Flying Delta Airlines A330 Business Class – branded Delta One – promises most “the most premium travel experience on the ground and in the air”, but does it live up to the expectations? On a recent journey from São Paulo’s Guarulhos to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, I had the chance to experience Delta’s business class product firsthand. From the airport lounge to the seat comfort, onboard dining, and inflight entertainment, there were a few surprises along the way. If you’re considering this service for your next trip, read on to discover what to expect and whether it’s worth booking.
In this review:
Flight Details
Flight No: DL270
From/To: São Paulo (GRU) to Atlanta (ATL)
Departure time: 10:05
Ticket Class: Business (Delta One)
Flight time: 10 hours
Frequent Flyer Points: 12,098
Status Points: 100
Aircraft: N812NW
Aircraft type: Airbus A330-300
Number of classes: 3
Number of seats in flying class: 34
Seat: 4J
Position: right hand side of the aircraft, 4 rows from the front
Airport Experience
There was no fast-track security available for business class passengers on this trip. However, Delta Airlines A330 Business Class passengers can access the LATAM VIP lounge at Guarulhos International Airport. Having tried most lounges at Guarulhos, the LATAM VIP lounge stands out for its excellent facilities, along with good food and drinks. The space was particularly quiet during my visit, providing a calm space to relax before the flight. The toilets and showers were immaculate.
Boarding & Welcome
After hearing an announcement in the lounge that the flight was ready for boarding, I made my way to gate 323, located about halfway along the long pier in Terminal 3. Upon arrival, I found the gate closed, with the crew casually seated at a neighbouring café.
The inbound aircraft had been delayed by more than two hours, and our departure was delayed by 90 minutes as a result. Despite the wait, there was no additional communication or apology, which seemed pretty unfair to me.
Once boarding started, the groups were well-managed and I was able to pass through the gate check using a priority lane. I was ushered towards gate 324, where I boarded using a dedicated jet bridge to one of the forward doors. A quick left turn and I was soon at my seat with a glass of orange juice.
Seat
The business class seat on Delta Airlines A330-300 was the Saffran (Collins) Cirrus seat in a reverse herringbone layout. This type of seat is quite common in business class cabins due to its 1-2-1 configuration, which gives all passengers direct aisle access.
Unlike other Delta One layouts, there’s no alternating window and aisle seating – each seat is equal in this regard. This older seat variant doesn’t have the sliding door, as is found with newer Delta One Suite cabins. Access to the seat is good, as the armrest lowers to allow passengers to slide into the seat.
The seat design did look rather dated, and it lacked useful storage compartments. Loose items had to be stowed in the overhead bin for takeoff and landing, which is less practical compared to newer Delta One seats that have more personal storage. That said, it was very comfortable, and the seat controls worked well, allowing the seat to recline into a fully flat bed. Overhead bin space was plentiful, and I had an entire bin to myself – although the bins are slightly smaller compared to those found on other long-haul aircraft.
Mains and USB-A charging was available in a panel to the right of the seat.
What’s the best seat on Delta Airlines A330 Business Class?
My seat was located mid-cabin, away from both the galleys and lavatories, which made for a quieter flight. For the best seat, I would recommend rows 4 or 5, specifically seats A and J by the windows. These provide added privacy and a sense of space.
See the seating plan on SeatGuru.
Onboard Experience
The cabin was about 75% full on this flight. There were two washrooms at the front of the Delta One cabin, with an additional two behind, shared with passengers in Delta Premium Economy. While the crew kept the washrooms tidy, the shared use did mean there were occasional queues.
The amenity kit provided was a simple craft pouch, which felt a bit underwhelming compared to premium options offered by other airlines. During the flight, the crew requested that window shades remain lowered for the daylight portion of the flight. While this helped create a restful atmosphere for those watching films or sleeping, I found it slightly disorienting on arrival in Atlanta, with my body clock thrown off after spending several hours in the dark.
The cabin temperature remained comfortable throughout most of the flight, though it did get a little warmer in the final hours before landing.
Food & Drink
About 30 minutes after takeoff, drinks and nuts were served, followed shortly by the lunch service. The appetiser—a salmon and dill salad on a bed of celeriac—was served from a tray, followed by a warming polenta and truffle soup with a small bread roll and butter.
The salad course featured a mix of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and chickpeas, with a spicy lemon vinaigrette on the side. Unfortunately, the dressing didn’t complement the salad very well. The main course was equally forgettable—an overcooked portion of chicken in a tasteless white sauce, served with a bed of bright pink rice. The broccoli, however, was nicely cooked.
Dessert was a rich chocolate ganache, which paired well with the red wine I had chosen. After the meal, service was minimal for the next five hours, apart from occasional rounds offering water and cookies. A snack station was available in both the forward and rear galleys for passengers to help themselves.
About an hour and 40 minutes before landing in Atlanta, the final meal service began. The options were a hot vegetable sandwich or a beef tenderloin salad.
I opted for the salad but found the beef overly salty, to the point it was uncomfortable to eat. It was served on a bed of beans, peas, and asparagus tips, which were quite tasty. A side of potato salad dressed with mustard seeds rounded off the meal, followed by two small tarts for dessert.
In-flight Entertainment
The entertainment system on Delta Airlines A330 Business Class was disappointing. The touchscreen was mounted in the seat in front but was unresponsive to touch and awkward to navigate, as the control arrows were positioned right at the edges of the screen.
On the positive side, there was a good selection of recent movie releases, many of which I was looking forward to watching. Delta also offers free Wi-Fi for messaging, with full internet access available for $25 USD through their DeltaWifi.com service. The connection was reliable for most of the flight, with only a brief interruption as we passed through a no-service zone near the Caribbean.
Arrival
A significant issue was the crew’s lack of attention to passengers with onward connections. Despite the severe delay, there was little communication or guidance for those at risk of missing their flights. The late arrival into Atlanta and subsequent wait for the gate added to the frustration, and the crew’s half-hearted apology did little to help. Prioritising passengers with tight connections to disembark first would have been a sensible solution, but this wasn’t offered.
BG1 Verdict
Punctuality is a recurring issue with Delta Airlines, and this flight on the A330 Business Class was no exception. The airline seems to have normalised delays, with little regard for the impact on passengers’ onward connections. Perhaps Delta’s persistence in running a really old fleet contributes to the delays, because their staff’s indifference towards these disruptions is clear – whether you make your connection or not seems to be of little concern to them. Why would it be, if it happens all the time?
In summary, while the seat and onboard features are adequate, the overall experience on this particular journey left much to be desired. The food quantity was good but the quality was below expectations.
BG1 Tip
I credited the points from this flight to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. I’ve noticed is that some Delta business fare classes earn 200 points, whereas some promotional fares only get 100 points. I’ve also noticed that these fare classes are often mixed on a multi-sector itinerary, so be sure to look closely at the selling class for each flight sector when you book.
Don’t forget to sign-up to our newsletter to get our latest updates delivered straight to your inbox.
Leave a Reply