Gte439u From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 359 posts, RR: 2 Posted (8 years 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 7159 times:
December 16, 2004
Stuttgart, Germany to Atlanta, Georgia
Delta 117
B 767-300ER
Flight time: 10:29
Seat: 20G
On December 8, I flew from Atlanta to Brussels, and then I traveled through Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Switzerland to Stuttgart, Germany. It was a pleasant vacation, and a joy to drink much 'vin chaud' or 'gluehwein' depending on the side of the Asatian border.
On Thursday, December 16, I took a taxi to Stuttgart Airport from my hotel in a nearby suburb. As I am Medallion on Delta, it only took a few minutes to check in for my 1140 flight, and I was out of the line by 0930. Therefore, I walked around Terminals 1, 2 and 4 of Stuttgart to pick up some timetables, drink an espresso and read the Financial Times.
It only took a few minutes to clear the first security check, and then another 10 minutes to clear the second one for Delta’s flight to Atlanta. After that check, I passed through German immigration, and then entered the waiting area at Gate 110. If you a leaving the EU at Stuttgart, you should be aware that here are not any shops or restaurants after the exit controls.
At 1050, the agents called for Business Elite passengers, and then Medallion got to board at 1100. The agents rechecked my passport, and took my passenger information card.
I was among the first to board in coach.
My seat was located in the forward mini-cabin, which was quite cozy.
My seat, 20G, was an exit row, and it had plenty of leg room.
Delta’s B767 fleet does not have individual entertainment systems, so one had to watch one of two screens.
However, my inflight entertainment was limited to Magnus Mills’ The Scheme for Full Employment and the Condor and Lufthansa timetables.
After putting my bags away, I took a photo of a Lufthansa 737.
At this point, the captain greeted us. He informed us that the headwinds were exceptionally strong today, so our flight would take 10:25 minutes rather than the normal 10 hours. He also said that we would travel on a more southerly course, rather than a more typical routing over Greenland and Labrador.
As we pushed back on time at 1140, I snapped this photo of a Lufthansa 733 that had just arrived.
We taxied to the runway, and were number one to departure. The takeoff roll took about 30 seconds on that cold German morning.
Initially we climbed to 34,000’ as we flew west over Strasbourg to Paris. The crew quickly began to serve drinks, and I paid $4 for a bottle of Chilean Merlot to have with my lunch of pesto tortellini, a small green salad, a roll and an unidentifiable moose.
During lunch, the crew started The Bourne Supremacy, so I took a break from my reading to watch it on the monitors. I have to say that The Bourne Identity was much better, but the sequal was still a good way to waste two hours.
After the movie, we just cruised over the North Atlantic for what felt like hours on end.
The crew did come by with water periodically during the flight, and served drinks and peanuts about four hours before landing.
Ninety-minutes before arrival, the flight attendants offered mini-pizzas, cookies and drinks again. They also passed by twice with coffee and tea.
Approximately, 30 minutes before landing (1600 EST), we began to descend over the Smokey Mountains.
We flew south of downtown Atlanta and then turned for landing to the east at 1630 EST.
I was one of the first off of the airplane, and I passed through immigration, customs and boarded the MARTA train in less than 30 minutes.
Pensacolaguy From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 535 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (8 years 2 weeks 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 6722 times:
WOW, your trip report has brought back some memories when I flew STR-ATL back in the summer of 1998, with DL. Our flight had to land in Banger, Maine because we didn't have enough fuel. And I remember sitting on the cramped seats for 11+ hours, being bored out of my mind. Great pictures, to bad you didn't board via the air stairs though. Hope you had a great European vacation.
Polarair747 From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 7 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (8 years 2 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 6379 times:
Nice report with excellent pics too. I'm flying DL 65 MAN-ATL 11 may so anymore info about their inflight service would be appreciated. Keep up the great work!
Reifel From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 1132 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (8 years 2 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 6355 times:
Great report, I loved the pictures too!
Can you tell us what was the approx. passenger load on your flight?
I flew once with DL from JFK to STR, 767 too... Summer 92 if I remember right... There was a stop in BRS those days.
Contact Air From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 1154 posts, RR: 14 Reply 9, posted (8 years 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 6286 times:
Great report and very good pics as well! According to the replies, quite a few people have already travelled on this route. No wonder it seems to be quite successful.
Quoting Gte439u (Thread starter): After that check, I passed through German immigration, and then entered the waiting area at Gate 110. If you a leaving the EU at Stuttgart, you should be aware that here are not any shops or restaurants after the exit controls.
Good point - I also think this is a great disadvantage at STR (my home airport, by the way). Especially for flights with special security checks like DL or (to a smaller extent) BA, you have to be at the gate early. So people would have plenty of time to spend some money in shops or snack bars, but unfortunately there is nothing available.
CO2BGR From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 558 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (8 years 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 6232 times:
Quoting Pensacolaguy (Reply 4): Our flight had to land in Banger, Maine because we didn't have enough fuel.
Its spelled Bangor, and suposed to be pronounced "bane-gor" not "bang-er" like almost everyone does thats not from around here. The New York area is particularly bad.
"Flight 2269 going up to 'Bang-her'" ..... um no.
There are too many self indulgent weiners in this town with too much bloody money" Randal Raines- Gone in 60 Seconds
Gte439u From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 359 posts, RR: 2 Reply 11, posted (8 years 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 6211 times:
Quoting Polarair747 (Reply 7): Nice report with excellent pics too. I'm flying DL 65 MAN-ATL 11 may so anymore info about their inflight service would be appreciated. Keep up the great work!
Delta's service on international flights can best be described as efficient and typical of that offered by other US carriers. You'll have to pay for alcohol, there will be a choice of main meal and a snack before landing. I've seen the crew pass through the aisles with drinks, but usually they stay in the rear galley. I usually go to the rear galley to in flight to get an additional drink. It's always fun to chat with the crew there too.
Quoting Reifel (Reply 8): Can you tell us what was the approx. passenger load on your flight?
I'd say that the flight was at least 90% full, with almost all seats in Y taken. I did not get a look at J, however.
Remember that I took this flight only a week before Christmas, so there were many travelers going to visit family abroad.
Gte439u From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 359 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (8 years 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 6218 times:
Quoting Contact Air (Reply 9): Good point - I also think this is a great disadvantage at STR (my home airport, by the way). Especially for flights with special security checks like DL or (to a smaller extent) BA, you have to be at the gate early. So people would have plenty of time to spend some money in shops or snack bars, but unfortunately there is nothing available.
I was very disappointed by the lack of shops or food. I had 7 Euros left in coins that I was to spend on a coffee and magazine. However, the only options by Delta's gate are a Coke machine and a snack machine. It seems like the airport could set up an espresso to take the last euros of those leaving the Eurozone.
DAL767400ER From Germany, joined Feb 2005, 5721 posts, RR: 50 Reply 13, posted (8 years 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 6035 times:
Nice report, always appreciated to see it with some photos in it.
Quoting Pensacolaguy (Reply 4): Our flight had to land in Banger, Maine because we didn't have enough fuel
That happens a lot on that route. I remember from an article in AeroInternational that the ATL flight either has to leave luggage behind or refuel at BGR, because of a combination of the runway lenght, the mountain in the vicinity and unfavorable winds.
Tommy767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 6171 posts, RR: 9 Reply 14, posted (8 years 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 5376 times:
NICE REPORT! I liked the pics!
I recently flew on a DL 767-300 MCO-ATL in the last row (47.) This plane was a domestic 767 so there were not as many mounted LCD screens and the coach seats were very worn.
Overall great pics!
"Folks that's the news and I'm outta here!" -- Dennis Miller
Intothinair From Germany, joined Mar 2005, 392 posts, RR: 2 Reply 15, posted (8 years 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 4854 times:
Nice pictures and a great report.
Seems like the ATL-STR route is successful.
Delta seems to fly to quite a lot of destinations in Germany, FRA, MUC, STR, and now also TXL.
RwSEA From Netherlands, joined Jan 2005, 3014 posts, RR: 2 Reply 16, posted (8 years 1 week 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 4628 times:
DL seems to be one of the most recognized carriers in Germany, and they've historically had a great presence there. Let's hope they consider some new cities, such as HAM or DUS in the future.
Great report. I've always enjoyed DL's transatlantic service. I like the fact that the 767's have very few middle seats. Hopefully I'll get to do another transatlantic with them soon. Glad you had a good experience as well.
Gte439u From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 359 posts, RR: 2 Reply 19, posted (7 years 11 months 3 weeks 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3673 times:
Quoting AirWales (Reply 18): Dont know if it is me but the interior of the plane looked really dated?!
The interior was dated, but comfortable enough.
Be on the look out for an ATL-MSP-PDX-NRT-PEK report with pictures in the next few weeks. I'm flying Kashgar-Urumqi-Beijing-Shenzhen on China Southern next week, and I'll post pics of that trip as well.
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