Hello! Welcome to my blog! In August 2023, I flew Delta Air Lines business class, Delta One Suites, from Haneda (Tokyo) to Atlanta. I am posting the experience. I hope you will find it useful for your next trip or to look back on your previous travel memories. Delta Air Lines has been my favorite airline since the days of Northwest Airlines more than 30 years ago. (Click here to find out why I used Northwest Airlines in the first place). I used to visit Chicago, once I lived, every year before the pandemic, but this became my first visit in 4 years since summer 2019.
Check in
Check-in at the Delta Air Lines counter in Tokyo Haneda Airport is available from 11:40 a.m. for all flights(Japanese page), and it is convenient to check in your luggage even you arrive there early. I realized that demand for travel was rapidly recovering and this situation surely would provide more options for a traveler like me!
Haneda TIAT Lounge
Since I checked in early, I decided to visit a lounge. I was informed at check-in that Delta Air Lines lounge access is only available 3 hours before the departure so I first used the Haneda TIAT lounge since it was a Priority Pass choice. The Priority Pass information only mentioned “Refreshments” (in Japanese site, alcoholic beverages and free drinks), so I thought there would be no food offered, but when I entered, I found that several food options are available such as hot dogs, yakisoba noodles, cup noodles, which I enjoyed. It was quite crowded and almost full. （Click here for more Priority Pass information）
Quoted from <http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Release/2007/Media_tRelease24432.cfm>
Tokyo Haneda Airport Duty Free
I had planned to leave the TIAT lounge and go straight to the Delta Air Lines lounge, but the walk there was longer than I expected (just a longer detour), and finally (lol) I made it to the Delta lounge after shopping at duty free stores.
The duty free stores include Bvlgari, Cartier, Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Hermes, Luis Vuitton, and Tiffany. I did not know those stores fully open already. (See what I purchased at one of the duty free stores from this page.)
Delta Airlines Lounge at Tokyo Haneda Airport
Original plan was to check in by 3:00 pm, have dinner at the Delta lounge, and relax until our flight in the evening. However, when I arrived at the Delta lounge, it was already less than an hour and a half before departure. Boarding starts about 45 minutes before departure, so I had no time to waste. Still, since I arrived at Haneda by 9:00 a.m., carried my luggage to temporary storage area, then visited Ginza, bought souvenirs for friends, then came back to pick up my luggage, checked in … I was drenched in sweat since it was August (extremely hot and humid in Japan).
I was planning to have a good night’s sleep in Delta One suites, ーー- but I thought I might not be able to sleep under this condition so as soon as I got at the Lounge, I asked at the lounge reception if I could use the shower.
The shower was available at that time and I was directed to the shower immediately after the lounge check in by the receptionist. This was my first time using the showers in the lounge and it was quite a pleasant experience. Not only were the facilities new, but they were well cleaned and pleasant to use.
The shower head large, and the water pressure was so high that a spray of water pervaded the shower stall, giving me the strange sensation of being in a mist sauna or a hot tub. I felt as if I were in a mist sauna or a bathtub. I felt satisfied as if I were in a bathtub even though I was not.
Shampoo, conditioner, and body soap were provided, and of course there were clean towels, and a hair dryer and a toothbrush. After I finished using the shower room, cleaning service was provided almost immediately.
I had known that Delta lounges in the U.S. were equipped with showers, but I had always thought, “Who needs a shower at the airport?” Indeed, I was so impressed by how wonderful the showers were at the airport.
Boarding
That’s right – the route to boarding was different from other classes. Please take a good look at the picture above – only Delta One passengers go to the left side. Other passengers go to the right side. (But it was only when they boarded. (When getting off, we all take to the same route.)
Delta One Suites
The seats are named Business Class, but they have the same specifications as the First Class seats a few decades ago. The A350-900 Delta One Suites seats have a door and as the name, “Suites”, indicates, each seat is almost completely private. The seats are designed so that odd-numbered rows of seats are right next to the window, and even-numbered rows of seats have a side table next to the window.
I like to see the view from the window, so I requested the third row, although I was offered the second row by the windows, which was the first row of the window seat, when I called. Although the front is considered the best seat on an airplane, this time I preferred a seat positioned right next to the window which I perfered. The design of the side table being closer at the aisle made it a little more private feel being away from the aisle, and it was easy for flight attendants to place my drinks there. (On the other hand, when serving meals, the flight attendants seemed to have a hard time because they had to reach further. I appreciated their service!)
The seats were very comfortable. The flat seat can be set up at the touch of a button, and there is a quilt and pillow for you to use whenever you like, so it was in perfect condition. When you put the seat flat, be careful not to get your legs, any luggage, or shoes you put on the floor caught in the moving seat. (I might the only one who panicked and returned the seat back a bit since my shoes and bag almost got caught in it. The size of the seat was wider than I had expected😅)
The monitor is 18 inches. Entertainment was plentiful, and I knew I would not be able to watch all the films/shows I wanted to, so I had a hard time deciding which ones I would watch in the short time I had (the flight duration was only 12 hours or so). The headset was also perfect, equipped with a type that covers the entire ear. The Headset and a bottled water were provided on the top shelf of my seat (right next to the headrest). You can always grab your water anytime.
The best thing about flying in this private suite this time was that I could leave my personal belongings at hand. In other seats, you have to put them under the seat in front of you or in the overhead bin. However, in this seat, I was able to leave my baggage on the table next to my seat where I could place my drink, or at my feet. I was never asked to put them away. Being able to pick up my baggage at any time during the flight, even during takeoff and landing, was one less thing to worry about, and I was able to spend my time in the cabin with a relaxed feeling.
In-flight meals
This time I chose the special meal, which was Japanese meal, at the time of booking. The reservation personnel of the Delta Airlines offered me the Japanese meal while I was making my flight reservation on the phone.
“Would you like me to make a reservation for the Japanese meal?”
Yes, please.
And that was the end of it. It was quite easy. I was told that the quantity of the Japanese dish is limited, so advance reservations are recommended! Refer this page for online reservation for the special meal.
I was simply very impressed with the food; even a simple appetizer could be seasoned in such a way with delicacy. The special order Japanese dish was created by Chef, Mr. Norio Ueno of a restaurant called “Ichiju Nisai Ueno”, who has won two Michelin starts. The pictures of the in-flight menu were inserted below:
The menu, all in one booklet in Japanese and English, included dinner, snacks, breakfast, and beverages.
First up were the usual snacks, mixed nuts. These were also delicious.
And then came the long-awaited Japanese appetizers… What a quantity, and what a beautiful presentation! Each of the appetizers was well thought out, but I was most surprised by the cherry tomatoes, which had a refreshingly sour flavor that I had never experienced before, still the sweetness of the ingredients was well utilized. （… I can’t describe it well, unfortunately…)
The main dish was Wagyu beef stewed with Hatcho miso (red bean past). The main dish as well as the accompanying vegetables were also delicious. And it was served with rice, soup and pickles.
The volume was plenty as well!
I also had dessert, but forgot to take a picture!💦 As for the mid flight snacks, the flight attendant told me that he would be happy to fix snacks anytime during the flight if I asked him. He emphasized that he would not wake me up if I was asleep, so I should ask him when I needed snacks. Since this time I booked a flat seat to sleep as long as possible during the flight, I did not try the snacks since I slept like a log during the flight. If I happened to be awake, I would have tried any of those since the the snack menu was very tempting including hot Udon noodles with duck, green onions, and so on.
For breakfast, I was asked for a choice after I woke up. I thought that this would be also included in the Japanese food request, but it was not. I asked for salmon, and it seems that this was the Japanese food choice. It was also delicious.
Unfortunately, Delta Airlines has a bad food reputation for the Japanese, but this time the Japanese food served was even better than I had imagined it might be, especially the appetizers, which were full of surprises. I felt that it was a wonderful effort by the Delta Airlines to be able to offer this taste of Japanese cuisine as in-flight meals. I don’t think the business class meals in the Northwest era up until about 15 years ago were that good.
Although U.S. airlines are undeniably inferior to the Japanese airlines in terms of the Japanese dishes and the detailed services, the Japanese food on this Delta flight departing from Japan was very delicious, and the Japanese hospitality of the flight attendants, who spoke native Japanese, made the flight a satisfying experience for the Japanese passengers like us. In addition, since the ticket prices are incomparable to those of the Japanese airlines, I would highly recommend Delta One especially to those who have not experienced it before.
(See this page for the Delta One reservation and price for this trip. )
See this page for the returning flight from Atlanta to Haneda
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