DL: YVR-NRT r/t in J for US$1,590
May 25, 2017, 2:27 pm
#17
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Programs: DL Diamond 1.7MM, Starlux Insighter, Bonvoy Titanium, Hilton Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 3,947
If you get some dates to show up on Google Flights that you like, try to just plug them straight in to Delta and then sort by DTW-only for connections. The first few times through I had the same issue before it would finally take. The return flight gave me a ton of problems on a lot of my preferred dates but I finally mixed and matched enough to get a few different itineraries I liked.
I've never done a positioning from the US to Canada for a flight that then transits back through the US so I'm not sure how customs and immigration will be. I don't believe you can stay air side so I assume I'll need to clear Canadian customs upon the arrival of my positioning flight, then pre-clear US customs in Toronto for the transit to Detroit which should mean no additional customs in DTW for the flight on to NRT. I'll probably just position the morning before anyway since that is a 0615 flight.
My June itinerary has a 70 minute connection in DTW on the way back though which seems awfully tight even though MCT is 60 for connections to Canada. If I cancel that one and just fly in August, it is a 6 hour layover so not really a big deal, would just need to do the reverse of before with one extra customs stop in there since I'm sure I'd need to do US customs on arrival to DTW, Canadian customs on arrival to YYZ and then pre-clear again for the return part of my positioning flight. I think it just sounds a bit more daunting than it actually is. I do have Global Entry so that should speed things up a bit.
I've never done a positioning from the US to Canada for a flight that then transits back through the US so I'm not sure how customs and immigration will be. I don't believe you can stay air side so I assume I'll need to clear Canadian customs upon the arrival of my positioning flight, then pre-clear US customs in Toronto for the transit to Detroit which should mean no additional customs in DTW for the flight on to NRT. I'll probably just position the morning before anyway since that is a 0615 flight.
My June itinerary has a 70 minute connection in DTW on the way back though which seems awfully tight even though MCT is 60 for connections to Canada. If I cancel that one and just fly in August, it is a 6 hour layover so not really a big deal, would just need to do the reverse of before with one extra customs stop in there since I'm sure I'd need to do US customs on arrival to DTW, Canadian customs on arrival to YYZ and then pre-clear again for the return part of my positioning flight. I think it just sounds a bit more daunting than it actually is. I do have Global Entry so that should speed things up a bit.
May 25, 2017, 3:25 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Katy, TX
Programs: AA - PLT(2MM); DL - PM(2MM); Hilton - Gold; Marriott Bonvoy- Titanium; Hyatt - Platinum
Posts: 1,718
If you get some dates to show up on Google Flights that you like, try to just plug them straight in to Delta and then sort by DTW-only for connections. The first few times through I had the same issue before it would finally take. The return flight gave me a ton of problems on a lot of my preferred dates but I finally mixed and matched enough to get a few different itineraries I liked.
I've never done a positioning from the US to Canada for a flight that then transits back through the US so I'm not sure how customs and immigration will be. I don't believe you can stay air side so I assume I'll need to clear Canadian customs upon the arrival of my positioning flight, then pre-clear US customs in Toronto for the transit to Detroit which should mean no additional customs in DTW for the flight on to NRT. I'll probably just position the morning before anyway since that is a 0615 flight.
My June itinerary has a 70 minute connection in DTW on the way back though which seems awfully tight even though MCT is 60 for connections to Canada. If I cancel that one and just fly in August, it is a 6 hour layover so not really a big deal, would just need to do the reverse of before with one extra customs stop in there since I'm sure I'd need to do US customs on arrival to DTW, Canadian customs on arrival to YYZ and then pre-clear again for the return part of my positioning flight. I think it just sounds a bit more daunting than it actually is. I do have Global Entry so that should speed things up a bit.
I've never done a positioning from the US to Canada for a flight that then transits back through the US so I'm not sure how customs and immigration will be. I don't believe you can stay air side so I assume I'll need to clear Canadian customs upon the arrival of my positioning flight, then pre-clear US customs in Toronto for the transit to Detroit which should mean no additional customs in DTW for the flight on to NRT. I'll probably just position the morning before anyway since that is a 0615 flight.
My June itinerary has a 70 minute connection in DTW on the way back though which seems awfully tight even though MCT is 60 for connections to Canada. If I cancel that one and just fly in August, it is a 6 hour layover so not really a big deal, would just need to do the reverse of before with one extra customs stop in there since I'm sure I'd need to do US customs on arrival to DTW, Canadian customs on arrival to YYZ and then pre-clear again for the return part of my positioning flight. I think it just sounds a bit more daunting than it actually is. I do have Global Entry so that should speed things up a bit.
May 25, 2017, 3:50 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2012
Programs: Previously top-tier everything, now a happy free agent
Posts: 1,003
I don't know the latest update on when the A350 is coming online in DTW, but think there's any possibility that folks who booked through DTW will get the A350 D1 Suite instead of the 747?
Both are great options, but it would be a steal to fly in the A350 D1 Suite for $1500 all-in.
Both are great options, but it would be a steal to fly in the A350 D1 Suite for $1500 all-in.
May 25, 2017, 4:54 pm
#22
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: DFW or Somewhere Else
Programs: UA Plt /Delta DM/ Marriott Platinum Prem./Hilton Diamond / Hyatt Globalist /Hertz PS / National EE
Posts: 1,107
I don't know the latest update on when the A350 is coming online in DTW, but think there's any possibility that folks who booked through DTW will get the A350 D1 Suite instead of the 747?
Both are great options, but it would be a steal to fly in the A350 D1 Suite for $1500 all-in.
Both are great options, but it would be a steal to fly in the A350 D1 Suite for $1500 all-in.
May 25, 2017, 8:10 pm
#23
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 515
If you haven't booked your positioning flight yet, or you have and it's refundable, you might look into flying to DTW and then driving to YYZ, if you have time. It's about a 4hr. drive, and fares are generally cheaper to DTW. I've done this twice and with GE you can use the Nexus lane at the bridge border crossing.
Now if I could skip that last DTW-YYZ leg without penalty and avoid the need for a hotel and a second customs check plus pre-clearance, positioning to DTW and driving over for the outbound sounds like a great idea.
May 25, 2017, 8:19 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Katy, TX
Programs: AA - PLT(2MM); DL - PM(2MM); Hilton - Gold; Marriott Bonvoy- Titanium; Hyatt - Platinum
Posts: 1,718
I figured it is one of those things that sounds way more obnoxious than it actually will be. In a perfect world I'd arrive late the night before and just stay in the airport for the couple hours before the 0615 flight, but that might be risky on two separate tickets even though there is a later YYZ-DTW flight that would still work.
I haven't yet but I'll definitely take a look. I'm not 100% sure where I'll be positioning from yet. If it is FLL, AC has a couple direct flights a day FLL-YYZ that are usually pretty cheap one way and I know American and Delta both have very cheap one way options though it would require a connection.
Now if I could skip that last DTW-YYZ leg without penalty and avoid the need for a hotel and a second customs check plus pre-clearance, positioning to DTW and driving over for the outbound sounds like a great idea.
I haven't yet but I'll definitely take a look. I'm not 100% sure where I'll be positioning from yet. If it is FLL, AC has a couple direct flights a day FLL-YYZ that are usually pretty cheap one way and I know American and Delta both have very cheap one way options though it would require a connection.
Now if I could skip that last DTW-YYZ leg without penalty and avoid the need for a hotel and a second customs check plus pre-clearance, positioning to DTW and driving over for the outbound sounds like a great idea.
May 25, 2017, 10:02 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 515
If you don't have any checked bags you could do this. However, I was planning to do the same this summer, until I learned that DL has instituted a new policy that, when flying international to international, your checked bags will be tagged to the last international destination. No picking them up at DTW after clearing customs and then rechecking, or just leaving the airport.
Got a couple months to figure it out since I think I'm going to stick with that late August reservation. Been hoping a DTW-NRT 747 route would go on sale all year since I've never flown upper deck, and I've also never actually left the Tokyo airport. Can't do much better than $1893 from North America to Asia in J, 747 or not.
May 26, 2017, 5:02 am
#26
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Delta PM
Posts: 890
I haven't booked the positioning flight yet, but planning to come from the US and then connect to the US for this flight. No checked bags. Will I still need to exit and re-enter, or can I just stay airside?
May 26, 2017, 3:10 pm
#28
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
I figured it is one of those things that sounds way more obnoxious than it actually will be. In a perfect world I'd arrive late the night before and just stay in the airport for the couple hours before the 0615 flight, but that might be risky on two separate tickets even though there is a later YYZ-DTW flight that would still work.
I haven't yet but I'll definitely take a look. I'm not 100% sure where I'll be positioning from yet. If it is FLL, AC has a couple direct flights a day FLL-YYZ that are usually pretty cheap one way and I know American and Delta both have very cheap one way options though it would require a connection.
Now if I could skip that last DTW-YYZ leg without penalty and avoid the need for a hotel and a second customs check plus pre-clearance, positioning to DTW and driving over for the outbound sounds like a great idea.
I haven't yet but I'll definitely take a look. I'm not 100% sure where I'll be positioning from yet. If it is FLL, AC has a couple direct flights a day FLL-YYZ that are usually pretty cheap one way and I know American and Delta both have very cheap one way options though it would require a connection.
Now if I could skip that last DTW-YYZ leg without penalty and avoid the need for a hotel and a second customs check plus pre-clearance, positioning to DTW and driving over for the outbound sounds like a great idea.
May 26, 2017, 5:19 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Everywhere and Nowhere
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 515
I'm really tempted by the China Eastern JFK fare since that would all but take care of MQD for the year but I'm sure that fare will be around a while.
May 27, 2017, 9:14 am
#30
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: Delta PM, Hyatt Globalist, Accor Diamond, MAR&HLT Gold, Wyndham Plat, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 129
If you don't have any checked bags you could do this. However, I was planning to do the same this summer, until I learned that DL has instituted a new policy that, when flying international to international, your checked bags will be tagged to the last international destination. No picking them up at DTW after clearing customs and then rechecking, or just leaving the airport.