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Delta's Airbus A350 Makes Its First Appearance

June 14, 2017
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2 min read
Delta A350
Delta's Airbus A350 Makes Its First Appearance
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Airbus is making steady progress with Delta's first A350 — the twin-engine jet rolled out of the Airbus paint shop in Toulouse, France on Tuesday spotting the carrier's signature blue and red livery.

Ship 3501, as it's identified on the assembly line, first took to the skies three weeks ago, kicking off two months of rigorous flight testing, painting and cabin installation as the airline counts down to a mid-summer delivery. This comes after the aircraft entered the final assembly line back in January this year.

While the A350 isn't foreign to US airports, Delta will be the first US airline to operate the aircraft. The airline plans to operate this soon-to-be flagship international aircraft on transpacific routes from its hub in Detroit (DTW) as it retires the last of its Boeing 747 workhorses in the fourth quarter of this year.

The wide-body jet will debut Delta's latest Delta One suites that will feature, among other things, a full-height door at every suite, sliding privacy dividers between center suites, in-suite customizable ambient lighting, an 18-inch, high resolution IFE screen and a universal power outlet and USB port at every seat.

Delta's latest business class seats will feature sliding doors, a feature previously reserved for first-class passengers only. Image courtesy of Delta Air Lines.

In total, the aircraft will seat 306 passengers — 32 in the Delta One cabin, 48 in Delta Premium Select and 226 in economy. The next-gen airframe will also feature seatback entertainment equipped with Delta Studio, Gogo 2KU Wi-Fi internet access, high-capacity overhead bins across all cabins and LED ambient lighting.

Featured image by JB Accariez / Master Films

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  • 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.
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  • $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.