BACKGROUND Since the completion of the merger between Delta Air Lines and Skyteam partner Northwest Airlines at the end of last year, Delta’s livery, uniforms, in-flight entertainment and onboard amenities have started to be introduced throughout NWA’s fleet.
Flight schedules are also being merged under the Delta code, and the carriers’ loyalty programmes Delta SkyMiles and Northwest WorldPerks are being consolidated. In January 2010, the new SkyMiles Medallion programme will launch, after the final transition of WorldPerks members into SkyMiles in December.
The incorporation of Northwest into Delta will see the NWA brand disappear from the skies by the end of 2010, making Delta the biggest airline in the world, serving 170 million passengers a year. In the mean time, tickets can still be booked with Northwest Airlines online at nwa.com or indirectly through codeshare partner KLM at klm.com.
CHECK-IN As this was a connecting flight between San Francisco and London Heathrow, I had already checked in online and had my boarding pass, so it was just a matter of disembarking flight NW342 at 2000 and walking to Gate A34, an eight-minute walk away, for flight NW48 at 2110 to Amsterdam.
When I arrived I checked with a member of staff at the departure desk that I had a vegetarian meal on board, as out the SFO-DTW flight there wasn’t one, despite having pre-booked it and it stating so on my boarding pass. (Click here to read the San Francisco to Detroit review with Northwest Airlines.) I was told there would be.
BOARDING At 2020 I joined the Breezeway queue for premium passengers and made sure I handed my white immigration card stapled into my passport to the agent at the desk before boarding. I was in my seat by 2045. My jacket was taken and hung in a closet, and a choice of sparkling wine, water, orange juice and beer offered by a member of the crew. There was also a choice of newspapers including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and a couple of Dutch publications.
THE SEAT Business class on board this wide-bodied A330-300 is configured with 34 seats in a staggered 2-2-2 (A-B, C-G, J-H) forward-facing layout across six rows. (There are five rows on the right-hand side because of the washroom and an extra closet at the back.) Economy class is across 44 rows (starting from row ten, as rows seven, eight and nine are missing) and the 264 seats are configured 2-4-2 (A-B, C-D-F-G, H-J).
Business class seats have a width of 20 inches (51cm), a pitch of 60 inches (152cm) and a recline of 176 degrees, and all come with individual touchscreen AVOD systems which come out of the arm, individual reading lights, in-arm remotes and a power supply. A big, soft pillow and coverlet wrapped in cellophane are also provided. I was sitting in window seat 2A, which felt new and spacious after Northwest’s domestic product. It featured lumbar support, in-seat massage, dark grey leather armrests, grey and blue checked upholstery, and a light grey shell casing around the headrests.
WHICH SEAT TO CHOOSE? I deliberately chose a seat in row two because I don’t need as much extra legroom as some people and I like having storage under the seat in front, which you don’t get in row one. The only drawback with a window seat and the fact that they are all forward-facing is that you have to squeeze past the person next to you if they have their seat fully reclined and their legs stretched out.
Seats C and G are good choices if you are travelling with a friend or colleague and you both want aisle access, although those in row six (and 5H/J) might be best be avoided because of their proximity to the washroom. (Also note that G seats also have limited leg and storage space due to the IFE box under the seat.) Seats in row one are popular choices as passengers here tend to get served food first and have the most legroom, but there can be some noise from the galley and the TV screen on the wall directly in front can be annoying if trying to sleep.
THE FLIGHT After the pilot informed us that the estimated flight time was seven hours and 16 minutes, we started taxiing and the crew came around with Northwest-branded headphones, black amenity kits (with socks, toothbrush and paste, eye mask, earplugs, comb, lip balm and ballpoint pen) and dinner menus. I flicked through a copy of the Delta Sky magazine in the seat pocket in front and read that as a result of the merger, “NWA planes are being repainted to match Delta’s branding and over half the combined fleet should be completed by the end of the year. NWA cabins will be revamped with new seats, washrooms and carpet”.
Take-off was at about 2115, and even though I had a special meal ordered which was not listed on the menu, I took time to read though it and accept a hot towel wipe my hands with. To start was a platter of salmon confit canapé with citrus marmalade, beef tenderloin crostini with blue cheese, ginger-hoisin shrimp skewer, and mixed nuts.
The main meal consisted of a salad of mixed greens with candied walnuts, piquillo peppers and herbed goat cheese medallion, warm bread rolls, and a choice of beef short rib with garlic-hoisin sauce, wasabi mashed potatoes, sugar snap peas and carrots; chicken breast stuffed with wild mushrooms, morel mushroom sauce and roasted root vegetables; and seared turbot with lobster sauce, basmati pilaf, broccoli and carrots.
For those with less of an appetite, there was also a light champagne supper to be served when convenient, consisting of a cold plate of Asian beef, seasoned chicken breast, Asian slaw, edamame nori salad and soba noodle salad, followed by mixed greens and chocolate truffles.
The food service began at about 2200, with white tablecloths laid out, and I was presented with my meat-free starter of cucumber stuffed with couscous, a pot of salted nuts and a tomato and mushroom skewer. There were two red and two white wines available (there are four of each on the menu) including an Artesa sauvignon blanc reserve, 2005 (“layered aromatics of pear, honeydew lemon, peach, kiwi and some characteristic box wood flavour”) and a Bridlewood Estate syrah Central Coast, 2005 (“spicy clove and nuances of vanilla bean meld together for a rich, jammy finish”).
For my main course I had a mild chickpea curry with sultanas and almonds, rice and wilted spinach, plus a side of cos lettuce and walnut salad, and some sliced fruit. For dessert there was a choice of strawberry cheesecake or cheese (Saint Pete’s blue and Van Gogh Gouda) and crackers. Overall, the meal seemed rather average, and the port and liqueurs listed on the menu were not offered at the end (although I am sure that if I asked they would have brought me what I wanted).
The cabin lights were dimmed at around midnight, and after watching a film (there is a good mix of older and newer releases) I reclined the seat as far as it would go and endeavoured to get a couple of hours’ sleep, but the cabin was a bit on the warm side in and I found it hard to get comfortable on the angled-lie flat bed. At 0330 the lights came back on and a light breakfast (fruit salad, coffee, a pot of apple sauce, a slice of walnut bread and a bagel) was served at 0345.
ARRIVAL We started the descent into Amsterdam Schiphol at 0420 and landed at 0445 (1045 local time). Business class passengers were disembarked first via an airbridge, and as I was catching connecting flight KL1017 at 1325 to London, I went straight to the KLM Crown lounge (number 52) to pass the time.
VERDICT With two changeovers between San Francisco and London this is a tiring way to make the journey, but this is reflected in the prices. A solid business class product with a decent choice of meals and films to keep you entertained.
PRICE Internet rates for a return KLM/NWA business class flight from London Heathrow to San Francisco via Detroit in May started from £1,669 online at klm.com.
CONTACT nwa.com, klm.com, delta.com
By Jenny Southan
