By Shawn Gallagher
Hello, internet from Detroit Wayne County Airport! I’m back to flying the long haul flights again, today’s will be a 13 hour trip to Tokyo Haneda. I’ve previously reviewed Delta’s comfort plus product, and today I’ll be going over their general economy class product. Let’s take a look!
READ: Is Delta’s Comfort Plus Worth It? Tokyo To Detroit Review
Detroit Airport
My gate for the day is A38. The McNamara Terminal is a gorgeous terminal, with a lot of shops and restaurants to kill time. I also feel like this terminal is never that busy (aside from busy holidays). It’s been quiet every time I’ve visited.
There is, however, one thing about this terminal that I really dislike. All the windows have these dots, making it a nightmare for people like me who take pictures out the window!
This was the best I could take. My plane today is N503DN, a 6 year old Airbus A350-900.
Boarding was absolute chaos. Gate agents were still doing document checks for some passengers when boarding time came around, and nobody seemed to know what was going on. Everyone was standing around the gate. The flight left on time though.
Boarding And Departure
Here’s Delta’s Premium Select, which I hope to do a review on sometime in the near future.
I had the window seat, 43A. Legroom with these seats is a standard 31 inches, not great but not the worst. Waiting at my seat were a blanket, a pillow, and slippers. The slippers were very nice, especially the fact that it was complimentary to all economy class passengers.
The IFE screen is nice and responsive. There’s a good selection of movies and tv shows as well.
Enjoy the takeoff video on my YouTube.
In-Flight
There was a lot of turbulence in the area after takeoff. The seatbelt sign stayed on for the first 2 and a half hours of the flight.
Despite the moderate turbulence, the crew managed to conduct service when the shaking wasn’t bad. We started with a drink service. There were several times, however, where the crew had to stop service to go sit back down for safety.
Although it may be frustrating when service gets interrupted, it’s important to remember that the best way to prevent injuries from turbulence is to be seated with a seatbelt on. The plane will keep flying just fine, it’s up to us to keep the cabin safe.
Related: What Is Severe Turbulence, And Should I Be Worried?
The meal was good. We had a choice between pork and chicken, and I went with the pork. A brownie, crackers, and cheese came along with the meal as well.
There was a massive queue for the bathrooms after the meal service because the seatbelt sign had been on for the whole flight up until this point. I was able to go before this rush, so I dodged a bullet there.
It’s a long one to Asia…
We got a mid-flight snack about 5 and a half hours before landing. I’ve had this on previous Delta flights, and I always enjoy them.
The bathrooms remained clean for most of the flight. There were Lysol products placed in each one.
Wifi was okay, but it was pretty spotty at times. The speed was good when the connection was good, but there were times where it just wouldn’t connect.
Pre-Arrival Meal
The lights turned on about an hour and a half before landing. I was surprised the lights didn’t turn on earlier, but it didn’t really bother me. I guess I’m used to Japan Airlines where they do their meal service over 2 hours before landing.
Breakfast was an egg and cheese sandwich, fruit, and a Chobani yogurt. I got some orange juice to go with it. The food overall on this flight was good. Good job Delta!
I was able to take some nice pictures out the window before we landed. The winglet of the A350 makes a nice sharp view.
Taken with my iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Finishing Thoughts
And just like that, I’m back in Japan.
This was overall a good flight. The turbulence at the beginning of the flight was rather annoying, as it slowed the service down and nobody could use the bathroom. But safety is most important.
I enjoyed the food. Delta doesn’t try to do too much with their meals and instead provides simple meals that many can enjoy. It’s also easier on the stomach as we’re sitting down for 13 hours straight.
The legroom was a little difficult as someone who’s 6’1/183cm. I usually would try to grab a Comfort Plus seat, but I booked this flight last minute and was limited in my options. However, it wasn’t the worst.
The amenities and entertainment were great though! Complimentary slippers for everyone in economy class is a great plus, and the great selection of movies and tv shows will keep you occupied for the duration of the flight.
All photos taken by the author.