flying international with delta - whats it like?

[karentan]

i've been looking at deltas website (bit late now as we booked a couple of months ago!!) and its horrifically vague as to what you get when onboard.
had anyone flown with delta internationally (we're flying gatwick to atlanta - then on to orlando), what are they like? what/how much food do you get (it says mid flight snack - i hope its more than a snack on a 9 ish hour flight), do you get ANY drinks included (i know they charge for booze)...
basically what can i expect?

ps: i normally fly direct but the price difference between delta and BA was about £200 each!!

 

[Funky_dino]

We did exactly the same as you a few years ago.

Delta are really good, they constantly go around with drinks and snacks, seats are comfortable, i'd say you get slightly more space than Virgin, at least it def felt that way.

the planes we went on didn't have seat back tv's, but this was maybe 3 years ago so they might have now.

All I will say is if you have never been to Atlanta airport before it is HUGE, you have to get on the airports internal train to get down to the gates it's that big.

The plane you get the transfer on is a small plane though so not particuarly comfortable but it's only for about a hour and a half, and also the bonus is you have already cleared customs at Atlanta so no need to at Orlando

 

[Penderbelle]

Dont worry.! We flew with Delta last year with the stopover at Atlanta and it was the first time we flew with them.
I would say that they are as good as Virgin if not better. On the international part of the flight you will get the usual meals ( I think its two meals plus ice cream and the tea and coffee) and drinks. The snack is only applicable to the 2nd leg of the journey from Atlanta to Orlando.
We found the staff were lovely ( or was it the good feeling you got from their American accents?!).
Atlanta was a bit daunting as it was such a huge airport and you have to get from one end to the other to catch the 2nd flight, but now you know this it shouldn't be as bad.
The good thing is that once you get on at Atlanta - a bit like getting on a bus for the Americans - you then don't have to do immigration at MCO.
I would definatley go with Delta again.

 

[Penderbelle]

The plane we flew on to Atlanta had seat back TV's and they had a fantastic assortment of films, 30+ albums to listen to and lots of games for the kids to play which even interact with other people on the plane ( e.g playing chess with someone else.) You could also pause the films for when you needed the little girls room and carry on when you got back without missing any of the film. Great!

 

[Funky_dino]

Was this quite recent? Thinking about it, it must have been maybe 5 years snce we flew on delta actually so no surprise they have seat back tv's now hehe.

Your right about the service. It is so much better than Virgin. I think it is an American thing hehe, American Airlines are the same, their customer service is brilliant

 

[disneybarbie]

I've often flown indirect to Orlando or Tampa with Delta via Atlanta.. and agree with other posters, the customer service is considerably better than BA and VA!
we had the touch-screen seat-back tvs on my last flight with delta (Jan 2008), love being able to pause movies & the music section is almost like an iPod.. you can pick & choose songs & then they are shuffled together
the second flight, from Atlanta to Tampa, had actual American tv channels available on the tvs! that flight is <2 hours too

Barbie

 

[disneyholic family]

delta just announced that as of july, they will charge $50 for a second checked bag...

 

[karentan]

i thought that as international passengers we get 2?
and i've also heard that they've recently started charging for booze, can anyone who's flown recently confirm this?

 

[barbarah]

It is 2 bags at 23 kilos each for transatlantic flight and subsequent flight internally as you started from another country.

It is only 1 bag if you booked an internal flight seperately.

I think they have changed for booze for a long time on most US airlines.

 

[wayneg]

i thought that as international passengers we get 2?
and i've also heard that they've recently started charging for booze, can anyone who's flown recently confirm this?

I read about the $50 charge for 2nd bag on Teletext a few days ago, just looked on BBC and found this article about it http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8010227.stm
It will be for international passengers. Won't matter for us we only take 2 bags between 3 of us, might take 3 in August for 25 nights.
We flew back with Delta last Oct, not great, old plane. Outbound was with NWA that was best transatlantic flight we have ever done, at £240 return it was a bargain.
No idea about drinks, we only drink sodas or water on a flight.

 

[Lizzybear]

I've always been a bit apprehensive about Delta.. Their record for delays and lost baggage are pretty bad compared to most airlines and among my friends in the US they don't have a great reputation. However, i'm biting the bullet and doing an internal flight with them from Boston to Orlando as they had the best price and time combination even with the baggage charges (internal passengers get charged for all checked bags, gonna be about $55 for 3 cases for us)

 

[disneyholic family]

It is 2 bags at 23 kilos each for transatlantic flight and subsequent flight internally as you started from another country.

It is only 1 bag if you booked an internal flight seperately.

I think they have changed for booze for a long time on most US airlines.

from the Delta website:

Checked Baggage—International
Currently when traveling to or from cities outside the United States you can check two bags, per passenger at no extra charge. For tickets purchased on or after April 22, 2009 for travel beginning July 1, 2009, customers in economy class will be charged $50 US (or the local equivalent currency) for the second checked bag. Exceptions to the second checked bag fee include:

• First and Business Class passengers
• SkyMiles and WorldPerks Elite members (Executive/Platinum/Gold and Silver, including Flying Colonels)
• Active duty military members traveling on orders
• Passengers who purchased tickets prior to April 22, 2009
• Passengers who are confirmed on a Full Y class Economy ticket.

http://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/baggage/baggage_allowance/index.jsp#checked

 

[karentan]

phew, at least i dont have to pay the extra $50, we booked at the end of march, i was starting to panic then!!