When you take a plane, but it feels like you're on a bus. My journey aboard Delta's A330.

I have often written this, and with this flight came yet another confirmation: With Delta, the world's largest airline, you never know what the flight will be....e this was a real disappointment.

It's amazing how, in some ways, when you get on American companies. one has (often) the feeling of getting on a bus, no matter if you are traveling in economy or business, the chances that you will be treated like you are in the McDonald's line here are higher than on any European airline.

This is one of the reasons that I generally avoid American carriers and when I'm in the U.S. I love to fly Southwest, because at least I know that I get what I pay for.

The fact then, at the last moment, the flight was operated on a 14-year-old A330/300 instead of on a new A350/900 only added to the disappointment. It did little good to be on a plane with a "refurbished" interior, when instead one expected to board the brand new One Suite.

Reservation

The ticket was part of an itinerary that, after an approach flight Paris London, had taken me to New York aboard Virgin Atlantic's flagship A350/1000.

For this reservation I did not use points or miles having found an extremely affordable rate at just over €1200 for business class travel with the first route traveled aboard Virgin Atlantic's brand new Upper Class. I could have use membership rewards points no problem, but in this case the conversion was by no means the exciting kind.

Our Immaculate Conception bridge in the United States, thehe first time after the end of the travel ban due to Covid-19, also served us to renew our Silver status in the Flying Blue program and get within a few points of the Gold level, an essential key to being able to book a ticket in La Premiere class, or Air France's first class.

At the airport

The borders are open, but this does not mean that we have returned to the former world, indeed recent developments related to the omicron variant have also led to changes in travel rules and probably also convinced many passengers to take advantage of ticket flexibility and postpone departure. Finally, however, we now see the grip loosening and a slow return to normalcy.

If there is one thing that does not stress travelers upon returning home from New York, it is the ease of finding around the city a place to take a swab, rapid or PCR, for free. Everywhere in Manhattan there are tents, vans or pop-up stores where in less than 10 minutes you can take the test and receive, free of charge, the result via e-mail. For the lazy then in terminal 4 there is a swab center that allows you to have the test in time for check-in.

Our flight departed from terminal 4, the one where Delta mainly operates and where Emirates, Etihad, Virgin Atlantic and Swiss are also at home.

We arrived well in advance at the terminal, as we have spent the night at TWA Holtel which is only one stop away from AirTrain, the people mover that connects the various terminals at JFK for free.

We hoped to be able to check in without any problems, but instead we had to convince a Delta attendant so that she would let us pass and board our luggage.

After passing through security, we headed into the Delta Sky Club, the main lounge at T4 and one of the largest of all those operated by the American company.

The lounge is located almost at the end of D deck, the one from which the American company's flights depart.

Access to this room is granted to all passengers traveling business class with Delta or to holders of elite status in the company's loyalty program or holding an ElitePlus level in the Sky Team alliance.

In addition, this lounge è accessible  to holders of American Express Platinum who are scheduled to fly on the same day with Delta.

In fact, T4 is the best terminal at the lounge level for those with the richest of the Amex cards, since it allows access in addition to SkyClub to the Centurion Lounge, the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse and to the Air India lounge accessible via Priority Pass.

Impossible not to find a seat, given the size and amount of seating, of all kinds, present. The central part of the room is occupied by the bar counter, buffet area, and self-service beverage dispenser.

Hot beverage islands are placed at various locations in the lounge.

The only area I didn't find, but I probably didn't wander around enough, was a darker, quieter lounging area where we could take a nap while waiting for our flight. Since the lounge wasn't crowded at all when we arrived, there wasn't much need to isolate ourselves to find a quiet corner.

A special feature of Delta lounges is that there is a selection of "complimentary" items at the bar and a larger list of cocktails, spirits, and beers for a fee. This is not exclusive to Delta it is a widespread practice in airports on the American continent.

The culinary offerings were, of course, very American. And although it was not yet 11 a.m. the lunch menu was already offered.

Boarding was quick, as is always the case with American airlines, you board by zones: after people in wheelchairs, it's the military's turn, then business class passengers or Medallion status holders, and then, slowly, all the other passengers.

On board

Of the change of aircraft I found out in the lounge, I always check on flightradar24 the status of my flight. I do this to see what aircraft I will be flying on, where it is and what its characteristics are. My disappointment was total to find out that I would be flying on a 14-year-old A330/300 instead of an A330/900 less than 2 years old.

Especially because in the second one I was going to try the new Delta One Suite for the first time. Instead I ended up in the old Delta One, and the difference is like between a regular Fiat 500 and an electric one.

The only good thing is that, despite its age, the cabin configuration is 1-2-1, which means that all passengers have direct access to the aisle, which is not taken for granted, so you don't have to step over anyone or you won't be stepped over by your neighbor who needs to go to the bathroom.

The configuration of the middle seats does not include honeymoon seats, but more importantly, there is no possibility of raising a bulkhead if traveling alone and with an "unknown" neighbor: at the level of privacy we are therefore close to zero. An abysmal difference with the new Delta One Suite, where all seats have a door that, when closed, completely isolates from the corridor.

Not that those sitting in the rows near the windows enjoy more privacy, but at least if you are traveling alone you are not under the eyes of the neighboring passenger.

The plane is 14 years old; however, the interior is younger since Delta recently renovated these cabins as well. But despite the efforts, it could be said to have aged quickly and badly.

In terms of passenger space, it is the classic one with the legs tucking into the tunnel that houses the front seat console. The seats are not alternating, which means more legroom, especially when converting the chair into a bed.

There are two small spaces to store one's belongings, but we are talking about small containers that can hold just the cell phone and little more, certainly not a notebook or tablet.

The other, and only, positive side is the presence of ventilation nozzles. Many airlines don't have them in business class, and to me it's really absurd that you can't adjust the temperature when traveling in a premium cabin.

The coffee table comes out of the center console and is very small, adequate just enough to support a tablet but much less suitable for a notebook.

The power outlets are convenient and not hidden as is often the case; however, there is only one USB outlet. There is also a reading light, located above the sockets that is also adjustable to suit the needs of the passenger

Seat controls are located in the backrest in front, convenient to reach and functional.

On-board service

The feeling of being on board a greyhound, rather than in a business class cabin continues even with the service.

Welcome champagne on board is served in a plastic glass, branded Coca Cola.

There is no menu explaining what will be served for dinner and breakfast, much less a wine list or other beverages that can be ordered. Nor is the menu available digitally via the app or the screens in the seats.

Dulcis in fundo the courtesy kit is not the one for business class passengers but Premium Economy. It was probably a stock item, since a few weeks after the company announced the launch of the new kit.

About 15 minutes after takeoff, one of the attendants came by the cabin to take the dinner order. The menu told verbally, with obviously no explanation of the dishes much less the drink, a kind of "eat this soup or jump out the window" kind of school cafeteria. Dinner was served in a single tray, just as one is served in economy, only with a napkin placed on the coffee table as a tablecloth, and a glass (no longer plastic) for drinking.

My choice for dinner ended up on the vegetarian option, which was cheese lasagna that was served to me still cold and replaced, at my request, shortly thereafter.

If on all the other airlines I have traveled on, the cabin crew asks if you want to be woken up for breakfast, on Delta it does not happen and all passengers are woken up by the announcement that service and collection of PLF forms required by the French government will begin shortly (our flight was to Paris). Like boarding school, with the bell waking everyone up to go to the dining hall.

Tasteless dishes at dinner, and the music doesn't change at breakfast, there is no menu but one has to make a quick choice from what is offered. Granted, it is a flight of just under 6 1/2 hours and not the longest in the world, but it would be logical to expect better treatment from Delta and its staff.

Also ridiculous was the small pantry that was available to passengers during the flight, perhaps they would have been better off not even putting it in.

IFE & WiFi

Old the plane, obviously old also the entertainment system. The monitor is touch but not exactly fast in response. In any case, it is still possible to use the good old remote control.

The supply of movies and other content is paltry, especially of new arrivals. So is the virtual map non-existent, except for the one that shows the route, and also the webcams that allow you to see what is happening outside are not active.

Fortunately, wi-fi was on and, thanks to my U.S. T-Mobile data line, I was able to take advantage of a free hour of Internet connection. Still better than nothing.

In conclusion

The disappointment of finding myself, unbeknownst to me, in a different plane and cabin than I expected marked the entire experience. If the hardware was not what I had booked, the software did not mitigate the negative judgment of this flight. The only things I save are the 1-2-1 layout of the cabin and the presence of the air nozzles; everything else is absolutely forgettable.

This is just one of many reviews you can read on our site, covid and restrictions permitting. Every Wednesday we publish a review of a lounge airport, while every Friday you can read the review of one of our flights or a hotel where we stayed.