With longstanding service between Los Angeles and Sydney, Delta is moving to expand its presence in Australia. The next step on Delta’s journey is to launch flights to Brisbane from the home of Hollywood. Those kick off on 6 December 2024 using Delta’s Airbus A350 – the same plane as the carrier’s Sydney flights.
The modern A350 comes equipped with the excellent Delta One suite in Business Class. Delta is clearly putting its best foot forward with this experience while also working to make the journey even better with a new pre-flight lounge set to open by the year’s end.
If you’re keen to book this flight on points, there’s a trick to keep up your sleeve. That’s to convert American Express Membership Rewards points across to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (not Virgin Australia Velocity). That’s because Delta and Virgin Atlantic are partners – so by converting points to Virgin Atlantic, you can use them to book reward seats on Delta (as always, subject to availability).
Check-in, lounge and boarding
Delta has been busily improving its on-ground experience at LAX through the staged completion of the Delta Sky Way. For starters, Delta’s LAX terminals (T2 & T3) are now linked airside. They’re also now attached to the Tom Bradley International Terminal after security, making flight transits easier. But there’s another little feature tucked away.
When you’re beginning your journey in Los Angeles, make a point of seeking out the ‘Delta One at LAX’ check-in. It’s located on the ground floor at LAX with a direct entrance from the kerb. Here, you’re greeted in a private lobby with refreshments, leading through to a private TSA screening point. From there, you emerge right inside the T3 Delta Sky Club.
As a Delta One passenger bound for Sydney on the Airbus A350, I can waltz on through. My bag is tagged and taken while I’m free to relax and enjoy the hospitality. As you’d expect, security is a breeze – even without TSA PreCheck privileges. With the latest CT baggage scanning technology, I don’t even have to remove my laptop from my bag.
The T3 Sky Club has seen a significant overhaul. The space is now fresher and larger, and there’s even an outdoor terrace. Later, I’m able to secure a shower room with a wait time of just three minutes: impressive before a long-haul overnight flight.
At the boarding gate, a ticket in Delta One on the Airbus A350 puts me in boarding group one. After calling the airline’s invitation-only Delta 360 cardholders forward – and active US military members – I’m on board and ready to fly.
Delta One seating on the Airbus A350
Delta One on the airline’s Airbus A350 is, without a doubt, one of the best Business Class seats flying to Australia. Naturally, the seat turns into a bed, and everybody gets direct aisle access. But Delta One takes that a step further with a closing privacy door. In effect, Business Class on Delta offers more privacy than Qantas First on the same route.
Within the bounds of the suite’s walls, there’s a lot to like. The design feels ultra-modern: very much ‘new plane’ territory. Funky mood lighting creates a real vibe. Those lights aren’t just above, as on a typical modern jet. Instead, Delta even fits groovy lighting across the upper shell of the seatback. There’s also a styled lamp with adjustable brightness.
When it’s time to relax, the bedding is what you’d expect of a hotel on the ground. A full-sized pillow makes it easy to doze – particularly when the seat has a comfy topper as well as a separate duvet. If you don’t want to be interrupted, just hit the ‘do not disturb’ switch – also like a hotel.
In terms of the best seats, I always prefer to sit by a window on flights like this. That way, you can enjoy the views along with the usual aisle access. The centre seats are better when travelling with a companion as you can open a divider between them to make conversation a breeze. Or, keep it closed and enjoy the atmosphere in your own little world.
Even though I spent two weeks in the United States before this flight and was well adjusted to Pacific Time, I managed a good night’s sleep en route to Sydney. This helped me return to Australian time with minimal jet lag, maximising my productivity once back on the ground.
Food and beverage in Delta One on the Airbus A350
This evening’s Airbus A350 Delta One journey from California begins with an offer of Champagne, Mimosa or water before departure. I see the Champagne is Duval-Leroy Brut – the same as regularly appears in Qantas Business – so I go for the Mimosa for something different.
After takeoff, warmed mixed nuts are served. I enjoy them with a glass of Bodegas Ontañón Contrebia Tempranillo Blanco DOCa Rioja. It’s not common to find Rioja and Tempranillo together in white form, so it’s a must-sip—and a pleasant one at that. Then, it’s time for dinner.
There are three main meal choices – braised meatballs, chicken parmesan or lasagne – but you can pre-order your meal online for more variety. This also gives me the option of roasted salmon or polenta marsala. Trying to pick a healthier option, I go for the salmon. It’s served with borlotti beans, braised fennel and a lemon-thyme vinaigrette. It was cooked a little further than you might expect of a restaurant on the ground, but it’s tasty, nonetheless.
Dinner also includes chilled prawns, mixed greens, and rosemary focaccia on the side—all delicious. There’s also a charred onion soup, but it’s a bit watery and not to my taste.
Dessert wraps up the evening meal. Choices today are ‘lemon bar’, an ice cream sundae or fruit and cheese. I’m curious to try the option that sounds least typical – the lemon bar – with a glass of Quinta do Noval 10-year Tawny. The crunchy base of the dessert provides a nice contrast to the smoother texture above. I’d definitely order it again.
Breakfast
I’m awake a couple of hours before breakfast begins. I could really use some coffee, and the crew is quick to whip one up. I also uncover a snack basket in the galley stocked with Chobani and nibbles like chocolate. The yoghurt is great for now, and the chocolate is great for later, wink.
Later on, I order an espresso – another thing that’s available when flying Delta One on the airline’s Airbus A350. Then there’s a choice of main course between cheddar scrambled eggs and a main-sized serving of Greek yoghurt. Given I’d already had the Chobani, no prizes for guessing my preference here.
The dish comes with a chicken date sausage patty and a hashbrown casserole. There’s also a croissant – plus jam in a small pot – and a fruit salad. It’s all I need.
Service and entertainment in Delta One on the Airbus A350
There’s plenty of content to keep you entertained on this Airbus A350 Delta One flight. In particular, the movie selections are solid. I use dinnertime to finally watch Oppenheimer. After that, it’s lights out until morning, where a few quick episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm take me to touchdown.
I’m a bit more distracted by the view – and I’m glad I chose a window seat. I manage to capture the sun rising behind the Airbus A350’s wingtip. As we come into Sydney, I also get a bird’s-eye view of Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Nothing else says ‘welcome to Australia’ in quite the same way.
Back to the Delta experience, there’s free inflight messaging available with broader connectivity at a charge. Given this is an overnight flight at the end of a busy work trip, I’m quite happy to remain generally unplugged – but do appreciate access to messaging.
Another aspect I appreciate of Delta’s IT infrastructure is that you can monitor the progress of your checked bag in detail. I particularly appreciate this because I can confirm, without a doubt, that my bag has made it onto the plane in Los Angeles. When I reach the carousel in Sydney, I can also confirm that my bag has come off the plane. It’s comforting to know that even if I don’t see the bag straight away, it’s coming.
The verdict
All up, the airline puts its best foot forward in Delta One Business Class on the Airbus A350. It’s the most modern long-haul plane in the carrier’s fleet – and it sports Delta’s very best seat. For an airline that no longer sells transoceanic First Class, Delta One is the next best thing.
The dedicated Delta One check-in suite at LAX adds a touch of panache to the overall experience. It’s a cut above what Delta’s competition offers here. For instance, American Airlines has Flagship Check-In, which is also a private room attached to the roadside. But once your bag is tagged, an agent merely walks you to the front of the TSA ID check line at the public checkpoint. It gets you through faster, sure, but it’s not as speedy as Delta’s private checkpoint.
Delta’s current weakness is that it doesn’t have a separate category of lounge for long-haul Business Class flyers. AA has the Flagship Lounge, United has the Polaris Lounge, while Delta merely has the Sky Club for everybody. But it’s something Delta is actively working to address – and a dedicated Delta One lounge at LAX is already under construction. It’s set to open later this year, so you won’t need to wait long.
We look forward to seeing how Delta’s new lounge adds to its already-premium travel experience. Especially for travellers on the receiving end of Delta’s ‘surprise and delight’ Porsche tarmac transfer service. Perhaps I’ve already said too much…
Also read: Delta eyes flights to Melbourne as Brisbane launch nears
All photography by Chris Chamberlin, who travelled as a guest of Delta Air Lines.
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