Get an international seat on the carrier through little-known loopholes.
How to Avoid the Delta Blues
Last month we looked at Seat 2A on two different domestic American Airlines flights—the difference being that one uses an internationally configured aircraft, and the other a domestically configured plane. The experiential difference was amazing.
This month FCF turns its eyes to Delta, and what we’ve uncovered is equally as revealing. (Next month we will look at United.)
Alpha. Beta. Gamma. Delta. Those early rows in an airplane tell you you’re up front. But what they don’t reveal is that those same seats might offer a much better experience on another aircraft—even on the same route and same airline.
Again, we’ve compared Seat 2A on two different flights, this time on Delta. They are both from Atlanta to/from San Francisco in Business Class: Seat 2A on Flight DL2049 and Seat 2A on Flight DL2223.
Same airline. Same route. Same “seat”—well, they’re both listed as seat 2A.
The difference, however, equates to winning the Super Bowl versus going 2 and 14 and firing the coach.
Flight DL2049 uses an international aircraft—an A330—with international Business Class seats.
Flight DL2223 uses a domestic aircraft—a B737—with domestic First Class seats.
On international flights, Business Class is usually Business Class. On domestic flights, however, First Class (despite the name) is a big comedown in comfort and overall experience on Delta (its transcon being the exception).
Delta has completed its new international Business Class seat rollout. It’s an opportunity to get a double upgrade on domestic routes, meaning not only an international premium seat, but a lie-flat seat at no additional cost.
Comfort Comparison: Delta’s International Business Class Versus Its Domestic First Class
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If you know the 26 different domestic flights on which Delta uses those international aircraft with international Business Class seats, you’ll have a simple way to get an “in-class seat upgrade”. How can you possibly know those 26 flights? Simply put your seat into the recline position and read on.
It Starts with the Type of Aircraft
Delta’s B777-200s: Two routes, Atlanta to/from Los Angeles and New York, offer the airline’s internationally configured B777-200, which has a 21-inch-wide seat and converts to a 78-inch-long lie-flat. Seats are configured 1x2x1, and each has a 10.6-inch touchscreen monitor.
Delta’s A330s: These have lie-flat Business Class seats (80-inches long, 21-inches wide, and a 15.4-inch touchscreen monitor) in a 1x2x1 layout.
Delta’s B767-400s: On one route, New York-Honolulu, Delta offers an internationally configured B767-400, which has a 21-inch-wide seat that converts to a 78- to 81-inch-long lie-flat. Seats are configured 1x2x1, and each has a 10.6-inch touchscreen monitor.
Delta’s B767-300s: These have lie-flat Business Class seats 78- to 81-inches long and 21-inches wide (10.6-inch touchscreen monitor) in a 1x2x1 layout.
Why Pay Top Dollar for an Inferior Seat?
FCF’s insider cheat sheet below shows the routes and the flight numbers on which Delta currently uses an internationally configured aircraft, so you can identify the opportunities when selecting flights through your travel agent or online.
Where to find Delta's International Business Class Seats on Domestic Routes
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When to Pay Cash for an International Seat on a Domestic Route
[aside headline="Good Connections Count" alignment="alignright" width="half" headline_size="default"]Keep the flight numbers and routes mentioned in the chart in mind when connecting in order to get a better seat. When flying Los Angeles-Frankfurt, for example, go via Atlanta to catch DL64, with a wide-body B777-200.[/aside]
First Class fares for flights within the Continental U.S. have taken a nose-dive over the past few years, which is why we think that mileage upgrades and free mileage awards are very often not the better deal on many routes.
A good example is Atlanta-Phoenix, a route on which Delta flies the B737 and the internationally configured A330. If you book Delta flight DL1772 (an A330) with a new international lie-flat Business Class seat, the lowest domestic First Class fare is $523 round-trip, the same as Delta charges for the B737 flight! That makes an award ticket or upgrade pointless, given the return on miles of less than one cent.
When to Consider Paying with Miles for an International Seat on a Domestic Route
Free Mileage Awards with Partner Airline: On the Atlanta-Los Angeles route, Delta uses a two-cabin B777-200. The return on miles is okay if you use a partner mileage program such as Virgin Atlantic (45,000 miles), because fares are usually high: $1,171 for a first Class ticket. Delta usually charges 90,000 miles for the lowest First Class award ticket and is not a good return on miles.
Mileage Upgrade with Delta: The math for an upgrade on the Atlanta-Los Angeles route: Subtract the published First Class fare ($1,171) from the upgradeable economy fare ($470, L class), and then divide the savings by the miles required (30,000): $1,171 minus $470 is $701, divided by 30,000, yields a return of about 2.3¢ per mile.