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Flight Review: Delta Premium Select | A350-900 | Atlanta to Seoul-Incheon (ATL-ICN)

Seoul, South Korea — Spring took us back to South Korea just after cherry blossom season. From our Atlanta hub, Delta offers a convenient non-stop option to Seoul allowing us to avoid a west coast layover as we crossed the Pacific. This was also our first time sampling Delta’s “Premium Select” premium economy product.

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Date Flown: 2024 April 12
Departure/Arrive Time: 2349 EDT – 0355 KST
Flight Time: 15 hours 6 minutes
Aircraft Type: Airbus A350-900
Fare Class: Premium Select
Elite Status: Silver Medallion

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This flight is associated with several other reviews from this trip. See below for more information:
– voco Seoul Gangnam, an IHG hotel (review coming soon!)
– Matina Lounge at Seoul-Incheon Terminal 2, a Priority Pass lounge (review coming soon!)
– Delta A350-900 Premium Select, return leg from Seoul-Incheon to Atlanta (review coming soon!)

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Flight Overview
Delta operates an Airbus A350-900, flight number DL27, on this roughly 15-hour flight to Seoul, crossing over the U.S. Midwest before skirting along the Alaskan coast (avoiding the more optimal route over Russian airspace which unfortunately was closed to us at the time).

Our Delta Airbus A350-900 parked at the gate

Our flight left roughly on time just before midnight from Atlanta, landing in the early morning hours at Seoul-Incheon. This timing allows for the possibility of getting some decent rest before immediately starting your day in Seoul upon landing.

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At least half of the crew was bilingual in English and Korean, and all announcements were made in both languages. It appeared that at least one flight attendant also spoke Mandarin Chinese. As an aside, I recommend earplugs if you plan on sleeping as these bilingual announcements can be relatively lengthy.

Arrival at Seoul-Incheon very early in the morning.

Overall, the flight crew was very courteous, and I experienced some of the best service I’ve ever had on a U.S. carrier. The flight attendants were very attentive and efficient with their service, making for a very smooth flight.

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Seat Overview
This version of Delta’s A350-900 is fitted with 32 Delta One lay-flat suites, 48 Premium Select seats, 36 Comfort Plus seats, and 190 economy seats. A distinction should be made between Delta’s Premium Select and Comfort Plus products, both of which are arguably “premium economy” products.

Delta Airbus A350-900 seat map, photo by Delta Airlines

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The Premium Select seats are akin to a U.S. domestic first-class seat with wider lounger-style seats and have relatively higher-class service. Comfort Plus is essentially a regular economy seat with slightly more pitch (space between seats).

Four Premium Select seats across the middle of the cabin (sorry about the photo quality!)

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Delta A350-900 Premium Select seats have an advertised seat width of 18.5 in (47 cm) and pitch of 38 in (97 cm). They are arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, making the outside doublets great for couples while the center seats are well-suited for large families.

Our pair of Premium Select seats 25J and 25K (sorry about the photo quality!)

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For comparison, the Main Cabin/Comfort Plus seats are a relatively standard economy seat width of 17.4 in (44 cm) and pitch of 31-32 in (79-81 cm), adding another 2-3 in (3-5 cm) of pitch for Comfort Plus. Additionally, these seats are arranged in 3-3-3 configuration so there is always a middle seat in each section.

Delta Airbus A350-900 economy seats, photo by Delta Airlines

We were seated in 25J and 25K on the right-side of the aircraft, the last row before the Comfort Plus/Main Cabin section. Notably these seats DO recline all the way back despite the bulkhead behind them separating you from the economy cabin.

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Upon arriving to our seats, we were greeted by two bottles of water on the armrest between the seats. On each seat there was a small pillow, fairly substantial blanket, over-ear headphones, branded slippers, and a small amenities kit.

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Once seated, you are faced by a decently sized in-flight entertainment (IFE) screen. Beneath the screen is a small pocket for the safety card and other flat items.

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Towards the bottom is another seatback pocket for larger items. Between the seats in front of you are two international power sockets.

The author in this photo is 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) tall.

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Beneath the center armrest is another small storage nook where I tucked away my amenity kit and other small items. You will find the headphone plug for your IFE screen here as well.

Under armrest storage and headphone jack

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Directly forward of the armrest storage space, you will find the seat controls as well as an IFE remote which pops out and retracts.

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In the opposite armrest, you will find the tray table which is hinged in the center. It is larger than those found in economy class and fairly sturdy.

Tray table deploys from opposite arm rest

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Tray table fully deployed – very spacious

While not an issue for us, be aware that the arm rests in these seats are fixed which may present an issue for more endowed passengers. The generous pitch between seats, however, was a godsend for this long transoceanic flight.

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Amenities
At the time of this flight, Delta provided long-haul Premium Select passengers with a Someone Somewhere amenity kit in the form of a woven cloth pouch.

(Note that since June 2024, Delta has discontinued this kit and is providing Missoni branded kits which contain similar items inside.)

Delta Premium Select Someone Somewhere amenity kit

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Interestingly, the pouches are apparently handmade by the person whose name is on the inside label. Each kit contained a pair of Delta-branded socks, eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush kit and Grown Alchemist brand lip balm.

Premium Select Someone Somewhere amenities

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Overall, I found this to be a fairly substantial kit for a U.S.-based premium economy product. This was essentially a scaled down version of the kit provided to Delta One business class passengers (seen here in my review of a Delta One flight to Hawaii).

Delta One Someone Somewhere amenity kit, Fall 2023

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In addition to the amenity kit, each Premium Select passenger was provided with a pillow and blanket, slippers, and a on-ear headphone.

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I ended up using my own noise-cancelling headphones so I cannot speak to the quality of Delta’s provided headphones, but the pillow and blanket were a noticeable upgrade from those provided in Economy class.

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Meal Service(s)
Water bottles were waiting for us at our seat during boarding. Shortly after take-off, flight attendants came around for a round of pre-dinner snacks and drinks which was served in proper glassware. I opted for orange juice with my cheese biscuits (which were nicely crispy but a little salty).

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About an hour into the flight, dinner was served. It is notable that Premium Select passengers receive an email with the option to pre-select a meal, if desired, from 7 days up to 24 hours before the flight.

While the options online are the same as those offered in-flight, it helps guarantee your meal choice will not run out before you are served. I noticed that since my partner and I both pre-selected a meal, our dinners were among the first to come out before other Premium Select passengers were served.

Delta Premium Select menu, Atlanta to Seoul-Incheon April 2024

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I went with the braised Korean beef short rib which was very tender and flavorful. It was accompanied by a nice Korean purple rice, stir-fried broccoli and mushrooms.

Premium Select Korean braised beef short rib meal

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My partner opted for the roasted chicken leg served alongside broccolini, roasted potatoes and lemon jus. She reports it was also tender and delicious with the lemon adding a nice freshness.

Both meals were rounded out by our choice of beverage, a nice salad, crispy sourdough flatbread and chocolate-covered creampuffs. Premium Select passengers may choose alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, etc.) at no additional cost if desired.

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About halfway through the flight, flight attendants came through with warm pizza twists and more drinks. The timing was nice as I was starting to get peckish after staying up to watch some movies.

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Roughly 2 hours before landing in Seoul, we were served breakfast. I started with coffee before going for the cold Korean noodles which were reminiscent of Japanese soba. My partner also ended up choosing the noodles.

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The noodles were very refreshing, accented by crunchy cucumber and a mildly spicy kimchi. A side of fresh fruits and a chocolate topped off breakfast. The meal was a nice appetizer for the Korean food that awaited us in Seoul.

Korean cold noodles for breakfast before landing in Seoul

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Lavatory
Unfortunately (or fortunately?) I did not visit the lavatory this flight as I spent most of it watching movies or sleeping so I cannot comment on them.

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How We Booked
Delta Main Cabin (economy) roundtrip tickets booked directly with Delta in late 2023 were $2442.00 plus 49,900 SkyMiles per person for the upgrade to Premium Select.

Note that there are often cheaper fares to Seoul via many other airlines that require a layover. Here we traded cost for convenience which was personally worth it in our situation.

American Express Credit Cards
American Express offers several travel credit cards that greatly benefit Delta flyers and travelers in general, including products that allow for free checked bags on Delta, Delta SkyClub lounge access, and many other perks.

The American Express Platinum Card, photo by American Express

To learn more about American Express’s offerings, including lucrative early spend bonuses that may help fund travel, click this link: HERE. Be sure to browse through the different card options. If you apply and are approved for any American Express card through that link, we earn a referral bonus which greatly supports this blog, and we thank you in advance.

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Featured

Flight Review: Delta One Business Class | A330-300 | Atlanta to Honolulu (ATL-HNL) (2023)

A decent way to get to paradise.

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii — We decided to head to Oahu for a much-needed fall getaway and discovered that Delta flies nonstop between our nearby Atlanta-hub and Honolulu. It was my partner’s first-time visiting Hawaii and I wanted to make this trip a little more special.

Originally this flight was booked in Premium Select class, Delta’s premium economy class, but I was able to score a reasonable upgrade to Delta One business class with Delta Skymiles.

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To see other reviews associated with this flight, check out these links below:
– Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa
– HNL to ATL return flight in Delta One business class (coming soon!)
– Delta SkyClub Honolulu lounge review

Date Flown: 2023 September 23
Departure/Arrival Time: 1002 EST – 1358 HST
Flight Time: 9hr 56min
Aircraft Type: Airbus A330-300
Fare Class: Delta One
Elite Status: Silver Medallion

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Flight Overview
Delta operated this flight with an Airbus A330-300, flight number DL252, nonstop from Atlanta to Honolulu taking just under 10 hours. While this variant does not have Delta’s newer Delta One Suites, this was our first experience with a lay-flat seat, and we were excited to sample the older Delta One product, nonetheless.

Delta A330-300, photo by Kentaro Iemoto/tokyospotter.com

The flight crew was very courteous and efficient. We were greeted by name and thanked for our lowly Silver Medallion status upon boarding. The cabin staff was attentive and responsive to requests throughout the 10 hour flight to Honolulu.

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Seat Overview
This particular A330 sports four cabins with 34 Delta One lay-flat seats, 21 Premium Select seats, 24 Comfort Plus seats, and 203 regular economy seats.

Delta A330-300 seat map, photo by theflight.info

Delta A330-300 Delta One seats, photo by Delta Airlines.

Delta advertises its older A330 Delta One seats as having approximately 19.7in (50cm) of width and 80in (203cm) of pitch in lay-flat mode. Suffice it to say, you’ll have plenty of room to stretch out if desired.

The author in this picture is 5′ 7″ (170 cm) tall.

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For comparison, the Premium Select (premium economy) seats are 18.5in (47cm) wide with 38in (97cm) of pitch. Economy seats are a pretty average 18in (46cm) wide with 31-32in (79-81cm) of pitch, adding a few more inches of pitch if riding in Comfort+.

Delta A330-300 Premium Select, photo by Delta Airlines

Note the 2-4-2 seating arrangement in Economy/Comfort+ is relatively comfortable compared to the usual 3-3-3 some airlines cram into their A330s.

Delta A330-300 Economy Seats, photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy

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Back to the Delta One seat in question, all seats have direct aisle access, but unlike the newer suite version, this pod does not have a door so you’re more exposed to the aisle. Luckily the seats are in reverse herringbone configuration with each seat facing away from the aisle so you still have some relative privacy from wandering eyes.

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There is a small ledge directly to your left or right enough for a few drinks and smaller items. Each seat also has a USB-A port and universal power socket for charging electronic devices.

Directly under that ledge is the swing-out tray table which is hinged to allow it to fold. There is a small personal reading light on which headphones were hanging at roughly shoulder level.

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Towards the bottom front of each pod is small space housing the safety card and air sickness bag. There is room for small flat items here like phones and tablets as well. Directly opposite this cubby at foot level towards the aisle is another small storage space; I ended up sticking my amenity kit in here for the flight.

The inflight entertainment (IFE) screen at the front of the seat swings-out with a push of an adjacent button; you will also find the seat controls and IFE remote here as well.

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As you go towards the front of the pod, the space narrows a bit which was not a problem for me, but taller passengers might find the footwell a little tight in lay-flat configuration.

Each section of the seat is adjustable individually so you can go from the upright take-off/landing default to lounge chair mode to fully lay-flat as you desire. I particularly enjoyed the adjustable leg rest which helped immensely with comfort during this relatively long flight.

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Amenities and Amenity Kit
A nice pillow and fairly plush comforter (for an airline anyway) was provided to each seat, supposedly Westin Heavenly brand bedding. There was no seat/mattress cover, but I stayed up for most of this daytime flight doing some work so it did not matter much.

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Delta One passengers received handmade cloth amenity kits by Someone Somewhere. Each individual amenity kit is labeled with the maker’s name and location which is interesting.

Inside each bag is a matching eye mask, bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste kit, earplugs, ballpoint pen, and Grown Alchemist lip balm and hand cream.

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Meal Services
A bottle of water was waiting for each Delta One passenger at each seat. We were also offered a pre-departure beverage in real glassware (orange juice in my case). The glasses were collected prior to take-off for safety reasons.

Pre-departure orange juice and amenity kit

Shortly after takeoff, flight attendants came through with another round of drinks and the snack basket (forgot to take a snack picture sorry!). About one hour later, the first meal service kicked off with hot towels and drink top-offs.

Delta One menu for Atlanta to Honolulu, September 2023

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Lunch came out on one tray. I went for the Atlanta-local Fox Bros BBQ beef short ribs which were fantastic. The main was accompanied by a smoked salmon starter, fresh salad, and warm bread. A cheesecake with cherry compote rounded out my meal.

My partner opted for the roasted chicken which was also moist and tender. It was served with sauteed spinach and corn polenta, both of which were decent, instead of the menu-listed broccolini and potatoes. Her other sides and dessert were the same as mine.

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After the first meal service, at least twice throughout the flight, flight attendants came through the cabin with more snacks and cups of water.

Just over an hour before our arrival into Honolulu, the second lighter meal was served. I went for the Hawaiian-inspired seared tuna and quinoa bowl with sesame dressing which was absolutely delicious. It was accompanied by a soft bread roll and butter as well as some mixed fruits.

My partner went with the Margherita pizza which was reportedly decent. This was served along with a nice Caesar salad.

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Lavatory
Delta One passengers on this version of the A330-300 have access to two dedicated lavatories at the front of the cabin. They were sparse with no amenities but relatively spacious for an airplane lavatory.

The cabin crew did their best to keep them clean throughout the flight, though they weren’t spotless when I visited just before landing. Grown Alchemist products, like those in the amenity kits, were available.

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How We Booked
This flight was originally booked in February 2023 in Premium Select class for 93,400 Delta Skymiles plus $11.20 roundtrip per person. The award pricing was steep but given Delta’s aggressive devaluation of Skymiles over the years and the fact that I was flush with miles at the time, I figured a trip to Hawaii was worth burning miles on.

Several months leading up to the trip, I found and jumped on an upgrade offer into Delta One business class for $965.35 on the Delta website. For less than $100 per flight hour, I decided it was worth the cash upgrade.

All in, this trip in Delta One business class costed me 93,400 Skymiles plus $976.55 roundtrip per person.

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Featured

Flight Review: Air Canada Business Class | CRJ-900 | Toronto to Atlanta (YYZ-ATL)

Atlanta, Georgia — The cherry on top of our Tokyo trip was a successful bid upgrade to business class on our final leg home from Toronto to our Atlanta hub. While business class on regional jets are not particularly luxurious by any means, it was a comfortable way to end a journey. More information about Air Canada’s Bid Upgrade process later in the post.

This flight was the final part of a 4-leg journey; you can view associated reviews below:
– ATL to YYZ in business class
– YYZ to Tokyo NRT in premium economy
– Tokyo NRT to YYZ in premium economy
– Our accommodations at the Hilton Tokyo

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Date Flown: 2023 April 22
Departure/Arrival Time: 19:15 EST – 21:29 EST
Flight Time: 2h 35m
Aircraft Type: Bombardier CRJ-900
Fare Class: Business (bid upgrade from Economy)
Elite Status: Aeroplan 25k (via my Chase Aeroplan credit card)

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Flight Overview
This flight was operated by Air Canada’s regional subsidiary Air Canada Jazz on a Bombardier CRJ-900, flight number AC8957. This version of the CRJ-900 has 12 business class seats in 1-2 configuration and 64 economy seats in 2-2 configuration.

The paired seats in either cabin are great for couples traveling together. You can view SeatGuru’s seating map here.

The crew was courteous and efficient. Announcements were made in both French and English which is customary for Air Canada flights.

Air Canada CRJ-900 variant, photo by FlightAware user FlyGuyKGRR.

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Seat Overview
Business class seats on Air Canada’s CRJ-900s have an advertised pitch of 37 inches and width of 21 inches which made for a roomy flight. For comparison, the economy seats have a reported pitch of 31 inches and width of 17 inches.

Business Class 2-1 seat arrangement on CRJ-900 variant, photo by aerocorner.com

This particular CRJ-900 must have been one of Air Canada’s older aircraft as the seats did not have seat-back in-flight entertainment (IFE) screens and the leather appeared more worn then our outbound CRJ-900 flight. Nevertheless, the seats were comfortable for our short ~2 hour flight.

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Aside from the IFE-less seat backs, there were also no power plugs at the seats like on newer Air Canada CRJ-900 variants. While this was not a problem for us having topped off our electronic devices at one of Toronto’s Maple Leaf Lounges (see review here), it may present an issue for some travelers.

Leg room was plentiful on the other hand. The aisle-side table deploys from the left armrest while the window-side is mirrored. The fold-out tray table was sturdy enough to get some laptop work done but too small to have both a laptop and drink on it at the same time.

The middle armrest between the two seats have some space for drinks instead. It is wide enough to prevent one from bumping elbows constantly with your neighbor unlike the economy seats.

Lackluster seatbacks on an older CRJ-900. Legroom is spacious though. The author in this picture is 5’7″ (170cm) tall.

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Meal Service
Business class passengers received a pre-departure water bottle to start. There were no physical menus on this short flight but a digital one was available on the Air Canada app. A roasted chicken dish and vegetarian ravioli were on offer for dinner, accompanied by a salad and brownie.

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Dinner service started approximately 30 minutes after we reached our cruising altitude. Flight attendants came by with a selection of wines, beers, and soft drinks as well as salted almonds to start.

Both my partner and I opted for the chicken dish which was filling and comforting. The chicken was a little on the dry side but helped out by the creamy leek sauce. A nice salad and warm brownie rounded out the meal. I went with white wine to accompany my chicken while my partner went for a Coke.

Economy class on this flight was limited to just a drink and snack service.

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How We Booked and Got Upgraded
This itinerary (ATL-YYZ-NRT roundtrip) was originally booked around September 2022 on a mixed cabin ticket for $1250.14 per person after taxes and fees. This particular leg of the itinerary was originally economy class however I bid on an upgrade though Air Canada’s Bid Upgrade process, which allows you to bid cash or points for upgrades. If your upgrade clears, you will be charged (or your points deducted) at the time of upgrade.

As I was flush with Air Canada Aeroplan points partially due to my spend on the Chase Aeroplan card (see below) and coming off a celebratory trip, I decided to splurge a little and bid approximately 37,000 points each which cleared about 48 hours prior to the flight.

To learn more about Air Canada’s Bid Upgrade process, visit Air Canada’s official webpage here.

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Chase Aeroplan Credit Card
At the time of this flight, I held Aeroplan 25K elite status with Air Canada, which was obtained by way of my Chase Aeroplan credit card. The Aeroplan card is an interesting offering for US-based customers who are interested in flying the Canadian flag-carrier.

Chase Aeroplan Card, photo by Chase Bank

Among various benefits, it offers potentially up to 2 years of entry level Aeroplan 25K elite status with a spend pathway to maintain status or reach the next level, first bag free on Air Canada flights and no foreign transaction fees.

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At the time of this post there is public offer for 50,000 points after a certain amount of spend (though historically there have been offers up to 100,000 for more spend). Based on The Points Guy’s valuation of Aeroplan points, this bonus could potentially be worth $750 in Air Canada award flights. If you are interested in this credit card and want to learn more, you can visit the official application page here.

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Featured

Flight Review: Air Canada Premium Economy | 787-9 Dreamliner | Tokyo Narita to Toronto (NRT-YYZ)

Toronto, Ontario, Canada — On our way back from Tokyo, we were blessed with an upgrade to Air Canada’s premium economy class. Originally this leg was booked in economy class, and luckily our eUpgrade requests cleared the evening before our flight home, making our return leg from our Tokyo adventure that much sweeter. More information on Air Canada’s Aeroplan program and eUpgrade system in a bit.

This flight was part of a 4-leg journey; you can view associated reviews below:
– ATL to YYZ in business class
– YYZ to Tokyo NRT in premium economy
– YYZ to ATL return leg in business class
– Our accommodations at the Hilton Tokyo

Date Flown: 2023 April 22
Departure/Arrival Time: 1655 JST – 1605 EDT
Flight Time: 12h 10m
Aircraft Type: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Fare Class: Premium Economy (eUpgraded from economy class)
Elite Status: Aeroplan 25k (via my Chase Aeroplan credit card)

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Flight Overview
This flight was operated by an Air Canada Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, flight number AC10, nonstop from Tokyo Narita to Toronto Pearson International taking just over 12 hours.

Air Canada 787-9 Dreamliner flight number AC10, our chariot back to North America

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Air Canada Dreamliners have 30 lie-flat “Signature Class” business class seats in 1-2-1 arrangement, 21 premium economy seats in 2-3-2 arrangement, and 247 economy seats arranged in 3-3-3 arrangement.

We occupied premium economy seats 14J and 14K on the right side of this particular flight. The paired seats in the premium economy cabin are great for couples traveling together.

Service was efficient and the crew was courteous, no complaints from us.

AC Dreamliner 787-9 Seat Map, photo by AirlinesFleet.com

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Air Canada flights between North America and Japan have crew fluent in English, French, and Japanese. This is particularly notable because all announcements were made in each language and it can some time to make mid-flight announcements in all three languages.

If you are a light sleeper, I strongly recommend a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs.

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Seat Overview
The premium economy seat on the Air Canada Dreamliner has an advertised 19 inches of width and 38 inches of pitch which is fairly typical for this class across many airlines.

For comparison, the regular economy seats are 18 inches wide with an average 30 inches of pitch (more for the exit rows and bulkhead seats).

AC 787-9 Premium Economy seats, photo by Air Canada

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The premium economy seats have more space between them due to the armrests/drink holder and in-seat tray tables, making them feel especially more spacious than the economy seats since you are less likely to bump elbows with your neighbor. They feel very much similar to a lot of US-domestic first class seats for comparison.

Armrest between seats with plenty of room to spread out

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The premium economy seats have their tray-tables stowed away in the armrests. The tables are hinged in the center in case you want to fold it in half, making it easier to get into and out of your seat with the table still deployed.

Sturdy table capable of folding in half if needed

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The in-flight entertainment (IFE) system was perfectly adequate with a good selection of movies and TV shows in multiple languages.

The touchscreen was responsive, and you have the option of using the detachable remote below the screen which also has controls for the reading light as well as the flight attendant call button.

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Below the IFE screen are the expected headphone socket and a powered USB-A slot for charging small electronics. Next to the screen is the obligatory coat hook. Between the seats under the seat-back pocket are dual universal power sockets.

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Amenity Kit
Premium economy passengers on this flight each received an amenity kit containing disposable toothbrush/toothpaste, long black socks, earplugs, and an eye-mask. The bag itself is actually fairly large, roughly the size of a reusable grocery bag.

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Meal Service
Shortly after departure, the crew started the drink service which was accompanied by various snacks and started taking orders for dinner. The menu was available physically as well as in the Air Canada app.

Air Canada Tokyo Narita to Toronto premium economy menu

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I opted for the hamburger steak served with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. My partner went with the saute’d chicken breast served with white rice and broccoli.

A salad, warm bread roll and cheesecake dessert rounded out the meal. Both were pretty good and served on proper dishware with metal cutlery.

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I believe at some point about halfway across the Pacific, the crew came around with another round of drinks and snacks but I had apparently slept through this service (shout-out to the comfortable seats!).

Roughly an hour and half before landing in Toronto, the flight crew came around with breakfast. My partner and I both opted for the breakfast noodles served alongside a fruit salad and bread roll, all of which were a nice pick-me-up after my decent 5-6 hour sleep.

Unfortunately I cannot recall exactly what the sweet option was, but I want to say it was an oatmeal/yogurt based dish.

Breakfast noodles and fruit pre-landing (apologies for the poor quality)

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Lavatory
The premium economy passengers have access to two lavatories situated between the business and premium economy cabins. They were stocked with Vitruvi-branded products and kept very clean throughout the flight.

These lavatories have a window and great view, making them feel especially more spacious. The décor is tastefully centered around Air Canada’s maple leaf motif.

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How We Booked
This itinerary (ATL-YYZ-NRT roundtrip) was originally booked around September 2022 on a mixed cabin ticket; economy for the first leg (which was eUpgraded to business class, review here) and premium economy for the second leg (review here), and originally economy on this return leg for just over $1250 per person including taxes and fees.

At that time, the economy ticket was selling for around $900 roundtrip, and we personally decided the extra comfort on a 13+hr flight over to Tokyo was worth the extra cost (especially since this was a celebratory trip).

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Air Canada Aeroplan’s eUpgrade System
Air Canada’s frequent flyer program Aeroplan has a relatively unique upgrade mechanism that grants Aeroplan members a certain number of “eUpgrade” credits based on the member’s elite level. These credits may be applied towards eligible Air Canada flights and puts that member on a list for potential upgrades.

The exact number of credits needed depends on the route and cabin desired; more popular routes and higher class cabins require more credits. If your upgrade request clears (within a certain amount of time prior to and up until the flight), the credits are deducted from your Aeroplan account. If you are not granted an upgrade, the credits are refunded to you to be used on a future flight.

It should be noted that eUpgrade credits do not rollover to the next year so you should use them up within the year they are issued if possible. For more information about Air Canada Aeroplan’s eUpgrade system, see here.

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Chase Aeroplan Credit Card
I held Air Canada Aeroplan 25K elite status at the time of this flight by holding the U.S. Chase Aeroplan credit card. This card represents an interesting proposition for U.S.-based Aeroplan customers who may be flying the Canadian flag-carrier frequently.

It is possible to enjoy almost two years of entry-level 25K elite status as part of this card’s benefits as well as a spend pathway to higher status. Additionally, the card’s benefits also include first bag free on Air Canada flights and no foreign transaction fees.

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Featured

Hotel Review: Hilton Tokyo | Premium King

A solid Hilton elevated by Japanese hospitality.

Tokyo, Japan — Our first trip to Tokyo about five years ago was on a shoestring budget, and we stayed at a smaller business hotel at that time. It suited our needs but was definitely tight for two travelers, looking back on it. This time around I wanted to stay closer to the action in a much nicer place to celebrate our anniversary as well as my birthday.

Hilton Tokyo front desk, photo by Hilton Tokyo

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Through a combination of Hilton credit card award nights, hotel points, and my Hilton Honors Diamond status, we were able to leverage a fantastic stay at the Hilton Tokyo for this celebration trip complete with 2-category upgrade. More later on how we booked this stay.

Hilton Tokyo Marble Lounge, one of several dining options on-site, photo by Hilton Tokyo

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Dates Stayed: 2023 April 16-22 (6 nights)
Room Type: Premium King (2-category upgrade from originally booked Standard King)
Elite Status: Hilton Diamond
Notables: Convenient to Tokyo’s Shinjuku area with direct access to other tourist areas by subway/train, directly on Airport Limousine Bus route making for easy transfers, excellent Hilton Honors elite recognition including lounge access for Diamond members

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Location
The Hilton Tokyo is located in western Tokyo, about a 10-15 minute walk from Shinjuku Station. Shinjuku Station is the world’s busiest transit hub according to the Guinness Book of World Records (!!), making this hotel a prime base for exploring Tokyo and connecting to the rest of Japan.

Additionally, the hotel sits directly atop an entrance to both Nishi-Shinjuku Station (Marunouchi line) and Tochomae Station (Oedo line) giving us other options for subway and local trains. The Airport Limousine Bus stops directly at the hotel’s front door, and there are local bus stops along the road in front as well.

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Room Overview
We originally booked a Standard King award room for this trip, but due to my Hilton Honors Diamond status we were upgraded two categories to a Premium King room at check-in (the middle tier being Deluxe). It also probably helped that the hotel staff knew I was celebrating a recent birthday based on a comment our Hilton booking agent made on our reservation. This was the nicest non-suite King room type on the property.

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One nice touch by the hotel staff was a small birthday treat waiting for us as we entered the room. The box contained two slices of banana nut loaf cake from the cafe-bakery downstairs and was accompanied by a tin of Hilton house tea blend and a birthday card. It is the attention to small details like this that really elevates a property above its peers.

Some small gestures by the Hilton Tokyo staff

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Upon entering the room, you are greeted by a very spacious (especially by East Asian hotel standards) and impeccably clean room with a white and dark wood theme I’ve come to associate with the subtle elegance of modern Japanese interior design. Traditional sliding shoji panels replace the expected window blinds, letting you know exactly which country you are visiting.

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There is copious storage space for clothing and luggage in the form of lacquered wood drawers and closet along one side of the room. There is a safe in the closet. Nightstands on either side of the comfy king bed house power outlets with USB slots as well as their own individual light controls.

There was a glass desk with plenty of space for laptops, snacks, drinks, and other goodies from our days out on the town. A comfortable armchair and ottoman in the corner rounded out the room. Of note, there are room slippers and yukatas (Japanese-style robes) for you to wear in your room if you want, located in the drawer next to the entrance.

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During our stay, if we did not want room service on a given day, we could place the “Do Not Disturb” sign on our door, and room service would skip our room that day. Otherwise, they seemed to be coming every day to tidy up the room, replace our towels, and provide some bottled water (a small but appreciated Hilton Honors perk).

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Bathroom Overview
What really sets the Premium rooms apart from the Standard and Deluxe rooms at the Hilton Tokyo (aside from size) is the bathroom. In addition to being very roomy, there is a separate shower and Japanese-style soaking tub. Many Japanese people like to shower separately before entering the bath and this set-up emulated that custom. The soaking tub ended up being a luxurious godsend for my body after a long day of adventuring.

Premium room separate shower and soaking tub.

Crabtree & Evelyn bath and toiletry products were provided, including dental kits and a haircomb. There was a hairdryer provided that my partner seemed to like enough to look-up its brand. The bidet toilet, a standard for most Japanese restrooms, was particularly nice since it had a heated seat. The toilet also had an amusing little feature where it would make a courtesy flushing sound to mask any unpleasant real ones haha.

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Breakfast
There is a breakfast buffet Marble Lounge in the hotel lobby from 6:30AM to 10:30AM and costs about $40-45 USD a person. Hilton Diamond members may take their complimentary breakfast here or in the Executive Lounge upstairs. If you’ve never had breakfast at a large East Asian hotel, you’re in a for a treat. The spread is quite impressive in the morning, there is something for everyone, and it puts the vast majority of US hotel breakfast buffets to shame. I will let the pictures do the talking here.

Various Japanese pickles and other side dishes to enjoy with rice and soup. Very typical Japanese breakfast fare.

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Rice congee (porridge) and miso soup station.

Made to order eggs at the egg station. The chef here makes a decent omelet.

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Oatmeal station and various fresh fruit/veggie smoothies.

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Various fruit juices, fruit-infused water options, and milk options.

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Coffee machines with various espresso-based options.

Settled on a little bit of everything. A lot of typical Japanese breakfast fare here.

It was truly difficult to capture the scale of the breakfast buffet offerings at the Marble Lounge. There is a bit of a morning rush right at opening with many people grabbing breakfast before checking-out or starting their day on Tokyo early, but the staff was extremely efficient with seating. Hot coffee and tea were offered immediately upon us reaching our table. The food quality was good and the offerings diverse enough that it was possible to have something new each day if one desired.

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Executive Lounge
All Hilton Diamond members and some guests staying in certain rooms have access to the Executive Lounge on one of the upper floors of the hotel which is open for breakfast and left open throughout the day until approximately 9PM for those that just want to pop in for a quick snack/drink or sit down and get some work done.

Hilton Tokyo Executive Lounge (with a view of Mount Fuji on clear days), photo by Hilton Tokyo

Those with Executive Lounge access may choose to have breakfast here instead of downstairs at the Marble Lounge restaurant. The Executive Lounge breakfast selection is a little smaller than that offered downstairs, but it is significantly quieter and more relaxing. My partner and I had the majority of our breakfasts here to avoid the hustle and bustle of the downstairs restaurant.

Western breakfast offerings in the Executive Lounge

More typical Japanese breakfast offerings in the Executive Lounge (with a great view!)

Made to order eggs benedict in the Executive Lounge

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Outside of breakfast hours, the lounge is a nice quiet space to work or relax in with various snacks and beverages, including beer and coffee, on offer throughout the day. In the early evening, there is little reception with more substantial snacks and hors d’oeuvres (basically enough to be a light dinner) and a variety of drinks including wine and liquors. There was a Japanese plum wine (umeshu) offered one evening that I really enjoyed and hope to find locally.

A few of the evening reception offerings with an umeshu (Japanese plum wine) that was delicious.

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Other Dining Options
In addition to the Marble Lounge restaurant and the Executive Lounge discussed above, the Hilton Tokyo is host to a multitude of other restaurants for many palates. For more details about each restaurant, you can visit the Hilton Tokyo dining website here.

Dynasty is a Chinese-inspired restaurant that offers Peking duck and variations on traditional dim sum dishes. Junisoh is a traditional Japanese restaurant specializing in sushi, teppanyaki grill, and kaiseki cuisine.

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For Western fare, there’s Metropolitan Grill with the standard burgers and steaks, but it also plays host to afternoon dessert bar that seemed very popular during our stay. St. George’s Bar is an English pub venue for beer, mixed drinks, and live music. If you want to sit down for a drink before heading out on the town, Zatta is a cocktail lounge that also has live music and light bites.

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Amenities
As one of the flagship Shinjuku hotels, the Hilton Tokyo hosts a very diverse mix of clientele and has many amenities on-site to support them all. There is a concierge desk right next to the main lobby entrance. They were incredibly helpful with making our Aiport Limousine bus reservation for our departure day. They are able to assist with tasks that require a Japanese translator such as making restaurant reservations ahead of time by phone.

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There are various banquet spaces for weddings and meetings that may be booked ahead of time. Additional there is a business center for any business travelers needing print service or computer access. Additionally, there a well-stocked gym and swimming pool on-site. If desired, there were massage services offered as well adjacent to the fitness center.

On the fourth floor, there is an outdoor terrace hosting two tennis courts for when the weather is nice. My partner and I unfortunately did not partake in any of these as we spent most of our time out in the city.

Gym and swimming pool, photo by Hilton Tokyo

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Airport Limousine Bus
I wanted to comment about the Airport Limousine Bus service somewhere in this post – it is, in my opinion, a heavily underrated option for getting from Tokyo Narita and Tokyo Haneda Airports to central Tokyo. There is a published list of stops from each airport and the Hilton Tokyo is one of them, making airport transfer directly to the hotel a breeze.

Airport Limousine Bus, photo by Klook Travel

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I plan to make a dedicated post about this service at some point in the future, but for now just know it is a viable and significantly more efficient (and probably cheaper) option for getting to this hotel versus navigating the trains and subways. For more information about the Tokyo Airport Limousine Service, you can check out their website here.

We booked our tickets through the third-party Klook Travel website and were able to get a bundled discount alongside tickets for other Tokyo attractions. If you’re interested in booking the Airport Limousine Bus service through Klook, you can receive a $5 USD promotion code off your first booking by using this affiliate link, thank you in advance: Klook Travel.

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How We Booked and Got Upgraded
We originally booked a Standard King room with the help of two free night certificates earned from my American Express Hilton co-branded credit cards (more on that below) and approximately 275,000 Hilton Honors points. The going cash rate for a Standard King at that time was about $350 per night. If weigh the free nights and total points evenly, we got just slightly more than 0.5 cents per Hilton point, which is fair. If we exclude the two free nights, we actually got about 0.7 cents per point which is pretty good. Either way you calculate it, we essentially got this stay for free as a result of normal credit card spending.

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I hold top-tier Hilton Diamond status as a result of having an American Express Hilton Aspire card which likely contributed to our room upgrade from King Standard to King Premium (bypassing the mid-tier King Deluxe). Additionally, our Hilton booking agent left a comment to the hotel staff that we were celebrating a birthday as well as an anniversary which also likely played a factor. If we do our value calculations with this 2-tier upgrade, we actually got somewhere between 0.7-0.9 cents per points, a screaming deal.

See the end of this post for more information about how you can earn and leverage Hilton status for your own stays by way of co-branded American Express credit cards.

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Final Thoughts
We had an incredible and comfortable stay to the point of wanting to return to this specific hotel on our future trips to Tokyo. The hotel was clean and conveniently located, and the staff were professional, friendly, and helpful. This is the standard against which other Hilton hotels should be measured and we will be coming back.

Hotel Website
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/tyohitw-hilton-tokyo/

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American Express Hilton Credit Cards
For US-based readers, American Express offers a whole suite of co-branded Hilton credit cards, from the no-fee Hilton Honors card offering Silver status all the way up to the top-tier Aspire premium card offering Diamond status.

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If you are interested in signing up for one of these co-branded Hilton cards to jumpstart your status with Hilton, enrich your Hilton stays, and leverage it for future hotel stays like the one in this post, you can read more about each card and apply through the following affiliate link: American Express Hilton Honors cards. We receive a small referral bonus if you use our link, thank you in advance!

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Flight Review: Virgin Atlantic Premium Class | A350-1000 | New York JFK to London Heathrow (JFK-LHR)

Premium Red and Violet over the Atlantic.

London, United Kingdom (UK) — Our transatlantic outbound leg to the UK allowed us to try Virgin Atlantic’s Premium class (the second oldest premium economy product, after Taiwanese EVA Air’s). The corridor between New York and London is one of the busiest routes in the world so there are many competitors, but Virgin’s premium economy product makes for a decently comfortable daytime hop over the pond.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000, photo by Virgin Atlantic.

Date Flown: 2024 July 8
Departure/Arrival Times: 08:20 EST – 20:10 BST
Flight Time: 6hr 50min
Aircraft Type: Airbus A350-1000
Fare Class: Premium Class
Notable Perks: Pre-ordered meals, premium check-in, priority boarding, extra baggage allowance
Elite Status: SkyTeam Elite (via Delta Silver Medallion); no Virgin status

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Flight Overview
Virgin Atlantic operates this flight, VS26, with the larger Airbus A350-1000 variant, taking just under 7 hours between New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) International and London Heathrow airports. This particular flight is notable for being a daytime flight from the U.S. East Coast to London, whereas many eastbound transatlantic flights tend to be overnight.

Being a daytime flight makes Virgin’s “Upper Class” lay-flat business class seat less valuable, in my opinion, since most of the flight would be during waking hours. Personally, Premium class was better value for us on this specific leg since it was more comfortable than economy but much cheaper than business class.

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View of the early morning tarmac from the JFK American Express Centurion Lounge.

New York JFK Terminal 4 was relatively quiet that early Sunday morning when we arrived and TSA Precheck security took less than 5 minutes; the general security line was also relatively short. After a leisurely breakfast in the Terminal 4 American Express Centurion lounge (review to come), we boarded behind the Upper Class passengers roughly on time.

Our aircraft G-VJAM, nicknamed Queen of Hearts, parked at the gate being prepped for boarding.

Our flight departed New York on-time just after 8:20AM. Virgin’s cabin lighting was an interesting mix of red and violet LEDs, matching their corporate colors, which made for a fun vibe as we crossed the Atlantic. Dining under these lights felt a bit like eating in an upscale lounge or night-club.

Virgin Atlantic mood lighting during meal service.

Our London-based crew seemed relatively young and matched the energy of the cabin colors. Our particular stewardess was incredibly pleasant and very attentive throughout the flight. We arrived in London uneventfully just after 8PM local time and deplaned at Heathrow Terminal 3.

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Seat Overview
Virgin’s Airbus A350-1000s are equipped with 44 Upper (Business) Class lay-flat suites in 1-2-1 configuration, 56 Premium Class seats in 2-3-2 configuration, 235 Economy Class seats (including 38 Economy Delight seats with slightly more legroom) in 3-3-3 configuration.

Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350-1000 seat map, graphic by Virgin Atlantic.

Virgin’s A350-1000 Premium Class seats are an advertised width of 18.5 in (47 cm), have a pitch of 38 in (97 cm), and recline of 7 in (18 cm). For comparison, Economy seats are roughly 17.4 in (44 cm) wide, have a pitch of 31 in (34 in for Economy Delight; 79 and 86cm respectively), and recline of 5 in (13 cm).

View of the middle section of the Premium Class cabin as we boarded.

For completeness, Virgin’s Upper Class seats are 20 in (51 cm) wide, have a theoretic pitch of up to 6 ft 7 in (201 cm; i.e. the length of the business class pod), and lay completely flat.

A350-1000 economy seats, photo by Virgin Atlantic.

Immediately noticeable when comparing the Premium cabin to the Economy cabin are the plusher seats and the increased width of both the actual seats as well as practical room due to having two less seats abreast.

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The inclusion of wider arms rests between each Premium seat allows for less shoulder/elbow-bumpage with your neighbor. The headrest wings can be adjusted to give more support. These seats are reminiscent of those in U.S. domestic first class cabins.

Upon seating, directly in front of you is a 13 inch in-flight entertainment (IFE) screen (compared to the 11.5 inch screen in Economy). Along the bottom edge of the screen is a USB-A charging port and headphone jack. Directly below the IFE screen is a small storage space for small flat items.

Premium Class seatback with IFE screen and some storage space.

Further down the seat you will find a seatback pocket with safety card, an airsickness bag, and in-flight literature. I tucked the meal service menu that was initially resting on the armrest here as well.

The author in this photo is 5′ 7″ (170 cm) tall.

Below that is a foot rest that can be lowered if desired. The angle of the “pedals” can be adjusted.

Premium Class seat footrest with adjustable “pedals”.

Between each seatback are two 110V universal power outlets so no need to share with your neighbor.

Two universal power outlets between Premium Class seats.

Between each seat is a double width armrest with space for two drinks. Below that along the side of the armrest is the lever to adjust your seat recline.

Middle armrest between Premium Class seats

Seat recline lever (sorry for the poor image quality).

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The middle armrests flip up to reveal another storage space perfect for other flatter objects. Here you’ll find another USB-A charging port as well as a headphone jack. This was the perfect cubby to store my amenity kit and phone.

Small storage space beneath the middle armrest with USB-A charging port and IFE headphone jack.

The opposite armrest for each seat houses the fold out table. Pulling the small black lever at the rear of the slot allows the table to pop out.

Tray table in side armrest with deployment lever.

The table is hinged in the middle in case you don’t need the entire space. Unfortunately there was not quite enough space for me to slip out of the seat in folded position, but maybe a thinner person could manage.

At each seat there was an amenity kit, meal service menu and on-ear headphones. For what it’s worth, I did not use these provided headphones, opting to use my own noise canceling headset.

Fully deployed tray tablet with amenity kit, menu, and headphones.

At each seat was a small pillow and very nice blanket which is discussed further below. The one unfortunate quirk of the thicker blanket is the relative lack of space to tuck it away when not using – I ended up wedging mine at my feet between the seat in front and the cabin wall.

Wedging my pillow and blanket between seat in front and cabin wall.

Virgin’s A350-1000s have overhead air vents to allow you to control your own microclimate which is always a perk.

Overhead lighting and individual air vents on Virgin Atlantic A350-1000.

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Amenities
Upon boarding, a small pillow similar to those in Economy class and a relatively nice blanket was waiting on our seats. The blanket in particular was very soft and also had a small cutout so you could wrap it around your neck while sleeping. It is by far one of the nicest blankets I’ve ever come across outside of business class.

Virgin Atlantic Premium Class pillow and blanket, July 2024.

Premium Class passengers are also provided a small amenity kit. In their effort to make aviation a bit more ecofriendly, Virgin decided to go with a thick recycled craft paper zippered case.

While admirable, I personally felt the case was a bit cheap feeling and would not hold up to hard use. I have no plans to repurpose it for travel use…maybe for organization at home?

Virgin Atlantic Premium Class amenity kit, July 2024.

Going along with the theme, inside you’ll find a pen made of recycled paper, a bamboo toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste, earplugs wrapped in a paper packet, and a relatively cheap eye mask. Nothing to write home about here.

Virgin Atlantic amenity kit contents, July 2024.

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Meal Service(s)
Upon boarding, we were served a choice of orange juice or prosecco as a pre-departure beverage. In-flight menus for breakfast and lunch service were waiting at our seats.

One notable perk of Premium Class is the ability to pre-order your entrees prior to your flight. To my knowledge, at the time of this flight, the Premium Class pre-order menu was exactly the same as the in-flight menu, but doing so guarantees your first choice is available.

Email for pre-ordered meals arrived one week before the flight.

Exactly one week prior, I received an emailed link asking for meal selections, if desired. This option is available to all Upper and Premium Class passengers, as well as Flying Club members of any class.

(Note: For special meal requests and dietary restrictions, you can pre-order on the Virgin booking management page regardless of class).

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Premium Class inflight menu, New York JFK to London Heathrow, July 2024.

Breakfast service started about 30 minutes after take-off with crew coming around with citrus-scented sanitizer wipes, no hot towels here.

I went sweet and opted for the French toast option which was paired with a mixed berry and coconut topping and served alongside a sweet vanilla crème anglaise sauce.

Mixed fruit, Greek yogurt and cold apricot pastry rounded out the meal. I went with just still water, but plenty of coffee and tea options were available upon request.

Premium Class French toast breakfast, New York JFK to London Heathrow, July 2024.

Exactly 90 minutes before our landing time, the cabin was prepared for lunch service with another round of sanitizing wipes.

I went with the salmon which was cooked perfectly and paired with a nice lemony butter sauce and capers. It was technically served on a bed of mashed potatoes but that sort of blended into the sauce. Everything was delicious nonetheless.

Premium Class pecan-encrusted salmon entrée, New York JFK to London Heathrow, July 2024.

My partner went with the chicken tikka masala. It was apparently nicely seasoned but a bit dry. All entrees were accompanied by the same side salad, fruit and cheese plate with a packet of crackers, a nice chocolate mousse cake and cold bread roll.

Premium Class chicken tikka masala entrée, New York JFK to London Heathrow, July 2024

The mini airplane salt and pepper shakers were a fun touch. I seriously contemplated having them “accidentally” them fall into my personal bag.

Not pictured in this review but available during the flight was the “Wander Wall” in the galley at the front of the Premium Class cabin. Crew kept this area stocked with snacks and canned drinks for passengers to pick from at their leisure.

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Lavatory
On this A350-1000, there were two sets of lavatories accessible by Premium Class passengers – one towards the front of the cabin shared with the Business Class cabin and another set toward the rear in the economy section.

Lavatory between Upper and Premium class cabins.

Nothing fancy amenity-wise but the mood lightening was a interesting touch. The crew kept these fairly clean throughout the flight, no complaints here.

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Booking
At the time of booking, there was U.S. Black Friday sale for 33% off the points portion of award flights on Virgin’s U.S. website (they routinely have holiday sales throughout the year). Taking advantage of this, we booked this route for 36,800 Virgin points plus $893.40 cash per person.

JFK-LHR Premium Class award ticket pricing with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points.

Unfortunately, award flights to/from the United Kingdom often have fairly high cash fees. That said, when compared to the going cash price for the same booking, we essentially traded just shy of 37,000 points for $1359 cash per person, a value of 3.6 cents per point (approximately 2.5 times better than The Points Guy valuation of 1.4 cents per Virgin point).

JFK-LHR Premium Class ticket cash pricing.

There are often transfer bonuses to Virgin from U.S. partner banks (such as American Express, Chase, and Capital One) which can stretch your transferable bank points further.
Virgin award sales like this pop up throughout the year, so it is worth checking from time to time, especially when the deals line up with partner bank transfer bonuses.

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American Express Credit Cards
A portion of the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points redeemed for this flight was transferred over from my American Express Membership Rewards account. American Express offers a wide selection of credit card products that may benefit avid travelers, including airport lounge access, hotel status, and many other benefits.

To learn more about American Express’s offerings, including lucrative early spend bonuses that may help fund travel, click this link: HERE. Be sure to browse through the different card options. If you apply and are approved for a credit card, we earn a referral bonus to help support this blog, and we thank you in advance!

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Flight Review: Delta Premium Select | A350-900 | Seoul-Incheon to Atlanta (ICN-ATL)

Atlanta, Georgia, USA — Our return leg from Seoul put us once again in Delta’s Premium Select class, their premium economy product, on an Airbus A350. While our outbound flight to Seoul was largely overnight, leaving ATL around midnight with most passengers opting to sleep, this flight back home departed ICN earlier in the evening giving it a slightly different vibe.

Our Delta A350-900 parked at a rainy Seoul-Incheon airport

Date Flown: 20 April 2024
Departure/Arrival Times: 18:40 KST – 19:20 EST
Flight Time: 12 hr 40 min
Aircraft Type: Airbus A350-900
Fare Class: Premium Select
Elite Status: Delta Silver Medallion

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Flight Overview
After a taxi ride from Seoul and grabbing a quick bite to eat from Incheon Terminal 2’s Matina Lounge (review here), we boarded the Airbus A350-900 that Delta operates nonstop between Seoul-Incheon and Atlanta. Boarding was efficient and we departed on-time just before 7PM Korean time despite the rain for our roughly 13-hour overnight flight.

Overwing view after boarding our Delta A350-900 at a rainy Seoul-Incheon airport.

Our route had us skirt around Russian airspace (which was closed to us due to the ongoing Ukraine-Russian conflict at the time of travel) and track along the Alaskan coast before cutting across the U.S. Midwest back into Georgia. Interestingly we arrived in Atlanta the same day just after 7PM Eastern time after crossing the international date line.

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Flight information, ignore the times, they had not updated before take-off yet.

The flight crew was fairly reserved but very professional, and most of the crewmembers were bilingual in English and Korean. All in-flight announcements are made in both languages which can make them lengthy at times. If you are a light sleeper, I recommend a good pair of earplugs.

Arrival into Atlanta relatively early the morning.

Overall, there was very little turbulence, and the flight went very smoothly. I was able to get 5-6 hours of sleep which is pretty good for me. I find crews on East Asian routes tend to very good as well making the flight much more enjoyable.

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Seat Overview
This variant of Delta’s A350-900 has 32 Delta One lay-flat suites, 48 Premium Select seats, 36 Comfort Plus seats, and 190 economy seats. While both the Premium Select and Comfort Plus classes appear to be premium economy, there is a large distinction between them.

Delta Airbus A350-900 seat map, photo by Delta Airlines. Premium Select in red.

Delta’s Premium Select seats are similar to the lounger-style U.S. domestic first-class seats with more recline and pitch (space between seats). Comfort Plus is essentially a regular economy seat with slightly more pitch. Additionally, Premium Select generally has better amenities and service associated with the fare class.

Delta Premium Select seats, photo by Delta Airlines.

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View of the Premium Select cabin from seat 25A. Here you can see the 2-4-2 seat configuration.

Delta economy seats, from our previous ATL-ICN flight in 3-3-3 configuration.

On this flight, we were seated in 25A and 25B, the last row of Premium Select. Notably, while there is a solid bulkhead partition between our row and the Comfort Plus seats behind it, the seats DO recline all the way back.

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Upon arriving at our seats, we were greeted with bottled water, a small pillow, and a relatively plush blanket. Additionally, there were a small amenities kit, over-ear headphones, and Delta-branded slippers.

Bottles of water waiting for us upon boarding.

When seated you are faced with a decently sized touch-capable in-flight entertainment (IFE) screen and beneath a small cubby for the safety card and other relatively flat items. Further down the seatback is a pocket for larger items. In-between the seatbacks are two universal power sockets.

Delta Premium Select seatback pockets. Author in this photo is 5′ 7″ (170cm) tall.

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The armrest between Premium Select seats is another notable upgrade from Comfort Plus. Each seat gets its own armrest so there is no elbow bumping and there is room for drink holders.

On either side of the middle armrest is a nook for storing other small items. Here you will also find the headphone plug, seat controls, and the IFE remote. The seat controls allow you to independently adjust each section of the seat. I personally believe the leg rest is a godsend on long flights.

In the opposite armrests you will find the fold-out tray table. It is larger than those found in economy class and fairly sturdy. The table is hinged in the center allow you to collapse it down to half-size and slip out of your seat while it is deployed.

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It should be noted that the armrests are fixed on these Premium Select seats which may present a problem for more endowed passengers if width is an issue. Otherwise, the space and pitch gained over Economy or Comfort Plus is worth considering on longer flights.

Fully deployed table. Safety card for scale.

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Amenities
At the time of this flight, Delta provided long-haul Premium Select passengers with a woven cloth Someone Somewhere amenity kit. (Note: Delta discontinued this kit June 2024 and started providing Missoni branded kits containing similar items at the time of this post.)

My kit was made by Filemán from Michoacán, Mexico.

The pouches are handmade by the person whose name is on the inside label. Each kit contained a pair of Delta-branded socks, eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush kit and Grown Alchemist brand lip balm.

Contents of Delta Premium Select amenity kit

The kit is relatively substantial for a U.S. premium economy product and basically a scaled down version of the Delta One business class amenity kit (see my review of my Delta One flight to Hawaii here).

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Meal Service(s)
Water bottles were present at our seat upon boarding. There was no pre-departure beverage service however shortly after take-off crew came around with hot towels, a small bag of trail mix, and the first of several rounds of drinks.

Mixed nuts and fruit. Author went with iced water.

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About an hour after take-off, we start our first meal service with another round of drinks. Meals for Premium Select passengers came out on one tray. I opted for the Korean beef nubiani (a sort of grilled beef dish) which was tender and well-seasoned. A side salad, sourdough flatbread crackers, and a nice chocolate tart rounded out the meal.

Delta Premium Select Korean beef nubiani, salad, flatbread crackers, and chocolate tart.

Roughly halfway through the flight, a warm cheese pizza twist snack was served along with another drink.

Delta Premium Select mid-flight pizza twist snack.

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Two hours before landing in Atlanta, the crew came around with breakfast service. I went for the savory stir-friend Korean noodles for one last taste of Korea on this trip. It was served alongside some fresh fruit and a small chocolate.

Delta Premium Select Korean stir-fried noodles and fruit breakfast.

In between meals, the crew left out some snacks and drinks in the galley between the Premium Select and Delta One cabins for anyone feeling peckish. I feel like the meal services were well-timed throughout the flight and at no point was I ever very hungry.

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Lavatory
There are two lavatories for Premium Select passengers, and shared with the Delta One passengers, located in between the two cabins on either side of the aircraft. While nothing particularly special, these lavatories were kept very clean by the crew throughout the flight.

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Final Thoughts
Delta Premium Select represents a good middle-ground between Main Cabin/economy class and Delta One business class. It represents, in my opinion, a better value upgrade from economy when compared to Comfort Plus, if available for a good price, given the roomier seats and better food.

Until Korean Air introduces their new premium economy product (slated for late 2025 at the time of this post, initially on their Boeing 777s), Delta’s Premium Select will remain the primary semi-premium, non-business class product from Atlanta non-stop to Seoul-Incheon.

If your plan allows for a layover somewhere, you will likely have access to arguably better products on other carriers, but nonstop options from Atlanta are relatively limited given Delta’s dominance at this hub. For now, Delta Premium Select remains a strong contender for our future nonstop flights to East Asia.

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Booking
Delta Main Cabin (economy) roundtrip tickets booked directly with Delta in late 2023 were $2442.00 per person, plus another 49,900 SkyMiles per person for the upgrade to Premium Select.

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American Express Delta SkyMiles Platinum Card, photo by American Express.

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Lounge Review: Matina Lounge | Seoul-Incheon (ICN) Terminal 2

More restaurant, less lounge.

Incheon, South Korea — As our South Korea trip came to an end, we popped into the Matina Lounge in Seoul-Incheon (ICN) Terminal 2 to grab a bite to eat prior to our departure home. It is one of three Priority Pass lounges in Terminal 2 and the most central given its location just after security.

Date of Review: 20 April 2024
Location: Seoul-Incheon International Airport, Terminal 2, 4th floor after security, near gate 252
Hours: 0700 to 2200 KST daily (buffet closes 2130)
Access: Priority Pass, DragonPass, Plaza Premium membership, Lounge Buddy, among others
Notables: Convenient location in Terminal 2, can get very busy, no restrooms inside (but available nearby).
_{Note: Hours and access rules current as of time of posting}

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Seating
After passing the front desk, you are greeted with essentially one large rectangular space with dining tables mostly for two or four persons. The space is well-lit and mostly white and neutral tones with a few pops of turquoise.

Central dining area, Matina Lounge ICN T2

Along the glass windows facing the terminal and in the middle of the lounge, there is a small amount of counter seating. There are a few armchairs and single-person seats located in the center space as well.

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In one corner was a “family zone” for travelers with children that had private booths to allow large families to spread out a bit.

Looking into the Family Zone (left, behind the partition), Matina Lounge ICN T2.

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Food and Drink
The buffet is located at the very back of the lounge. There were many mostly Korean and Pan-Asian hot food options with fresh rice and soups available to round out your meal.

Some fried food options, Matina Lounge ICN T2

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There was a decently sized salad bar as well as fresh fruits at a separate table.

Fresh fruits (including cherry tomatoes), Matina Lounge ICN T2

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There was also another table of desserts mostly consisting of small cakes, sweets and pastries.

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In the center of the lounge were various drink options, including bottled beer and wines in small fridges beside the soft drink dispensers. There was some sort of house beer on tap as well. The multitude of fruit and vegetable juice options was also nice.

Soft drink dispenser, Matina Lounge ICN T2

Bottled beer and wines, Matina Lounge ICN T2

Fruit and vegetable juice dispenser, Matina Lounge ICN T2

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Coffee and espresso drink machines were located opposite the soft drinks and juices. Interestingly, there were instant cup ramen and a hot water dispenser located here as well.

Coffee and espresso drink machine, Matina Lounge ICN T2

Cup ramen and hot water dispenser, Matina Lounge ICN T2

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All in all, there was something for pretty much everyone and it made for a nice light lunch before our flight.

Cute robot patrolling the lounge for dirty dishes and cups, Matina Lounge ICN T2

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Amenities
Free WiFi was available and fast enough to stream HD videos. There is allegedly a business center which in reality is just more dining space.

One notable thing is the lounge does not have its own restrooms. Instead, guests are directed to the public restrooms across a small bridge on the opposite side of the floor which is a bit of an inconvenience. This lounge has no shower facilities.

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Lounge Access
The Matina Lounge in Incheon Terminal 2 can be accessed by many of the most popular lounge programs including Priority Pass, the Plaza Premium Lounge network, and DragonPass. It is open from 7AM to 10PM local time with the buffet closing at 9:30PM.

A 2-hour pass is available for US$39. Access and pricing current as of posting date and subject to change without notice.

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Thoughts
The Matina Lounge in Incheon Terminal 2 is incredibly popular given its broad access and central terminal location. It has been very busy each time I’ve passed through. This time around we had an approximately 10 minute wait to get into the lounge, but wait-times can approach half an hour at times. Food and drink options were fine but not worth waiting very long for.

Seoul-Incheon Terminal 2 is very spacious and has many other alternate (and excellent) dining and seating options. If you have access and some time, the Matina Lounge is fine for a quick meal, but I would not go out of my way or plan a layover around it. It feels very much like a restaurant more than a relaxing lounge.

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American Express Credit Cards
My access to the Matina Lounge at Seoul-Incheon Terminal 2 was through my Priority Pass benefit from my American Express Platinum Card. American Express offers many credit card products including those designed for frequent travelers.

To learn more about American Express’s offerings, including lucrative early spend bonuses that may help fund travel, click this link: HERE. Be sure to browse through the different card options.

If you apply and are approved for any American Express card through the link above, we earn a referral bonus which greatly supports this blog, and we thank you in advance.

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Hotel Review: voco Seoul Gangnam | Premium King with Hinoki Bath

Gangnam Stylish.

Seoul, South Korea — For our return trip to Seoul this year, we opted to stay in the posh Gangnam area of Seoul close to some business we had nearby. My prior experience with IHG was limited to mostly the Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express brands, so I was curious about the chain’s smaller more upscale “voco” properties which had a convenient Gangnam location.

The (in)famous Gangnam Style hands near Starfield COEX Mall, Seoul, South Korea

Dates Stayed: 14 April – 20 April 2024
Room Type: Premium King with Hinoki Bath (upgraded from Premium King)
Elite Status: IHG Platinum Elite
Notables: Great elite recognition, free breakfast for Platinum and Diamond Elites, very convenient to Gangnam area of Seoul

voco’s cute bird mascot statue, voco Seoul Gangnam

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Location
voco Seoul Gangnam is located in the northern part of the Gangnam district of Seoul, south of the Han River that runs through the metropolis.

voco Seoul Gangnam exterior, photo by IHG.

It is surrounded by hip neighborhoods, trendy boutiques and walkable to the main Gangnam shopping street where most of the flagship luxury stores are located. You may notice numerous medical clinics and surgery centers nearby since Gangnam is a big hub for elective medical procedures.

Overlooking part of the Gangnam neighborhood from our room, voco Seoul Gangnam

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It is roughly a 5-10 minute walk to nearest subway station of Sinsa-dong which connects to the #3 and Shinbundang lines of the efficient Seoul subway system. Sinsa station exit #1 is the nearest entrance from the hotel.

Sinsa station exit #1 (bottom left) to voco Seoul Gangnam (top right), a roughly 0.25 mile (0.3 km) walk. Image adapted from Google Maps.

Alternatively, you can also take an airport limousine bus from Incheon airport to the Gangnam area. There is a bus stop in front of the Four Points hotel a few blocks down the street from voco Seoul Gangnam.

Airport bus stop (top right) in front of the Four Points hote to voco Seoul Gangnam (bottom left), a roughly 0.3 mile (0.5 km) walk. Image adapted from Google Maps.

Take note that the hotel sits roughly on top of a hill so it is an uphill walk from both Sinsa subway station as well as the airport bus stop to the hotel.

This hill may present an issue if you have a lot of luggage or physical limitations. I would consider taking a rideshare or taxi directly to the front door in these cases. A taxi/rideshare from Seoul-Incheon International Airport takes roughly 45-60 minutes one-way, depending on traffic conditions.

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The Hotel
voco Seoul Gangnam was opened in 2022 as the second hotel of this brand in South Korea. Since the writing of this review, a third voco hotel in Seoul’s touristy Myeongdong area has started accepting bookings.

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With 151 beds and a chic yellow-navy color scheme accented by dark woods, the hotel gave the impression of being a smaller boutique hotel. IHG’s website states that voco means “to invite” in Latin and apparently is going for a cozier more laid-back vibe which they do well.

View of the lobby from the entrance, voco Seoul Gangnam

The hotel fit nicely into this more upscale neighborhood and gives IHG loyalists a less stuffy premium option in Gangnam compared to the flagship InterContinentals.

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The first floor and lobby of the hotel is actually up a set of stairs/escalators. The door at street level enters into the basement level with elevators to the lobby inside for accessibility if needed.

Street-level ground/basement floor below the main lobby, voco Seoul Gangnam

As you enter the relatively small but tastefully decorated lobby, you are greeted by a seating area and restrooms off to the side. At the back of the lobby is the front desk with two counters. Beside the front desk you’ll find the entrance to the hotel’s Amarillo all-day restaurant; more on that later.

The staff were very friendly and professional. In addition to the native Korean, various front desk staff were fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese.

We were a little early on check-in day, and the staff proactively offered to keep our luggage in the storage room while we went out for lunch which was greatly appreciated.

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The Room
We were assigned room 1202 on the twelfth floor, facing the main street in front of the hotel. The yellow-navy color scheme with wood floors from the lobby continued into the room theming.

Room 1202, Premium King room with Hinoki Bath, voco Seoul Gangnam

Interestingly our room key card was made of bamboo and branded with the IHG One Rewards loyalty program logo.

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Immediately upon entering, you are greeted by a small panel with a slot for your room keycard that enables room power and several buttons that control groups of lights throughout the room.

Additionally there are options to notify staff if you would like your room serviced each day (they will skip your room if you select Do Not Disturb).

Key card power slot, room service buttons, and master light controls

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Further into the room, which is relatively spacious for this region of the world, is the king bed which was plush and very clean.

On either side of the bed was a nightstand with both a universal power outlet as well as South Korean pattern outlet. There was also a USB-A power outlet as well.

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Directly across the bed was a large flat-screen TV. A personalized welcome message was made the home screen which was a nice touch.

Welcome message on TV upon entering, voco Seoul Gangnam

Beyond that is a coffee table and lounger beside the floor to ceiling window. From our room, we could see Namsan mountain and N Seoul Tower across the Han River. The window opens slightly if you want some fresh air.

Window-side lounge chair and coffee table, voco Seoul Gangnam

Namsam Mountain and N Seoul Tower way off in the distance, voco Seoul Gangnam

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The front desk, as recognition of my IHG Platinum status, arranged a welcome amenity of a modest bottle of white wine and some Korean rice cakes which were delicious.

Welcome gifts for elite members, voco Seoul Gangnam

On the other side of the bed, opposite the lounge chair and coffee table, is a space-efficient closet. Here you will find also find the mini-fridge, a coffee-tea set-up and the room safe.

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The closet has a sliding door that unfortunately blocks access to the hallway and bathroom if opened all the way. This may be a little inconvenient for two people. This was probably my one gripe with the room design.

Room safe and minifridge, voco Seoul Gangnam

One nice thing is all drinks in the minifridge are included with the stay. I noticed that the staff replenished any beverages we consumed each day when cleaning the room.

Drinks included with stay, voco Seoul Gangnam

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Beside the entrance to the bathroom was a small vanity. Next to this vanity was another panel with the room temperature control and another set of lighting controls. It took some experimentation to figure out which button controlled which room lights.

The bathroom was spacious for an East Asian hotel and impeccably clean when we arrived. The toilet here was equipped with a nice bidet.

Premium King bathroom, voco Seoul Gangnam

Premium King sink and amenities, voco Seoul Gangnam

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The rainfall head in the shower stall was a luxurious touch, and the bath products were Antipodes branded. The water got plenty hot and pressure was great.

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On the opposite side of the bathroom was the room’s namesake Hinoki cypress wood bath. This hardy wood gives off a nice earthy citrusy scent when wet and is naturally decay-resistant. You will often find similar baths in Japan where this wood originates.

There is a removable seat in the bathtub should you want to submerge your entire body. It was a godsend to be able to take a warm soak and relieve any fatigue after a long day exploring Seoul. I made use of it every night without fail.

Hinoki bathtub information card, voco Seoul Gangnam

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Dining
voco Seoul Gangnam has one restaurant on-site, Amarillo. Meaning “yellow” in Spanish, its name is a play on the vibrant yellow-navy color scheme of the hotel.

The breakfast buffet is served here in the morning. Afterwards, it converts to a full-service restaurant serving lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner.

View of Amarillo restaurant as you enter, voco Seoul Gangnam

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At the time of our stay, the breakfast buffet cost approximately US$28 per adult and $16 per child (38000 KRW for adults, 22800 KRW per child). Breakfast was free for both IHG Platinum and Diamond members.

It is notable that free breakfast is not usually a standard Platinum benefit at most full-service IHG hotels, and we were very grateful when it was offered at check-in.

View of Amarillo restaurant from the other side of the bar, voco Seoul Gangnam

Upon entering the restaurant for breakfast, you pass by the bar and are greeted by an open seating area. Directly left as you enter is a smaller room contain the coffee machines and hot food buffet.

Rotating hot soups at the breakfast buffet

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There are rotating Western and Asian hot options each day as well as a few items that remained constant throughout our stay. There is enough variety that everyone can probably find something that suits their palate.

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Immediately outside of the hot buffet line were two tables with various cereals, milk, yogurt and fruit juices.

Yogurts and various toppings as well as milk

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In front of the bar is a fruit and salad spread as well as cold deli options.

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On the opposite side of the bar is another area with breads and pastries.

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There are also made-to-order egg dishes you may request from your server. Opposite the hot food buffet, you will find an omelette station.

Made to order egg items on the Amarillo breakfast menu, voco Seoul Gangnam

Eggs Benedict at Amarillo, voco Seoul Gangnam

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Overall, while the restaurant itself was small, the food selection and quality was superb. There was truly something for everyone, and you could have a different breakfast each morning if you wanted.

We did not partake in any other meals aside from breakfast at Amarillo during this stay, but you can find the full restaurant menu here: Amarillo Menu (PDF).

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Other Amenities
The hotel had a basic gym equipped with some basic cardio machines and a cable weight machine. There were no free weights available at the time of our stay.

Small fitness center, voco Seoul Gangnam

Each floor had a fairly well-equipped shared kitchenette with a communal fridge, should you choose to cook meals while staying. While we did not see anyone using it during our stay, the kitchen on our floor appeared well maintained and very clean.

Communal kitchen on each floor, voco Seoul Gangnam

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Most floors had a dedicated laundry room with coin-operated washers and dryers assessible with your keycard. Laundry detergent and dryer sheets were available in a nearby vending machine which also doubled as a change machine to break larger bills.

Coin-operated laundry machines and dryers, voco Seoul Gangnam

Detergent and dryer sheet vending machine, voco Seoul Gangnam

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The hotel does have a rentable ballroom in lower level used for small weddings, meetings, and parties. It seemed very popular with multiple events taking place during our stay.

Ballroom, voco Seoul Gangnam. Photo by IHG.

Lounge/Club
This property did not have an executive lounge or club at the time of our stay.

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Booking
This 6-night stay was booked directly with the hotel in August 2023 for a total cash price of US$906.98 ($151.16 per night) for two people. Total pricing in Korean won was approximately ₩1,348,680.00.

Originally, we were booked into a standard Premium King room but given an upgrade to the Premium King room with the nicer Hinoki bath at check-in which worked out to about an additional ~$30 value per night.

Hotel Website
https://www.ihg.com/voco/hotels/us/en/seoul/seovc/hoteldetail

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Chase IHG Premier Credit Card
Interested in complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status, an anniversary free night award each year, 4th-night free on award bookings, and a potentially lucrative sign-up bonus to help fund future IHG stays? Follow this link to learn more: IHG Premier Card. If you apply and are approved via that link, we receive referral bonus which helps support future blog posts. We thank you in advance!

Chase IHG Premier Card, photo by Chase Bank.

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Flight Review: Delta A330-300 | Delta One Business Class | Honolulu to Atlanta (HNL-ATL) (2023)

Atlanta, Georgia — Our return leg from Hawaii was also on Delta’s older lie-flat business product, and while probably not as nice as the newer Delta One Suites, it was still not a bad way to spend an approximately 8-hour flight home.

Originally booked in Premium Select, I was able to upgrade our seats to Delta One a few months prior to the flight with Delta SkyMiles, which I will explain later in the post.

To see other reviews associated with this trip, check out these links below:
– Delta One business class from ATL to HNL inbound flight
– Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa
– Delta SkyClub Honolulu lounge review

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Date Flown: 2023 September 27
Departure/Arrival Time: 1530 HST – 0530 EST
Flight Time: 8hr 25min
Aircraft Type: Airbus A330-300
Fare Class: Delta One
Elite Status: Silver Medallion

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Flight Overview
Delta operated this flight with an Airbus A330-300, flight number DL836, nonstop from Honolulu to Atlanta, taking roughly 8.5 hours. Unlike Delta’s newer A330-900neo variants, this particular Airbus does not have the nicer Delta One Suites, though it did undergo a refresh around 2022 which added new Delta One upholstery among other upgrades.

Honolulu in the distance as we taxied to the runway

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The flight departed HNL on-time and arrived in ATL slightly ahead of schedule without issue. The scenery as we taxied around HNL to our runway was beautiful and a tad bittersweet as we bid farewell to our tropical paradise.

Passing Honolulu and Waikiki Beach on the take-off climb from HNL

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The cabin crew was courteous and professional, and the attendant on our side of the cabin was particularly proactive with service (I regretfully cannot recall their name, sorry!).

Departing Oahu, Hawaii aboard a Delta A330-330 in Delta One business class

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We landed roughly on-time in Atlanta about 8.5 hours later. Having arrived before sunrise, it was still dark outside when we pulled into our gate. Overall it was a very uneventful flight.

Early morning arrival into Atlanta before sunrise

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Seat Overview
After the 2022 retrofit, Delta’s A330-300s now sport four cabins including a new Premium Select cabin. There are now 34 Delta One lay-flat seats, 21 Premium Select seats, 24 Comfort Plus seats, and 203 regular economy seats on these aircraft at the time of this post.

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The non-Suite A330 Delta One seats have an advertised width of approximately 19.7in (50cm) and pitch of 80in (203cm) in lay-flat mode. For comparison, the Premium Select (premium economy) seats are 18.5in (47cm) wide with 38in (97cm) of pitch.

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Economy seats are a typical industry average of 18in (46cm) wide with 31-32in (79-81cm) of pitch, adding a few more inches of pitch if riding in Comfort Plus.

One notable thing about these A330s is the 2-4-2 seating arrangement in Economy and Comfort Plus which is more comfortable than the 3-3-3 seating arrangement sometimes crammed into widebody aircraft.

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This makes the outer window-aisle doublets particularly desirable for couples, while the inner 4-seat arrangement may be ideal for a 4-person family.

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Each Delta One seat has direct aisle access but no door like the newer Suite seats. Despite this, I felt the seats were relatively private since each seat was angled away from the aisle which reduced any awkward eye contact with fellow passengers.

Window-side Delta One seat on A330-300, the author pictured is 5′ 7″ (170cm) tall

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There is a ledge beside each seat large enough for a few drinks or small items. Directly above this ledge is a universal power outlet and USB-A socket. Here you’ll also find the plug for your included headphones which were waiting for us on the reading light.

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Below the ledge you will find a swing-out folding tray table which was spacious enough do some laptop work comfortably.

Delta One amenity kit and menu on swing-out folding tray table

Further towards the front of the pod is a small space above foot level which houses the safety card and airsickness bag. There is enough space here for small flat items such as phones and tablets as well.

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Opposite of this storage space is another small space near the floor which can also hold smaller items. I ended up sticking my amenity kit in this space for most of the flight.

Legs stretched out in Delta One on A330-300, the author pictured is 5′ 7″ (170cm) tall

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As you go towards the front, the pod narrows a bit. Here there was space for the bedding kit as well as my small personal item. While it was not an issue for me while lying flat, taller passengers may find the footwell a little tight.

Swing out IFE screen in Delta One A330-300

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Directly above the footwell is the inflight entertainment (IFE) screen, which swings open to face you with a push of the square button next to it. Here you will also find a remote control for the IFE screen which can be pulled out and retracted as needed.

IFE remote and seat controls in Delta One A330-300

Next to the IFE remote, you will find the seat controls which allows you to adjust each section of the seat independently. There are also presets for upright take-off/landing mode, half-way down lounging mode (my favorite), and fully lie-flat. The adjustable leg rest was particularly nice to have and helped minimize my leg fatigue across the Pacific.

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Amenities and Amenity Kit
Delta One passengers were provided a Westin Heavenly bedding kit containing a fairly plush pillow and nice comforter. No bed covers were provided on this flight.

Westin pillow (picture from my previous flight)

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A handmade Someone Somewhere amenity kit was also provided to Delta One passengers. Interestingly, each kit was labeled with the name of the person who made the kit pouch.

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The kit contained Grown Alchemist hand cream and lip balm, Humble Brush toothbrush and toothpaste, a pen, ear plugs, and eye mask. Most of the items were marketed as eco-friendly.

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Meal Services
Waiting at our seats were bottles of water, and flight attendants came around with our choice of pre-departure orange juice or sparking white wine.

Drinks and snacks after take-off and before lunch service

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Shortly after take-off, attendants came by again with more drinks, a ramekin of warmed mixed nuts, and our choice of any other snacks on offer.

Delta One business class menu, HNL-ATL September 2023

Roughly an hour into the flight, I was offered a warm towel, had my tray table set with a tablecloth, and had my drink topped off.

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I was then offered a choice of beef tenderloin, roasted chicken thigh, or a vegetarian mushroom ravioli main dish.

Delta One business class drink options, HNL-ATL September 2023

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I went for the beef tenderloin, which was very tender and perfectly seasoned. The roasted vegetables and peppers paired well with the beef, and I did not need to season the dish any further.

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My partner opted for the chicken dish which, due to a catering swap in Honolulu, was different than the teriyaki chicken thigh listed on the menu. She ended up receiving a roasted chicken breast with caramelized onions, roasted broccolini, and macaroni and cheese which was also reportedly pretty good.

Roasted chicken breast with caramelized onions, broccolini and cheesy pasta

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All dishes were accompanied by a poached pineapple shrimp appetizer, a fresh salad, and a warmed taro bread roll with butter.

We both chose the coconut cake for dessert to wrap up our meals. It was generously portioned, moist and not too sweet.

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About 1.5 hours before landing in Atlanta, flight attendants started the breakfast service with a round of drinks. I opted for my customary breakfast black coffee.

A choice of breakfast egg frittata or sweet chia seed oatmeal bowl was then offered. Note the sweet dish was different from the acai bowl listed on the menu due to a catering swap in Honolulu.

Chia seed oatmeal with fruit, mixed nuts and guava jelly

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We both chose the chia seed oatmeal which was served with some fresh fruit, sliced almonds and macadamia nuts, guava jelly, and another warm bread roll. While we were a little sad to miss out on the acai bowl, the oatmeal dish was still delicious.

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Because this was an overnight flight and most passengers ended up sleeping after the main meal service, flight attendants opted not to come through with snacks or water as often as our first flight. I noticed, however, that copious snacks and some bottles of water were left available in the forward galley throughout the flight for Delta One passengers.

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Lavatory
Delta One passengers on Delta’s A330-300s have access to two dedicated lavatories in the front of the cabin. The new blue mood lighting added during the recent refresh was a nice touch.

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Attendants kept the lavatories relatively clean throughout the flight. The lavatories were stocked with Grown Alchemist soap and hand cream.

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All in, this trip in Delta One business class costed me 93,400 Skymiles plus $976.55 roundtrip per person.

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To learn more about American Express’s offerings, including lucrative early spend bonuses that may help fund travel, click this link: HERE. Be sure to browse through the different card options. If you apply and are approved for a credit card, we earn a referral bonus to help support this blog, and we thank you in advance!

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Lounge Review: Delta Sky Club | Honolulu (HNL) Terminal 2 (2023)

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii — Delta operates a relatively small Sky Club lounge at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport for Delta and SkyTeam alliance premium cabin passengers leaving Honolulu.

For those familiar, the main concourse of the airport is largely open-air and can get a bit warm and humid during peak daylight hours. The lounge served as a nice last-minute air-conditioned bit of Hawaii before our Delta One business class flight back to the U.S. mainland.

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Location: Daniel K. Inouye (Honolulu) International Airport, Terminal 2, near Gate F1
Hours: 5:45AM to 10:00PM HST
Access: Includes but not limited to Delta One passengers, Delta Sky Club Members, SkyTeam premium cabin passengers, SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers (excluding Delta Medallion members)
Notables: Convenient to the Delta/SkyTeam gates at HNL Terminal 2, decent selection of food and drinks for a small lounge including some Hawaiian-inspired options, very friendly staff
_{Note: Hours and access rules current as of time of posting}

The very unassuming Honolulu Delta Sky Club entrance.

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Seating
After checking-in and walking past the front desk, guests are greeted by a rectangular lounge with essentially two large seating areas separated by the buffet and bar.

Armchair seating near the Sky Club entrance and buffet area

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There are some dining tables and chairs set-up near the food and drink area. Otherwise, the lounge seating is mostly armchairs with small side-tables.

This may present a problem if you have a lot of food or need to spread out to work, but it was not an issue for us since we spent most of the time just relaxing. Power outlets were plentiful throughout the lounge.

More seating. Note the small business area in the background.

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Food and Drink
In the center of the lounge, there was a small hot foods buffet which was transitioning between breakfast and lunch when we arrived. There was also an area for salads, sandwiches, fresh fruit, and cold cuts of meat and cheeses.

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A soda fountain serving Coca-cola products and some espresso/coffee drink machines were located nearby. Iced tea, lemonade, and water dispensers were also available.

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On this particular day, there was shaved ice with various flavors on offer (not sure if this is available year-round). There was also mochi ice cream available in a small freezer by the drinks (I gobbled mine up very fast, sorry for the lack of photos!).

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There is a small bar adjacent to the food/drink area. Most standard drinks including wine are complimentary by request, and there a few premium offerings for sale if desired. The bartender here insisted I try a Blue Hawaiian before I leave and while I not a big fan of fruity drinks, it was very refreshing.

I have heard that Dole Whip is occasionally and uniquely available at this lounge (being Hawaii and all), but it was not on offer during our visit, sad. All in all, not a bad place to grab a light meal or snack before a long flight.

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Amenities
Being a smaller Delta Sky Club, this particular lounge was very basic. Not too surprising since HNL is one of Delta’s smaller outstations. There was free Wi-Fi internet for guests, various U.S. and international newspapers, and restrooms available.

There was a small business area with larger desks and a wireless printer/copier/fax machine near the entrance for any poor souls working on their Hawaii trip. Unfortunately, there were no showers to freshen up before or in-between your flights.

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Lounge Access
The Honolulu Sky Club is open to passengers flying Delta One business class, as we were, and SkyTeam partner premium cabins (ex. first/business class codeshares with Korean Air, China Eastern, Vietnam Airlines, etc.).

Delta One business class on an A330-300 from Atlanta to Honolulu

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Additionally, SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers (excluding Delta Medallions) may also access the Sky Club with any same-day boarding pass.

SkyTeam Alliance partners as of August 2024, graphic by SkyTeam.com

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Passengers with a Delta Sky Club Membership or one of several variations of premium American Express travel credit cards may also access the lounge with same-day boarding pass. Delta no longer sells day passes to Sky Clubs.

For complete Sky Club access and guest policies, visit Delta’s official website here: https://www.delta.com/us/en/delta-sky-club/access.

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Summary
The Honolulu Delta Sky Club provides passengers who have access a nice albeit small space to relax and grab a quick snack/drink before some potentially long flights from Hawaii. It can be a quiet air-conditioned respite from the open-air main terminal, but the lounge is by no means aspirational and do not expect much in the way of amenities.

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Hotel Review: Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa | Ocean Front King

Home base for all things Waikiki.

Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii — Located centrally on the Waikiki waterfront, the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa was an ideal place to base my partner’s first time in Hawaii as part of an anniversary vacation. The hotel’s location directly across the street from the protected areas of Waikiki beach is great for beachgoers looking for calm waters, especially families with small children. The beachfront property is a strong Hyatt offering for this part of Honolulu, and we booked via the Hyatt Privé program which we’ll discuss further in the post.

Overlooking Waikiki Beach from Hyatt Regency Waikiki lobby

Date(s) Stayed: 2023 September 23-27
Room Type: Ocean Front King (upgraded from Ocean View King)
Elite Status: Hyatt Globalist
Notables: Fantastic location on central Waikiki Beach, strong World of Hyatt member recognition, Regency Club access for Globalists.

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Location
The Hyatt Regency Waikiki is a fairly large twin-towered property located centrally on Waikiki Beach, essentially across the street from the famous Duke statue. This provides guests with access to the free public beach with a quick walk across Kalakaua Avenue in front of the hotel. The swim wall sections of the beach protected from the ocean surf are a mere 500ft (150m) or so from the front entrance, and we saw many families enjoying the calmer waters in this area during our stay.

The Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa, two towers (center right), photo by Hyatt Hotels

The property is located approximately 20 minutes by car if the highways are clear but expect upwards of 30-45 minutes during Waikiki rush hour. It is also directly reachable by public bus #20 in approximately 45-60 minutes.

The hotel is approximately 10-15 minutes by foot from the Royal Hawaiian shopping center and about 10 minutes by car (45 minutes by foot) from the Ala Moana shopping mall. A quick 10-minute drive gets you to the entrance of Diamond Head if you fancy a hike.

Overlooking Waikiki Beach from the 3rd floor SHOR restaurant balcony at Hyatt Regency Waikiki.

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The Room
We were given a King Ocean Front room on the 22nd floor of the South Tower, upgraded from our original King Ocean View booking. Each of the two towers on the property is roughly octagonal with three sides offering ocean front rooms.

Ocean Front King room at Hyatt Regency Waikiki

The king bed was clean and very comfortable. I would subjectively call it plush medium firm. On either side of the bed were nightstands each with a lamp. One side had a small clock/iPod dock with a USB port. There were no USB or power outlets built into the nightstands, but both sides of the bed had a standard US power outlet nearby for charging electronics.

Opposite the bed were dressers and a desk which offered plenty of space to spread out. A large flatscreen TV and wall clock (which was nonfunctioning) rounded out this side of the room.

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Further into the room is a lounge chair and larger lamp. Beyond that is the ceiling to floor slide glass door which opens onto a balcony containing a small table and pair of chairs. This was a nice place to relax (especially during the sunset), and we ended up eating dinner in-room here one evening.

Upon entering the room for the first time, we were greeted by a reusable branded shopping bag and two water bottles that you may keep, making them decent functional souvenirs. Additionally, a welcome amenity of macadamia chocolates and local Hawaiian snacks was also provided; this is not a normal inclusion but rather a benefit of booking through the Hyatt Privé program.

Reusable shopping bag and water bottles included with each room

Additional welcome amenities by way of our Hyatt Privé booking

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Rounding out the room are a relatively unremarkable closet as well as bathroom. The bathtub and toilet are separated from the rest of the room. The toilet does have a bidet which was nice and a likely inclusion for the many Japanese and Korean tourists that visit Hawaii. Above the bathtub is an extendable clothesline which is a nice touch for drying wet bathing suits and towels. Included amenities/toiletries were Noni branded.

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Dining
The Hyatt Regency Waikiki offers various dining options to fit a variety of guests and schedules. The hotel itself has three dining spaces and the Regency Club, while the shops on the ground floor offer quicker take-out options.

Breakfast is served in the SHOR restaurant from 6AM to 11AM daily. For those who do not have breakfast included in with their booking, the buffet breakfast cost $39.99 per adult (13 years or older) and “pay-your-age” for children aged 6 to 12 years old at the time of this stay.

The breakfast buffet was fairly comprehensive, with various rotating hot Western and Eastern options, cold cuts and cheeses, a bread and pastry station, as well as an egg station. For Hyatt Globalists who have the option to take breakfast at SHOR or the Regency Club, it may be worth eating at SHOR at least once since the breakfast menu is more robust compared to the club.

Breakfast buffet at SHOR Restaurant, Hyatt Regency Waikiki

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Omelet station at the breakfast buffet at SHOR Restaurant, Hyatt Regency Waikiki

Enjoying breakfast on the SHOR restaurant veranda, Hyatt Regency Waikiki

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The dinner option is The Buffet at Hyatt, open from 5PM to 9:30PM, and specializes in seafood and Korean-inspired cuisine. We did not try this place during our stay due to other plans, but it seemed very popular for guests dining onsite and reservations can be made ahead of time on the hotel’s website here.

The Buffet at Hyatt, photo by Hyatt Hotels

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For guests wanting to spend more time around the pool, the poolside SWIM restaurant and bar is open all-day from 7AM to 10PM. In addition to serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, it also offers a happy hour between 4-6PM and live music after 6PM.

The hotel atrium also offers other options for snacks and dining. At the time of our stay, options included a coffeeshop, ice cream/gelato, and Japanese dining. For the most up to date information regarding dining options at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, check the hotel website here.

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Lounge/Club
The Regency Club located behind the 3rd floor Buffet At Hyatt restaurant was open at the time of this stay and accessible by all Hyatt Globalists and select guests staying in Club access rooms (Note that Hyatt Privé rates DO NOT include club access). A different room keycard denoting their club access is issued to these guests. The Regency Club is open from 6AM to 9PM daily.

Guests with club access may elect to enjoy their breakfast in the Regency Club from 6AM to 10AM daily, instead of the SHOR restaurant as noted above. The club breakfast selection was slightly smaller than SHOR’s, but the space is a little more private and less bustling.

Regency Club breakfast at Hyatt Regency Waikiki

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Those with club access can come and go as they please with card access. Juice, soft drinks, coffee, tea and light snacks were available all-day. In the evening, hors d’oeuvre, beer and wine were served and could suffice as a light dinner if one so chose.

Juice and coffee machine at the Regency Club, Hyatt Regency Waikiki

The Regency Club was a nice place to pop in for a quick coffee or snack in-between activities throughout our stay, but it remained steadily busy throughout the day, especially with so many families around, so I would not personally use it to relax or get any work done.

Enjoying Hawaiian weather and breakfast on the Regency Club’s veranda.

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Other Amenities
At the time of our stay, the pool was open from 8AM to 9PM, and the whirlpools and hot tubs were open from 8AM to 10PM. Pool towels are available to borrow from the nearby towel machines which are accessible by room keycard. The poolside cabanas can be book in advance on Hyatt’s website here.

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The Na Ho’ola Spa located near the pool is open from 9AM to 5PM daily and offers various massages, facial and body treatments. For more information about the various spa treatments, check Hyatt’s website here.

The gym is accessible 24/7 by card access and contained various cardio equipment as well as weight benches and squat racks.

There is 24/7 self-laundry facilities on the property though we did not use them during our stay. To see the full list of amenities available at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, see the hotel’s website here.

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Booking via Hyatt Prive
The total cost for this stay was $1,629.68 cash for 4 nights ($407.42 per night) through the Hyatt Privé booking program. Note that the property was charging a $49/night resort fee at the time of our stay. This fee is waived for Hyatt award stays and Hyatt Globalist members booking directly with the hotel.

The Hyatt Privé program provides further benefits such as included free breakfast for two, a guaranteed room upgrade, welcome amenities, and other luxuries at certain participating Hyatt properties. The room must be booked via a travel agency that offers Hyatt Privé bookings. The program offers one way to achieve elite status-like benefits if you otherwise do not have elite status with Hyatt.

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While I was Hyatt Globalist at the time of the stay, I originally made the booking via Hyatt Privé before I made Globalist because I was not sure I would make the status in time. It ended up being a nice experiment booking through the Hyatt Privé program regardless.

We booked via Prince of Travel (no personal affiliation, just giving kudos) via an online form, and one of their agents reached out quickly to complete the booking for us by email. The whole process was very easy and worth considering if you want something a little extra for your Hyatt stays. To see an updated list of properties participating in Hyatt Privé, check out One Mile At A Time’s post here.

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Hotel Website
https://www.hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/hnlrw-hyatt-regency-waikiki-beach-resort-and-spa

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card
Hyatt is a valuable hotel transfer partner of the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a powerful entry-level travel card for U.S.-based travelers looking for some basic travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary auto rental collision damage protection, and no foreign-transaction fees.

Chase Sapphire Preferred, photo by Chase Bank.

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Additionally, travelers can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points that can be redeemed at an elevated 1.25 cents per point for travel through the Chase travel portal, used for statement credits, or transferred to hotel or airline partner programs like Hyatt for potentially outsized value.

For more information, you can check out the Chase website here. At this time Chase is offering potentially 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points sign-up bonus if you are approved for the card and meet the minimum spending requirements. If you are interested in applying for this card and wish to continue supporting this blog, consider doing so through this LINK. We receive a referral bonus if you are approved for a card which will help fund future reviews. Thank you in advance for your support!

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Flight Review: JetBlue Even More Space | A220-300 | Atlanta to New York LaGuardia (ATL-LGA)

New York City, New York — We needed to reposition for a trip over the Atlantic and took the opportunity to sample New York-based JetBlue. Having never flown JetBlue prior to this trip, it was nice to try something besides Delta out of their Atlanta fortress. JetBlue operates an all coach-seated Airbus on this route but offers “Even More Space” seats which is their version of Economy Plus.

Boarding the JetBlue A220-300 named Satin Blue Sashes

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This flight review is the first leg of a multi-leg trip. To see reviews associated with this trip, check out the links below:
– Virgin Atlantic Premium from New York JFK to London Heathrow (review coming soon!)
– Lost Property St. Paul’s London, a Curio Collection hotel by Hilton (review coming soon!)
– KLM First Class from London City to Amsterdam Schiphol (review coming soon!)
– DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station
– Delta Comfort Plus from Amsterdam Schiphol to Atlanta (review coming soon!)

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Date Flown: 2024 July 7
Departure/Arrival Times: 11:01 EDT to 13:07 EDT
Flight Time: 2 hr 6 min
Aircraft Type: Airbus A220-300
Fare Class: Even More Space (Economy Plus)
Elite Status: None

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Flight Overview
JetBlue operates this route with relatively new Airbus 220-300s featuring all economy seats albeit with a few rows of “Even More Space” seats with slightly more pitch. JetBlue flight number B6 2813 departed Atlanta shortly after 11:00 AM EDT taking just over 2 hours, arriving about 15 minutes earlier than the advertised 2 hr 23 min flight to New York LaGuardia at 1:07PM EDT.

Our JetBlue A220-300 parked at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport

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While Atlanta was fairly busy due to travelers returning home after the recent July 4th holiday, boarding was smooth out of the T concourse where JetBlue operates. Passengers flying JetBlue Even More Space are afforded group A boarding after Mosaic elites and Mint business class passengers, ensuring access to plenty of overhead bin space which is crucial since JetBlue usually charges $30-50 per checked bag if your fare does not include checked luggage.

Notably, in-flight WiFi was free for all passengers and fast enough to stream YouTube videos at low to mid-quality. The flight crew was friendly, and service was efficient.

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Seat Overview
JetBlue opted for a 140 seat all-economy set-up for their A220-300s on this route with 2-3 seat configuration. The window-aisle doublets on the port side of the aircraft are particularly nice for couples given the lack of middle seat.

JetBlue A220-300 seating, photo by JetBlue

JetBlue A220-300 seat map, picture by AeroLopa.com

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The seats measure 18.6 inches (47 cm) wide and normally have 32 inches (82 cm) of pitch. Even More Space seats located at the front of the cabin and at the exit rows have a slightly roomier 35 inches (89 cm) of pitch and are marked by orange highlights. All seats recline approximately 3 inches (7.6 cm).

Even More Space seating on JetBlue A220-300

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On this flight we ended up choosing exit row 12, seats 12A and 12C, for a small upsell. It should be noted that the row 11 seats immediately in front of the exit row are arguably the worst on this aircraft due to their inability to recline. The row 12 Even More Space exit seats we were in however are very comfortable.

Regular economy seats in front of exit row Even More Space seats on JetBlue A220-300

JetBlue’s A220-300s sport very new and responsive seatback in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems, among my favorites. There were more than enough movies, live DirectTV, and music for such a short flight. Below the IFE is a tray table capable of sliding front and back and has a small drink slot. Below the tray table is a multicompartment seatback pocket containing the flight emergency card and air-sickness bag. The smaller mesh pockets were nice for organizing small items such as phones.

The author is 5’7″ (170cm) in this picture. Plenty of room in the Even More Space seats.

JetBlue offers every seat an individual universal power socket with USB-C slots as well. This includes the 3-seat sections and I wish all airlines would start offering each seat its own power supply instead of sticking one socket between two seats. Well done, JetBlue.

Every seat has its own power socket and USB-C on JetBlue’s A220-300s.

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Meal Service(s)
Roughly 45 minutes into the flight, flight attendants started a quick snack and beverage service. They were particularly generous with drinks, offering entire whole cans of soft drinks without prompting.

Snack boxes, meals, and alcoholic beverages were available for purchase if desired. I did not purchase anything this flight though I include the menu below for reference.

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Lavatory
JetBlue A220-300s have three lavatories, one in the front of the cabin and two in the rear. I did not utilize the lavatories this flight.

Booking
This flight was booked directly with JetBlue in January 2024 for a total of of $163.90 cash + 2500 JetBlue points per person (for a total value of roughly $188.90 if we value each JetBlue point at 1 cent per point). For transparency, there was an American Express offer for $50 statement credit off $250 of JetBlue purchases at the time of booking, bringing the grand total to $277.80 cash + 5000 JetBlue points for two passengers.

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American Express Cards
JetBlue is a transfer partner of several major credit card companies, allowing travelers to transfer various bank reward points to JetBlue to redeem on award flights. Notable among these banks is American Express (Amex) which offers various credit card products with strong points earning potential aimed towards avid travelers. Amex cards often have special offers such as the statement credit I used to book the JetBlue flight above. American Express also operates one of the most robust travel lounge networks in the world and access can be obtained through several of their credit card products.

To learn more about American Express’s offerings, including lucrative early spend bonuses, this link: HERE. Be sure to click through the different card options. If you apply and are approved for any American Express card through that link, we earn a referral bonus which greatly supports this blog and we thank you in advance.

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