Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
My Delta Million Miler flight – The planning & start of the run to Japan
My Delta Million Miler flight – TSA at Chicago O’Hare ORD Airport
My Delta Million Miler flight – Delta 777 Delta One Business class review to Japan NRT Narita Airport
My Delta Million Miler flight – Delta Gogo International Satellite Speed Review
My Delta Million Miler flight – 2016 Delta One TUMI Amenity Kit Black and Gray Review
My Delta Million Miler flight – Narita NRT Airport outside observation Deck
My Delta Million Miler flight – IASS Priority Pass Lounge Review NRT Narita Airport
My Delta Million Miler flight – Korean Air Lounge Review NRT Narita Airport
My Delta Million Miler flight – Delta Sky Club NRT Narita Airport near Gate 21
My Delta Million Miler flight – Delta Sky Club NRT Narita Airport near Gate 15
My Delta Million Miler flight – Delta 747 Delta One Business Class review from Japan NRT Narita Airport
My Delta Million Miler flight – Delta Million Miler Gift Choices & My Selection
My Delta Million Miler flight – Final thoughts of reaching one million miles with Delta Air Lines
After our very early AM flight out to New York we spent some quality time at the JFK Delta Sky Club. It really was nice and the Sky Deck was, for a while, just empty. What a way to start a day as an AVgeek staring at jets.
There are few travel days that are this good. Oh, and I was about to fly for 14 hours so after a visit to the XpressSpa it was time to board our 777 out to Narita, Japan.
Boarding was Delta’s best effort of creating less chaos than the mad rush to the gate that seems to be the best way to board a Delta jet. Sky Priority folks were sent to block most of the concourse one way. Delta One to block the concourse the other way. Zone 1 etc.. was sent to the right to block most of the seating area. If you fly Delta, you know it is this mess or the gate rush mess. Ah well.
I chose one of my favorite seats, that is, in the mini-cabin in the back just before coach. It has a much more PVT feel to me and has a bathroom nearby. I had the window and my flight companion Dave had the middle row seat that has a TON of personal space for storage of stuff. Let me just warn you these are the worst Delta One seats that Delta has. You cannot look out the window without a neck cramp. But they are still better than coach clearly. Speaking of coach, here is a quick peek into the Comfort Plus section right behind us.
Notice the massive leg room in the front row. This has a hidden downside as you will find folks using the area in front of you to cross over. Really frustrating. But back to Delta One.
We were offered “Champagne” that was not but Ca’ di Rajo Mito that runs under $10 a bottle or a mimosa. I decided on both since they were really small.
The welcome card was a nice touch but I was welcomed as Ms. de Lambert. Yeah, it happens (they at least got the seat number right on it).
We were given our Tumi Kit that I will break down and review later on as well as some slippers to enjoy (no PJs for this flight sad to say).
But this was a nice touch vs just the thin socks that are standard inside the Tumi kit. I was starting to feel ready to fly to Japan.
Then we had a bit of an issue. We were at the end of the runway, ready to power up, when we did not. We started to taxi down the runway (never a good sign). It wasn’t. We had to go back to the gate. You see someone had apparently, per the captain, loaded a bunch of dry ice in a shipping container next to a container with pets inside. It took about an hour back at the gate while they unloaded, changed things around, and reloaded a bunch of containers in the belly of the jet. Then we went back and took off for Japan.
Time for lunch / dinner selection. I decided to go for a mostly western option (you should request ahead if you want Japanese btw) with Five Spice Pork as my main choice.
First through was the wine cart that is a normal beverage cart that is covered with a black Delta One blanket to make it look less industrial. I chose a French red that was quite pleasant to pair with the appetizer.
The salmon starter course was nice and light but I prefer the prawns when they have them.
The soup and salad course was much better than it looks in the photos. Both were fresh and enjoyable.
Dinner was just OK. If I could sum it all up I would say there just was not enough of everything and the vegetables were a disappointment.
The dessert cart came around and I was not in the mood for a tart or ice cream so I went with a simple cheese plate and another glass of wine
We were the last to be served so the presentation was not as nice as seats 1A etc. (I would guess) but we could get some extra bits of what was left so that was nice.
Now this was a 14 hour flight that turned into almost 16 hours with our return to the gate so I settled in and got some work done, watched a movie and enjoyed a warm bit of sake (the FAs were very nice to warm it up for me). I know there are two schools on sake and one is that it should be ice cold but I like mine quite warm (am I crazy, you tell me).
After a few hours they came by with a mid flight snack that was REALLY nice. I am more of a savory guy anyway so this was just what I needed. The cheese spread in the little ramekin was to die for. That and the prosciutto was just perfect together. Num!
Just before landing a Frittata was offered but I had no room. Dave tried some and I will get a photo up later when he can find it in his phone.
Having never been to Asia before I have to tell you it was a thrill coming in over the island for the first time and I got even better views as we departed from my 747 Delta One seat that I will review later on.
This was a really enjoyable Delta flight despite it not being my favorite type seat. The service was outstanding and the food was good and despite the delay it went surprisingly fast. I was able to work, relax, nap a bit and due to our delayed arrival was ready for bed once we got to our hotel in Japan.
Next up a review of the Delta Gogo wifi speed both to and from Japan thanks to my non-Delta AMEX Platinum business card that includes 10 free passes each year that DO work both on domestic Gogo as well as international Delta Gogo jets. Let me tell you there was a striking difference. – René
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
I’ve done this flight, as well as DTW and ATL to NRT, a bunch. Why Delta doesn’t have pajamas is beyond me, especially with business-class Delta One airfares going for, at times, $10,000.
Did they run out of any food options?
I would have went for a white wine with salmon–your appetizer. Did you have the port with the cheese plate?
@Ex-FNT – Went with a coniac
Oh yeah, and comfort-plus 3x3x3 for 14 hours is brutal, even if it’s extra legroom. 2×2 wouldn’t be bad, but I always get a fat guy in the middle seat.
You need to get the Japanese options on the NRT flights. They are the best meals Delta offers. And it isn’t close.
7A/7D are the best seats. Tried both on a recent trip to HKG. I’m now of the opinion that those two seats are the best J seats on DL, period. 747 UD is close, but as a tall person the 777 has the longest bed and most foot room.
I usually use the comforter as a mattress pad, and request a red blanket from the back (since I usually get hot on planes). On the return HKG-SEA segment, the bin above me had a bunch of extra Westin blankets and pillows, and the FA said I could to take what I wanted. 😀
@William, great idea. I just flew this plane and really wanted to use the comforter as a much-needed pad, but did want a little something on top. I will use your suggestion on my flight home. Thanks.
And +1 for no pjs. I was surprised and disappointed by that. Pjs are one of my favorite amenities.
The faux wood trays delta uses to serve deltaone meals look cheap. They detract from the food and service which are both good.
Good review, Rene. By choosing the last row in J, do you ever get closed out of your “first choice” meal selection? On International, they always take meal orders from front to back, no matter whether the flight is even or odd. Also, I fly Delta One to Asia a lot out of ATL, and the Japanese meal is good, but much, much, much better out of Narita than out of ATL. The Japanese flight attendants will tell you the Japanese food out of Atlanta is not good Japanese food, but they like it out of NRT. I find the ice cream out of Narita is much better too, than from the states going to NRT. Just better quality. Period.
I have not been to Japan, but would rather fly Premium Economy on Virgin Atlantic to the UK than EC+ on DL.
I’ve never been that impressed with the Western catering at NRT.
I detest the worn out 777 delta is using to asia, the business class seats are small, hard, monitors are tiny..what a rip off compared to the 747 business seats. I fly this usa to narita for many years now first with northwest then delta and from various cities but i have changed now to china eastern thanks to john and adam at juiceymiles. New beautiful planes, half the 777 is business or first class and they do it right. Best meals ive ever had on any plane bar none. I wish you would try them. They are trying very hard to up the game!
Do you really feel that the 777 Delta One seat is worse than the 767 seat? Or are you not counting that?
@Clinton – Without question. I would take the 767 ANY DAY over the 777. And we are talking the old forward facing not the reverse herringbone ones. But that is just me.
hmmm, flying asian carriers may be nice as far as the service but pilot and safety-wise HUGE RISK!!