Review of Delta Air Lines flight Raleigh → Atlanta in Economy

I booked this trip for the sole purpose of this being a Boeing 757 marathon, since the 757 is getting less common as more airframes are retired. Delta has several passenger 757-200 configurations: the 75D (what you'll see here, standard domestic configuration, mostly original DL planes, a single Shanghai NTU frame, and a few ex-Northwest frames with registration format N5**NW), the 75H (same configuration as the 75D, but with ETOPS and different seats, all ex-Northwest with registration format N5**US), 75S (transcon config with lie-flat seats in Delta One, all ex-TWA), and the 75G (domestic config with different exit configuration, also used on flights to KEF, includes the last 757 built, all ex-Shanghai).

Delta App + ChecK In

Delta's mobile app is good enough. Online check-in was quick, and I got my boarding pass soon enough! I added it to my Google Wallet.

Not saying that this is Delta's fault, since all big 3 US airlines use this airport map system, but this map of RDU T2's check in counters is several years out of date (Alaska now flies from T1).

Raleigh-Durham Terminal 2

RDU T2 is a very nice and large terminal!

After a quick trip through TSA, I reached my gate, C1.

And, in comes my ride to Atlanta today, N6702, a 1999 built Boeing 757-232. This plane was delivered new to Delta in November 1999, and has been within the Delta family for its whole life. It was transferred to Delta's short-lived LCC Song in October 2003, before Song was merged back into Delta in May 2006, where ship 6702 has been since.

Boarding

This flight boarded via door 2L, as per usual for the 757. Before entering the plane, you can see Delta boasting about their awards and their free WiFi.

Screen used for displaying the safety video to bulkhead passengers.

Delta's "75D" features 20 first class seats of the Zodiac/Safran 6810 model. (Photo taken after flight).

There are 29 "Comfort+" seats (extra legroom economy), and 150 "Main Cabin" (economy) seats, where my seat for today is 38F. These seats are Collins Pinnacle seats, also found on the likes of Air Canada's 787s, and many more airlines and planes. If you can't tell by the window panels, this aircraft has been retrofitted with a new cabin design, mimicing the Sky Interior of the 737 NG, 737 MAX, and the 787. These seats are comfortable and they get the job done, even on longer flights.

Let's look inside this double-layer seat pocket! It has a safety card, a sick bag, and a guide for the entertainment.

IFE

The IFE on Delta Air Lines' "75D" is the Panasonic eX3 system, featuring the latest Delta software, known as "Delta Sync". It's named that because you can log into your SkyMiles account, and the "My List" feature, well, syncs to your account, allowing you to access your list on another flight, provided it also has the "Delta Sync" software instead of the older "Delta Studio" software.

There's live DirecTV onboard this 757! At least it's better than the United Airlines DirecTV UI, while it mimics the old DirecTV UI, it's a far worse experience. There's also a lot of movies and TV shows to watch!

Opening "My Flight" shows the flight time, route, the presence of WiFi, and the fleet number.

Scrolling down gives you a brief overview of the 757-200. The wingspan shown is for the winglet models, which ship 6702 is.

The moving map is Flightpath3D, which is one of my favorite moving map applications. It looks absolutely beautiful!

Departure

Looking out the window.

Safety video is screened.

And, we're off! I didn't take any photos on takeoff, though.

In-flight

First, here's the clean lavatory, complete with a blue water flush toilet.

Checking the progress.

Cockpit angle of the map.

Here's the free WiFi. It's not bad!

Time for the service! Water, coffee, tea, Biscoff cookies, and garden salsa Sun Chips were offered. I went for the coffee and Biscoff, a classic combo.

Here's the final form of the service, right before I ate the Biscoffs and drank the coffee. The descent started right after.

Arrival

Starting the descent into Atlanta.

Flaps down!

On approach.

And just like that, we're in Atlanta, 15 minutes earlier than scheduled!

Parking next to a 757-300.

One last photo of the 757.