Review of Delta Air Lines flight Seattle → Fairbanks in Domestic First

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the third part of this routing, heading to the North!

Sky Club Delta Terminal A - Seattle

After a nice week-end in Seattle, a bonus about the Museum of Flight at the end of this report, it is time to head to Alaska!

Check in was done in no time in the dedicated SP Zone in SEA:

Nobody at TSA, we just breezed through it.

Our flight was only leaving at 09PM and it was around 04:40 so we decided to head to the Delta lounge. At that time it was still possible to access it with day passes.

The welcome was nice and we went upstairs as it is usually much quieter there. It was, and it stayed like this for the duration of our stay.

Looking down:

Upstairs there is only snacking, the main buffet is downstairs:

There are communal tables there and also workspaces:

Let's have a look at the buffet, starting with breads:

Clam showder and tomato soup:

To go with the soups:

Mushrooms gnocchis:

Salad bar:

Veggies, hummus and dips:

Starbucks coffee:

Softs are available self service, hard drinks at the bar and there is a premium selection to be paid for also. My first selection:

My mother's:

Everything was tasty and good, it wasn't "haute gastronomie" but for an airport lounge it was more than adequate. I also like the fact that they used real plates and cutlery.

There were plenty of staff to make sure the tables were cleaned. They also offered the daily specials consisting of a vodka plus banana liquor cocktail and also a dessert with, again, bananas and cookies.

Was also pretty nice.

A bit of spotting in the meantime with this Delta 737-900ER and a Southwest 737-700:

BA 772 to LHR:

And our A319 that arrived on time from Chicago. Note the 318 registration for an A319 :)

E-175:

The lavs were clean and modern in design:

flight to fairbanks

We went to the gate shortly before boarding, here the upgrade screen:

Standby screen:

The boarding totems:

Boarding was slightly delayed as we were waiting for people ex- JFK that had a 20 minutes delay.

The jetbridge:

The plane was entirely retrofitted, who could tell that this plane is an old 17 years bird, that started with Northwest?

Right view:

My only concern was the recline that was really limited:

The blanket was nice and warm but the pillow is the standard coach pillow one would find on a long haul flight:

Water was already available:

Power sockets:

Safety card:

The screen is bigger than the one on the 767!

Window:

The seat pitch:

The Delta Lounge:

Welcome Bailey's for me and a sparkling water for my mum:

I like the Delta app that allows you to track your bags. The AF app offers this also now, but two years later :)

The design of the PSU is really nice:

The pax ex- JFK arrived, we pushed back a bit after schedule:

717 DL:

The information about our flight:

The geovision is great:

The service started with a hot towel:

And snacks:

As we took of after 09, it was a light dinner that was served:

It was good but I already had this dish on a HNL SLC flight the year before. Not a big deal though.

I saved the cookie for the coffee:

A quick visit to the toilets:

The flight is smooth, I will spend my time on the IFE, the selection is really great, lots of movies in french.

We landed 15 minutes ahead of schedule, happy to be back in Alaska!!

Night shoot of the terminal building:

The cabin crew makes a turnaround here while the pilots have a 24H layover. Sad for the cabin crew not being able to enjoy the Alaskan winter.

Fairbanks - FAI

We made our way to the arrival hall:

Not that much activity in the middle of the night:

We claimed our luggage quickly:

And our 8 days vacation in Alaska could start!

BONUS : Museum of Flight

If your path takes you to Seattle, a visit to the Museum of Flight is a great idea. We spent most of our Sunday there.
When you enter, on your right there is the T.A Wilson Great Gallery with more than 50 planes on display, with this fwd part of and ex 737-200 US Airways:

That is accessible:

The cockpit:

A lovelw Alaska DC3:

Outside there are 763 awaiting their delivery to the US Air Force:

And this beautiful Super Connie:

But the best is the Aviation Pavillion, the other side of the road that you can reach via this bridge:

Boeing 247D:

We started with the most beautiful plane in the world, Concorde:

The cabin:

Cockpit:

Fuselage shoot:

Boeing VC- 173B "Air Force One" :

The galley:

Flight Attendant pannel:

Secretary's office:

Briefing room:

Presidential desk:

Presidential lavs:

Valet station:

Interesting…

The cockpit:

Fuselage shoot:

DC2:

727-022 United:

FA Pannel:

The cabin:

Flight Deck:

The very first B747, RA-001, City of Everett:

Inside it clearly shows it was a prototype:

The ballasts, to be able to move the gravity center:

It was also used as prototype for air tanker, this is the officer in charge of the refuelling station:

Rear to front view:

The airlines that ordered the 747 at that time:

The first 737 build, a 737-100 that was used by the NASA:

The third 787 prototype, that is perfectly working and only here "on rent" :)

Cabin and cockpit:

And to finish, a series of iconic aircraft doors, for those who like them :)
Starting with Concorde:

From the inside:

707 Air Force One:

The four holes on the door were used to install the presidential seal when he was aboard:

B727:

B737:

B787:

We really loved that museum, there are so many things to do there, a visit is a must.

I hope you enjoyed this report as much as I enjoyed sharing it!