Tokyo to L.A., land before you're gone: a Delta One Suite review on the A350
Crossing the day line can gain you a day or lose it, depending on the direction of your journey. In the [...]
Delta
SkyTeam
LAX
United States of America
Crossing the line of day can make you make a day o lose it, depending on the direction of your journey.
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- A350
- Class:
- One Suite
- Treat:
- HND - LAX
- Price:
- 115k skymiles + €83
- Book
In the course of my 40h round-the-world trip I I earned it, since I left, late in the evening of the December 30 from Tokyo and arrived in LA in the early afternoon of the same day-sometimes something that sends systems into a tailspin.
Reservation
I booked with points: I transferred from MR a SkyMiles, o Skypesos as the Americans call Delta's loyalty program points.
In less than one hour I had transferred 180k points, only pity that the conversion rate is of 3:2, but you cannot expect everything from life.
The final cost was 115k Skymiles and 83 euros in taxes.
At the airport
I arrived at the airport, had already checked in on the app, and so I went through security from the fast track for business passengers and headed to the lounges.
First I tried to enter the Centurion American Express, it is the first in Japan and one of the newest, but there was the waiting list and endless queue outside.
So I went upstairs and relaxed in the Delta's SkyClub, lounge that I had already reviewed and that it continues to be a more than viable product.
After a shower and a plate of special noodles for the upcoming New Year, I went to the gate.
Flight delayed by more than 3h that forced me to change my plans and upset part of my world tour itinerary.
On board
L'A350/900 is Delta's flagship, outfitted in 3 cabins: Delta One (the business), Delta Premium (the Premium Economy), the traditional echo is divided into two: Comfort (which has more space) and normal.
There are two business booths: the main one and a smaller one with only 8 armchairs After the second door.
I had chosen a place right here, the11A, but I made a rookie mistake.
Not only are you like a fish in the aquarium during boarding with all the passengers parading past you to get to your seat, but there is no galley dividing this cabin from the PE so it is definitely less isolated.
The other major flaw is that the service is done only in one direction: front to back, this means that I have always been the last to be served.
The chair
The layout of the cabin is 1-2-1, this means that all passengers have direct access to the corridor.
The absence of the hat rack in the central part makes the room more airy, but obviously reduces space as there are only the side ones.
The seats are arranged in a checkerboard pattern: one is closer to the window, the other to the aisle, and the orientation is straight, which gives a more natural position and more comfort especially in bed mode because you sleep straight and not diagonally.
All chairs have doors, which can be used only after the meal service is over.
It is not as tall as the Suite, but it is still able to isolate passengers-sure, if you walk down the aisle you can still look into someone else's house.
The seat is comfortable, the seat controllers are cleverly placed, and you don't run the risk of accidentally squashing them.
There is a small cavity, not big enough to put a backpack in, but enough for your purse, your computer: in short, a safe place to store your valuables.
Then there is a second space where one can put down one's items, but it is not enclosed: had there been a flap here, it would have been perfect.
Everything is already in place: the bag with all the bedding, the topper, a pillow to use in relaxation mode. The slippers, the amenity kit that like the rest of the products is in collaboration with Missoni.
The menu and a small bottle of water.
Being an overnight flight, the first thing I did was to immediately place the topper so that I would be ready to go into bed mode.
Hidden under the armrest is a mirror and the IFE controller.
The overnight kit bag solution should be a standard in all companies. No plastic, everything protected and clean.
Inside a really comfortable pillow and the comforter, of course, also here Missoni.
The flaw in this chair is that it is a tad narrow, but you can't want everything in life.
Once the door is closed, one feels quite isolated from what is happening around the plane.
Excellent then that Delta kept the air vents-I find that companies that do not put them in to save money are really short-sighted.
Overall the product is more than good, the coffee table is large, and even though you can't stand up when it is set you are not too sacrificed.
Standard bathrooms, as in all A350s, and there is also one fully accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Service
This was the sticking point of the flight. Unfortunately, American companies are light years behind those in the rest of the world: certainly they are modernizing on product, but it is much more complex to do so on service.
Staff significantly older than all other companies, but this is also a child of the fact that for the average American, the plane is like the subway for the Milanese.
Before takeoff, the only contact I had was to order my main course from the menu. No more. It took more than 40 minutes after the seatbelt sign went off to get the wipe and even more to get a drink.
A really amazing thing that (I think) has never happened to me before.
The mood of (almost) all the crew that hung around my area was on the out of phase andante, with the exception of what I think was the cabin leader.
The bell test passed with flying colors: less than 20" to arrive is a First Class time,
But lunch service done by the tray, drinks by the cart is really un-premium. The paradox was that the first cart that came by had no champagne, and so it took more 10 minutes Before I had my drink.
Sure with the tray it's faster, but do you want to put ITA or Qatar, just to name two at random, serving you one ceramic plate after another?
Add to this the fact that I was always the last to be served and that was it.
Amenity kit cute, quality products (especially the socks) and great slippers too.
IFE
Here I have to say ups and downs: unfortunately the connection on flights over the Pacific is not guaranteed, on the in-flight portal Delta informs that it will arrive by mid 2026. But as we approached the west coast it started to work and . is free for all loyalty program members.
There is plenty of content on the system, which speaks perfect Italian. Too bad the live TV channels were also not active throughout the flight.
There is a plate for wireless charging of cell phones, convenient and once in a while working.
There is one power strip, one port USB-C And headphone input.
The contents are many, there are even complete series!!! Nothing Apple TV+ or other networks as they do on other routes.
The "disgrace," however, was the absence of on-board cameras so I could watch my favorite program, so I made do with the map.
Food&Beverage
A half disappointment here as well: the culinary proposal was two dishes in the Western version and a tasting menu in case of Japanese dish. I was lucky in nabbing the last one available, partly because the Western offerings were really dismal.
The quality of the Jap catering was good, the flavors classic and the hot dish balanced and pleasant. The treat was also not bad.
On breakfast, however, I went for the sure thing: fruit pancakes. Hot, hearty and pleasant to eat.
In conclusion
The problem is the price: the product One Suite is valid, the experience at U.S. airports such as JFK, LAX o Seattle is top. But then, set foot on board, there is still the old Delta.
Uneven crew mood, premium economy service, and generally uninviting catering.
Delta, like its 2 American sisters, is usually more expensive than European airlines: sure, one often offers direct, the others with stopovers from Rome or other hubs, but the cabin is not enough to justify the price.
Sure it's SkyTeam, sure you can book it with Flying Blue miles, but if the flight with AF costs you. 500€ o 40k points less I would go with the latter.
Pro
- Night Kit
- On-board technology
Against
- Service
- Gastronomic proposal