Delta One London to Seattle Review: Is It Worth It?

Flying Delta Air Lines business class on a nonstop international flight from London Heathrow to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in the United States should feel like a premium experience, and Delta One Suites offers some notable advantages over standard business class. This Delta One London to Seattle review of their business class seats dives into all you can expect from one of these international flights if this is your first time.

The lie-flat seats, privacy doors, and direct aisle access provide a solid level of comfort, and the service was attentive, but after taking this flight multiple times, it’s clear that the aircraft itself is beginning to show its age in certain areas.

In this review, I’ll walk through the entire experience, from booking and pricing to seat comfort, meal service, in-flight entertainment, and overall impressions.

If you want true luxury out of London, check out our experience at The Windsor, Heathrow’s VIP private terminal.

Delta One Suites London to Seattle

Flying Delta One Suites from London Heathrow to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport offers a business class experience that is comfortable and private but not without its flaws. As Delta’s flagship premium cabin, the suites provide lie-flat seats, sliding privacy doors, direct aisle access, and a generally well-designed cabin. 

However, after multiple flights on this route, I’ve noticed some wear and tear that is beginning to show on this Delta flight.

The flight began with a smooth check-in and lounge experience at London Heathrow, where Delta One passengers are granted access to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse—one of the best business class lounges available on this route. They offered a pre-boarding meal that I will get into in the review down below.

Boarding was efficient and well-organized, with Delta One passengers given priority access to the aircraft. 

The A330-900neo cabin design is sleek, featuring a color scheme of blues and blacks, but closer inspection revealed signs of wear, especially in the lavatories, where paint was chipping and surfaces appeared dated.

Once onboard, I was welcomed with a pre-departure beverage and a warm towel service. The handwritten welcome note from the lead flight attendant was an unexpected and thoughtful touch, something I hadn’t encountered before despite having Platinum and Diamond Medallion status with Delta.

The seat itself was comfortable, offering three preset modes—lounge, relax, and bed—which I absolutely loved. While “bed mode” is fairly standard in today’s first class experience, it sold this first class experience for me.

Storage space was adequate, with compartments available for personal items, though the tray table was on the smaller side.

Delta’s in-seat entertainment system offered a solid selection of preloaded movies and TV shows, and Wi-Fi was available. 

Thy provided over-ear headphones were comfortable but not noise-canceling, meaning light sleepers might want to bring their own.

For the meal service, Delta offers both a pre-order option and a same-day menu selection. 

Dinner included a bread and butter starter, smoked salmon and salad, and a beef and potatoes main course (which I preselected). The food was decent, though not particularly memorable, with the highlight being the signature ice cream sundae cart. 

The pre-arrival meal, however, was disappointing, with cold cuts, hard-boiled eggs, and macarons that didn’t complement each other well.

When it came to sleeping comfort, the lie-flat seat allowed for a decent rest. 

Overall, Delta One Suites is a good business class product. The seat privacy, direct aisle access, and lounge access are major positives, but the aging aircraft and underwhelming pre-arrival meal detract from the overall experience. 

Given the high price point of $6,000+ for a roundtrip ticket, I would recommend booking this flight with points or miles whenever possible. 

Booking Delta One Suites & Pricing

Flying business class on Delta is far from cheap, especially on a long-haul flight like this. For my July 2024 trip, I booked a refundable roundtrip ticket for $6,250 per person, using Chase Ultimate Rewards points to bring the cost down significantly. Not sure how to get started with credit card rewards? Check out the travel credit card secrets you can’t miss.

On my September 2024 trip, I booked a last-minute roundtrip for $5,650, though the first leg was in Virgin Atlantic’s Economy Delight before continuing in Delta One Suites.

Prices for this route seem to consistently fall in the $6,000–$7,000 range for roundtrip business class, and while SkyMiles award travel is an option, the redemption rates are usually extremely high—often 300,000+ SkyMiles for a one-way business class ticket. Delta’s SkyMiles program members can sometimes find better redemption rates through partner airlines like Virgin Atlantic or by using Delta’s SkyTeam partners, but cash fares often provide better value.

Since I needed a refundable ticket, I had to pay more, but for travelers with flexible dates, there may be opportunities for lower fares or award redemptions.

Lounge Access at London Heathrow (Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse vs. Delta Sky Club)

One of the main selling points of Delta One Suites is lounge access before departure, and at London Heathrow, this means entry to the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse—widely regarded as one of the best business class lounges available. Compared to Delta Sky Clubs in the U.S., which often feel crowded with limited food options, this should have been a major step up.

The Clubhouse itself is sleek and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the runways and a more refined dining setup than the buffet-style options found in most airport lounges. However, while the atmosphere felt elevated, the actual meal experience was surprisingly disappointing.

Since my flight departed in the afternoon, I had the option of ordering either breakfast or lunch. I chose lunch, expecting a well-balanced meal, but what I received felt more like a random assortment of uninspired items. The selection consisted of cold cuts, hard-boiled eggs, and macarons, which didn’t complement each other in any way. The eggs were bland and dry, the cold cuts not great, and the macarons felt oddly out of place. It was far from the premium dining experience I had anticipated.

Had I opted for the breakfast service instead, I might have had a more enjoyable meal, but considering this is one of the highest-rated lounges in the SkyTeam network, I expected more from the travel benefits. It wasn’t a bad experience, but it fell short of the luxury lounge dining I’ve had in other premium cabins. 

For a business class product at this price point, I would have liked to see a more thoughtfully curated menu rather than a collection of items that felt like an afterthought.

Boarding & First Impressions of the Delta One Suites Cabin

Boarding for Delta One passengers was efficient and well-organized, with business class passengers given priority access. Upon stepping onto the Airbus A330-900neo, I was welcomed by Delta’s cabin crew.

The Delta One Suites cabin is designed in a 1-2-1 layout, meaning each passenger has direct aisle access with plenty of room. What sets Delta One Suites apart from standard Delta One is the addition of a sliding door, which adds an extra layer of privacy, making this feel closer to first class than traditional business class.

The color scheme inside the cabin features dark blues and blacks, giving the business class cabin a sleek, modern aesthetic. The overall design felt elegant, but as I looked closer, it was clear that the plane was starting to show its age—particularly in the bathrooms, where paint was chipping, and certain surfaces looked worn.

Delta One Suites Seat Experience

Delta One Suites seats lie fully flat and have three main preset modes: lounge, relax, and bed mode. While the seat adjustments aren’t as flexible as some other business class products, the fully flat recline made for a very comfortable sleeping position.

Each seat comes with a universal power outlet and two USB ports, which makes it easy to charge multiple devices. The tray table extends from the armrest, and while it’s functional, it felt a bit small compared to other premium cabins.

One unexpected highlight of the flight was receiving a handwritten welcome note from the lead flight attendant. The note was written on London Heathrow Delta stationery, and it was a thoughtful touch that added a personal element to the experience. Although my husband and I have status with Delta’s SkyMiles program (Diamond and Platinum Medallion, respectively), we had never received a handwritten note before, and it made the service feel more personal and welcoming. Bonus points for that one.

Toiletries

Delta One Suites provides a well-stocked amenity kit for long-haul business class passengers, offering a range of useful in-flight essentials. While the contents remained consistent across my two flights, the packaging varied. Not the worst, but it was noticable.

Inside, the kit contained all the essentials for a comfortable flight: a toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, hand cream, socks, an eye mask, and a pen. The skincare items were a thoughtful inclusion, especially the hand cream and lip balm, which helped combat the dry cabin air. The eye mask was soft and effective for blocking out light, and the socks were a nice touch for added comfort while sleeping, though not the top-notch quality that I would have preferred. 

They also offered over-the-head headphones. They weren’t noise cancelling, though. If that is a priority, I’d suggest bringing your own.

Overall, while the packaging varied, the amenity kit itself was well-curated and practical, providing everything needed for a relaxing long-haul flight.

In-Seat Entertainment System

Delta One Suites includes a built-in entertainment screen with a selection of preloaded movies, TV shows, and music. The screen quality was crisp and clear, and the interface was easy to navigate.

There was a solid selection of recent films, including blockbusters and classic movies, and a range of TV shows to choose from. While some airlines, like Emirates and Qatar Airways, offer a more extensive in-flight entertainment library, Delta’s system provided plenty of options for a long-haul flight.

Delta also offers free Wi-Fi on certain aircraft, though connectivity on this flight was hit or miss. Streaming movies worked most of the time, but there were occasional lagging issues when trying to browse the internet.

Meal Service & Dining Experience

Unlike some airlines that offer on-demand meal service, Delta One Suites provides a menu for passengers to choose for their dinner service during long-haul flights, in addition to the option to preorder meals before departure.

For dinner, the meal service began with warm towels and a bowl of warm nuts before moving on to:

• Bread & butter appetizer
• Smoked salmon & salad starter
• Main course: Beef with potatoes

The beef dish was solid, though not particularly memorable. While portions were generous, the flavors were somewhat standard for a business class meal.

The highlight of the meal was Delta’s signature ice cream sundae cart, where I was able to customize my dessert with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and nuts.

Sleep Experience

One of the most important aspects of a long-haul flight in business class is the ability to get quality sleep, and Delta One Suites provides a solid sleeping experience. The fully lie-flat seat, privacy doors, and included bedding kit create an environment designed for rest, but there are a few areas where the product could be improved compared to competitors.

Lie-Flat Seat & Sleeping Setup

Delta One Suites seats fully recline into a lie-flat bed, which is essential for getting rest on a long flight. While the seat controls are simple and offer preset modes for lounging, relaxing, and full-flat sleeping, some have mentioned that the seat was firm and uncomfortable. I thought the seat was comfortable enough.

The privacy door certainly helped create a more enclosed sleeping space, reducing distractions from other passengers. However, because the door is only at head height and doesn’t fully enclose the suite, some light and noise from the aisle still filtered in.

For those who prefer window seats, Delta One Suites does a good job at offering privacy, but if you’re seated in the center section, you may still experience some movement and noise from other passengers nearby.

Bedding & Sleep Accessories

Delta provides a full bedding kit, including a pillow, blanket, and slippers, to enhance the sleeping experience.

The addition of slippers was a nice touch, especially for those who want to remove their shoes and walk around the cabin comfortably without putting on socks.

Overall, I thought the offerings were to be expected of the business class. Nothing over the top, but on the other hand, nothing to complain about.

Noise & Cabin Conditions for Sleep

In terms of cabin noise, Delta One Suites is quieter than traditional business class, but it’s not as enclosed as some first-class products. The engines on the Airbus A330-900neo are relatively quiet, and the seat design helps minimize noise from neighboring passengers, but I could still hear some activity from the galley and flight attendants moving around during service.

Another factor was the lighting in the cabin. While Delta dims the lights during the overnight portion of the flight, the seat’s privacy door doesn’t block out all the ambient lighting. For light-sensitive sleepers, using the provided eye mask helps, but I would have appreciated a more enclosed space to block out additional distractions.

Bathroom

One area where Delta One Suites fell short of expectations was the bathroom quality. While the lavatories were kept clean throughout the flight, the overall condition of the space felt dated. The paint was chipping in multiple areas, and some of the surfaces appeared worn, making the bathrooms feel less premium than what I would expect from a business class cabin at this price point.

The space itself was compact, similar to standard economy class bathrooms, without any upgraded touches like extra amenities or enhanced lighting that some other premium cabins provide. 

That said, the cabin crew kept the space well-maintained, and I never encountered an issue with cleanliness, even toward the end of the flight. However, given the price of a Delta One Suites ticket, I would have liked to see a more polished and refreshed bathroom experience that matches the premium branding of the cabin.

Must-Haves on Emirates First Class from SEA to DBX

You want for nothing on Emirates, but it’s still nice to come prepared for a long flight. My must-haves on any long flight include:

Eye Mask

My Amazon history says I’ve bought this eye mask 5 times, and it’s true – I give it as gifts to friends and family because it is so comfortable and functional. I don’t travel anywhere without it.

Headphones

Long flights need 2 kinds of headphones: lightweight ones and noise-canceling ones.

My favorite lightweight in-ear headphones are the SHOKZ OpenRun Pro 2. I’ve had several pairs and they are comfortable, don’t get lost on planes, and are good for working out as well as traveling – I can even spin and jump in these as a figure skater and they don’t fly off. The Pro 2 version came out with a “mini” size which is still too large for my head but better than the standard size.

My ears are sensitive to things pressing on them, so I don’t wear a lot of over-ear headphones, but for noise canceling, I go with the Bose 700 headphones. My husband has worn these for years and I frequently borrow his spare pair for flights. They effectively block out the noise while still being comfortable for hours.

Kindle e-Reader

I never travel without my Kindle, because there’s only so many movies I can watch before needing a break. I’m a big fan of audio books, so I switch between reading on my Kindle and listening to a book (sometimes the same book, sometimes a different one). As much as I love a physical book, there’s nothing more convenient for travel than an e-reader.

Delta One Suites is a solid business class product, but there’s room for improvement. While the lie-flat seat, privacy door, and service were strong points, the aging aircraft, small tray table, and lackluster pre-arrival meal stood out as areas where Delta could improve.

For those using SkyMiles to book business class award tickets, this route is a good option but not the most premium experience available.

Would I fly Delta One Suites again? Yes, if the price made sense. But for the same cost, I’d consider other premium business class cabins.

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