Delta economy class ... the only thing tougher than the seats is the crew.
Aircraft Delta Air Lines, Boeing 777-200LR.
Route Sydney to Los Angeles.
Class Economy, seat 45E.
Seat pitch and width 31-33 inches between rows of seats, 18 inches between armrests.
Seat configuration 3-3-3 for a total of 233 economy seats.
Luggage allowance Two pieces of checked luggage up to 23 kilograms each. One piece of carry-on, plus one personal item.
Scheduled flight time 13 hours, 50 minutes.
On-time performance Check-in service is brisk and orderly. On time into LA. Unfortunately on the return flight we are marooned on the tarmac for three hours due to a passenger's misplaced passport and a "dent". No water offered by crew and little care or communication.
Aircraft condition Near-new, with moody cabin lighting and natty timber flooring in the toilets. All very posh, until you reach your seat.
Comfort The 777-200LR has the longest range of any passenger aircraft, but I wouldn't recommend testing this record in Delta economy. Those of a generous bent might call the leather seats "firm" but after 14 hours I just felt bent. The seats are hard and seem that way from the moment you sit down. Leg room is OK for a 178-centimetre person.
Service The only thing tougher than the seats is the crew, who swerve between defeated and tetchy. The service is reluctant and the uniforms bland. If only our flight attendants had been as amusingly bonkers as those in the safety video.
Console/entertainment Terrific range of movies, music and TV shows on the 26.9-centimetre screen; HBO fare costs extra ($5 for movies, $2 for TV shows). Seat-back touch screens are nifty but can be stubborn,resulting in the odd jab in the head from behind.
Food and beverage Beef or chicken offered. "In what style?" I ask. "One's beef, the other's chicken," I'm told. There's also a lacklustre cluster of sides, including a salad that would make a rabbit weep. Breakfast is even more insipid.
Amenities Comfortable blanket and pillow.
Flight frequency LA to Sydney daily. Economy return fare is currently $943 including tax.
Online delta.com. I booked my flight here, a reasonably easy process.
Tested by David Braithwaite
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