Review of Delta Air Lines flight Amsterdam → Atlanta in Business

• Euroairport- Amsterdam KL / J E90: Here
• Amsterdam - Atlanta DL / J A330-300: Now!
• Atlanta - Key West DL / F B737-700: Later
• Key West - Atlanta DL / F B737-700: After the later
• Atlanta - Paris CDG DL / J B767-400: Later than later
• Paris CDG - Euroairport AF / Y ATR72-500: Won't be published

Here I am in Amsterdam, no queues at customs nor at the inspection, I head in no time to the lounge. It is crowded, and the welcome is almost non-existant.

Food offering is sub-par, there is almost nothing to eat.

My selection and the corporate picture. I gave up trying to use the wifi as the connection was near to dead.



For non-Schengen flights, you got to go through security again, and for USA flights through additional screening. As the new regulation about electronic devices just went into effect, I decided to go early enough to the gate. The Sky Priority lane is absolutyely empty and it will take me no longer than 5 minutes to clear everything. I'll be ways to early at the gate, I'll use this opportunity to spot a bit.

My plane:



A340-300 China something:



As a SP or Business passenger you receive this coupon to ease boarding :



Once aboard I re-discover this beautiful cabin:



Seat and IFE:



On-time push back and again a bit of spotting with those specific to Amsterdam boarding bridges:



Welcome drink and almonds: (I love those!!)



A nice thank you for flying Delta card:



Cheers!



The menu that looks promising:



Amenity kit:



I kind of like it, it's complete and well stocked but does not look very luxurious.

As soon as we reach cruising altitude, the apéritif is served. I'll be a bit picky and ask for the sweet wine already, to go with the salmon and the shrimps. As it is not on the trolley, my cabin crew will need to go to the galley and open the bottle. My request has been aknowledged with a smile and a 'of course sir'.

As said in one of my previous report, the menu order is taken by the purser, starting with row 01A and backwards to the cabin, to start again from the rear of the other aisle up to the front of it. So if you'd like to have your menu choice granted, seat on an A seat.

Back to my salmon and shrimps, together with the sweet wine. Absolutely delicious:



Everything but the wine is cleared, and a refill is offered. Next comes the thai soup wich was divine, spicy and tasty. The tomato/mozzarella salad is nothing exceptional but was fresh and good and a nice change compared to the usual green salad offering.



As main, I choose the beef, which was very good, but a bit overcooked to my taste. But when flying on an US Airline you expect the meat to be overcooked. You may notice that Delta does dress its plates in the galley and, unlike most of the European airlines, does not have pre-plated entrees. I really liked my dish:



Then the tray is cleared (I would love this tray to be gone forever, Delta has such a good service and should now get rid of any tray)and cheese/dessert service is conducted. Unlike BA, you can have both and you can combine any dessert with any cheese or fruit. I'll only ask for the brie and the apple pie. My steward will insist on having ice on the pie, and I'll decline. He'll then offer me a sundae, that I'll decline again, being quite full. But I won't refuse a wine refill ;)



The apple pie is served luke warm and is absolutely top. The cheese and the fruits were good too, and I don't speak about the wine, as I was the only one drinking it, I finished the bottle :)

Here the seat controls:



The seat, the pitch and the legroom before a little nap:




I'll then make my bed, and it is clear that this seat is my favorite vs the 76S (and I don't speak about AF's NEV seat nor KL old seats). If you get the chance to have two pillows, it's the best option, it's even better with two duvets as you can sleep on top of the first one :)



With the help of the engine noise, light turbulences, the comfort of the seat and last but not least, the wine bottle, I'll fall asleep quite quickly, and will sleep for around 3 hours.

As I wake up I feel quite hungry. A quick look in the galley tells me that the second service is about to start. In the meantime, here an external shoot, the winglet and the safety card:



I'll take the salad option that will be served with fruits and without tray. My steward will ask me if I'd like the chicken sandwich as well as lots of people did not eat at all, but the salad will be enough for me. But not without a bacardi coke ;)



At the very end of the flight the purser will thank every business class passenger for flying Delta and will offer a chocolate:



Last views before landing:



On time landing in Delta-Land;



I'll be out among the first passengers and will discover something new for me in ATL. I don't know how many other airports in the US apply this, hope this is going to be the norm it is quite cool:

At the immigration, I head, as usual to the non US-resident lane, and there, a nice lady asks each passenger if they travel under the 'Esta' rule and if they had already be in the US before. If both the answers are yes, she invites passengers to use the automated kiosks that were once reserved for US citizens only.


It's dead easy, you enter your passport in the kiosk, the computer matches it with your ESTA, then you answer the same questions as on the customs card. At the end you give your finger prints, a picture is taken and then you got a receipt with your picture on it and a summary of your information. Should the receipt be crossed by two lines, you need to go to a special desk, otherwise, you are cleared to a small desk where two officiers are waiting. You show your receipt and your passeport, they ask if you come for business or vacations, stamp the passeport and wish you a good day.

The whole process took no longer than 3 minutes. And there was a lot of people!

Then you pick up your bag and before you leave the luggage claim area you hand over your receipt to the customs officiers.

I've left the plane at 03:00 and by 03:20 I was clearing TSA for my next flight. By 03:30 I was at the concourse B lounge.

Delta and Atlanta made me really happy that day!