Just to let you know my opinion on my first delta experience. About my background: I live in Berlin. Thus, for a flight to California I must take a connection. Usually I did this in Europe (via FRA, MUC, CDG, LHR etc.) but this time I decided to this with Delta so that I will have the connection in the US. Delta and Continental are the only two airlines that offer American destinations from TXL (JFK and Newark).
My points:
- Prices appears to me somewhat 10% to 20% higher when compared to KLM, AF or BA what you can get with very low ticket face (U-class or whatever). I did really extensive investigations. But I did not get a good booking class with the European carriers at the preferred date. Thus I gave Delta a try.
- Whoever wondered about TXL capability to embark a 250-seater (because of the individual boarding areas): they use two of them. but still, the facilities are just the opposite from being “roomy”.
- Aircraft had problems with closing the door of the overhead bin at 15 AB. I did not check registration of the planes, but at the return flight, a (different) attendant had the same problem at the same overhead bin at preparation for take-off! Found that interesting.
- Aircraft is a 767-300ER for JFK-TXL. Nice plane (I love it: 2-3-2 seating and very smooth flight), but old. Forget about the entertainment: it is ceiling mounted stuff. They showed “Failure at launch” and “Clouseau”. Big hit as you can guess.
- Changing planes in JFK is no way as good as in AMS, MUC or CDG: the terminal I arrived has low ceilings, small facilities, gives an impression of being always packed. bad food courts. I love the bright and spacious atmosphere in CDG for example.
- the biggest downturn is the customs and security issue with a stop in the US: you must go through customs at the first airport you arrive and thus you have two baggage claims (and guess what: my bag was in both cases one of the last). Then you have the mess with the people who are in hurry. Then there are the crowded “security checkpoints” with checking your shoes ....
- National flight with Delta’s B757: 5h, bad entertainment, narrow cabin (compared with long-hauler). Drinks to pay and ridiculous food offer. (water and softdrinks are free): forget this one.
My conclusion: if you depart from Berlin and must got to New York, it could be OK for you. But all others: it does not save time, it’s less comfortable and might be even more expensive.
-lr.
Delta: TXL-JFK-SFO and back: some notes
Re: Delta: TXL-JFK-SFO and back: some notes
Earphones to pay 2$ (you can bring your own)lastrow wrote: Drinks to pay
No pillow, no cover... No young and nice FAs :dance:
But friendly cabin crew (look like my grandparents), I was allowed to see the cockpit and have a small chat with the crew until pushback.
In my opinion, Delta looks like Easyjet on domestic trips.
two things to add:
1. the good thing of the TXL-JFK flight is that you get the earphones for free (quite fair ones). Thus you do not need to purchase them on the national flight JFK-SFO!!!
2. That one is really bad: I like to check in early in order to avoid long queues, do some shopping or just eat something in advance. My flight back was at 7:30am and thus I made it to 5:00am at the airport SFO.
Now the surprise for me: Delta has personnel in the check-in area. They ask you when and where you flight goes. Depending on your departure time you will be put into designeated lined areas to wait until check in "makes sense for you".
Thus it does not matter if you come to check in 2 and half hours in advance: they won't let until some "late birds" going in 45min to somewhere haven't made it yet.
I think this is not acceptable: result was that I was standing 45 mins in some designated area in the airport hall until the Delta personell "opened our cage" and guided us to the main check-in queue!
I think this is just another strategy to lower to cost for personell at the airport by dispatching the passenger to the check-in counters as efficient as possible. For me this is just a bad start of an intercontinental trip. At the end my hopes for a nice breakfast (in the Internaltional Terminal, because the Delta-terminal is empty) were gone. You can guess how happy I was to receive the joke-of-food on the Delta flight SFO-JFK.
-lr.
1. the good thing of the TXL-JFK flight is that you get the earphones for free (quite fair ones). Thus you do not need to purchase them on the national flight JFK-SFO!!!
2. That one is really bad: I like to check in early in order to avoid long queues, do some shopping or just eat something in advance. My flight back was at 7:30am and thus I made it to 5:00am at the airport SFO.
Now the surprise for me: Delta has personnel in the check-in area. They ask you when and where you flight goes. Depending on your departure time you will be put into designeated lined areas to wait until check in "makes sense for you".
Thus it does not matter if you come to check in 2 and half hours in advance: they won't let until some "late birds" going in 45min to somewhere haven't made it yet.
I think this is not acceptable: result was that I was standing 45 mins in some designated area in the airport hall until the Delta personell "opened our cage" and guided us to the main check-in queue!
I think this is just another strategy to lower to cost for personell at the airport by dispatching the passenger to the check-in counters as efficient as possible. For me this is just a bad start of an intercontinental trip. At the end my hopes for a nice breakfast (in the Internaltional Terminal, because the Delta-terminal is empty) were gone. You can guess how happy I was to receive the joke-of-food on the Delta flight SFO-JFK.
-lr.
