The Seat: This Delta Airlines A319 shows us the silver standard of exit row seats. Plenty of legroom and all the seat width of a typical economy seat. That the tray table is in the seatback means there’s no pesky arm-rest tray eating up valuable seat width. So chow down on that mini-can of Pringles, there’s room for growth.

It’s Delta’s typical blue-leather covering the old NWA (Northwest Airlines) seats with plenty of cushion for extra comfort unlike the newer “slimline” seats that skimp on material but give the marketing department another centimeter of legroom to brag about. Until they’re able to switch these older style seats for something more economical, you should be pretty comfortable here.

Service: Frankly, I don’t remember and didn’t write anything down about the service. The most likely cause for the my customer relations amnesia is that it was anything but special. I normally give Delta decent marks for on board service, so I’ll assume that I was happy here.

Food: I grabbed the fruit and cheese tray from the “EATS” menu. It’s a decent snack with a few different types of cheeses, fruits and a caramel dipping sauce. The price is airplane-expensive but it’s a decent alternative to chips or tiny pretzels.

Summary: . It’s great to have an exit row seat that gives you the normal width of an economy and pretty great legroom. In flight wi-fi and a few extra food options on longer flights help to fill up and kill time. It would be a dream to one day see personal TV’s on these planes, but it’s the fattest of fat chances.

Rating: 3 hops (of 5).

Strategy: If you carry any level of medallion (elite) status, you can reserve exit row seats at the time of booking. Otherwise, show up early and ask nicely if there are exit row seats available. Row 9 is the only exit row aboard this one. Good luck!

Class: Economy

Book it!:

Just minor leg-angling required on the window in this aisle.

The Seat: I’m not sure where in the scheme of things I started to like leather seating. Luckily for me this aircraft sports Delta’s unnaturally shiny blue leather seats complete with pillowy headrest, personal fold-up video entertainment system and in this row, plenty of legroom for a mid-sized guy like me to stretch way out. While the  aisle seat is the king of legroom here, beware toe-smashing beverage carts and lavatory congregators. While neither posed much of a problem on this flight, it’s not unlikely that you could be hurt or annoyed at any given time. The window seat seems like a good option here despite the exit door slide compartment imposing upon some of that extra legroom. You’ve got the wall for leaning, a window to stare out of and fewer people doing the bathroom dance directly in front of you while you’re trying to watch 30 Rock.

Service: Friendly enough flight attendants, but unmemorable. I had to rely on my notes for this one and even then all I seem to have noted was “prompt beverage service”. From that, all I gather is that I was probably half in the bag not long after take-off.

Notes: Seats 30A & B are similar seats on the opposite window side of the 2-3-2 configured aircraft.

Summary: With Delta collecting cash for their Economy Comfort seats a little further toward the front of this plane, it’s nice to see they left  a few plain-ol’ exit row seats alone. Sure, there’s no extra recline, but the added legroom is a nice option for a few lower-level and non-elites to battle for.

Rating: 3 hops (of 5).

Strategy: These seats are available for Delta SkyMiles Medallion members in advance and released for everyone else at check-in. The best bet for non-elites is to arrive early and ask the gate agent if you weren’t able to choose them online or at the kiosk.

How I got it: Purchased outright at Delta.com.

Not much room to stretch out. View of 1D.

The Seat:Like in my review of aisle seat 3C in this first class cabin, the seats are aging and a bit cramped in regards to seat width. But now you’ve got Mr. Bulkhead to deal with (the bulkhead wall, that is). I guess Delta hopes that free booze and snacks will make you forget that you paid a grand (or pledged your loyalty to the airline) for a seat with less legroom than even a typical economy seat (and way less than the exit row).I see no upside to this other than that you’ll be off the airplane first…and you’ll likely want to be.

Service/Food/Drink: I got up  quickly to use the restroom and missed out on the alternate meal choice (a sandwich), so I wound up with the Buffalo chicken salad. I’m thinking it may have been the calorie gods at work. Although I did enjoy the peanut butter brownie. Mmmm…Peanut butter.

Summary: If you’re taller or wider, I say look into another flight using different aircraft if you’re flexible. If you’re stuck here, I’d say opt for a seat in rows 2 or 3. See my review of seat 3C for a closer look.

Rating: 0.5 hops (of 5). Our worst seat rating to date! Congrats Delta MD90! (Please note that our reviews are relative to class of service and this might have scored as much as a 2 in economy.)

Strategy: If you’re not a delta elite member (medallion), your best bet is to arrive at the airport early and check in at the kiosk. If no reduced price upgrade is offered there, they may be offered at the gate. For both elite and non-elite fliers, you’ll stand a better chance of there being room up front if business travelers aren’t present. Travel on weekends and holidays for best results. If this is the only seat left for purchased upgrade, I’d likely go economy…really. (But take it if it’s free…That peanut butter brownie is pretty good.)

How I got it: Delta Medallion Status and weekend travel. Used status to standby for a later flight that wasn’t as full up front.

The Seat:The seats are a little worn, and a bit smallish. While I fit fine here, I noticed more than one slightly larger passenger having difficulty getting situated in these slimmer seats that measure just over 19 inches wide (compared to say first class aboard Delta’s A320, which offers up a full 21 inches.)  Legroom is typical but avoid row 1 on either side as the bulkhead will force-feed you your own knees.

Delta MD90 parked at MSP

Service/Food/Drink: This was a quick trip with no meal service. Unlimited beverage and snacks were served and service was friendly. Nothing extra here.

Summary: If you’re taller or wider and can manage to get a different aircraft flying the same route, you’ll be better off avoiding this cabin altogether. 3C isn’t as unreasonable as anything in row 1, but won’t send you home bragging about your upgrade.

Rating: 1.5 hops (of 5).

Strategy: If you’re not a delta elite member (medallion), your best bet is to arrive at the airport early and check in at the kiosk. If no reduced price upgrade is offered there, they may be offered at the gate. For both elite and non-elite fliers, you’ll stand a better chance of there being room up front if business travelers aren’t present. Travel on weekends and holidays for best results.

How I got it: Delta Medallion Status and weekend travel. Used status to standby for a later flight that wasn’t as full up front.

The Seat: This version of Delta Airlines Business Elite is one that’s stirred up tons of discussion since it’s  introduction as the airlines first with flat-bed seating. The reviews have been mixed and I can understand why. The angling of the seats is a little awkward in my opinion. 14A in particular is one that you’ll have to recline a bit to enjoy the benefits of being next to the window. You’ll also be facing in a direction that forces you to stare right at other seats…Again, awkward. Legroom isn’t as generous as other versions of Delta’s business class but by no means constricting (for most). If you’re one of our tallest modhop friends, you may find the curvature of the seat compartment a little frustrating. When the seat is fully reclined in the lie-flat seat position, even I (at 5’8″) found the curvature of the seat at the bottom to be bothersome.  One thing I really liked about the window seats in row 14 is that they’re separated from the aisle by a coat closet, giving the seat a more private feel and a little extra table space to spread out. The same is true for window seats in row 7.

Service: In most cases you would be flying this aircraft overseas so you’ll enjoy the benefits of an expanded menu, full duvet/pillow and amenity kit. This was a domestic flight with service that was adequate but nothing extraordinary.

Notes: This seat has the benefit of being far from galleys or lavatories so traffic is very low. If the bulkhead is free of crying babies, (or crying adults)  it should be a quiet flight.

Summary: The privacy of this seat is great. The extra table space provided in these window seats comes in handy and the seat is quite comfortable in the seated position. The benefits of a true lie-flat seat are enormous if you’re trying to sleep but the smaller area for your feet gives it a tighter feel. Certainly not much of a problem if you’re an average height, but I can see it being a little uncomfortable for the tallest of us. A good seat, but research other carriers to see if there’s a better choice on your route. Trans-Pacific options like Cathay Pacific and Qantas are worth looking into. On trans-Atlantic flights, try Virgin Atlantic…Just a few suggestions (there are plenty more).

Rating: 3 hops (of 5).

Strategy: Look for these larger planes when connecting via the airlines hubs if you’d like to fly them on US domestic routes. In this case, we connected in Detroit en-route to Los Angeles. This is done to position the aircraft for overseas routes or continue on to international destinations (and you’re more likely to find a 767 than a 777).  These larger business class sections create more upgrade opportunities for elites and can mean purchasable upgrades for anyone else at the gate.

How I got it: Delta Medallion Status

Airline: Delta Airlines
Aircraft: Canadair CRJ-900 (CR9)
Seat: 1C & 1D
Class: First
Booking options (support modhop):

The Seat: First class, to many is the best thing that’s happened to regional jet travel since …well…Let me think of something good about regional jets and come back to that thought. Yes, it’s great that first is finding it’s way onto more of these aircraft but it’s hard not to think about the extra inch of seat width I had before the Comairs, SkyWests and Pinnacles ruled the sky (regional operators). [For those not "in the know", flights on these smaller jets are run by contracted companies using the name of the larger carrier that you think you're flying...but that's another column...or documentary.] All that said, this row is comfortable enough with 18.5 inches of seat width (about 2.5 inches narrower than a first class seat aboard an Airbus A319) and a reasonable amount of legroom for a bulkhead on any plane. Because of the bulkhead wall, you’re without under-seat storage, so you’ll have to store your carry-ons in the overhead bins for takeoff and landing.

Service/Food/Drink: Flight attendants were friendly and came around with the signature Delta first-class snack basket with Sun Chips, Biscoff Cookies, peanuts, Twix bars and a few other fun-sized items. Beverages were complimentary and everything was served with a smile…sometimes forced, but a smile nonetheless.

Summary: If you’re a bit over 6 feet tall, I’d suggest trying another row but legroom was decent for a bulkhead. Quick boarding and deplaning always a plus but hardly matters with such a small aircraft. Also, if you’re traveling solo you might rather sit in the “A” seat, as it’s both a window seat and on the aisle. Row 1 is a good bulkhead with a good amount of legroom and standard seating for a regional first class plane.

Rating: 3 hops (of 5).

Strategy: If you’re not a delta elite member (medallion), your best bet is to arrive at the airport early and check in at the kiosk. If no reduced price upgrade is offered there, they may be offered at the gate. For both elite and non-elite fliers, you’ll stand a better chance of there being room up front if business travelers aren’t present. Travel on weekends and holidays for best results.

How I got it: Delta Medallion Status and weekend travel.

The Seat: This configuration of the 757 is where I first realized the benefits of a good exit row seat back when it was a TWA aircraft. I was not sitting in this seat at that time. 36F is a bit confining and could prove to be painfully uncomfortable if you’re next to (or are) a “passenger of size“. In this case I lucked out with an empty middle seat…a rare occurrence. Seat width is eaten up by having both your personal video screen and tray table in the armrest. In addition to all this, you’re stuck behind the dreaded exit door slide, partially boxing you in from the front. While not as bad as other confining exit doors, it can still be uncomfortable having to angle your legs to stretch them out on longer flights.

Service: Delta keeps their transcon (New York/Boston – Los Angeles/San Francisco) service competitive by offering in-flight wi-fi, personal video units and an enhanced EATS menu. Stacks up nicely against other legacy carriers (American, United) in economy but lacks some of the extras found aboard newer airlines (Jet Blue, Virgin America). Flight attendants were cordial but seemed to be a bit rushed throughout the flight.

Notes: This economy section is split just before this row by a pair of lavatories. There are fewer seats in the rear section of this cabin giving it a more exclusive feel and could even be a bit quieter than up front.

Summary: This seat and it’s cross-aisle equivalent (34A) aren’t the best choices but certainly tolerable if don’t mind slightly angling your legs for a few hours. The most glaring advantage might be that you’re able to stand up without bothering your neighbors.

Rating: 2.0 hops (of 5).

Strategy: Only Delta Medallion (elite) passengers can reserve these seats in advance but you can request them at the airport. Get to the gate early for your best chance. Being first in line helps if you’re requesting otherwise unavailable exit or bulkhead seats.

How I got it: Delta Medallion Status

The Seat: I ‘ll agree with seatguru.com on this one. It’s well deserving of their “green” rating for this aircraft with extra legroom and a full recline. The only real drawback is it’s distance from the boarding door. While you may be allowed to board earlier, you’ll be waiting a while longer to get to your next flight. You may want to avoid it if you’ve got a tight connection.  The normal exit row cautions: Because of the exit doors these get cold during flight and if you’re not willing, able to help in an emergency… or under 15, You can’t sit here.

Service: Got a great crew on this flight. The flight attendant kept referring to their oddly shaped snack boxes as a “fez” (or some other type of hat). Short flight with friendly attentive service. Above average.

Notes: These aircraft were some of the first outfitted with in-flight wi-fi. Worked well and kept me entertained.

Summary: Where premium economy seats are concerned, there’s not much to choose from on the MD-90. Also, be very careful when choosing exit seating as there is no recline in the 3 rows in front of this one (25, 26 and exit row 27). And again, if you have a tight connection choose something closer to the front if it’s available. [Not yet reviewed by modhop: Seat 10C looks promising if you can get it.]

Rating: 3.0 hops (of 5).

Strategy: Delta Medallion (elite) members have first access to these seats but they can be requested at the gate. The only other seat we cautiously reccomend on this aircraft other than seats in row 28 is seat 10C which is a bulkhead seat and must be requested at the gate. (but only 10C! the other seats in this row are standard seats with reduced width). SkyTeam Elite members and elite members of other specific airlines (such as Alaska Airlines) also have first crack at these premium seats.

How I got it: Delta Medallion Status.

The Seat: 36A aboard this Delta 747  is rated as a premium seat on most seat-map sites like seatguru.com. Being a skeptic, I was anxious to see how much space I would find between the seat and the exit row slide…You see, I’ve been burned before. In fact, the video seat reviews that we regularly obsess over were inspired by the time I found myself stuck in 19F on this Delta 757.   I was happy to find that  this seat was NOT close enough to the exit slide to be a nuisance, although it might be of slightly lesser value to someone much over 6′.  There’s a small gap between the exit slide and row 35 so if you can do so without bothering the person in 35B, You’ll have all the advantages of an aisle seat as well as a window seat. Speaking of the window, You’ll have to turn your head just slightly further to see outside but not difficult. Movies aren’t easy to view from this seat. There’s a projection screen on the bulkhead wall to your right that you can see at an angle, but it’s difficult to sit in that position for any amount of time. Until Delta makes improvements to the in-flight entertainment we recommend bringing your own entertainment.

Service: Meals were served and help was provided in a friendly and timely manner. Nothing more or less than I could have hoped for.

Notes: At the time of this post Delta has begun re-fitting these aircraft with new slimline seats that will provide slightly more legroom in economy the new design. The new seats will be upholstered in Delta’s signature blue leather and fitted with personal TV/Entertainment systems with movies, games, maps and audio. Until the installation is complete you’ll experience the older Northwest Airlines era cloth seats with limited audio and shared movies overhead.

Summary: It appears that row 35 in seats B,C,H & J are superior seats with added legroom and easy aisle access and might be a better first choice. That said, 36A is a very good economy seat and the room around it gives it sort of an exclusive feel (and by that we’re not implying it’s anything like being in Business Class). It should also be noted that this and it’s opposite, 36K are the only seats in this row with extra legroom so if you’re traveling with (and sitting next to) a companion, one of you will be in a normal economy seat.

Rating: 4  hops (of 5).

Strategy: Delta Medallion (elite) members have first access to these seats but they can be requested at the gate. If you’re not a medallion level member try getting to the gate early and requesting something in row 35 (Seats B, C, H or J only) , then 36A and/or K if those aren’t available. SkyTeam Elite members and elite members of other specific airlines (such as Alaska Airlines) also have first crack at these premium seats.

How I got it: Delta Medallion Status.