no more gymnastics to get to the aisle. Just stand up and you’re in the aisle.
Mike
October 7th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
I’ve flown the JFK-LHR route many times on the new plane and have to say it’s a big improvement over the old cradle seat. Take note of the tip and reserve a seat along the window, they are slightly bigger, but it makes a difference. Having also flown the LAX-SYD trip this summer, I have to say I like the 767-400 seat better.