Northwest's World Class Business Class

[Romeo Delta]

Due to a change in my travel schedule, I'm about to embark on The Incredible Multi-Leg Flight in Business Class. I fly Korean from Auckland (NZ home) to Seoul to Tokyo-Narita, then switch to Northwest for Tokyo to Detroit, and then switch again to Delta for Detroit-Atlanta-Fort Myers (US home).

I'm very familiar with Delta's and Korean's service, and I've flown Northwest recently on US transcon trips, and the service on NW was pretty horrible (no entertainment, cloth seats in First Class, etc.). So I was wondering, how is their International service in their World Business Class? On a 12-13 hour trip, I'm hopeful things will be better than their useless First Class service on a 3 1/2 hour trip from SFO to MSP.

Any info is greatly appreciated! Thanks, all!

RD

[christep]

I'm curious - some of the best First Class cabins in the sky (CX, BA, etc.) use cloth covered seats. What do you have against them?

[Crepello]

Tell me about it - I recently flew transatlantic in AA's biz-class. Didn't like the leather seats at all - when reclined, you'd to tighten the seat-belt and almost brace your legs to avoid sliding off. Good food though.

[Romeo Delta]

It's not cloth seats in general that I'm against. But NW used a really stiff, scratchy cloth with raised patterns. It was mightily uncomfortable. The seat itself was little different than the seats I'd had in Coach/Economy, except for the width and pitch.

Actually, Korean uses cloth seats (which I came out to NZ on), and they were fine. I should have quantified that NW uses a poor choice of cloth.

RD

[nwaflygirl]

My first question to you would be, once you arrive in Detroit, why aren't you flying direct to Fort Myers? NWA has a few nonstops daily from DTW to RSW. Why the extra two segments? That would probably eliminate a good four hours if not more from your trip.

Secondly, what (besides the fabric) didn't you like? Our trans-pacific service is night and day different from our domestic. I could go on and on, but I'm not sure what you found "useless".
All of our seats in business class on the 747 recline to just about flat, with a cubicle that comes up for privacy. All seats have a data port, and I believe internet access to check e-mails.

The meal services are extensive, and the wine and champagne selections are superb ( I may be American, but I know my grapes). I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

p.s. the blankets are really soft, throw one of them over your seat!

[Romeo Delta]

nwaflygirl,

Thank you for the info! Good to see that the international services are an entirely different animal from domestic.

My beef with your First Class is that, compared to your competitors (and even your partners), the amenities offered are much fewer. I'm the kind of passenger that like to be distracted from the fact that I'll be spending anywhere from 2 to 4 hours (domestic US) in a shiny metal tube. I know you guys are doing your best to save money, but I crave distraction (just me, I'm sure other pax appreciate the chance for a little silence). And as I mentioned, the seat is uncomfortable. Thank you for the blanket suggestion. I'll try that next time, if there's a blanket available (on my last SFO-MSP flight, there weren't enough blankets to go around).

As for my routing, here's the deal: I'm a Delta Platinum flying on an award business class ticket, and had to change my travel plans on short notice (family emergency). I know that DTW-RSW would have been optimal (espcially after AKL-ICN-NRT-DTW), but apparently there weren't any award seats left on that day.

Since you're in Detroit, I've got a question for you about transfers. I know I'll have to go through customs in Detroit, and have to switch terminals (McNamara to Smith) to get to Delta. Will I need to pick up my bags and recheck them? Or now that NW and DL are partners, will my bags be checked straight through to RSW? And is there some sort of train or bus that ferries passengers from terminal to terminal?

Thanks again for the info!

RD

[nwaflygirl]

Romeo,

To answer your luggage question, you will need to claim your luggage in DTW, just the one time at customs. Once you complete clearing customs and immigration, not even four steps in front of you will be the baggage re-check for NWA and Skyteam flights. It is set up really well IMHO to make things as seamless as possible for passengers. At least it looks easy from my viewpoint, I've never checked baggage! LOL Sorry, couldn't help myself!!

Regarding the transportation, There is a gratis shuttle that takes you to the old terminals. After you finish with the luggage, you will be on the lowest level (International Arrivals) of the McNamara terminal. You need to get to the top (3rd) level to catch the shuttle. It is a white van with red lettering that reads (ironically enough) Terminal to Terminal Shuttle. This van stops outside by the Westin Hotel. It is located just about in the middle of the terminal, which is just about where you will be. See www.nwa.com/travel/travel/airports/DTW. If you have time to kill before you go to the old terminal, check out the worldclub in the McNamara terminal. It's absolutely gorgeous! There are also lots of those distractions that you like, showers, internet access, food, drinks and the like. Also, I don't know if you smoke or not, but if you do, this is the one place in the airport you can do so.

Have a great trip! Hope all goes well for you. Anything else I can clarify for you, just ask!

Donna

Sorry, the hyperlink doesn\'t work. Once you get to the NWA homepage, the map is under Travel Tools, Airport Maps.

Oy yeah, watch out for those stun guns on Korean Air!!!

[Romeo Delta]

Thanks for that! I'm guessing you're talking about the WorldClub in the center of the terminal (the map you pointed me to shows three clubs). I've got 3 1/2 hours in Detroit, so depending on how long customs takes me, I'd love to stop by.

Thanks again!

RD

[atco-matic]

I flew NWA Business class from London Gatwick to Minneapolis a couple of years back, and the worse thing about it (apart from the DC10) was the ageing crew. WIthin NWA they are fondly known as "The Witches of Gatwick"... apologies to the producers of The Eastwick version!!

Anyway, I sat with my partner in the middle 2 seats with one stewardess serving my partner's aisle, and a different stweardess serving my aisle. All through the meal and pre meal service, I found myself saying "Where did you get that hot towel from? Why haven't I got one of those salads? Or those chocolates!".

I don't know what the stewardess who served me was on, but when I politely pointed out the difference in service that we were receiving, the purser almost bit my head off!!

[B Sousa]

Times have certainly changed. The attitude now is" Be thankful we let you on board"

[phoenix son]

RD,

My only question I would ask is;

WHY are you using Korean Air to fly ANYWHERE, EVER...

Are you crazy...?

Not the best record in the business I think you'll agree...

PHX

[Romeo Delta]

Phoenix,

As I mentioned to nwaflygirl above, I'm flying on a Delta award ticket, and Korean is the only SkyTeam member that flies to NZ. I didn't have much choice in the matter. I've heard all the bad stuff about their record (especially here on PPRuNe), but the service was reasonably good.

RD

[nwaflygirl]

ATCO- How absolutely hilarious!!! How did you know about our pet name for the little darlings? I thought that was an inside joke. I'm not based in MSP, but these ladies (I use this loosely) are notorious. The youngest one must be at least 30 years my senior.

Hey Romeo, don't panic, MSP is an entity in itself, DTW crews are altogether different!!

Donna

We also don\'t fly DC-10\'s in DTW anymore, either. All Airbus 330\'s to Europe.

[atco-matic]

NWAflygirl, I have a friend who flies for NWA out of Detroit hence I know the inside gossip!!!

Heard that one of the Gatwick flights is going/has gone back to DC10... it was certainly a DC10 when I saw it 10 days ago... looks nice in the new colours though!

[nwaflygirl]

Atco- Okay so maybe it is. I always am the last to find out everything! Now that I think of it, the may be a CDG that is still a 10 also. I stand corrected.

This is probably quite a stretch, but by any chance does you friend's first name begin with a C?

[Romeo Delta]

nwaflygirl,

I seem to recall that fact. NW at MSP is a strange beast. That one-stop same plane service from SFO to ATL (where the one plane service means you need to switch planes in MSP, and go from one end of the terminal to the other; often with my friend in tow, who has only one leg, and MSP's cart drivers don't want to pick him up for some reason; poor guy ends up hoofin' it himself).

DTW always seemed nicer, and they've got better food options (that little Mexican cantina has a darn good breakfast burrito).

What is it with MSP, anyway? NW people there are rude, Delta people there are rude... Haven't had a good experience there in about 10 years (back when the livery was changing from bare metal to red and grey).

Good thing I'm going into DTW, then. People there seem pretty cool.

RD

[nwaflygirl]

Romeo,

You know it's really strange about MSP. Before I started flying 10 years ago I was completely unaware of it. I've tried to explain it before to friends, or people not in the industry, and the best way I can describe it is, Stepford People. It's not only airport and airline employees either. The entire state's population has that uppity demeanor with very few exceptions. They also lack any sense of humor whatsoever! I try to avoid the place as much as possible. Maybe it's the sub-zero weather. I've tried to figure it out for years to no avail.

Don't get me wrong though, being born and raised here in Hockeytown, I'm quite aware that we have our share of fruitcakes. It's just different though.

See ya in the hospitable Motor City! Donna

[Romeo Delta]

True, there are all sorts of "interesting" people all over the globe. But Minnesota just has that special "something" that just says "F-Off!"

Not true that Minnesotans don't have a sense of humor, though. They DID, after all, elect Jesse Ventura as Governor (to whom I apparently bear a striking resemblance; I'm mistaken for him often enough).

See you in Detroit (home of the NBA Championship Fights, er, I mean, Champions (I guess)). Leaving today, and be there in 2 days... Man... What a trip this is going to be!

RD

(Edited for incoherency)

[radeng]

Don't forget the state bird of Minnesota - the mosquito! (And I don't mean De Havilland, either!)

[Romeo Delta]

Well, everyone, the trip has been made, and somehow I've survived the ordeal. Not necessarily the type of trip I'd like to do again, but I'm sure I will at some stage of the game.

A few observations:

1) Korean has switched from their modern 777s to their not-yet-modernised 744s on the AKL-ICN run, so no personal IFE. And 11 hour flight with 2 cheesy movies and a lot of "Sleepy Time." The food and cabin service was at its usual good level, though.

2) The flight from Seoul to Narita was on a 747-300 (let me re-emphasize -300), with a training crew on board (cabin and flight, as noted to me by the purser), and a Captain who barely spoke "Engrish" (www.engrish.com for explanation). No offense to our Asian bretheren out there (hey, my step-son's half Japanese), but this gave me a little cause to worry. What also worried me was flaps full and gear down at 15 NM from Tokyo, leading to high nose pitch and high engine power for about 5 minutes while on approach. Not going to say I was in fear for my life, but I'd never seen it done that way before (and I've flown 500,000 miles as pax). Boy, did I breathe a sigh of relief when we finally reached the glideslope and pitched down to a more decent angle.

3) Just as nwaflygirl had said, the NW flight was great! The cabin crew was both attractive and attentive, the food was good, and they even gave all the Business Class passengers an overnight kit with toothbrush, soap etc. The headphones were the airtight noise-blocking type, and the personal IFEs had games, music, and about 8 different movie choices. Now THAT'S more like it. If there was one thing that detracted from the experience, though, and that was the seat was rock hard, like sitting on a park bench (and even trying the trick of sitting on the blanket didn't help). Sure, you can sit in nearly any position in these seats, and even get a back massage(!), but the solidity of the seat kind of took away from the overall enjoyment of the flight. Still, it was a 9 out of 10. The people at DTW were also kind enough to let me into the NWA World Club (which is indeed nice, as is the one at NRT) to wash up a little bit between flights, even though I was connecting onto a Delta flight.

Thanks for the info, all!

RD