By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further. Flight Summary Delta provided a solid flight experience on this small narrow body jet and AeroMexico provided a terrible lounge experience on the ground in MEX. Pros-Good legroom and seat width for economy, large overhead bins, good in-flight snacks, USB power plug at each seat, updated bathrooms. Cons-Poor Service, Poor Lounge Experience. A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Report A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Overview Delta A321 DCA-ATL Review Delta Boeing 737-800 Economy ATL-MEX Review Hilton Mexico City Reforma Review Exploring Mexico City Delta A319 Economy MEX-ATL Review Delta A320 Economy ATL-DCA Review Aeromexico Salon Premiere Since we had no bags to check we headed straight to the AeroMexico lounge after clearing security. It was difficult to find the AeroMexico lounge since the only signs we saw after security were for the American Express lounge. After searching for a few minutes we looked up and saw the entrance sign for the lounge on the second floor. All of the lounges in Terminal 2 are on the second level above the departure gates. Once we found the lounge we also ran into another issue, we could not find an elevator to the second level. I found it to be ridiculous that there was not an easy to find elevator since many passengers are carrying luggage. We ended up having to climb what seemed like a long flight of stairs to the second floor with our luggage in tow. AeroMexico really needs to improve the ease of finding and accessing this lounge. The Salon Premier lounge is the lounge for customers flying in AeroMexico's business class called Clase Premier. Christina and I had access to the lounge via my Priority Pass membership. Once we found the lounge we were given a very cold greeting by the check-in agent. He did not say hi or welcome when he saw us. I handed him my electronic Priority Pass card and he asked for my boarding pass which I let him know was also on my phone. After a few minutes he let us into the lounge. AeroMexico's staff really were not friendly at all which was a significant contrast with our amazing experience at the Hilton Mexico City Reforma and throughout our stay in Mexico City. Entering the lounge on the left in a very dimly lit area were newspapers and a wall with clocks showing times from cities around the world. The lounge was very loud with lots of boarding calls, loud conversations, and a soccer match playing on TV. The lounge had two bars one when you entered and one to the right of the entrance at the far end of the lounge. We walked through the lounge looking for seating and ended up in a much quieter area. This area near the Desertika Spa had red chairs in the center with lamps next to each chair and several semi-private areas to the side with eight black chairs each. While we were sitting here I was surprised that the spa was fairly busy with consistent traffic throughout our time in the lounge. At the rear of the lounge near the second bar was an area with a wide selection of alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic drinks and some snacks. The drink selection included a number of Mexican beers such as Bohemia, soft drinks, bottles of juice, and large containers of water. The food selection at this lounge was pathetic. They had celery, mini-carrots, tortilla chips, and cold ham sandwiches. During our time at the lounge they also brought out some warm mini-hot dogs which were terrible. On the positive side we saw one person ask the staff to bring a drink order to his seat and the staff member did so. However, staff members were difficult to find and in our room took about 20 minutes for a staff member to clear plates. Finally, the lounge made boarding announcements which were loud and nearly incomprehensible because of a muffled microphone. Overall, this was a poor lounge experience. Even if you have complimentary access through Priority Pass I would recommend grabbing some drinks at this lounge and leaving. I was surprised that this is the ground experience that AeroMexico provides to its business class passengers. Boarding We exited the lounge and headed towards our gate 53 for our flight to Atlanta. Terminal 2 is the newer terminal at MEX and is the home of all Delta and AeroMexico flights along with flights on AeroMar and Copa. I was impressed by the modern look of the terminal which was well lite with light emanating from what looked like polka dots throughout the ceiling. As we walked to our gate the terminal was really warm something I did not like. Boarding started eight minutes late. Check-in agents held up signs to start boarding for the business class cabin something that I had never seen before. Because of our discounted economy tickets we once again boarded in Zone 3. Plane and Seats This was my third Delta plane type on this trip and it was surprisingly solid for a A319. Generally, the A319 plane is used for short haul flights so the approximately 3 hour journey from MEX-ATL was on the outer limits of a comfortable A319 journey. However, I found this A319 to be a lot more comfortable than American Airline's version of the plane. We were seated in row 13 and despite boarding the plane in Zone 3 there was still space in the overhead bins since this plane featured the new larger overhead bins. The seats are about an inch wider than most of American Airlines A319 seats and the plane felt like it had more legroom and better pitch (space between middle of two seats). The plane also had shared AC power plugs beneath the set of seats in front of us. Because we were seated in row 13 one row behind Comfort+ (Delta's extra legroom seats) the Comfort+ seats in front of us had a convenient extra pocket which was nice for storing a phone. One additional feature that I appreciated on this plane was the updated bathrooms. There were two bathrooms at the rear of the plane which featured touch-less faucets a nice feature which I wish American Airlines would install on more of their planes. Our flight ended up departing six minutes early but we taxied for about 40 minutes. I am not sure what caused this delay or if it is a typical experience at MEX but it was quite frustrating. Despite the extending taxi on the runway we ended up arriving eight minutes early which indicated to me that Delta a long taxi is normal on this route and Delta plans the scheduling accordingly. In-Flight Entertainment The A319 featured touchscreen in-flight entertainment (IFE) at every economy seat. This entertainment screen was very responsive unlike the one on Delta's 737-800. The IFE also featured a lot more options than the 737-800 and had a USB charger below the screen. My one disappointment was that the Live by Dish did not work on this flight. I wondered if this had to do with the fact that we were outside of the U.S. but even as we approached ATL it still did not work. Meal Just like my flight from ATL-MEX this flight featured a meal service something which is not typically offered on Delta's flights to/and from Mexico. As I mentioned in my ATL-MEX review I suspect this has to do with Delta's partnership with AeroMexico which has its hub at MEX. The flight attendants came around with a choice of Biscoff cookies and a snack mix to start. I chose the snack mix and Christina chose the Biscoff cookies. This time for a meal we were offered a choice between a turkey sandwich and a fruit and cheese plate. Since I chose a sandwich on the last flight I chose the fruit and cheese plate this time and Christina chose the sandwich. Both came with a Minion sweet roll as desert and my cheese plate had three slices of cheese and some grapes. Overall, the fruit and cheese plate was a solid snack but certainly not a meal as it was advertised. Christina found her sandwich to be more substantial but average in taste. I appreciate that Delta serves a "meal" on this flight at all but I would not come into this flight hungry. Service
On my four flights with Delta this trip I saw both the highs and low of Delta's service and I would consider this flight a low. While I thought the flight attendant working first class was friendly and even came back to help clean up near the end of the flight. I thought the flight attendants working economy were not friendly. One flight attendant in particular was impatient with passengers. One passenger asked her what the meal options were and she grew frustrated at him and said give me a minute to regroup before she gave him the two options. Then later on as she served another passenger she said thank you for actually knowing the options and not asking me. I just found this to be a rude attitude to have with passengers just asking her a question. Take Away Overall, this was a solid flight on this Delta narrow body jet and a terrible experience at the AeroMexico lounge. After this flight I appreciated the additional overhead bin space, legroom, seat width, updated bathrooms, and inflight snack despite the poor service. I would recommend flying Delta's A319 on this route but spending as little time as possible in the AeroMexico lounge.
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By ChristinaChristina writes and edits Travelling Companion. Her writing covers expeditions, food, and culture for the blog. A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Report A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Overview Delta A321 DCA-ATL Review Delta Boeing 737-800 Economy ATL-MEX Review Hilton Mexico City Reforma Review Exploring Mexico City Delta A319 Economy MEX-ATL Review Delta A320 Economy ATL-DCA Review For Ramon’s 30th birthday, we celebrated by visiting his 30th state Louisiana. My 30th was just a few months after his, and I was not sure how I wanted to spend it. Ramon was a hawk, looking for last-minute flight deals when Mexico City popped up. I have never been to Mexico City, but I have multiple friends who raved that the city is great. Food? Check. Art? Check. Culture? Check. Night Life? Check. So arming ourselves with a few suggestions for places to visit, we booked my 30th birthday weekend trip to MXDX. Here are some of the best things we saw and did on this quick trip: Hemiciclo a Juarez Right outside our hotel was a monument to a past Mexican president, Bendito Juarez. History nerds that we are, Ramon and I happily learned a lot about this amazing man throughout this stay. President Juarez pops up in murals, buildings, and music while walking the streets of Mexico City. Bendito Juarez was an indigenous president from Oaxaca who led Mexico through their Liberal Reform and the French Invasion. Palacio de Bellas Artes The Palacio de Bella Artes (Palace of Fine Arts) is best known for its striking architecture, along with Diego Rivera’s Man, Controller of the Universe. The original version, Man at a Crossroads, was in New York City but was destroyed by Rockefeller because of the anti-capitalism message. It is hard not to be taken aback by this piece. Ramon, who is not as enthusiastic about the arts as I am, really enjoyed taking in the mural, discovering various historical and symbolic aspects. I recommend going to the Palacio de Bella artes when it first opens. By the time we left, the place was taken over by various school and tour groups. Zócalo Zócalo is the main city square in Mexico City, the country’s version of the National Mall, but a deeper history. Zócalo was the main square during Aztec times and is now where the majority of national government business convenes. Aztec roots are not forgotten.You will find street performers dancing traditional Aztec dances, wearing traditional Aztec garb, and providing spiritual offerings and/or cleansing for a few pesos. They are definitely worth a few minutes of your time to stop and enjoy some culture. Attached to the Zocalo is the Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, Templo Mayor Museum, and the National Palace. Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral Ramon and I did a quick walk through the Cathedral, as we knew we had limited time in the city. Similar to the other cathedrals, inside you will find various chapels dedicated to various saints, along with a crypt where archbishops are laid to eternal rest. The most striking thing from this stop was learning the Spaniards used sacred ground from the Aztecs to build the church. Before entering the cathedral, there are two large glass windows on the ground that show the archeological dig of the Aztec holy ground. Templo Mayor For the Templo Mayor, I suggest carving out a half day. This is an archeological site of the main Aztec Temple. It is breathtaking. I recommend either bushing up on Aztec history or going with a tour guide. I feel like we may have missed some important aspects of the temple. At the end of the archeological site is a beautiful museum where you can walk through the various artifacts from the dig. A worker from the museum asked if we would like to have a personal tour guide. We took him up on the offer, and so glad we did. He made the history come alive while we looked at jewelry, bones, and codex writings. Best part, it was free! We only went through the first floor of the museum since we already clocked four hours in Templo Mayor, and had to keep going. Warning: There are multiple human skulls on display, mostly from human sacrifice from the Aztecs. It is sobering, but a real part of human history. Palacio Nacional The Palacio Nacional (National Palace) has two main attractions in addition to its unique architecture. Diego Rivera has another mural describing the history of Mexico. There is also a small museum where you can walk through the rooms occupied by President Juarez, and learn more about his remarkable life. What kept us longer at the Palacio Nacional was a group of high school kids dancing Ballet Folklorico. Ballet Folklorico is a type of national folk dance, and each state has its own specialty. Seeing the dancers was a great reminder of just how size and diversity of Mexico. Each group danced their local folk dance for the tourist, and they were fantastic. Miralto After a long day in the main square, Ramon and I decided to take it easy for a nice long dinner at Miralto. Miralto is located in the Torre Latinoamericana and was a suggested stop from Ramon’s cousin for the uncompromising views of the city. The views did not disappoint. We scheduled ourselves to be there just before sunset to watch the city turn from day to night, and we were memorized of seeing the city breathe full of life. The food was forgettable; there are way better places to eat in the city. I recommend getting a drink at the bar for these views, without needing to pay for entry to the observatory, and skipping the food. Plaza de La Solidaridad Across the street from our hotel is a small plaza called the Plaza de La Solidaridad (Plaza of Solidarity). During the day, it is an open air shop, where local people are selling food, clothes, and gadgets. This is a perfect place to stock up on gifts, and to try out some street food. At night, this plaza comes alive with a local band, and some of salsa dancing. Ramon and I joined the party, hoping to dance off a few extra calories, before heading in for the night. Diego Rivera Mural Museum Similar to President Juarez, Diego Rivera is everywhere. This museum is a few feet from our hotel, and finishing up restorations. We squeezed this visit in before heading to the airport. Because it was not in its full glory, the cost to get in was waved. The only piece open to the public was Rivera’s most famous painting, Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in the Alameda. Another complex piece, it would have been helpful to have someone or something walk us through the painting. It was overwhelming and beautiful. Overall, seeing the city made two things clear. 1. We were correct in focusing in one district for the first visit. 2. We need to return. Some hardest parts to handle were, the size of the city, the number of people in the city, the air quality, and the altitude. Mexico City is very large. Overlooking the city from Miralta, I felt overwhelmed knowing I could never discover all of Mexico City. The city also has so many people within the borders. It is home to roughly nine million people within the proper city limits, and close to 21 million people in the greater urban area. Walking the streets can feel suffocating, especially for someone who has claustrophobia. One quiet time when we were able to enjoy the city without the sea of people was early in the morning on Saturday and Sunday. On these mornings the street in front our hotel, Avenida Juarez was closed to cars. We watched numerous people walking and biking up and down the street without a car in sight. Mexico City can also suffer from poor air quality, and it is high in altitude. By the end of the first day, I knew we could not push ourselves the next day, and was happy to partake in hotel amenities.
All that being said, Mexico City has a spirit, unlike any other city. Ramon and I fell in love with Mexico City. The people are warm and welcoming, the culture is comfortable, and the city is beautiful. We have so much more we want to see, guaranteeing our return. What do you recommend for us to visit on our next trip to Mexico City? By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch, your travel dollars, miles, and points further. Hotel Overview This was an impressive hotel with an amazing location, delightful staff, and an affordable price. It was the nicest Hilton I have ever stayed in. Pros-Centrally located in Mexico City's historic district, very friendly staff, affordable price, amazing views of Mexico City, indoor and outdoor pool, spectacular food at El Cardenal Restaurant. Cons- Poor Check-In Process, Overpriced food at Los Dones. A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Report A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Overview Delta A321 DCA-ATL Review Delta Boeing 737-800 Economy ATL-MEX Review Hilton Mexico City Reforma Review Exploring Mexico City Delta A319 Economy MEX-ATL Review Delta A320 Economy ATL-DCA Review Location Because Mexico City is big (573 square miles) and this was Christina and my first time visiting Mexico City we decided that we needed to pick a hotel that would allow us to tackle one area of the city. We are both history lovers, so we thought the best place to start would be the Centro Histórico. We picked the Hilton Mexico City Reforma to burn through some Hilton Honors points. This hotel is walking distance to many major historical sites including the Zocalo, Palacio Nacional, Templo Mayor, and the Palacio de Bella Artes. We found the location to be an amazing jumping off point to Centro Histórico, and allowed us to throughly enjoy Mexico City. Check In We took an Uber from the airport. The ride was 30 minutes, and 116 pesos (~$7). As we exited the car we were greeted by friendly staff who opened the doors for us as we walked in. The amiable staff was a trend that would continue throughout our stay. I was immediately impressed with the lobby which had high ceilings, a mural, an assortment of couches, and a lobby bar. Behind the lobby bar were floor to ceiling shelves with pottery and to our left of the entrance was the concierge desk. This certainly didn't feel like any Hilton I have stayed at before. We walked up to the check-in area and saw all of the desks were occupied. After a short wait we were greeted and asked if we would like to conduct the check-in process in Spanish or English. We said that it did not matter to us confident that our Spanish we had practiced only a few months before in Spain would be sufficient. However, this was a mistake since the check-in agent spoke really quickly which meant we had to ask her to repeat herself several times. We generally are able to handle speaking in Spanish as tourists and did so throughout our trip but learned our lesson to ask to speak in English during check-in and check-out process. Outside of the language barrier the overall check-in process was very confusing and I believe was made worse by the fact that our check-in agent was new. Hilton has a cool feature which allows Hilton Honors members to pre-select a room using the app 6 am the day before check-in. We used this feature to select our room, however, the agent let us now that the room we pre-selected was no longer available but she had secured us an even better room also on a high floor. The agent also tried to up sell us by asking us first if we wanted to pay extra 200 pesos (~$11) for access to the pool and gym and then if we wanted to upgrade to a room on the executive floor which came with breakfast, a larger room, and lounge access. I found the first offer strange since I had never stayed at a hotel where pool access was not included in the rate. We contemplated this offer since we really wanted pool access but ended up declining both offers since we thought it wasn't worth it to pay extra for amenities or a larger room on our short weekend stay. However, later on when we went back down to the lobby and were told that access to the pool was included. I am not sure if this was something that was lost in translation, which would be our fault for not asking to complete the process in English, but it really made for a confusing check-in process. Room I was nervous that we would be given a room with a view of the adjacent building and not one with a view of the city, like the one we had pre-selected. However, once we opened the door to our room the fear completely disappeared. The room was full of light and had a sweeping view of Mexico City. From our room we could see the Palacio de Bella Artes, Torre Latinoamericana, and the Palacio Nacional. The view was so impressive that every time we came back to the room I would spend a few minutes looking our over the city. I was amazed that we got such a great room given that Christina did not have Hilton elite status. The room came with a king bed, dresser, flat screen television, and a desk. I found the bed to be very comfortable with a perfect balance between hard and soft. One thing that the room lacked was sufficient plugs, an issue I run into in many hotels. The bathroom had a mirror above the sink along with a hair dryer. The bathroom amenities were the Hilton standard Thomas Roth and included lotion, shampoo, conditioner along with a shower cap. The bathroom also had two complimentary bottles of water which we appreciated since we walked a lot around the city. There was also a tub shower combo along with a movable rainforest shower head and great water pressure. We ran into one issue with the shower door not always closing correctly but overall the bathroom was nice. One word of caution the shower/tub combo has a large step up which I could see causing issue for older adults and people with limited mobility. Dining The Hilton Mexico City Reforma has three restaurants the Terrace Restaurant, Los Dones, and El Cardenal. The Terrace Restaurant was located on the sixth floor and had floor to ceiling glass windows, and beautiful views of the city. Unfortunately, we did not get to the try the restaurant because it was closed the day of our arrival, and again on our second day for a private event, and finally completely closed the morning of our departure. We were really hungry after our flight to Mexico City and did not want to venture too far. We decided to have dinner at the hotel. El Cardenal was already closed so we decided to try Los Dones and this was a mistake. The first sign this was a poor choice was that on a Friday night the restaurant was empty. The atmosphere continued to disappoint from the decor to the lack of views. As we sat down at the table and looked at the menu and it was really boring. We came to Mexico City to try authentic Mexican cuisine and the menu did not cater to this. We asked our friendly waiter for a wine menu and he said that they did not have one but if we asked for a type of wine he would bring us a bottle. Later on when we got the bill I realized that one reason they may not have a wine menu here is to hide the expensive prices. The bottle of Malbec we ordered cost 600 pesos (~$32) which is unheard of in a city as affordable as Mexico City. We could have stomached this better if the bottle of wine was good but it was terrible. To make matters worse as we sat and waited to order there was a fly in the restaurant. I ordered the short ribs and Christina ordered sea bass. On the positive side the short ribs were good but not actually short ribs and the sea bass was good even though it had a bit of a spicy kick. Finally, we ordered chocolate ice cream which was delicious. But, how could you go wrong with ice cream? Overall, the food was okay but expensive by Mexico City standards, and the wine was terrible and also expensive. I would recommend skipping this restaurant if you stay at the Hilton Mexico City Reforma. Despite the disappointing first meal we decided to give another restaurant in the hotel, El Cardenal a try. El Cardenal is a local restaurant with a few locations across Mexico City and focused on authentic Mexican cuisine and Mexican culture. We were told that their was a 10 minute wait when we arrived at the restaurant. Their were numerous locals waiting as well, which was very good signs of what was to come. As we waited we perused the Mexican art El Cardenal had for sale, and admired the charming Mexican portraits on the wall. When we sat down we were impressed by the table setting which included napkins branded with the restaurants name. We were greeted by an very friendly waiter. He was the definition of a good waiter always there when you needed him but not hovering. We then embarked on what can only be described as a Mexican culinary adventure trying a wide range of authentic Mexican cuisine. I ordered hot chocolate and it was fantastic. I love hot chocolate and I would go as far as to say at this was the best hot chocolate I had ever had. I believe the hot chocolate was made with real milk chocolate and I could have 10 of them. Next the friendly staff came by with a tray full of Mexican sweets called pan dulce. The pan dulce was rich and flavorful, and obviously made fresh that morning. For our main dishes I ordered the cordero (lamb) and Christina ordered the lengua (beef tongue). The staff also brought us fresh bread, which was excellent and tasted like baguettes, along with corn tortillas. The food came out very quickly and my dish came in a clay pot. The cordero was cooked in a clay oven and surrounded by leaves for flavor. I was really impressed by the freshness of all of the food and the commitment to authenticity of El Cardenal. My one complaint was that the meat came out a little overcooked but overall I still enjoyed the cordero. When I finished my hot chocolate I ordered some mango juice. Wow was it good! The mango juice was so fresh that it tasted like it was just picked from the mango tree. Christina's lengua came with nopales (cactus) and avocado. She really enjoyed her meal and cleaned her plate. In total our meal took about 45 minutes and we were so sad to end what was a truly a toast to some of the best cuisine Mexico has to offer. Even if you don't stay at the Hilton Mexico City Reforma I would strongly recommend that you try out El Cardenal. Amenities The hotels amenities included a gym, pools, and a spa. All of these amenities were located on the sixth floor. We did not use the gym, but peeked inside. It seemed to be a large and well equipped gym. We did call to ask about spa prices and were blown away by the high prices we were quoted so never tried the spa. After we cleared up the confusion around the additional fee for the pool we headed up to the sixth floor on our final day in Mexico City to utilize the pool. The hotel had both an indoor pool and an outdoor lap pool. We utilized the indoor pools for several hours and it was clean and a lot of fun. The outdoor lap pool was next to the Terrace Restaurant and enjoyed nice views of Mexico City. Christina was disappointed that she did not have hear googles to enjoy a few laps in the pool. Service
The staff at the Hilton Mexico City Reforma were delightful. They were friendly and provided great service. Everyone at the hotel seemed to take service seriously. As we walked throughout the hotel, the employees greeted us and had smiles on their faces. One day as we headed towards the elevator a staff member who was headed to the lobby saw us heading towards the elevator pressed the button and held open the elevator doors for us. These small gestures were really appreciated. The only complaint we had was that the concierge was always busy with other guests. Overall, it really seemed like the staff at this hotel actually enjoyed coming to work and were proud to deliver good service. Take Away Despite our initial mix up at check-in and the poor meal at Los Dones this hotel was very impressive and definitely the best stay I have ever had at a Hilton. The location was amazing, the staff were very friendly, the indoor pool was fun, the food at El Cardenal was fabulous, and the room offered an great view of Mexico City. Even better the hotel is affordable and standard rooms regularly go for under $140 a night during April. It is an amazing value for such a good hotel. If we did not have points expiring, we would have gladly paid the full cash to stay at this hotel. I strongly recommend the Hilton Mexico City Reforma, especially for first timers to Mexico City. By RamonRamon is the creator of Travelling Companion. He focuses on flight review, hotel reviews, and helping stretch your travel dollars, miles, and points further. Flight Summary This flight showed Delta's product at its worse and that the airplane you fly matters on Delta. Pros-Conveniently located power plugs, mood lighting. Cons-No USB power, bland food, old and poorly functioning in-flight entertainment system, and barely functional in-flight messaging. A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Report A Weekend in Mexico City Trip Overview Delta A321 DCA-ATL Review Delta Boeing 737-800 Economy ATL-MEX Review Hilton Mexico City Reforma Review Exploring Mexico City Delta A319 Economy MEX-ATL Review Delta A320 Economy ATL-DCA Review Boarding As we got off of our flight from Washington D.C. we headed straight to our gate at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL) since our flight was departing in about one hour. Boarding began about 15 minutes late. Once again we boarded in Zone 3 since we bought deeply discounted tickets and did not have Delta elite status or a Delta credit card. Because this aircraft had much smaller overhead bins that the last one and we boarded in Zone 3 we were forced to check our bags at the gate. When we got on the plane it was packed and all of the overhead bins seemed to be full. This is one big reason why for those who travel often it can really help to have elite status and for those who fly even a few times a year it is worth it to sign up for your primary airline's credit card. Boarding ended up taking a long time as the flight attendants made multiple announcements but were not helpful in clearing the aisle quickly for boarding. We ended up departing seven minutes late due to the slow boarding and delays loading luggage. Plane and Seats As we settled into our seats for this roughly three and a half hour flight I once again enjoyed the mood lighting which this time was also paired with nice boarding music. However, in general these seats were not as well padded as those on the previous flight and the interior of the plane was significantly older. One positive feature of the seat was the placement of the shared power plug. Instead of underneath the seat the plug was located on the rear of the seat in front making it much easier to access. We were seated in seats 20A and 20B which were right at the wing and obstructed some of our view but I still enjoyed the view from the wing on a clear day departing ATL. In-Flight Entertainment and Messaging The in-flight entertainment (IFE) system on the plane was very old. I found it very difficult to use and it took forever to scroll through selections. This aircraft offered live-TV from Dish network which I had not noticed on my flight from DCA-ATL. However, it did not function at all during this flight. Also, as I looked through the IFE selection they were significantly fewer options than were offered on our last flight. On a side note when we finally got the IFE to work Christina and I watched the movie Detroit on this flight. While it was a good movie it was very intense and not the kind of movie which I would recommend watching on a flight 😀. In 2017 Delta rolled out complimentary in-flight messaging which allows you to use data messaging services such as I-Message, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp free in air. When I heard about this I thought it was a cool new feature but this flight was my first time using this feature. A few things to keep in mind the service does not allow you to send pictures or video only text and emojis. As I used the service I found it extremely slow and barely functional. It took a long time to send and receive even simple text only I-Messages. While I appreciate that Delta offers the service at all I really think they have a long way to go perfecting the service and I wouldn't plan on engaging in long text conversations on a Delta 737-800. Meal Most Delta flights to Mexico on U.S. carriers do not serve a meal so I was surprised when I found out that Delta serves meals on the ATL- Mexico City International Airport (MEX) route and did not know what to expect. My suspicion is that they serve meals on this route because their joint venture partner AeroMexico, in whom Delta has a 49% stake, operates its largest hub at MEX. When meal service began a choice between sandwich and a fruit and cheese plate. I chose the ham and cheese sandwich and Christina chose the fruit and cheese plate. The fruit and cheese plate included crackers, grapes, and three types of cheese. The fruit and cheese plate was fairly boring and not filling. It was much more of a snack than lunch. Christina thought the best part of the meal was the Ghriadelli Sea Salt Chocolate which was included on the side. The sandwich included ham, cheese, and a tomato. The sandwich was bland and basic. My favorite part of the meal was the apple on the side. I appreciated the fact that we were offered meals on this relatively short flight but overall the meals were small, bland, and had me wishing I was able to stick to my original AeroMexico since Aero Mexico serves hot meals and tequila on flights over three hours. We touched down in a very foggy Mexico City and I was excited to start exploring the city.
Take Away After a great flight from DCA-ATL this flight demonstrated the inconsistency in Delta's product across different aircraft. As I have also said about American Airlines the aircraft you fly really matters and the same principal applies on Delta. This aircraft was old had a poor IFE system, barely functional in-flight messaging, and no USB power. While I appreciated that Delta offered a meal it was small and bland. I would only recommend flying Delta to Mexico City on 737-800 if you are able to score a great deal like we were, otherwise try to avoid this aircraft and try some of Delta's newer aircraft. I really hope that I will be able to try out AeroMexico next time I go to Mexico City. |
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