By Shawn Gallagher
Good afternoon from Tokyo Haneda Airport! This is from a recent trip, on Delta Airlines from Tokyo to Detroit. I flew Comfort Plus on their flagship Airbus A350. Comfort Plus is an economy class seat with extra legroom, some extra amenities, and some priority benefits at the airport. If you want to read about the regular Economy class experience, check it out here. You’ll notice some similarities, but some differences as well, and it’s important to understand those differences to decide if paying extra for a Comfort Plus seat is worth it or not.
Check-in was done using self service kiosks, which were a bit hard to use. It didn’t take long though, and I was through security not long after.
Haneda airport has a decent amount of shops and restaurants post-security, so there’s a good amount of stuff to do even if you don’t have lounge access. I unfortunately didn’t have a lot of time to explore the airport on this day, as I was running late after being stuck in traffic. I headed straight to the gate.
Related: Haneda vs Narita, which is the better option?
This is the Airbus A350-900 that took me to Detroit.
Boarding and Departure
The departure time ended up being moved 10 minutes early, for whatever reason. Comfort Plus passengers can board early; after Delta One and Premium Select, and before Main 1, 2, and 3. I was on the plane in no time.
The seat itself is the same as the rest of economy. However, a few extra things were waiting at the seat. We got slippers and a small amenity kit, which consisted of a toothbrush and an eye mask.
And as usual, we were also given a pillow and a blanket.
The legroom was phenomenal. In my opinion, this makes Comfort Plus absolutely worth it, especially on a long flight. My entire hand fits between my knees and the seat in front of me when sitting up straight. With plenty of room to stretch my legs, this 12.5 hour flight didn’t end up being too tiring.
The lights were dimmed, and we got ready for takeoff. The taxi to the runway was very long, taking about 20 minutes waiting for other planes to land.
First Meal Service
Meal service began about 20 minutes after takeoff. We were given a bottle of water, and cutlery for the meal.
We had 3 choices for dinner: Japanese curry with pork, chicken breast, or pasta. I went with the curry with pork, and it did not disappoint. It’s safe to say it was one of my favorite meals I’ve had in economy. The main dish was served with egg salad, tofu, and a cup of Haggen-Dazs vanilla ice cream. Everything served was good. Great job with the food, Delta!
The sun set shortly after dinner. Sunrises and sunsets are what make the window seat worth it for me.
Mid-Flight
As usual, snacks were displayed in multiple parts of the cabin, and we got a mid-flight snack, which was a pizza.
Pre-Arrival
We were then served a pre-arrival breakfast, about a couple hours before landing. We got an egg salad sandwich, fruit, and yogurt. Simple meals like this for breakfast are the best; they’re easy to eat and they’re something many can enjoy.
Comfort Plus Thoughts
As mentioned, the legroom on Delta’s Comfort Plus makes it absolutely worth it. The ability to stretch your legs, especially on a long flight, is a difference maker for many travelers. Plus, you do get to enjoy a few extra amenities and early boarding. If a Comfort Plus upgrade is available for a reasonable price, I would go for it. I was able to get this seat for an additional $50 (one way), so keep that in mind when looking for Comfort Plus fares.
All photos taken by the author.