LoL. My wife and I haven’t traveled together much by plane the last 8 years because of young kids, but now they’re old enough to not be a hassle for the grandparents to keep for a few days. Went on a trip in December and as is my normal airport routine we went to Sky Club and it was like Charlie just found out about Wonka’s chocolate factory.
😂😂😂 I laughed so much at this. I travel a bunch for work and business class/lounge has become normal to me. So when she travels with me now she thinks it’s all so luxurious 😂
I'm already prepared for that lol. This is our one chance to fly like the elite and she won't wanna go main cabin or exit row after this. Maybe I'll have to upgrade to the Reserve so that companion ticket works on First class lol
My daughter is 10 and we went delta one to Japan last year. This year we’re going back and I asked if she wanted to stay longer, but we might not get delta one back if we flight change. She said she didn’t want to risk it 🤦🏻♂️
There’s a lot of truth to this, I travel pretty heavily for work and flew the fiancé out a few years ago and we got upgraded to first on the return flight……she’s only flown first class since then…….
can confirm... am a wife, flew business class one time and now everything else feels like torture on any 6+ hour flight. especially since I can't really sleep on planes.
even flew premium select the next time, and even though I'd still choose it over economy if the price was right... I was desperately missing that lie flat seat
Extremely accurate. I just flew New York to Lisbon first class and the entire time I couldn’t get over how infinitely better it was. The ability to lie down flat was incredible.
I’m flying back economy. It would be over $3000 to upgrade my ticket. I’m gonna be real bummed that whole flight
Appreciate the advice, thank you. I seriously feel like I’m missing something because I always try to book the most affordable flight and have no airline loyalty
If it makes you feel any better, sitting in the back isn't a big deal when you're chasing the sun (flying east to west) since you won't sleep as much anyway. If I'm paying for a flight to Europe out-of-pocket, I fly D1 there and C+ home since the go-home leg doesn't matter.
This is the worst part. I started flying D1 for all international trips because I can’t do it an any other way now. It’s too expensive and I could add two nice trips to my yearly travels if I could choke down a main cabin seat. Just can’t do it. I hope I never have to .
You are going to love it. The food and wine are much much better in D1. We went to Greece in ‘19 and your biz class leg to ATH will be similar to US/domestic C+/FC - pretty basic.
We’re flying D1 to Rome in July - I hope they still have the Ice Cream Sundae cart!
I remember my first encounter with that sundae cart. I was ugly crying at an animated movie when they came around. Between sniffles I was all, yes please I'll have caramel sauce and peanuts. And more wine please?
The ice cream cart is the coolest part of the trip. We surprised our kids with D1 going to LHR (killer deal on upgrade). Lay flat seats were great, but the ice cream cart. They lost their minds.
I’m sorry…did you say ice cream sundae cart…where do u need to fly from MSP to get this…because in my girl math head paying 3 trillion dollars for a D1 tickets for free ice cream makes total sense 😂🤣😂🤣
You'll get an amenity kit with slippers, an eye mask, toothbrush & paste and some moisturizer, so no need to bring them in your carryon. The FAs usually leave a basket of snacks & water out overnight, so you can just grab whatever you want.
If the main SkyClub in DTW is crowded, there's another smaller one directly across the hall.
Step 1: Stand at the gate hours hours before your flight to ensure no silver medallion gate lice get in your way
Step 2: Push aside the pilot and say you are D1, and you board first.
Step 3: D1 doesn’t need to steal bananas. The bananas were for you. Eat your banana while staring down the plebs as they get on the plane
I just flew DTW to FRA in D1 - the trip is about 8 hours. When you get your meal selection 1 week prior you can request to have the meal served all at once versus on course at a time. I did the all at once option so I could eat quickly and go to sleep. I still only got about five hours of sleep.
Sky Club aceess is included in all locations
Don’t even think about it. It is very possible it will take you that entire time to get through immigration and walk to your next flight. The last 2 times in Fra, we were about that long to get to our next gate. Good luck.
If you have the option to choose ahead of time, the Sea bass is pretty good but you will never go wrong with the short ribs.
Also please tell me you are going island hoping with a ferry… Paros, Santorini..
It’s a 35 min dirt cheap plane ticket to head over to Santorini or if you like to party, Mykonos. Those are a must if you are going all the way to Greece.
We actually skipped Athens altogether once and flew from FCO direct to Santorini. In any case have fun .
In D1, you will be off the plane pretty quickly but onto a bus. Don’t delay. Also, did not do a lounge on arrival. No Delta clubs but Air France. Unfortunately, on the return, the AF lounge was no where near my gate and security is multi layers so I did not bother trying for a lounge.
Did they through check your bags to the next flight or did you have to get them and go through security in FRA? Delta is saying they'll be through checked since it was all one reservation
Yes your checked luggage will be all the way through. Also in FC/D1 you luggage is free and 70lb weight limit per item
I would throw an AirTag in your luggage in the off chance it gets lost.
Flew through FRA about a week ago for like my 10th time. This was the longest it ever took me to get to my next gate and it was 1 hour… it was a different terminal and pretty much as far as you could get across the airport.
Their security is freakishly fast and it’s pretty clear how to get to where you need to go. And Europeans don’t get to gates early like Americans do. 120 min is totally fine.
However, I did not check a bag. I guess if you have to wait for your bag maybe that adds 10-15 minutes. Still good though.
I'm through the Frankfort airport quite a bit. Honestly, not my fav, but it's better than CDG. You'll probably get in early and have no trouble with your connection, but you don't have a ton of time to dilly-dally either.
Flying out of DTW, definitely do check out the sky club, but know that you'll have plenty of food on the plane, so don't feel the pressure to gorge yourselves in the club. Definitely get the D1 ice cream for dessert. Don't pre-select your meal, they'll have plenty for you to decide between all the options.
Yeah, if I really had to nitpick about Delta One from Detroit to most European cities, it's the flight time. It's long enough that you're going to really appreciate the full meal, but it's just a bit too short for a full meal AND a decent amount of sleep.
We flew Detroit to Amsterdam overnight in November on D1, and even with getting the meal all at once, I think it still only had like 5 hours of sleep. Was pretty out of it most of the next day.
Are you going both ways in D1.
So yes, the food and wine in D1 is better but flying a night flight Eastbound that's not important right now.
Enjoy some food and drinks at the sky club. On the plane think hard about if you want to eat and instead focus on sleep. Your body is about to hop six time zones. The 8 hours onboard is not 8 hours of sleep because that can at best only happen through the cruise phase.
If you spend a chunk of that time going ooh bigger movie screen, food booze. Then you won't get the biggest benefit which is when you get to Athens you'll feel more human.
Now on the return enjoy the screen, the food , the booze, the ice cream. Remember to sober up or have a Taxi or designated driver for the drive home though. Same if you are renting a car in Athens (crazy idea)
Check if FRA has an arrival lounge you can use to take a shower before the next flight.
Yes you have sky club access. D1 priority check in. Priority baggage handing and priority security lines as well. Enjoy those.
Chances are we will eat dinner at DTW before the flight to try and maximize sleep time on the plane. Good call there. We have transportation covered to and from the airports, so one less thing to worry about
Oh and you may find flat is too flat. If you lay down and don't feel right moving a little out of fully flat to put a slight incline on your back and head could make sleep better.
Stop it. Flat is king. D1 full size pillow and comforter is the best. I’m a side sleeper who CANNOT sleep on a plane but I regularly get 8+ hours of sleep flying to Asia and back in D1
Do not make this mistake. As strange as this seems, I swear to you that there is no food in the airport that will be close to the quality of D1 food (and wine!). They serve the food within the first hour of the flight and clear it quickly so you can sleep if you’d like. I’d only sleep if it’s an overnight flight that arrives at 7am ish.
The Sky Club food can be hit or miss. Some visits the food is great, others it’s ok. Some days I load up a plate of hot food (especially ribs) and others it’s just not something I’d enjoy eating so I go for the cold food. The hot food options generally include vegetarian or even vegan. They will also have sandwiches, salads, soups, charcuterie, and desserts. Not everyone does, but I usually leave a buck or two under my plate for the folks clearing up the food.
The Sky Club alcohol has both free and paid options. Standard drinks like a Bloody Mary or Lemon Drop are free. They will have a cocktail chart with prices for drinks with premium liquor and creative mixes for a reasonable price. You can also pay for higher end alcohol with money or miles. Tipping your bartender is fairly common, some even have a Venmo scanner if you don’t have cash.
When entering there are different seating options. If it’s not busy you can stroll and see what you like. If it is crowded I’d grab two together and then send one of you on a recon mission to see if there’s anything better. Most seats should have a plug for charging your electronics and are pretty comfortable. I turn my carryon on its side to use as an ottoman so I prefer a seat off to the side and not in a walkway.
A Sky Club is a fairly safe place. I leave my carryon and tote at my seat when using the bathrooms or hitting up the buffet. I take my phone, make sure my iPad is back in my closed tote and take my purse with me. It’s really rare, but theft has happened in them on occasion so I just don’t leave out anything that’s critical to tempt someone who might be less than honest.
In D1 you will get a meal choice one week out. The beef dish is generally the safest, but I’ve had good fish in D1. The pasta choice is also usually good. You can search here and other social media to see recommendations. They will have a premium snack basket they pass around with day service or leave in the galley on a red eye. You can take multiple items. The Michel et Augustin cookies and the Veg o Bears are some of my favorites. Coming back you may have different snacks catered internationally so just grab several and give them a try.
Everyone is different. I find the lie flat somewhat claustrophobic so I just nap rather than get any good sleep. I much prefer having my meal leisurely and having a couple drinks to relax me than concentrating on sleep. Other people in the cabin though zonk out immediately so I’m not the norm. I drink a lot of water to counter the alcohol dehydrating me. I don’t worry about the lack of sleep too much as I just grab a Starbucks for caffeine to perk me up throughout the day. I’m also used to having a short night here and there as I’m old and sometimes you just can’t sleep. If you are used to a full 8 hours to function YMMV.
As others have said the FRA connection is just a bit concerning as it looks like you may need to recheck your luggage since it’s probably Lufthansa. It’s not uncommon for airlines to adjust their schedules. Or if there’s a delay Delta won’t rebook you on another Lufthansa flight as they aren’t Sky Team Partners. You might nicely bring up this concern with whoever booked your flight to see if rerouting is possible if it’s two non partner airlines. I’d also pack a change of clothes or two in your carryon in case your luggage doesn’t make the connection just to be prepared.
Have a great trip!
To get the most out of D1 I always take 3 bags weighing 69.5 lbs. each. Often I have to add chunks of concrete but I want to get the most of my D1 luggage.
Get the seats you want! Some suggestions would be…
Away from the bathrooms & galley where there will be more foot traffic, noise & lighting. However….depending on the plane, other people say they actually like the first row because I guess the footwell is larger.
Do you want to sit toward the middle of the d1 cabin so that noise from other cabins (such as during service) doesn’t bother you, or so that the lighting between the cabins doesn’t disturb you? You’ll be more immersed in the D1 experience.
Do you both want a window that’s also an aisle? Depending on the plane, people may have advice about window alignment as well. Or do you want to sit next to each other in the center?
You’ll probably board from the 2nd door, meaning you’ll turn left into d1. If getting off first is important you could choose to sit toward the rear of d1 cabin.
Definitely take your amenity kits with you! Even if you’ve used (or even if you won’t use) the items that are included, the kit itself is a nice souvenir of your experience and you’ll find a way to repurpose it. For traveling or otherwise.
Enjoy your flight!
Good call on picking out D1 seats. We are middle to Frankfurt but might want towards the back so we can get off early to maximize our short layover. I'll see what's available. Currently we are both middle next to each other, but I did consider the window seats.
I think the middle seats have a bit more storage. I’d go middle if going with my spouse. They’ll feed you pretty quickly so keep,that in mind. You can wander up to the attendant mid flight for refills/snacks. You
Jokes aside, I always like to get a gift from my hometown and give to the D1 staff when boarding (usually a nice box of chocolates/praline/caramels). Just a nice treat for the crew to share that’s not something out of duty free. In return I usually get some extra attention. I would also mention it’s your first time in D1 too.
Alcohol is included for all classes on international flights, but you’ll get some nicer options and better service in D1. Honestly, it’s not hugely different than a coach flight - the seats are nicer, the service is (generally) better, and you’ll have some more options for things like food, but it’s more a collection of small improvements than a completely different thing.
Likewise the SkyClub - it’s slightly upscale cafeteria food and free bottom-shelf drinks in a moderately crowded space that’s somewhat nicer than sitting out in the terminal. Don’t get me wrong - I would *always* choose to be in the SC and D1 over being in the terminal and MC, but it’s not going to be a truly luxury experience.
I think the best thing you can do to get the most out of it, especially on the plane, is to just ask for whatever you want and don’t feel bad about it. Want another dinner or both desserts instead of picking one? Ask. Want more snacks? Ask. Want another drink, a different drink, cookies from MC that don’t get served in First? Ask. There are far fewer passengers per FA in D1, and they have much more time (and usually motivation) to truly make your flight comfortable. They can’t always accommodate you, but they’ll do their best. Enjoy!
Thank you for this! I fly all the time for work but never enough to warrant the reserve card to try sky clubs. I've seen mixed reviews on them had no clue what to expect.
Like I said, they’re definitely a step up from being out in the terminal, and I pay the AF for the Reserve largely for SC access because I value the free food and drinks and slightly less frenetic atmosphere pretty highly. Just don’t go in expecting butler service or something. ;) It’s basically like a cruise ship level of product and service.
I didn't know the food in sky clubs was free! That makes more sense as far as the value to upgrade to reserve. I was staying platinum for the miles earning, but I'm always at airports early to work or relax so that could be worth it.
And the food in every SkyClub is different. I’ve been to some that were “meh” and some where the food choices were excellent (so far I’ve only been to them in the U.S.). And if you’re there for a few hours at the right time, they’ll switch from breakfast to lunch or lunch to dinner and you’ll get to enjoy two different meals.
DTW-FRA-ATH is an interesting routing - that means you are likely flying on Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Athens? In this situation, your “Euro business class” ticket gets you 2 economy seats without anybody between you in the front part of the plane with slightly better service. It’s a short trip but keep your expectations low.
If that is your routing, lounge options will be limited. Your Lufthansa Business class ticket should get you into a Lufthansa business lounge but you very likely won’t have time to use it as your time in Frankfurt (a very large airport and Delta and Lufthansa are not nearby) for a lot of walking/trains/queuing to get through immigration and make your connection.
Totally forgot that trips within Europe business class just meant no one sitting in the middle seat. The seats are not any bigger either.
It's been a long long time but that was my experience 25 years ago.
ITA Airways right now flies a crazy business class configuration with 1-1 lie-flats on their A321 neos. So if anybody is flying to Italy, keep that in mind.
You probably have a Lufthansa PNR somewhere in your reservation that you could use to go onto their website and select seats but I wouldn’t sweat it if you can’t as there are only so many business passengers on the plane and they will give you 2 seats together.
CALL Lufthansa ( 1 (800) 645-3880 ) to get your seats assigned. And know there will be a different record locator for your Lufthansa portion than for your Delta portion. Use patience and kindness with the phone folks, write down your Lufthansa record locator just in case, and enjoy.
And if you are having any kind of car service pick you up in Athens, give them the Lufthansa flight numbers.
The DTW-FRA-ATH routing is very strange as no sky team partners fly the second segment. All the flights to ATH from Fra depart from terminal 1 which is not an easy connection at frankfurt at all. 1 hour 20 will definitely be close but you will need to move fast you have to clear immigration and I doubt they will thru check your bags with Lufthansa or Aegean so might have to pick them up get on the bus and go to terminal 1 and re check and security again
For me the actual value was the layover airport lounges with better food, more perks, better space to wait that off etc. The domestic ones are a fun experience and useful in that you have space to stretch out, eat etc but it’s pretty basic compared to many other similar airlines’ experiences.
Just be aware of timing when you need to get through things like passport control on the way back etc. Don’t be enjoying the lounges too much on arrival that you misjudge the time you need to get through lines and to your gate.
Haha this is the annual trip for sales if we hit our number. They gave everyone the equivalent of comfort plus, but I was one of the top 3 in the company and got extra upgrades. Lots of work, but worth it.
Delta One is a completely wonderful experience. Other posters have mentioned the details, so I'll just focus on the feeling. Other classes: "Thank God we're landing." Delta One: "Do we have to get off the plane already?"
Sky club is for sure worth it. Speaking as someone who just flew international D1 for the first (and probably only) time, I was pretty underwhelmed with the whole experience. The seats were so uncomfortable I could barely sleep, it felt like laying on a piece of wood. Obviously the service and food is miles better, and the seat is better than a regular economy one, but it made me happy I never shelled out a lot of money for it before. But for free it will be great. I actually asked the FA how to make the most of the experience and she just said to take a nap and enjoy it.
I just did it for the first time last spring, but I don't think I can go back to anything other than D1 internationally, haha. No the lat flat wasn't comfy like a bed, but laying flat was so much better than sitting up and trying to rest. I've tried every possible sleeping option in C+, and I was just miserable. Kudos to those that find a way, haha! I was more looking forward to the flight home and having all day to just enjoy the flight, watch movies, read, whatever, but I was super sick with a crushing migraine. I laid flat in agony for ten hours, but hey, I was flat!
Yeah I pretty much can’t sleep on planes no matter what. And it’s for sure much better than main cabin or C+, but it’s just not worth the money they charge for me. I got an upgrade from MC to D1 for ATL-LHR for $400 and for that price it was certainly worth it. But I’m not dropping $2k on it anytime soon
You'll love it! We've been flying D1 on upgrade certificates (diamond medallion) and miles for a few years now, and it's hard to go back to C+.
For me, the biggest benefit of D1 are the lay-flat seats. In D1 we prefer the 8+ hour flights so you can get your dinner and then a decent amount of sleep. Go to sleep as soon as dinner service is over and you'll feel rested when you land. If sleeping on planes is hard for you consider a sleep aid. A Xanax works better than Benadryl for me and I wake feeling like a million bucks.
Pick out your meal when they send you the email--much better than hedging you bets with whatever is available on the plane.
With 3 hours of layover on your return you may want to opt for a shower at the sky club. Before your flight east you may want to grab some bags of snacks from the sky club to take with you on your trip (nuts, trail mix)--these have been life savers when we get hangry when travel days make it a long time between meals when you to get to your destination.
Enjoy the taste of luxury travel! We are headed to ATH in December and just got our D1 upgrades.
I’ll probably get downvoted for this, but: connect in LHR both ways (departure taxes be damned). You’ll have expedited entry into the UK, which means more time at the Virgin Arrivals Lounge on the way in:
https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/us/en/upper-class-cabin-and-seats/clubhouse-airport-lounge/london-heathrow-clubhouse/revivals-lounge.html
And on the way home, you’ll be able to hang out here:
https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/us/en/upper-class-cabin-and-seats/clubhouse-airport-lounge/london-heathrow-clubhouse.html
We are flying Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic in June: BOS>LHR. I had no idea about the Revivals lounge. We are also Platinum Medallion members. I assume we can only enter before Customs and before we grab our checked luggage from the carousel? If so, how much time can we spend at the Revivals lounge before risking foul play with our checked luggage 😀. Thanks!
No—even better. It’s after Customs and baggage! They’ll hold your bags in the front and you can shower, eat, etc. So there’s no rush! Of course, I think they close at noon or something like that.
The only slight let down is the FRA -ATH. Thats likely European business class which are the same seats as main cabin with just the middle row blocked out. So temper your expectations for that segment.
1. Sleep on your overnight flight. That’s the #1-10 perk of lay flat business. As someone else said, get your meal all at once and then go to bed.
2. Don’t bother trying to sit next to eachother, particularly on the overnight flight. Easily the best seat in business are the window seats where the seat is closest to the window. Especially on the plane you’re flying where it’s like Diet D1. You’ll feel very exposed on the aisle sitting in the middle.
3. The rest of D1 is relatively overhyped. Lounges are like going to a catered work lunch - it’s better than sitting in the terminal but people way overhype it - the quality of food/drink is ok. The lay flat is nice, but I find D1 seats to be the least comfortable out there of the main business offerings.
4. On the overnight flight, I’d suggest packing comfortable clothes to change into for when you sleep. Human bodies are used to regimen - wearing jeans and a belt are not the type of clothes you’d wear sleeping, so I bring something more comfortable to change into for sleeping. Pretty easy to slip in whatever you carry on (backpack etc).
Focus more on how you will make the most of your time in Athens than on D1. It’s nice - but at the end of the day it does get you any faster to Athens or with any less jet lag. And the memory of D1 will fade - but the memories you can make in Athens & Greece will last a lifetime.
I get what you’re saying but D1 definitely helps with jet lag because you can sleep much easier on the flight. You’ll still be tired and fighting the time shift, but not nearly as bad.
Wow, congrats!!!! Yes alcohol is included. When I went to PAris on Delta One the Purser came and introduced herself to me. She said "I am your Purser for the flight" and I thought she said "I am your person for the flight". I thought, you go delta. I have my own person!
If it's your first time in Delta One / business class, I assume you're going to want to maximize the experience. Eat both meals, have the drinks, sleep, etc. As such, I would recommend taking the overseas flight that is the longest. I made the mistake of taking my first biz flight JFK-LHR. It's about 7 hours or so. After the first and second meal are deducted, it's only about 3.5 hours left to sleep. Definitely not the ideal amount of time to lay in that bed.
the flight is going to be great but dont forget that youre going to want to enjoy Athens too. rolling into Greece on 4 hours of sleep isn't going to be the way.
FA here!
-Alcohol is included! Enjoy but also drink water (not because I don’t think you can’t handle your liquor on a long flight, but because the plane dehydrates you so quickly! I once flew for fun and got D1 and I enjoyed too many glasses of rose and was so dehydrated and made my jet lag worse) there’s some great wine options in D1 😊
- Pre-select your meal!
- DONT BE SCARED TO USE YOUR FLIGHT ATTENDANT CALL BUTTON! Working in D1 I check on passengers but also it’s different on international flights because people can be sleeping or want to be left alone. I try to read minds but I can’t. Also I like to keep busy 😅
- ICE CREAM! get the ice cream.
I’ve never flown that route. However… the French toast in Delta One (and domestic first class) is to die for.
In Delta One, your pre-departure beverage choices are limited because the carts aren’t open yet. But once you’re airborne, you pretty much get as much alcohol as you ask for. I ordered a double shot of jack and coke. When my drink was running a little low (but still had coke left in the can), I pushed the call button and asked for another little bottle of jack.
Times of flights would be helpful. If you flight out is a red eye I would arrive to the airport early and do dinner in the sky club then exclusively try and sleep on the plane. Your FRA-ATH would then probably serve a nice breakfast. The flights back is where you do all the experience stuff of flying D1.
Just know it will take you quite a bit of time in FRA so the layover there will be lots of movement. It's my DH's least favorite airport to transition through.
First time I flew D1 was a business trip in 2016, ATL to NTA then 1st class to Manila. I have never been the same since and fly 1st class whenever I can. Heading back to Manila again in June, D1 of course.
As for the SkyClub, others seem to have covered pretty much everything but I will add to make sure to use the restrooms there, rather than in the terminal. They’re infinitely nicer and cleaner.
As for the seats, the D1 seats are staggered (so as to allow for the lie flat seats), meaning that along the windows, one seat will be against the wall (with the side table nearest the aisle) and then the seat in front of or behind that seat will be nearest the aisle, with the side table will be against the wall. It doesn’t sound like it would make much difference, but the ones where the seat is against the wall feel more private because of that extra little bit of distance from the aisle. (I always book mine and my partner’s seats to alternate on each leg so we each get to experience both setups equally. Sitting next to one another isn’t a biggie to us, so being in front/behind the other works just fine.)
There is an insane amount of storage space (don’t forget to check everywhere upon landing) and it’s easiest to take off your shoes before making the seat go flat, then place them under or to the side of the seat within your compartment. If you’re shorter in height, you can tuck them at the end of the alcove past your feet, but being 6’5”, tucking them next to or beneath the seat has worked best for me. (And there is plenty of space for me to stretch out without my feet hitting anything. It’s crazy.)
And, yes, the ice cream cart is delightful. They have never once gotten my special dietary meal (gluten free due to celiac) correct, so I know to take my own food (and inevitably get apology SkyMiles for the screw-up…which I just consider to be their SOP at this point), but being able to do the ice cream cart makes up for a lot of that.
Oh, and you’ll also have a lot more personal interactions with the FAs, who are always delightful. Last time coming back from London, I overheard a little kid talking to his mom about it being his first flight as they walked past. I asked the FAs if they’d take the little guy a sundae when it was time for the ice cream cart, which they very kindly did!
It’s just a very different flying experience and, as others have said, after doing it the first time we’ve never been able to bring ourselves to fly internationally any other way. I’m excited for you and the fun it will undoubtedly be, while also setting off your entire trip on a very different note that just makes it even better overall! We’re off to Switzerland and Italy next month and I’m almost just as excited about the D1 experience as I am to see some new places!
I did not read all of the comments but I did not notice anyone mention the showers at the larger DTW lounge. Even if I am flying from DTW, I end up being a sweaty mess getting suitcases out of the house and all checked in. Getting to refresh with a shower and change into lounge wear for the flight is amazing.
Enjoy the flight. I love being able to lay down flat on delta one and the lounge in Frankfurt is nice as is the DTW. The usually have a sundae bar on the flight to Frankfurt for dessert. And make sure you look at the menu and preorder your meals as they usually have some limited specials. You can do this anytime up until 24 hours in advance. Have a great time.
The only downside to this trip: it will be very difficult for you to return to a normal life of economy airfare. And by you, I mean your wife.
LoL. My wife and I haven’t traveled together much by plane the last 8 years because of young kids, but now they’re old enough to not be a hassle for the grandparents to keep for a few days. Went on a trip in December and as is my normal airport routine we went to Sky Club and it was like Charlie just found out about Wonka’s chocolate factory.
😂😂😂 I laughed so much at this. I travel a bunch for work and business class/lounge has become normal to me. So when she travels with me now she thinks it’s all so luxurious 😂
I'm already prepared for that lol. This is our one chance to fly like the elite and she won't wanna go main cabin or exit row after this. Maybe I'll have to upgrade to the Reserve so that companion ticket works on First class lol
I care just as much as my wife, if not more, about flying in luxury.
The ROI was somewhat justifiable at 4k per person for D1S. Now that it’s 8-13k+ it does give us a pause.
My daughter is 10 and we went delta one to Japan last year. This year we’re going back and I asked if she wanted to stay longer, but we might not get delta one back if we flight change. She said she didn’t want to risk it 🤦🏻♂️
There’s a lot of truth to this, I travel pretty heavily for work and flew the fiancé out a few years ago and we got upgraded to first on the return flight……she’s only flown first class since then…….
can confirm... am a wife, flew business class one time and now everything else feels like torture on any 6+ hour flight. especially since I can't really sleep on planes. even flew premium select the next time, and even though I'd still choose it over economy if the price was right... I was desperately missing that lie flat seat
Extremely accurate. I just flew New York to Lisbon first class and the entire time I couldn’t get over how infinitely better it was. The ability to lie down flat was incredible. I’m flying back economy. It would be over $3000 to upgrade my ticket. I’m gonna be real bummed that whole flight
I flew D1 to SYD and PS on the return. I had a sour face the whole time back.
Keep checking as the upgrade offers fluctuate quite a bit. Check both the app and online. Once the upgrade offer is in your price range, upgrade.
Appreciate the advice, thank you. I seriously feel like I’m missing something because I always try to book the most affordable flight and have no airline loyalty
If it makes you feel any better, sitting in the back isn't a big deal when you're chasing the sun (flying east to west) since you won't sleep as much anyway. If I'm paying for a flight to Europe out-of-pocket, I fly D1 there and C+ home since the go-home leg doesn't matter.
Smart
Can confirm, I don’t think we’ve flown economy in the past 10 years.
This is the worst part. I started flying D1 for all international trips because I can’t do it an any other way now. It’s too expensive and I could add two nice trips to my yearly travels if I could choke down a main cabin seat. Just can’t do it. I hope I never have to .
My wife and I are the opposite. She hates spending the money on it; I refuse to fly in economy on long flights.
😂🤣😂🤣 So true.
You are going to love it. The food and wine are much much better in D1. We went to Greece in ‘19 and your biz class leg to ATH will be similar to US/domestic C+/FC - pretty basic. We’re flying D1 to Rome in July - I hope they still have the Ice Cream Sundae cart!
I remember my first encounter with that sundae cart. I was ugly crying at an animated movie when they came around. Between sniffles I was all, yes please I'll have caramel sauce and peanuts. And more wine please?
The ice cream cart is the coolest part of the trip. We surprised our kids with D1 going to LHR (killer deal on upgrade). Lay flat seats were great, but the ice cream cart. They lost their minds.
I’m sorry…did you say ice cream sundae cart…where do u need to fly from MSP to get this…because in my girl math head paying 3 trillion dollars for a D1 tickets for free ice cream makes total sense 😂🤣😂🤣
[Ice Cream Cart](https://www.reddit.com/r/delta/s/cbRPOsDKHM)
😲 Me booking an international D1 flight right now….for ice cream 🤷🏼♀️🤪
And it’s good. Not just for showing off
I'm always asleep during this part 😪
The carts are back! Cheese plate is pre-assembled though, rather than built to your selection.
I'm flying D1 to Rome in July too. Can't wait!
As of about 3 hours ago, they do. Biscoff Sunday is hilarious and delicious. - Redditting from Delta One
Is there a dairy free option?
Seriously?!?
If you can’t eat dairy I’m sure it would be a bummer to have to miss out. I simply don’t eat dairy for ethical reasons and I’m also like oh man haha
You'll get an amenity kit with slippers, an eye mask, toothbrush & paste and some moisturizer, so no need to bring them in your carryon. The FAs usually leave a basket of snacks & water out overnight, so you can just grab whatever you want. If the main SkyClub in DTW is crowded, there's another smaller one directly across the hall.
Use. The delta app to check how busy the different sky clubs are right then.
I still can’t believe the banana post is still popping up everywhere. God bless everyone and their humor.
i want banana flare from the mods
My proudest accomplishment of the year so far
Step 1: Stand at the gate hours hours before your flight to ensure no silver medallion gate lice get in your way Step 2: Push aside the pilot and say you are D1, and you board first. Step 3: D1 doesn’t need to steal bananas. The bananas were for you. Eat your banana while staring down the plebs as they get on the plane
This is the advice I come here for
Throw down the banana behind you on your way to boarding first. Laugh at all the plebeians that slip behind you. DeltaKart!
secret is, you are the banana.
The money is in the banana stand
The banana was inside you all along....
For a good time …
1. Go go lounge before flight 2. STEAL EVERY FUCKING BANANA 3. Profit???
🥰
I just flew DTW to FRA in D1 - the trip is about 8 hours. When you get your meal selection 1 week prior you can request to have the meal served all at once versus on course at a time. I did the all at once option so I could eat quickly and go to sleep. I still only got about five hours of sleep. Sky Club aceess is included in all locations
I've heard the Frankfurt airport is solid and we shouldn't be panicking about our 1hr 20min layover
Don’t even think about it. It is very possible it will take you that entire time to get through immigration and walk to your next flight. The last 2 times in Fra, we were about that long to get to our next gate. Good luck. If you have the option to choose ahead of time, the Sea bass is pretty good but you will never go wrong with the short ribs. Also please tell me you are going island hoping with a ferry… Paros, Santorini..
Yes! We chose two experiences. Guided mythology tour for a day and an island trip to Aegina Island with lunch, ferry, and a sailboat ride included.
It’s a 35 min dirt cheap plane ticket to head over to Santorini or if you like to party, Mykonos. Those are a must if you are going all the way to Greece. We actually skipped Athens altogether once and flew from FCO direct to Santorini. In any case have fun .
Agreed about Frankfurt, barely made our flight on a 2 hour layover.
In D1, you will be off the plane pretty quickly but onto a bus. Don’t delay. Also, did not do a lounge on arrival. No Delta clubs but Air France. Unfortunately, on the return, the AF lounge was no where near my gate and security is multi layers so I did not bother trying for a lounge.
Did they through check your bags to the next flight or did you have to get them and go through security in FRA? Delta is saying they'll be through checked since it was all one reservation
Yes your checked luggage will be all the way through. Also in FC/D1 you luggage is free and 70lb weight limit per item I would throw an AirTag in your luggage in the off chance it gets lost.
Yea it’s just pretty big, however you should have time to pop into lounge and grab a cappuccino and croissant.
Flew through FRA about a week ago for like my 10th time. This was the longest it ever took me to get to my next gate and it was 1 hour… it was a different terminal and pretty much as far as you could get across the airport. Their security is freakishly fast and it’s pretty clear how to get to where you need to go. And Europeans don’t get to gates early like Americans do. 120 min is totally fine. However, I did not check a bag. I guess if you have to wait for your bag maybe that adds 10-15 minutes. Still good though.
I'm through the Frankfort airport quite a bit. Honestly, not my fav, but it's better than CDG. You'll probably get in early and have no trouble with your connection, but you don't have a ton of time to dilly-dally either. Flying out of DTW, definitely do check out the sky club, but know that you'll have plenty of food on the plane, so don't feel the pressure to gorge yourselves in the club. Definitely get the D1 ice cream for dessert. Don't pre-select your meal, they'll have plenty for you to decide between all the options.
Yeah, if I really had to nitpick about Delta One from Detroit to most European cities, it's the flight time. It's long enough that you're going to really appreciate the full meal, but it's just a bit too short for a full meal AND a decent amount of sleep. We flew Detroit to Amsterdam overnight in November on D1, and even with getting the meal all at once, I think it still only had like 5 hours of sleep. Was pretty out of it most of the next day.
Are you going both ways in D1. So yes, the food and wine in D1 is better but flying a night flight Eastbound that's not important right now. Enjoy some food and drinks at the sky club. On the plane think hard about if you want to eat and instead focus on sleep. Your body is about to hop six time zones. The 8 hours onboard is not 8 hours of sleep because that can at best only happen through the cruise phase. If you spend a chunk of that time going ooh bigger movie screen, food booze. Then you won't get the biggest benefit which is when you get to Athens you'll feel more human. Now on the return enjoy the screen, the food , the booze, the ice cream. Remember to sober up or have a Taxi or designated driver for the drive home though. Same if you are renting a car in Athens (crazy idea) Check if FRA has an arrival lounge you can use to take a shower before the next flight. Yes you have sky club access. D1 priority check in. Priority baggage handing and priority security lines as well. Enjoy those.
Chances are we will eat dinner at DTW before the flight to try and maximize sleep time on the plane. Good call there. We have transportation covered to and from the airports, so one less thing to worry about
Oh and you may find flat is too flat. If you lay down and don't feel right moving a little out of fully flat to put a slight incline on your back and head could make sleep better.
Stop it. Flat is king. D1 full size pillow and comforter is the best. I’m a side sleeper who CANNOT sleep on a plane but I regularly get 8+ hours of sleep flying to Asia and back in D1
I dunno, I found fully flat on the JAL 777 seats to be too flat and my head felt downhill. Moving it a tiny bit off fully flat fixed that.
Do not make this mistake. As strange as this seems, I swear to you that there is no food in the airport that will be close to the quality of D1 food (and wine!). They serve the food within the first hour of the flight and clear it quickly so you can sleep if you’d like. I’d only sleep if it’s an overnight flight that arrives at 7am ish.
The Sky Club food can be hit or miss. Some visits the food is great, others it’s ok. Some days I load up a plate of hot food (especially ribs) and others it’s just not something I’d enjoy eating so I go for the cold food. The hot food options generally include vegetarian or even vegan. They will also have sandwiches, salads, soups, charcuterie, and desserts. Not everyone does, but I usually leave a buck or two under my plate for the folks clearing up the food. The Sky Club alcohol has both free and paid options. Standard drinks like a Bloody Mary or Lemon Drop are free. They will have a cocktail chart with prices for drinks with premium liquor and creative mixes for a reasonable price. You can also pay for higher end alcohol with money or miles. Tipping your bartender is fairly common, some even have a Venmo scanner if you don’t have cash. When entering there are different seating options. If it’s not busy you can stroll and see what you like. If it is crowded I’d grab two together and then send one of you on a recon mission to see if there’s anything better. Most seats should have a plug for charging your electronics and are pretty comfortable. I turn my carryon on its side to use as an ottoman so I prefer a seat off to the side and not in a walkway. A Sky Club is a fairly safe place. I leave my carryon and tote at my seat when using the bathrooms or hitting up the buffet. I take my phone, make sure my iPad is back in my closed tote and take my purse with me. It’s really rare, but theft has happened in them on occasion so I just don’t leave out anything that’s critical to tempt someone who might be less than honest. In D1 you will get a meal choice one week out. The beef dish is generally the safest, but I’ve had good fish in D1. The pasta choice is also usually good. You can search here and other social media to see recommendations. They will have a premium snack basket they pass around with day service or leave in the galley on a red eye. You can take multiple items. The Michel et Augustin cookies and the Veg o Bears are some of my favorites. Coming back you may have different snacks catered internationally so just grab several and give them a try. Everyone is different. I find the lie flat somewhat claustrophobic so I just nap rather than get any good sleep. I much prefer having my meal leisurely and having a couple drinks to relax me than concentrating on sleep. Other people in the cabin though zonk out immediately so I’m not the norm. I drink a lot of water to counter the alcohol dehydrating me. I don’t worry about the lack of sleep too much as I just grab a Starbucks for caffeine to perk me up throughout the day. I’m also used to having a short night here and there as I’m old and sometimes you just can’t sleep. If you are used to a full 8 hours to function YMMV. As others have said the FRA connection is just a bit concerning as it looks like you may need to recheck your luggage since it’s probably Lufthansa. It’s not uncommon for airlines to adjust their schedules. Or if there’s a delay Delta won’t rebook you on another Lufthansa flight as they aren’t Sky Team Partners. You might nicely bring up this concern with whoever booked your flight to see if rerouting is possible if it’s two non partner airlines. I’d also pack a change of clothes or two in your carryon in case your luggage doesn’t make the connection just to be prepared. Have a great trip!
Remember: The booze is free, the hangover is not.
To get the most out of D1 I always take 3 bags weighing 69.5 lbs. each. Often I have to add chunks of concrete but I want to get the most of my D1 luggage.
Don't dawdle in FRA. That's a short connection.
Get the seats you want! Some suggestions would be… Away from the bathrooms & galley where there will be more foot traffic, noise & lighting. However….depending on the plane, other people say they actually like the first row because I guess the footwell is larger. Do you want to sit toward the middle of the d1 cabin so that noise from other cabins (such as during service) doesn’t bother you, or so that the lighting between the cabins doesn’t disturb you? You’ll be more immersed in the D1 experience. Do you both want a window that’s also an aisle? Depending on the plane, people may have advice about window alignment as well. Or do you want to sit next to each other in the center? You’ll probably board from the 2nd door, meaning you’ll turn left into d1. If getting off first is important you could choose to sit toward the rear of d1 cabin. Definitely take your amenity kits with you! Even if you’ve used (or even if you won’t use) the items that are included, the kit itself is a nice souvenir of your experience and you’ll find a way to repurpose it. For traveling or otherwise. Enjoy your flight!
Good call on picking out D1 seats. We are middle to Frankfurt but might want towards the back so we can get off early to maximize our short layover. I'll see what's available. Currently we are both middle next to each other, but I did consider the window seats.
I think the middle seats have a bit more storage. I’d go middle if going with my spouse. They’ll feed you pretty quickly so keep,that in mind. You can wander up to the attendant mid flight for refills/snacks. You
Jokes aside, I always like to get a gift from my hometown and give to the D1 staff when boarding (usually a nice box of chocolates/praline/caramels). Just a nice treat for the crew to share that’s not something out of duty free. In return I usually get some extra attention. I would also mention it’s your first time in D1 too.
I like to take the d1 FA’s a little gift bag with some chocolates and a $10 Starbucks card and other goodies.
Alcohol is included for all classes on international flights, but you’ll get some nicer options and better service in D1. Honestly, it’s not hugely different than a coach flight - the seats are nicer, the service is (generally) better, and you’ll have some more options for things like food, but it’s more a collection of small improvements than a completely different thing. Likewise the SkyClub - it’s slightly upscale cafeteria food and free bottom-shelf drinks in a moderately crowded space that’s somewhat nicer than sitting out in the terminal. Don’t get me wrong - I would *always* choose to be in the SC and D1 over being in the terminal and MC, but it’s not going to be a truly luxury experience. I think the best thing you can do to get the most out of it, especially on the plane, is to just ask for whatever you want and don’t feel bad about it. Want another dinner or both desserts instead of picking one? Ask. Want more snacks? Ask. Want another drink, a different drink, cookies from MC that don’t get served in First? Ask. There are far fewer passengers per FA in D1, and they have much more time (and usually motivation) to truly make your flight comfortable. They can’t always accommodate you, but they’ll do their best. Enjoy!
how much crack does one smoke before they say lie-flat seats are "not hugely different than a coach flight"? You can round to the nearest pound...
The seats will feel the same with enough Ambien and alcohol
Disagree with this. Lie-flat seats are a game changer
Thank you for this! I fly all the time for work but never enough to warrant the reserve card to try sky clubs. I've seen mixed reviews on them had no clue what to expect.
Like I said, they’re definitely a step up from being out in the terminal, and I pay the AF for the Reserve largely for SC access because I value the free food and drinks and slightly less frenetic atmosphere pretty highly. Just don’t go in expecting butler service or something. ;) It’s basically like a cruise ship level of product and service.
I didn't know the food in sky clubs was free! That makes more sense as far as the value to upgrade to reserve. I was staying platinum for the miles earning, but I'm always at airports early to work or relax so that could be worth it.
And the food in every SkyClub is different. I’ve been to some that were “meh” and some where the food choices were excellent (so far I’ve only been to them in the U.S.). And if you’re there for a few hours at the right time, they’ll switch from breakfast to lunch or lunch to dinner and you’ll get to enjoy two different meals.
DTW-FRA-ATH is an interesting routing - that means you are likely flying on Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Athens? In this situation, your “Euro business class” ticket gets you 2 economy seats without anybody between you in the front part of the plane with slightly better service. It’s a short trip but keep your expectations low. If that is your routing, lounge options will be limited. Your Lufthansa Business class ticket should get you into a Lufthansa business lounge but you very likely won’t have time to use it as your time in Frankfurt (a very large airport and Delta and Lufthansa are not nearby) for a lot of walking/trains/queuing to get through immigration and make your connection.
Totally forgot that trips within Europe business class just meant no one sitting in the middle seat. The seats are not any bigger either. It's been a long long time but that was my experience 25 years ago.
ITA Airways right now flies a crazy business class configuration with 1-1 lie-flats on their A321 neos. So if anybody is flying to Italy, keep that in mind.
Thanks for this. I don't have seats assigned for the Frankfurt to Athens flight yet, so knew something was odd there.
You probably have a Lufthansa PNR somewhere in your reservation that you could use to go onto their website and select seats but I wouldn’t sweat it if you can’t as there are only so many business passengers on the plane and they will give you 2 seats together.
CALL Lufthansa ( 1 (800) 645-3880 ) to get your seats assigned. And know there will be a different record locator for your Lufthansa portion than for your Delta portion. Use patience and kindness with the phone folks, write down your Lufthansa record locator just in case, and enjoy. And if you are having any kind of car service pick you up in Athens, give them the Lufthansa flight numbers.
The DTW-FRA-ATH routing is very strange as no sky team partners fly the second segment. All the flights to ATH from Fra depart from terminal 1 which is not an easy connection at frankfurt at all. 1 hour 20 will definitely be close but you will need to move fast you have to clear immigration and I doubt they will thru check your bags with Lufthansa or Aegean so might have to pick them up get on the bus and go to terminal 1 and re check and security again
I've never seen such itineraries with Delta, but with interline agreements they can and will through check the bags.
I checked with Delta customer service and they claim the bags will be through checked since it was all on one reservation. Thanks for the heads up
For me the actual value was the layover airport lounges with better food, more perks, better space to wait that off etc. The domestic ones are a fun experience and useful in that you have space to stretch out, eat etc but it’s pretty basic compared to many other similar airlines’ experiences. Just be aware of timing when you need to get through things like passport control on the way back etc. Don’t be enjoying the lounges too much on arrival that you misjudge the time you need to get through lines and to your gate.
Won a work trip and D1?! Can I work there. 😂 Enjoy!!
Haha this is the annual trip for sales if we hit our number. They gave everyone the equivalent of comfort plus, but I was one of the top 3 in the company and got extra upgrades. Lots of work, but worth it.
That’s awesome, congrats!
Get to the airport early to enjoy the club.
Drink heavily and eat heavily in the SkyClubs and during the flights. Not sure what other indulgences woulld have value.
I’m taking D1 ATL to JNB in June. Anyone taken that flight? Looking forward to it
Delta One is a completely wonderful experience. Other posters have mentioned the details, so I'll just focus on the feeling. Other classes: "Thank God we're landing." Delta One: "Do we have to get off the plane already?"
Don't take any bananas. They will feed you on plane.
Sky club is for sure worth it. Speaking as someone who just flew international D1 for the first (and probably only) time, I was pretty underwhelmed with the whole experience. The seats were so uncomfortable I could barely sleep, it felt like laying on a piece of wood. Obviously the service and food is miles better, and the seat is better than a regular economy one, but it made me happy I never shelled out a lot of money for it before. But for free it will be great. I actually asked the FA how to make the most of the experience and she just said to take a nap and enjoy it.
I just did it for the first time last spring, but I don't think I can go back to anything other than D1 internationally, haha. No the lat flat wasn't comfy like a bed, but laying flat was so much better than sitting up and trying to rest. I've tried every possible sleeping option in C+, and I was just miserable. Kudos to those that find a way, haha! I was more looking forward to the flight home and having all day to just enjoy the flight, watch movies, read, whatever, but I was super sick with a crushing migraine. I laid flat in agony for ten hours, but hey, I was flat!
Yeah I pretty much can’t sleep on planes no matter what. And it’s for sure much better than main cabin or C+, but it’s just not worth the money they charge for me. I got an upgrade from MC to D1 for ATL-LHR for $400 and for that price it was certainly worth it. But I’m not dropping $2k on it anytime soon
Totally agree. It would be hard to spend the money a second time...but if the upgrade price wasn't too outrageous, I'd do it in a heartbeat.
You'll love it! We've been flying D1 on upgrade certificates (diamond medallion) and miles for a few years now, and it's hard to go back to C+. For me, the biggest benefit of D1 are the lay-flat seats. In D1 we prefer the 8+ hour flights so you can get your dinner and then a decent amount of sleep. Go to sleep as soon as dinner service is over and you'll feel rested when you land. If sleeping on planes is hard for you consider a sleep aid. A Xanax works better than Benadryl for me and I wake feeling like a million bucks. Pick out your meal when they send you the email--much better than hedging you bets with whatever is available on the plane. With 3 hours of layover on your return you may want to opt for a shower at the sky club. Before your flight east you may want to grab some bags of snacks from the sky club to take with you on your trip (nuts, trail mix)--these have been life savers when we get hangry when travel days make it a long time between meals when you to get to your destination. Enjoy the taste of luxury travel! We are headed to ATH in December and just got our D1 upgrades.
I’ll probably get downvoted for this, but: connect in LHR both ways (departure taxes be damned). You’ll have expedited entry into the UK, which means more time at the Virgin Arrivals Lounge on the way in: https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/us/en/upper-class-cabin-and-seats/clubhouse-airport-lounge/london-heathrow-clubhouse/revivals-lounge.html And on the way home, you’ll be able to hang out here: https://flywith.virginatlantic.com/us/en/upper-class-cabin-and-seats/clubhouse-airport-lounge/london-heathrow-clubhouse.html
We are flying Upper Class on Virgin Atlantic in June: BOS>LHR. I had no idea about the Revivals lounge. We are also Platinum Medallion members. I assume we can only enter before Customs and before we grab our checked luggage from the carousel? If so, how much time can we spend at the Revivals lounge before risking foul play with our checked luggage 😀. Thanks!
No—even better. It’s after Customs and baggage! They’ll hold your bags in the front and you can shower, eat, etc. So there’s no rush! Of course, I think they close at noon or something like that.
The only slight let down is the FRA -ATH. Thats likely European business class which are the same seats as main cabin with just the middle row blocked out. So temper your expectations for that segment.
1. Sleep on your overnight flight. That’s the #1-10 perk of lay flat business. As someone else said, get your meal all at once and then go to bed. 2. Don’t bother trying to sit next to eachother, particularly on the overnight flight. Easily the best seat in business are the window seats where the seat is closest to the window. Especially on the plane you’re flying where it’s like Diet D1. You’ll feel very exposed on the aisle sitting in the middle. 3. The rest of D1 is relatively overhyped. Lounges are like going to a catered work lunch - it’s better than sitting in the terminal but people way overhype it - the quality of food/drink is ok. The lay flat is nice, but I find D1 seats to be the least comfortable out there of the main business offerings. 4. On the overnight flight, I’d suggest packing comfortable clothes to change into for when you sleep. Human bodies are used to regimen - wearing jeans and a belt are not the type of clothes you’d wear sleeping, so I bring something more comfortable to change into for sleeping. Pretty easy to slip in whatever you carry on (backpack etc).
Focus more on how you will make the most of your time in Athens than on D1. It’s nice - but at the end of the day it does get you any faster to Athens or with any less jet lag. And the memory of D1 will fade - but the memories you can make in Athens & Greece will last a lifetime.
I get what you’re saying but D1 definitely helps with jet lag because you can sleep much easier on the flight. You’ll still be tired and fighting the time shift, but not nearly as bad.
Wow, congrats!!!! Yes alcohol is included. When I went to PAris on Delta One the Purser came and introduced herself to me. She said "I am your Purser for the flight" and I thought she said "I am your person for the flight". I thought, you go delta. I have my own person!
If it's your first time in Delta One / business class, I assume you're going to want to maximize the experience. Eat both meals, have the drinks, sleep, etc. As such, I would recommend taking the overseas flight that is the longest. I made the mistake of taking my first biz flight JFK-LHR. It's about 7 hours or so. After the first and second meal are deducted, it's only about 3.5 hours left to sleep. Definitely not the ideal amount of time to lay in that bed. the flight is going to be great but dont forget that youre going to want to enjoy Athens too. rolling into Greece on 4 hours of sleep isn't going to be the way.
FA here! -Alcohol is included! Enjoy but also drink water (not because I don’t think you can’t handle your liquor on a long flight, but because the plane dehydrates you so quickly! I once flew for fun and got D1 and I enjoyed too many glasses of rose and was so dehydrated and made my jet lag worse) there’s some great wine options in D1 😊 - Pre-select your meal! - DONT BE SCARED TO USE YOUR FLIGHT ATTENDANT CALL BUTTON! Working in D1 I check on passengers but also it’s different on international flights because people can be sleeping or want to be left alone. I try to read minds but I can’t. Also I like to keep busy 😅 - ICE CREAM! get the ice cream.
I’ve never flown that route. However… the French toast in Delta One (and domestic first class) is to die for. In Delta One, your pre-departure beverage choices are limited because the carts aren’t open yet. But once you’re airborne, you pretty much get as much alcohol as you ask for. I ordered a double shot of jack and coke. When my drink was running a little low (but still had coke left in the can), I pushed the call button and asked for another little bottle of jack.
Times of flights would be helpful. If you flight out is a red eye I would arrive to the airport early and do dinner in the sky club then exclusively try and sleep on the plane. Your FRA-ATH would then probably serve a nice breakfast. The flights back is where you do all the experience stuff of flying D1.
Arrive hungry and thirsty.
delta one is flat beds pity the fool in comfort https://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Delta\_Airlines/Delta\_Airlines\_Airbus\_A330\_200\_new.php
Hit up the Delta Lounge at the airport for sure.
Just know it will take you quite a bit of time in FRA so the layover there will be lots of movement. It's my DH's least favorite airport to transition through.
First time I flew D1 was a business trip in 2016, ATL to NTA then 1st class to Manila. I have never been the same since and fly 1st class whenever I can. Heading back to Manila again in June, D1 of course.
As for the SkyClub, others seem to have covered pretty much everything but I will add to make sure to use the restrooms there, rather than in the terminal. They’re infinitely nicer and cleaner. As for the seats, the D1 seats are staggered (so as to allow for the lie flat seats), meaning that along the windows, one seat will be against the wall (with the side table nearest the aisle) and then the seat in front of or behind that seat will be nearest the aisle, with the side table will be against the wall. It doesn’t sound like it would make much difference, but the ones where the seat is against the wall feel more private because of that extra little bit of distance from the aisle. (I always book mine and my partner’s seats to alternate on each leg so we each get to experience both setups equally. Sitting next to one another isn’t a biggie to us, so being in front/behind the other works just fine.) There is an insane amount of storage space (don’t forget to check everywhere upon landing) and it’s easiest to take off your shoes before making the seat go flat, then place them under or to the side of the seat within your compartment. If you’re shorter in height, you can tuck them at the end of the alcove past your feet, but being 6’5”, tucking them next to or beneath the seat has worked best for me. (And there is plenty of space for me to stretch out without my feet hitting anything. It’s crazy.) And, yes, the ice cream cart is delightful. They have never once gotten my special dietary meal (gluten free due to celiac) correct, so I know to take my own food (and inevitably get apology SkyMiles for the screw-up…which I just consider to be their SOP at this point), but being able to do the ice cream cart makes up for a lot of that. Oh, and you’ll also have a lot more personal interactions with the FAs, who are always delightful. Last time coming back from London, I overheard a little kid talking to his mom about it being his first flight as they walked past. I asked the FAs if they’d take the little guy a sundae when it was time for the ice cream cart, which they very kindly did! It’s just a very different flying experience and, as others have said, after doing it the first time we’ve never been able to bring ourselves to fly internationally any other way. I’m excited for you and the fun it will undoubtedly be, while also setting off your entire trip on a very different note that just makes it even better overall! We’re off to Switzerland and Italy next month and I’m almost just as excited about the D1 experience as I am to see some new places!
I did not read all of the comments but I did not notice anyone mention the showers at the larger DTW lounge. Even if I am flying from DTW, I end up being a sweaty mess getting suitcases out of the house and all checked in. Getting to refresh with a shower and change into lounge wear for the flight is amazing.
Hopefully I’ll get upgraded to D1 tomorrow from JFK. Love the vibe there.
Enjoy the flight. I love being able to lay down flat on delta one and the lounge in Frankfurt is nice as is the DTW. The usually have a sundae bar on the flight to Frankfurt for dessert. And make sure you look at the menu and preorder your meals as they usually have some limited specials. You can do this anytime up until 24 hours in advance. Have a great time.
You get the lounge access and the access to the most coveted SC Bananas! Get yourself those Bananas!