Going to Japan - ANA vs. Delta?
#17
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
Overall that's for certain based on feedback I've gotten. Service on DL is either good or bad, on average mediocre. Oddly, I think the service on int'l routes in DL coach is better, overall, than the service in DL business/D1. Seems odd, but in the past few years that has been my experience.
#18
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Mostly living in the basement
Programs: Newly minted free agent; MR LT(!)TE, HH SE, BA SECM, DL MM, UA PS, 2V Fanboi, CBP GE
Posts: 5,108
Really? The NH service and food is so much better that for a TPAC flight you'd take 10-across 777 with 31" pitch vs 7-across 763 or 9-across 777 with 35" pitch (based on OP getting C+ for free)?
#19
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: New York, western US
Programs: DM/3MM
Posts: 4,246
Is it really $1k more than coach? I know a number of people that have taken it, and I don't recall that number. Quite a few got it for free, but I didn't ask how they did.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
#21
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 246
at least this is my experience from DL TPAC:
a lot of time when I press the FA call button, no one came ....
when I walked to the service area, most of time I saw US FAs just sitting there and chatting ...... (what a surprise ....)
when I flew the Japanese based airlines, this never happened to me
I found what's even nicer about the Japanese airlines is even you fall asleep when they deliver meal(s), they'll left a sticky note in-front of you which gives you a chance to get the meal later
what I saw on the DL is they just pass you without leaving a note and I'm not sure whether you get the meal later on .....
also food is just way better on japanese airlines
a lot of time when I press the FA call button, no one came ....
when I walked to the service area, most of time I saw US FAs just sitting there and chatting ...... (what a surprise ....)
when I flew the Japanese based airlines, this never happened to me
I found what's even nicer about the Japanese airlines is even you fall asleep when they deliver meal(s), they'll left a sticky note in-front of you which gives you a chance to get the meal later
what I saw on the DL is they just pass you without leaving a note and I'm not sure whether you get the meal later on .....
also food is just way better on japanese airlines
#22
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tokyo
Programs: DL Diamond, ANA Platinum
Posts: 1,532
Service-wise, ANA is much better than DL in general. Better food, more attentive flight attendants and cleaner, more modern planes.
Five years ago, when I was a UA flyer w/ *G, they upgraded me on SFO-NRT twice and NRT-LHR once. I think they still do treat UA elites quite well in oversold situations.
Five years ago, when I was a UA flyer w/ *G, they upgraded me on SFO-NRT twice and NRT-LHR once. I think they still do treat UA elites quite well in oversold situations.
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
The OP is Plat on both DL and UA and has access to both "premium" Y products. The ANA premium Y is better than DL.
#25
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
This. Anyone that would make that trade-off in terms of seat comfort for an airplane meal is either very small or doesn't understand that you could simply bring on food.
#26
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
The ANA product is not free to UA elites, at least to my knowledge. It is a separate cabin, not just Economy Plus. If ANA does give away their Premium Economy product to elites (and partner elites at that!), they would probably be the only airline in the world doing so.
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAX/BOS/HKG/AMS/SFO...hmm, I need a life.
Programs: United1K, AA ExPlAAt, DL MM/Gold, Hilton Diamond, Avis First
Posts: 13,316
The ANA product is not free to UA elites, at least to my knowledge. It is a separate cabin, not just Economy Plus. If ANA does give away their Premium Economy product to elites (and partner elites at that!), they would probably be the only airline in the world doing so.
#28
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: UA Silver, BA Gold, DL Gold
Posts: 9,779
Strange that this is the first mention of this very valuable perk mentioned anywhere that I can find with a Google search, but I don't have personal experience with it, so if the OP is willing to go with ANA on your say-so, I wish them well.
#29
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 6
Hi Friends, thanks for all the replies. Wanted to give a quick update: I ended up booking with DL (and they happened to be a 'most preferred' carrier with my company) and was able to secure the E+ seating on both inbound and outbound flights. I'm still holding out hope for an empathetic ticketing agent to let me into Business but I've mentally prepared to sit where I'm assigned.
I have another trip to Poland, and some questions re: UA and LH (I'm UA Plat.) and how that all works, but I'll save it for the UA/LH areas.
I have another trip to Poland, and some questions re: UA and LH (I'm UA Plat.) and how that all works, but I'll save it for the UA/LH areas.
#30
Join Date: May 2006
Location: GA
Programs: VA-PLT, QF-GLD, DL-GM, UA-ex1K, AA-exPLT, HH-DM, IHG-PLT, MR-GLD
Posts: 8,242
I mentioned it earlier in this thread.... but I wasn't sure if it was still active because I haven't flown ANA for several years.