I’ve traveled between the US and Japan nearly each means one can, from Japanese airways like ANA and JAL, to US carriers, to Singapore Airways, whose LAX-NRT service is admittedly a relic of a bygone period.
Nevertheless, till a number of weeks in the past, I had not flown Delta to Tokyo. Properly, at the very least not in enterprise class, which for my part is the perfect barometer by which to match one airline to a different. I took a number of flights in economic system and premium economic system; they have been good, however nothing to put in writing dwelling about.
Whether or not you’re severely considering taking Delta One to Japan or simply weighing your many choices, I do assume you’ll need to proceed studying.
Why Delta One Evaded Me for So Lengthy
I assumed my Delta One Tokyo would by no means occur. I’m before everything somebody who flies in enterprise class with the help of frequent flyer miles. I’ll clarify extra about this because it pertains to Delta in a number of paragraphs, however suffice it to say, it’s not sensible to guide Delta One utilizing miles. On the identical time, money fares (particularly to Tokyo) are usually so exorbitantly priced that I merely assumed I’d by no means be capable to fly Delta One, at the very least to not Japan.
Then, a humorous factor occurred. I used to be searching round on Google Flights at some point in June 2024, and realized that I might fly Delta enterprise class to Asia (into Tokyo, out of Taipei) for lower than $4,000 round-trip—which, for Delta One to Asia, is fairly reasonably priced. I found I might get it $500 cheaper by way of Amex Journey by utilizing my Platinum card and…properly, the remainder is historical past.
5 Issues to Know Concerning the Delta One Expertise
It’s aggressive
I can’t lie: I used to be unhappy that my flight from Detroit was ending because the aircraft descended over central Tokyo, regardless that the views on that clear, August day have been nothing in need of excellent. From the superb suite-with-a-door, to the superb (if not good) service, to the truth that I managed to get a number of hours of sleep in combination, the perfect points of Delta One are in least in hanging distance of flights on ANA or JAL.
(However not cutting-edge)
Alternatively, the door on Delta’s enterprise class suite is simply not as thrilling because it should’ve appeared again within the late 2010s, to say nothing of how mediocre its meals was. That is particularly acute taking Delta One from Japan (or, in my case, to Japan), contemplating how wonderful the washoku choices on each of Delta’s native opponents are. Total, Delta One doesn’t really feel prefer it’s pushing any form of envelope.
It’s unique
Excluding American’s 787-8 and Delta’s personal A330-900 (which flies to and from Seattle), the A350-900 that flies on the DTW-HND route affords probably the most intimate enterprise class cabin, with simply 30 seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, unfold over a single cabin. This leads to the general expertise feeling extraordinarily unique, even when each particular person facet of it doesn’t.
(And costly)
Flying Delta One to Haneda can frequently price you $5,000 round-trip, and that’s when you’re comparatively fortunate. I’ve seen flights priced at $8,000 and even $10,000, which is loopy provided that Delta One is a enterprise class expertise not a primary one. Choices for reserving with miles are sadly not any extra reasonably priced, as I’ll clarify in larger element in simply a few paragraphs.
Different choices are (in all probability) higher
As I discovered to be the case evaluating my return flight from Taipei with native airways in Taiwan, I really feel like Delta One might be inferior to ANA and JAL if all different components are equivalent. That is actually the case with JAL, whose “outdated” Apex Suites product is principally simply an early model of the Delta One Suites. With ANA it’s murkier, nonetheless; it’s 2010s enterprise class seat is actually displaying its age, even when the meals and repair will definitely finest Delta’s.
How Many Delta Miles Do I Have to Fly to Japan?
Just a few years in the past, whereas planning a visit for a consumer, I used to be shocked to study not a lot that she and her husband could be flying Delta One, however that they might be paying with miles. “We’ve been saving for years,” she informed me excitedly, “virtually a decade truly.” They usually wanted to have carried out so. By my calculation on the time, it could price them shut to 2 million (sure that’s 2,000,000) SkyMiles to fly round-trip to Tokyo.
The dangerous information? Aside from extraordinarily uncommon flash gross sales and even rarer capability on companions like Air France/KLM and Virgin Atlantic, flying Delta One to Tokyo will nonetheless price you round 1,000,000 SkyMiles per particular person for a round-trip. The more serious information? Delta, like all airways, decreases the worth proposition of its frequent flyer program over time. So at some point, this would possibly truly seem to be an excellent deal, comparatively talking.
Different FAQ About Flying Delta One to Japan
Does Delta fly to Narita or Haneda?
Though Delta inherited a connecting hub at Narita Airport when it merged with Northwest Airways in 2008, it has since moved its whole Japan operation to Haneda Airport. Notably, Japan is the one US airline that doesn’t break up its flights between Tokyo’s two airports; the Haneda Delta SkyClub might be my favourite one on the earth.
What cities in Japan does Delta fly to?
As of September 2024, Delta’s solely Japan vacation spot is Tokyo-Haneda, or HND. Prior to now, nonetheless, Delta has flown to Osaka (KIX) and Nagoya (NGO); within the latter occasion, it was the one airline to fly nonstop between the mainland US (specifically, DTW) and Nagoya.
Is there a Delta lounge in Tokyo?
Sure! In reality, the Delta SkyClub at Haneda Airport’s Terminal 3 might be my favourite lounge in the complete Delta system, and likewise the perfect non-first class lounge at HND. To entry the lounge, you have to be flying enterprise class on Delta or one other SkyTeam airline, to have elite standing on Delta or one other SkyTeam airline or maintain the American Specific Platinum card whereas flying Delta.
The Backside Line
Delta One to Japan is nice, however in a market served by a few of the world’s finest airways, I’m undecided that “nice” is sweet sufficient. The Delta One product, to make sure, is just not almost as cutting-edge now because it in all probability appeared in 2019. Then there’s the large premium one must pay to fly Delta enterprise class within the first place—whether or not you purchase the ticket outright or guide with factors, it’s important greater than most different airways cost. Fortunately, regardless of the way you select to succeed in Japan, I can make certain your journey is unforgettable when you land. Rent me to plan a customized Japan itinerary at the moment!