We haven’t seen much innovation or creativity when it comes to the quality of ”standard” first class seats in the United States over the past couple of decades. If anything, we’ve just seen airlines reduce legroom in first class.
Continue reading: Delta’s Innovative New First Class Seat
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
It's a good looking seat, but if it's anything like TK's it becomes pretty uncomfortable after about 3.5 hours.
Would it kill them to add little swing-out footrests? AC has had those in J for ages (even on RJs) and it really ups the comfort level. Heck, modern intercity buses have them.
@Lucky - rather than “inventing” new seats, why won’t they use wider version of international premium economy? Would love to get your thoughts. I still don’t understand why can’t they provide footrest in domestic first class.
Now Delta just needs to fix those nasty air hostesses and train them in how to deliver proper and professional customer service in the first class cabin. They should also encourage them to groom themselves better, work in heels and refrain from using their cell phones while serving.
@Bellamy "work in heels"? The 1950s called, they want their sexist double standards back.
@Ole, I don't like the footrest as it generally reduces the clearance to put your bag under the seat in front of you. But in full disclosure I'm 6'3" and have never had a footrest on a plane that didn't make it feel like my knees were under my chin.
While evolutionary, definitely not revolutionary, the privacy fetishists are really starting to annoy me. I mostly travel with my spouse and/or friends and the seat 'wings' really start to get in the way of conversation as well as window views.
The "wings" don't really give you privacy do they? They just let you peep on your neighbor's work without them seeing your head turned while also making it more claustrophobic and blocking the window view. Plus, it's just more places for people's head goo to build up. It's not like those planes get cleaned by anything but the next person's head/butt.
Same for extra storage (other than under seat). More places to lose things, more places that won't get cleaned.
Personally I prefer the ultrathin seats on <5hr flights. My favorite is frontier's. Mainly because the padding eventually becomes worn and I find myself sliding into a big groove and getting low back pain and in economy my knees get wedged into the seat ahead. No such issues on the thin seats.
The wings make as much sense as a toddler that thinks they are invisible when they cover their eyes with their hands. Even dumber than doors if that's possible.
Shame that they have no interest in comfort. It’s cosmetic at best. I’m appalled at the lack of legroom in domestic first class. Back in the 80s, most airlines offered more legroom in coach than they do today in domestic first class.
You don't have to be in the aviation game as long as me to realize that everyone travels differently. There are solo travellers, duos, and groups. And every single pax has personal preferences.
A "privacy fetishist", as you call them, or indeed anybody who is not travelling with their "spouse and/or friends", or who just wants a bit of solitude for a few hours (is that too much to ask for??) would have just as valid an argument. And unfortunately for you, added privacy is the trend now...
Last flew delta maybe 15 years ago probably cause it was the government fare on work, but yes to others. Get rid of the Headwing by the window
They haven’t called them air hostesses since the 40’s. And if you’re looking for subservient women in heels, maybe you should go back there.
Definitely not revolutionary… the wings/flaps are enough to be annoying if you’re trying to communicate with the person next to you, yet not effective if you’re trying to *not* communicate with the person next to you. It’s just an economy seat with ineffective racing-horse-style blinkers. Might as well give out a free tin-foil hat which covers the eyes and ears. Either switch to a 1-1 configuration or call it what it is, Economy+ or Premium Economy (or just simply Economy, if anyone fancies describing the actual base-line “economy” seating as what it is - cattle class sans the electric prodder)
If I'm not mistaken, this aircraft and hard product were tested out on a leg I did JFK-RDU a couple months back. I was happy to have a change from the standard CRJs whose FC seats are perfectly fine albeit a bit cramped. This seat was a marked improvement, very comfy and even though I never watch the seatback IFE, it was nice to see brand new equipment with a lot of choices, including live TV. I continue to be impressed by the investment DL is putting in their fleet.
Maybe you should try to spend a day working in heels and then rethink your old man thought process
If they made it more spacious with 4 rows, people would complain about impossible upgrades. Can’t please everyone, and this seems like a reasonable compromise product. For short and mid haul flights, a good table, fast wifi and live TV are great.
Turkish also has the new seats on its 737-MAX8 planes. Just flew Istanbul to Marrakech on one and it certainly is an improvement.
Lol, okay. I agreed with your initial premise; it's certainly not revolutionary. Revolutionary would be 1-1 seating, like you mention, but these are just new seats.
However, your attitude towards US domestic first class is funny to me as someone based in Europe. Here, they just block off a middle seat for the first few rows on intra-Europe flight, so I definitely yearn for the days of domestic first class. Not to mention, for flights that are 5 hours or less this size seat should be totally comfortable for anyone. Seems incredible to whine about this.
Agree these changes are cosmetic, but please let me know what airlines offered more than 37 inch pitch in economy in the 80s. Granted I was just a baby then, but based on research best I see is 34-35 inch pitch in economy.
„ Some people may not love the headrest privacy “wings” if they’re traveling with someone, or if they enjoy looking out the window (because it can partly obstruct window views)“
You missed the fact that such head wings are annoying for tall people. If they cannot be flipped or adjusted in height, it greatly reduces the compatibility with many human beings. That should not be the goal.
Compare it with Deutsche Bahn. There seat development goes in the wrong direction. The ICE4 has similiar „ear heaters“ and DB has just announced a new interior design. Again those „ear heaters“ are not adjustable. That is something you usually do not see in aircrafts which I really appreciate.
Just like those giant protuberances on TK's B789 business class even row seats. Blocks almost the entire window.
I actually do think this is revolutionary. I think in general seats without dividers that prevent one party from hogging the armrest are probably sexist. I don’t have a study, but I’d be willing to bet that on average women are less comfortable stretching out their arms to take advantage of an armrest when seated next to a male stranger. I think this really will measurably and disproportionately improve the travel experience of many women. Anyway, regardless of my speculation about the sex asymmetry, I cannot stand accidentally rubbing elbows with strangers, it’s makes me really uncomfortable and when it happens I feel unable to use the armrest the rest of the flight. This has long been my primary complaint with domestic first class seats, other than Delta’s single seat CRJs.
I think you're looking at the last 2 pictures in Lucky's post. Those are similar Turkish Airlines seats posted for comparison. Scroll back up to the pics of seats with some blue upholstery. Those are the Delta seats and there is clearly a 'wing' on the windows side of the seats.
Looks like an average premium economy seat to me. I wouldn't pay much of a premium to sit in one on a domestic flight.
I don't care too much about dividers, I often strike up good conversations with my seat mate which makes the flights feel faster.
In the cases that I'd prefer to be left alone I politely inform the person seated next to me.
Furniture, at sea level or in the stratosphere, needs to look nice.
It also needs to be comfortable. Recaro slim line seats have never ever, in any class, met that standard for my seat.
I reserve judgment. Let your seats decide too…
How is that a problem? Business/First Class is a male domain (90%), if there are women these are the wife/kids of the successful man traveling with him.
Women in the other hand are there as flight attendants and have enough privacy in their secluded crew compartment.
Aren’t PE seats usually better than Domestic F? Usually more pitch, more recline, leg rest/foot rest…
Just flew on this last night. One great thing is the ability to use your wireless BT headphones with the seat IFE.
I tried this new First class seat in Delta's A321neo twice, to me, it is not a good product at all, the space is very limited and I dont feel comfortable when tried to put the seat back down a little bit.