Review: Delta Transcontinental BusinessElite, LAX-JFK

Yesterday, my Uncle flew from Los Angeles to New York JFK on Delta’s transcontinental BusinessElite product. I asked him for a review, which he graciously provided.

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Delta has reconfigured its planes in first class on the coast-to-coast routes so that first class is now really first. The seats are all lie-flat seats configured in a 1-2-1 layout. I have seat 1D, so I have no neighbors. The seat has an ample large table next to it that houses a light (plus the overhead light), and the seat and video controls. The video screen is larger than average, I would say probably 5×8 in size. The seat has full lie-back features, plus very nice lumbar controls and a massage feature that works nicely. It also has a very luxurious footwell to store gear.

They include an amenity kit much like you’d see on a European flight, complete with the usual (toothpaste, toothbrush, eye shades, socks, plus some nice cream and mouthwash and other things.

But the star of the show is the lunch I just finished.

The appetizer includes a wonderful eggplant salad, a very interesting parmesan spread, a spinach spread, toasted french bread, excellent rolls, a salad with dressing, and excellent ham slices.

The main course I chose was pork tenderloin (other choices were a pasta and short ribs, which I would have chosen, but they were out of them by the time they got to me). The pork was very good, but the sides were even better. they had a warm applesauce, roaster fingerling potatoes, and a terrific warm kale vegetable mix.

I then chose a cheese plate instead of gelato for dessert, and it was excellent. A nice piece of blue cheese, a slice of mach ego, and a ball of goat cheese pressed in cumin, all with crackers and grapes on the side. All of this was preceded by champagne when I boarded, a gin and tonic (they use Bombay Saphire to their credit), and a nice red wine, blending cabernet sauvignon grapes with others.