Delta drops lie-flats from NYC to San Diego, leaving JetBlue as only luxe option
Flying domestically in a lie-flat seat is a rare treat, and moving forward, there's going to be one fewer option to experience this thrill.
That's because Delta Air Lines will no longer operate lie-flat-equipped jets to San Diego, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by the carrier.
In recent years, the airline has deployed a mix of wide-body jets and Boeing 757-200s that are equipped with lie-flat Delta One pods in the pointy end of the plane on select frequencies on the 2,446-mile route from the New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to the San Diego International Airport (SAN).
These have been popular flights with premium travelers looking to splurge for additional comfort on these roughly six-hour transcons.
By offering flat beds in business class, the airline could offer its signature Delta One product on these routes, which usually commanded a revenue premium over flying on a competitor, such as Alaska Airlines, that didn't offer such posh seats up front.
While that strategy may have worked in the past, especially when business travel was at record levels before the pandemic, Delta seemingly isn't seeing enough demand to support flying a lie-flat-equipped Boeing 757 to San Diego.
Feb. 11, 2023, will mark the final lie-flat service that Delta operates to San Diego, and going forward, the carrier will exclusively operate Boeing 737s on this route.
"As with any route, we are constantly evaluating which aircraft is best-suited to operate the service, and beginning early next year, Delta’s JFK-SAN route will be operated on the 737," reads the statement shared by carrier spokesperson Drake Castadena.
Delta's Boeing 737s are outfitted with domestic recliners in first class, and these seats aren't nearly as spacious or comfortable as the lie-flat pods on more premium planes.
As such, it'll be interesting to see if Delta adjusts its pricing strategy for the forward cabin on these flights to account for the fact that the onboard product won't be as nice.
Going forward, Delta loyalists who are looking to cross the country in style will need to fly between New York and either Los Angeles or San Francisco to enjoy lie-flat seats. (Delta transcons from Boston and Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles also feature Delta One pods on the Boeing 757-200.)
With Delta pulling its luxe seats from the New York to San Diego route, it leaves JetBlue Airways as the sole carrier consistently offering a lie-flat product on these flights.
JetBlue's well-regarded Mint business class is available for purchase on at least one daily frequency from New York to San Diego. (The carrier also flies a Mint-equipped Airbus A321 from Boston to San Diego, too.)
These planes feature JetBlue's original Mint product, with 16 seats arranged in an alternating 2-2 and 1-1 configuration.
This original Mint experience, which first launched back in 2014, is really starting to show its age. Between the outdated inflight entertainment systems and seat cushions that frequently deflate in the air, flying in Mint isn't necessarily as premium as it once was. That said, the food and beverage offerings and above-average onboard service continue to shine.
And, if you're looking for a lie-flat option to San Diego, JetBlue is going to be your only choice going forward.
United Airlines is the only other carrier that sometimes flies lie-flat-equipped jets from the New York area to San Diego. Over the years, the carrier has deployed Boeing 757-200s and Boeing 767s on some flights from its hub at the Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to the California city.
But, based on United's current schedule, only 57 flights from Newark to San Diego are planned to be operated by the Boeing 757-200 through November 2023. The rest will be operated by Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s — standard domestic jets — Cirium schedules show.
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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.
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- Terms Apply.
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. |
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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
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
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. (Partner offer)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.