Delta's New Non-Stop JFK to Mumbai Starting 11/1 - Any Info?
 

I have just heard of this new route starting 11/1. Does anyone know of any details. I did read that flight would be about 16 hours. OUCH. Anyone know of flight times? Details of planes? We fly out of Atlanta so I don't know if flying the 2 hours to NY and then 16 hours to Mumbai would make it worth it vs. the ATL -FRA then FRA - BOM. Although it would be easy to go up to NY the day before, visit friends, have a good nights sleep in same time zone and then make one brutal push all the way to India.

No specific travel plans yet just starting to think about the next trip

If you took the time to look at www.delta.com, you would find the following:

9:20pm
JFK 10:10pm
BOM

Nonstop
<b>14 hr 20 min</b>
Delta 16
<b>Boeing 777</b>

YUP! Took about 5 sec. I've got alot of time on my hands tonight!

Some of us airline/aircraft enthusiasts are eager to learn if DL's 777 can make the westbound trip non-stop with full passenger load, especially in winter. I have my doubts. BOM-&gt;JFK will likely have the longest flight time by a 777-200ER, surpassing Continental's EWR-&gt;HKG flight.

Well, here's a few notes about it:

1) Delta has served Bombay for years, but with a stop in Paris. The route goes non-stop for the first time this November.

2) The plane is a 777, and the flight actually begins in ATL, so you'd be on a 777 the whole time, and since it is the same flight number, if one flight is delayed, the other flight waits for it (so you wouldn't have to worry about missed connections).

3) The flight over is 14 hours, which would save a few hours vs. connecting in Europe.

American has been doing a similar run for almost a year with its nonstop 777 Chicago-Delhi flights: 15 hours eastbound, 16 hours westbound. I want to make the trip, but that much time in coach without a chance to get off the plane? That's what's making me lean toward an itinerary with a change in Europe.

Delta was my airline of choice up until 3 years ago. I now fly AA 3 to 4 times a month. I'm familiar with the ORD to DEL route and have heard first hand comments re. this flight from friends. I'm also familiar with the roll out of AA's new business class.

Does anyone know what Delta has planned for their BE class of service? I've always enjoyed BE, but find that it does not compare to the Asia/Australia carriers business product. With Delta beefing up their international routes and longer haul flights - I'm just curious if BE will get a makeover?

I could handle this flight in Business or First Class, but in Economy, &quot;You got to be kidding.&quot;

I know, everyday around the world, thousands of poor souls kid themselves by flying standard economy on routes like:

LAX-BKK
JFK-BKK
EWR-HKG
JFK-HKG
ORD-HKG
YYZ-HKG
EWR-DEL
ORD-DEL
LAX-MEL

Is walking around Frankfurt airport for a few hours really that great? I also think it might be better but this is what I ask myself. I know people do these long hauls on the Pacific journeys.

I don't think I would want to do a trip that people are skeptical the plane could do.

Anyway, always fantasizing about a better/easier way to get to India.

sfmaster - If the plane can't make BOM-&gt;JFK non-stop during winter time with strong headwind, they'll simply make a fuel stop, most likely at Gander, Newfoundland.

Fuel stops aren't uncommon and has nothing to do with safety. For example, Cathay Pacific's LAX-&gt;HKG often stop at Seoul or Taipei in winter time.

Interesting route, but i would say no thank you....Delta's service is pitiful!!!! I would do the stopover in the UK or in Europe rather than do this painful long flight on DELTA!!!

Hari

Just a follow up to the question I posed earlier on this thread. I read in the local paper today that Delta will be revamping their BE service to include Delta's version of a lay flat seat, on demand video, etc. Delta will begin with the 777 (2009) fleet and then move on to the 767 fleet.