Skyteam to Japan?
 

Is the only option to earn Delta Skymiles flying to Japan through Korean Air?

From where? I have earned points this year on CO (BWI-NRT R/T).

Umm... NW has a hub operation at NRT, with flights from (at least) DTW, MSP, PDX, SEA, SFO, and LAX. They should all earn full DL miles.

sorry, from SLC

And don't forget that Delta itself flies daily between ATL and NRT (DL55/56)....

+1

You can search the SkyTeam site for flights, to see your options.

Plenty of SkyTeam service to NRT. So far this year I have flown:

NRT HKG on NW
NRT CPH on KL
CPH NRT on AF
NRT GUM on CO
NRT ATL on DL
JFK NRT on KE

Although DL has only one flight of day, there is still plenty of service here. BTW, I have become a fan of KE's coach service after surviving 14 hours JFK to ICN in coach. The extra leg room and seat back video were great.

Marc

From SLC, your best options are:

CO SLC-IAH-NRT
DL/NW SLC-SEA/PDX/LAX/SFO-NRT
NW SLC-MSP/DTW-NRT

From NRT NW has quite a few flights within Japan as well.

Do yourself an favor and take the DL nonstop to HNL, spend as much time on the ground as you can spare, then continue on NW to NRT, KE through ICN, or CO via GUM.

If in Y, don't forget about the 50% EQMs on CO. Would hate to lose a huge chunk of mileage toward elite status.

In December I am flying LAX ATL NRT using a PMU to upgrade. Even if you used 25K miles instead, the extra MQMs and bonus miles for M ticket makes this a pretty good mileage run. Although I am flying NRT LAX in coach on KE, I couldn't resist the extra miles plus the more comfortable seat on the return. It might be just as good a deal from SLC.

Marc

And always order the Bi-Bim-Bop for dinner. Very authentic Korean food. Just go easy on the red pepper paste.

--
Coz

Very true. On a few itins to Asia that I have seen CO's lowest prices actually book into 100% MQM classes. But this is definitely something that one should watch out for.

Also, you can do what I do.....park at the border ($5/day) and walk across the border to the Tijuana airport (literally on the border) and take the Aeromexico TIJ-NRT direct flight. Also flies from MEX-TIJ-NRT.....makes for a good mileage run. ie....ATL/SLC/LAX/JFK-MEX-TIJ-NRT and return.

The flight exists solely for the Mexican factories in Baja California (and Japanese tourists going to MEX).

Very convenient for SoCal peeps. No visa issues arise. Mexican tourist visa included in the airfare for your return.