Touring Delta One, Premium Select and Coach on Delta's First Airbus A350
Typically when an airline takes delivery of an entirely new type of aircraft, it takes some time to get up to speed before the plane's ready to welcome passengers. Case in point: Delta and the Airbus A350. Delta Air Lines' first A350 was delivered back in July and flew to Atlanta in early August, but Tuesday afternoon was the first time "real passengers" were allowed on board.
Delta is holding a media event at its Atlanta headquarters focused around the A350, along with the carrier's two new in-flight products: Delta One Suite (business class) and Premium Select (premium economy). There's a small group of journalists visiting from around the world, and while we knew we'd get some time to tour the plane on the ground, Delta surprised the group with a last-minute demo flight, giving us a chance to experience the plane in the air.
We're boarding shortly flight DL9988, operated by N502DN, and I'll be back with a full writeup of the in-flight experience on Wednesday — for now I wanted to share some initial impressions in an aircraft tour.
Delta One Cabin
Delta's A350 is the first plane to offer the new Delta One Suite, with 32 suites in a single large cabin.
Suites are arranged in a staggered 1-2-1 configuration, with 18 in the center and 14 positioned on the sides of the A350.
All Suites have a sliding door, so privacy is comparable, but my preference is the window-side Suites in the odd-numbered rows, which are right up against the window.
The even-numbered window seats offer lots of privacy, too, again thanks to that sliding door.
You can catch the door in action here — note that it doesn't close all the way, but it's almost flush with the edge.
Premium Select Cabin
The Airbus A350 is also the first Delta plane to offer Premium Select, the carrier's first true premium-economy product. These seats are also located in a single cabin, with 48 in a 2-4-2 arrangement.
Premium Select seats are wider than those in economy, and include a slide-out footrest and extra recline.
These seats have at least 38 inches of pitch, which is comparable to what you'll find in domestic first class.
Seats measure 18.5 inches, compared to 18 back in coach.
Economy Cabin
Economy is spread between two cabins, with a total of 226 seats in a 3-3-3 arrangement, which is standard for the A350.
All seats offer at least 31 inches of pitch, in addition to HD inflight entertainment systems and USB and AC power.
The overhead bins are sizable as well.
And there are dedicated air vents — always a plus in coach.
Lavatories are on the smaller side, though.
Cockpit and Galleys
Up front, you'll find the standard A350 cockpit — Delta's most advanced to date.
Then there are three galleys, including a small space up front behind the cockpit.
A larger business-class galley between Delta One and Premium Select.
And a gigantic economy galley at the far back of the plane.
Flying Delta's A350
Initially, we thought Delta might launch the A350 on domestic routes, but with the inaugural flight to Tokyo (NRT) less than two weeks away, it's unlikely that the plane will be flying within the US before it sets off on its first international revenue trip from Detroit (DTW) on October 30. From there, the A350 will fly daily on the Detroit - Tokyo route as Delta Flight 275 on the outbound and Flight 276 on the return.
The next international route also originates in Detroit, flying daily to Seoul (ICN) as Flight 159 on the outbound and Flight 158 on the return. That inaugural is scheduled for November 18. The next confirmed route is from Detroit to Beijing (PEK) beginning January 17, 2018, as Flight 189 on the flight to China and Flight 190 on the return to the US. Note that some Beijing frequencies are operated by the Airbus A330, so be sure to confirm the aircraft before booking your flight.
Finally, Delta has announced A350 service from Atlanta (ATL) to Seoul. The plane will launch on that route beginning March 24, as Flight 27 on the outbound and Flight 26 on the return. Note that some A350 flights require an additional charge of up to $500 each way when flying in the Delta One business-class cabin.
Bottom Line
Delta's A350 looks fantastic — while many of us will miss the Boeing 747 it replaces, there's no question that this plane is superior in nearly every way when it comes to passenger experience.
Check out this video tour of the Delta One suites and more:
Stay tuned for more impressions on Wednesday — in the meantime, for more on Delta's A350, see:
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.