Delta Air Lines 767-400 Delta One Review – New York JFK to Honolulu HNL

With its breathtaking landscapes, invigorating hikes, tantalizing food scene, and the iconic Road to Hana, Maui promises an unforgettable experience. But traveling from New York City’s bustling John F. Kennedy Airport to the serene shores of Maui, Hawaii is an adventure in itself. My journey started with one of the longest domestic flights currently offered—from New York (JFK) to Honolulu (HNL). Let’s see what Delta Air Lines has in store for the over 11-hour flight from JFK to HNL in their Delta One cabin!

Don't forget to check out our epic Maui travel guide, and our ultimate 8-day adventure itinerary for Maui - the ultimate tools to plan your perfect Hawaiian adventure! Wondering about other ways to get to Maui or Hawaii? Check out our review of the reverse Honolulu to New York JFK in Delta Premium Select!

Booking

There are unfortunately no direct flights from New York to Maui. With around a hundred options, navigating the myriad of flight options from NYC to Maui has a crucial decision point: where to connect, and on what plane. The only way travel in a lie-flat seat with direct aisle access for the majority of the trip is by connecting in Honolulu or Atlanta. For instance, even if you snag a lie-flat seat for a flight from New York to the west coast, the following six-hour flight to Hawaii is in a standard reclining seat. To avoid potential delay or cancellation issues (which seem to be the norm these days), I flew New York (JFK) to Honolulu (HNL), and then took one of the many interisland flights from Honolulu (HNL) to Maui (OGG). With flexible dates you can find a pretty good price and value on Delta One, when compared to the alternatives on United and Hawaiian Airlines. Don’t hold your breath for a great redemption value of Skymiles though!

Points tip! Buying flights with any of the following cards earns 5 transferrable points per dollar spent, each worth about 2 cents per point (that’s 10% back!):

• The Platinum Card from American Express on flights booked directly with airlines or through the American Express Travel
• Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred (annual fee only $95!) on flights booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal
• Capital One Venture X Rewards on flights booked through Capital One Travel

Purchases through these cards also come with a mix of trip cancellation, interruption, delay, and/or baggage insurance which have definitely proved useful.

Ground Experience

JFK Terminal 4 has a dedicated Delta One check-in area, which made the start to this trip quite smooth when combined with Clear and TSA PreCheck. After getting through security, I made my way to Delta’s Sky Club in Terminal 4 Concourse B. Delta has a bit of a complex access policy—but flying Delta One provides access. The other common ways to access Delta Sky Clubs are through premium travel credit cards (like the Platinum Card from American Express, and Delta SkyMiles Reserve), club membership, or elite frequent flier membership when booked in a premium cabin. Keep in mind that starting in 2025, cardmembers will receive a limited number of visits per year. You can earn an unlimited number of visits by meeting a credit card spending threshold.

I chose the Delta Sky Club at JFK over the Centurion Lounge – it was closer to my gate and there was no line! It has lots of natural light, ample seating, and a good selection of food. Staff was frequently circling—restocking, cleaning, and checking on passengers. Overall a great experience even if the décor is a little dated, and seating a little worn. Unfortunately there was also a “service dog” barking and jumping on other passengers. I grabbed breakfast of granola, fruit, coffee…and champagne!  

Once close to boarding I headed over to the gate, where (surprise, surprise) I found out that they overbooked the flight. They were offering gobs of money to entice a few passengers to fly out the next day. If I didn’t have a full schedule or people to meet, I totally would’ve taken the fantastic offer.

Cabin

Stepping onto the airplane revealed a single Delta One cabin with 34 lie-flat seats arranged in a staggered non-angled 1-2-1 configuration. All seats have direct aisle access, and feel quite private despite not having doors. Grab one of the seats staggered further from the aisle for an even more private feel. Entering or exiting the seat feels a little narrow, and the bed feels quite narrow when lying down (I’ve heard references to a “coffin” before too!). The cabin has a fresh and clean design, rather than opulent or luxurious. Waiting at my seat was eco-friendly bedding (made from >100 recycled plastic bottles), artisan-made amenity kit, slippers, noise-cancelling headphones, and a water bottle. I grabbed my phone charger, stowed my bag, and settled in.

Dining

In-flight dining elevated the experience, starting with a pre-departure glass of sparkling wine. Once in the air, the crew offered a drink and mixed nuts before starting meal service. For lunch I had a poached shrimp starter with a yogurt sauce, and ravioli in a white wine butter sauce served with butternut squash and pumpkin seeds. Dinner was a refreshing strawberry salad with chicken breast, fruit, and triple chocolate chunk cookie. I’m not a huge fan of airplane food, but it was all reliably good.

Service

The flight crew was fantastic. Always personable with a smile, checking on passengers, and with well-timed meal service. US airlines sometimes miss the mark on premium flight service, but Delta’s crew delivered impeccably.

Tech

The Delta One seat was outfitted with an outlet, USB port, noise-cancelling over-the-ear headphones, and a wide selection of movies and TV on their generously-sized in-flight entertainment screen. I watched Michael Clayton during lunch, and fell asleep rewatching one of the Lord of the Rings movies. I didn’t use the WiFi.

Amenity Kit

Delta provided a sustainability-focused amenity kit from Someone Somewhere, complete with a dental kit, eye mask, earplugs, Grown Alchemist hand lotion and lip balm, pen, and slippers. It is a handcrafted, woven kit from the Mexico-based brand, whose mission is focused on empowering their artisans, the majority of whom are women.

Lavatory

The lavatory was minimal and clean, with Grown Alchemist products adding a touch of indulgence amidst the functional space.

Conclusions

Delta One offers a seamless pathway to paradise. From check-in to cabin service, every aspect of the journey exuded professionalism and comfort (even with the narrow bed). It’s a fantastic way to get to Hawaii from the northeast United States, and surprisingly cheaper than the competition. This flight definitely set the stage for the magical adventures awaiting me in Maui’s idyllic paradise.

Don't forget to check out our epic Maui travel guide, and our ultimate 8-day adventure itinerary for Maui - the ultimate tools to plan your perfect Hawaiian adventure! Wondering about other ways to get to Maui or Hawaii? Check out our review of the reverse Honolulu to New York JFK in Delta Premium Select!