Flight Review: Delta Air Lines 747-400 Economy Class from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

(Flown on March 7, 2017)

This is the final report covering my trip to Miami back in March. This report covers the last flight of the trip, from Detroit to Tokyo with Delta Air Lines. Just like my flight from Tokyo to Detroit, it was operated by a 747-400.

Small Hick-up with Seat Selection Before Leaving Miami

A couple of days before this flight, I was upgraded into an Economy Comfort seat – a seat with increased seat pitch. The only problem was that it was a middle seat, as there were no more aisle or window seats left in Economy Comfort.

When I tried to change it back to my initial economy aisle seat, it was gone. The regular economy cabin only had middle seats available as well. At least according to the online seat map.

Luckily, one call to Delta Air Lines solved it, and I was reassigned an aisle seat in the main economy cabin, 31G – the same seat I had on the flight to Detroit a couple of days before.

Boarding the Flight in Detroit

After arriving in Detroit from Miami on an MD-88 at 11:06AM, I had just enough time to peek into one of the Sky Clubs before having to catch the flight to Tokyo which was scheduled to board at 11:39AM for a 12:34PM departure.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

The 747 will always be the Queen of the Skies to me!

I left the lounge around 11:40AM, and headed to gate A50. It was just a three minute walk away.

Soon after I got there, boarding announcements started to be made.

“We would like to invite passengers taking flight 275 to Tokyo with a continuing service to Manila…”

Now, the 747 flies to Tokyo and there passengers change onto a 767 to Manila. Until a couple of months ago, though, the extension to Manila was operated by the 747 as well.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Gate A50 area shortly before boarding.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Our aircraft waiting in the rain.

First, passengers requiring assistance were invited, followed by business class passengers. Then, it was turn for Sky Priority passengers, and so I got in the line, and in no time, I was stepping onboard N670US – the same 747 that brought me in from Tokyo some days ago.

I settled into my seat where blanket and pillow was prepared for the long flight, and waited for the boarding to finish.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Stairs leading to the upper deck.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Unfortunately, my seat was on the lower deck.

While transiting, I saw a husky in the terminal. It turned out that the dog was traveling to Tokyo with us, and it was seated in front of me. It was incredible how well behaved it was – not a single bark throughout the 12 hour flight. I wish all passengers were like that!

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

The MBP – Most Behaved Passenger – of the flight.

Around 12:20, the captain addressed the passengers, mentioning that we would be taking off from runway 22L, and that the flight time would be 12 hours and 23 minutes. Following that, the cabin crew distributed earbuds, eyeshades, menus, and slippers.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Earphones, sleeping kit, menu.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Slippers.

Departing Detroit

At 12:34, the doors were closed, and a minute later we pushed back. At that time, one of the cabin crew members approached the passenger with the dog handing her a note addressed to her dog from one of the ground staff, telling how the dog was well behaved and wishing it a good flight – how nice!

Ten minutes after the aircraft doors were closed, they were disarmed again, as we had some minor technical issue that required the maintenance staff to come onboard. Thankfully, the issue was resolved, and at 12:54 the doors were armed again and we got on our way to the active runway.

Ten minutes later, we started our long take-off roll on runway 22L, and at 13:15 we lifted off into the cloudy Detroit skies.

In-Flight Service

Some minutes after take-off, an announcement was made that the meal service would commence soon, and that peanuts would not be served on the flight due to a passenger with peanut allergy being onboard.

First, the crew handed out warm wet tissues. Japanese immigration forms followed.

At the same time, there was another announcement from the flight deck mentioning that the skies were a bit bumpy, and so it would take another 20 minutes or so for the seat belt sign to be switched off.

Before the meal was served, a drink (in my case, cranberry juice) and pretzels were served. While waiting for the meal, I watched an episode of the Big Bang Theory.

Once the seat belt signs were switched off at 2:06PM, I also went to take a look at the wing through the R2 door window.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Pretzels and cranberry juice.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

View through the R2 door window – it can’t get much better than this.

The meal itself got to me about an hour and a half after take-off. There were three choices. Chicken with ratatouille, fish with rice, and vegetarian pasta. I went with the chicken which turned out to be a fairly good choice.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Menu for the flight.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

My choice – chicken breast with ratatouille.

The Rest of the Flight

After the meal trays were cleared, in preparation for sleeping, the crew distributed 0.5l bottles of water. I watched some more episodes of TBBT, and fell asleep.

I slept for almost five hours before I was woken up by my neighbor, as the mid-flight snack service was being done. It consisted of a piece of pizza and a Magnum ice cream. While I did not mind it at all, I can imagine some passengers being irritated if they were woken up by their neighbor because of a light snack being served.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Mini pizza and ice cream bar.

By this time, it was about 10:00AM Japan time, and so I decided not to go back to sleep, and instead do some writing. At this point, the cabin was freezing.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Five and a half hours left.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Airshow.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Economy class during the flight.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Time to put down some words for KN Aviation.

Another hour or so later, I was getting tired again, and so I slept for about two hours again before waking up just as the breakfast service was starting.

There were two options to select from for breakfast. Cheese omelet with sausage and potatoes or omurice (Japanese style rice covered with egg). I chose the omelet and went with cranberry juice for drink.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Breakfast.

After the breakfast, I started working on this report and went to take a look at the wing once again. I will really miss the distinctive 747-400 wing and the view from door number 2 once the Jumbos are retired!

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

One last wing view before settling in my seat for landing.

Landing in Tokyo

At 2:55PM, the crew passed through the cabin collecting any remaining garbage. Then, they offered the immigration forms once again.

By this time, we were already flying along the Japanese coast. This time, unlike on the east-bound flight, we did not fly over Hokkaido and Honshu.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Approaching from the sea.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Less than half an hour to go.

An announcement was made by the flight deck crew at 3:23PM. At that point, we were 22 minutes away from touchdown. The temperature of nine degrees Celsius in Tokyo was mentioned as well. At the same time, the cabin crew was asked to prepare the cabin for landing

A slightly bumpy descent followed before the landing gear came down at 3:49PM. Just five minutes later, we touched down on runway 34L. A four minute taxi followed before the aircraft was parked at the arrival gate at 3:58PM.

Once most of the passengers got off, I took some photos of the economy class cabin.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Economy class during disembarking.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

…and from the other side.

Then, I headed up the stairs to see the cockpit and upper deck cabin.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Upper deck business class seats.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Looking from the cockpit towards the galley.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

The spacious 747-400 cockpit.

Finally, I quickly peeked into the lower deck nose section.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Unmistakeable cabin shape.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Looking from the nose towards the back of the plane.
Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

Close-up of the business class seat.

With all this taking quite some time, I was the last passenger to get off.

Flight Report: Delta Air Lines 747-400 from Detroit to Tokyo Narita

The 747 after disembarking.

When I cleared immigration, there was one of the airport staff holding a Sky Priority sign. And waiting next to him was my bag. How smooth – no need to wait at the carousel for the bag to arrive!

7 thoughts on “Flight Review: Delta Air Lines 747-400 Economy Class from Detroit to Tokyo Narita”

  1. If you arent lucky enough to be in the Sky Priority Program, is it like going to most airports, that you have to get almost all the way out of the airport before you can pick up your luggage in Narita?

    Just wondering after getting off the plane, if you should go get your bags first and then get whatever else you need like activating your rail pass and all that.

    Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks

    1. Keishi Nukina

      Hi Mike,

      Regardless of whether you have any status, the first thing you will have to do after getting of your flight will be clear immigration. Then, you will get your bag at the carousel and go through customs. And then, you will have to follow the signs to the train station – there should be a JR (Japan Railway) office where you can take care of your rail pass.

      Hope this helps – and that you have an enjoyable trip to Japan!

    1. Although I did not try it, there was the option of connecting to the in-flight wi-fi. I am not sure how much it would cost or how fast it would work, though.

  2. Very nice report! The Northwest/Delta 747s will always remain close to my heart. My parents flew on the Northwest 747-400 from Detroit to Amsterdam, before I was born. I’ve also flown out of Detroit on them many times with Northwest and Delta. They were in excellent shape with both airlines, and could have been operated for 20-25 years past 2017, if not for concerns regarding fuel efficiency. It just doesn’t feel the same, not seeing that many 747s around. I will always cherish the memories I had with her.

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