A subset of Delta’s Boeing 757 fleet is in a premium configuration. With 168 passengers, this 757 operates key transcontinental routes and some international services. Here’s a look at the only Delta Air Lines narrowbody with lie-flat seating.
The configuration
These Boeing 757s are equipped with only 168 seats. There are 16 lie-flat Delta One seats in a 2-2 configuration. Note that this is the only aircraft type in Delta’s fleet with lie-flat seats that do not come with direct aisle access. The other 757s have standard recliner-style First Class seating.
In addition, Delta has 44 Comfort+ seats which are essentially economy seats with additional legroom. And, finally, there are 108 Main Cabin seats. Comfort+ and Main Cabin are in a 3-3 configuration.
Delta Comfort+ on this 757
With these planes, boarding is conducted through the second left-hand side door. Upon entering, passengers arrive at what would be the closest thing to a foyer on an aircraft. The Comfort+ seats right by the door come with near-endless legroom. Meanwhile, there is a pair of two Comfort+ seats next to the right-hand side door.
Like most of Delta’s mainline fleet, the 757 offers every passenger personal, on-demand seatback entertainment. This makes it easier to pass the time on a flight whether it be on a transcontinental hop or transatlantic one. In the entrance, row 19 on the left side and 18 on the right, the seatback screens are stored in the armrest of the seat due to the absence of seats in front of these rows.
In terms of Comfort+ seating, there are a few extra inches of legroom– about four. This extra space can give some tall passengers room to stretch out a bit. And, even with the tray table down, it is not terribly tight. Ultimately, using SkyMiles or cash to upgrade to Comfort+ might be worth it for a number of passengers.
Also in Comfort+ are four power outlets per row. Every passenger has access to a USB outlet on the seatback screen. However, for the outlet, passengers will have to share with others in the row as there are only two power outlets per set of three seats.
Main Cabin on this Delta 757
Main Cabin on this 757 is also in a 3-3 configuration. This takes up, roughly, the back-half of the 757. Note that row 36 comes with extra legroom thanks to the location of the exits. But, there are also a set of two lavatories there. This could mean some crowding during flight. Row 35, just ahead of the lavatory, also has some extra legroom.
Unlike other 757s in the U.S., Delta has kept personal seatback screens available at all Main Cabin seats.
While the 757 is an aging aircraft, the seatback screens are nice and crisp. This helps give the cabin a bit of a newer and refreshed feel. They are touchscreen and quite responsive. Like Comfort+, there are four power outlets per row– two on each side. This means passengers do have to share outlets. However, the seatback screen has a USB port for charging smaller devices such as smartphones.
Aside from the few seats with extra legroom, Main Cabin seats are standardized with 31 inches of pitch. For a transcontinental hop of about six hours or less or a transatlantic hop of a similar length, these seats are comfortable. Delta maintains some extra padding on these seats while some competitors are going in the opposite direction.
Delta One
After a long day waiting for the 777X to takeoff, I was looking forward to an opportunity to rest. For this flight, I booked myself in the First Class cabin. Some premium services are marketed as Delta One which comes with some extra amenities including enhanced dining. However, this red-eye departing Seattle at just after 23:00 local time was marketed simply as a First Class cabin.
The premium configured 757s have four rows of seats in a 2-2 configuration. These seats are the only lie-flats in Delta’s system that do not have direct aisle access. However, given that this is a narrowbody, this is not terribly surprising.
The seats are angled away from the aisle giving passengers some additional privacy. At first glance, these seats reminded me of my flight on KLM’s 777-300ER in World Business. Although, these seats felt a bit narrower. The one thing that stood out about this configuration was how private the window seats felt. I was in seat 3A and, sitting there, I had to do a fair bit of moving around to see my seatmate or other passengers in the cabin.
The seat controls are located on the center panel. There are two presets. One is for takeoff and landing and the other is to make the seat go fully-flat.
It should be noted that these seats are a bit angled up by the head. However, while it may have been a result of my exhaustion from the day, I had no trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.
In lie-flat mode, the seat measured about 76 inches. I could comfortably sleep on my side and I’m 5’8″. I did, however, find the footwell to be a little constricted. But, since I was utterly exhausted, it did not make too much of a difference. However, those who are a bit more sensitive might find the aisle seats better since there’s a bit more room to move around.
I loved the size of the monitor on these aircraft. They were large, clear, crisp, and easy to use both through the remote or the touchscreen. The best part was the ability to control the brightness. This ensured that I didn’t disturb my seatmate or other passengers.
Overall
This is one of the more “elusive” Delta One seats. Only a small subset of the 757 fleet has these seats. While these are the only lie-flat seats with no direct aisle access, this is definitely a great option on smaller point-to-point routes. This 757 configuration will also fly to the UK from Boston this summer. In addition, the 757 also consistently flies between New York-JFK and San Francisco and Seattle. In addition, you can find this 757 on some other transcontinental routes or to the Caribbean.
At the end of the day, this is a pretty decent product for a narrowbody aircraft. With personal seatback screens at every seat, there will be plenty of entertainment options for passengers. For the best seats in economy, look for seats in row 35 and 36. In Comfort+, row 19 closer to the door is a great choice thanks to the excessive legroom. And, while there are no bad seats in Delta One, I prefer a seat in row 2 or 3 due to them being farther from the rear lavatories of the Delta One cabin and the galley in the front. This reduces disruptions.
Have you flown on this premium Delta 757? What were your thoughts? Let us know in the comments
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