Introduction
Delta Air Lines announced it will begin flying between Honolulu and Tokyo Haneda (HNL-HND) starting October 28th, 2023. This represents Delta’s first nonstop service between Honolulu and Haneda, as the carrier utilized Tokyo’s Narita airport before the pandemic.
Delta will launch the Honolulu to Haneda service on its Boeing 767-300ER aircraft and will be the second US airline after Hawaiian Airlines to fly directly between Honolulu and Tokyo Haneda. Let’s take a closer look at Delta’s flight schedule, Delta’s 767-300ER aircraft, options for redeeming miles, and the competition on this route to help you make the most of your travel between Hawaii and Japan.
Delta Air Lines Honolulu to Tokyo (HNL-HND) Schedule
Below is the flight schedule for Delta’s service between Tokyo and Honolulu.
Delta Flight 180: (HND – HNL)
- Departs Tokyo HND at 9:00 PM
- Arrives in Honolulu (HND) at 9:20 AM (same day)
- Scheduled Duration: 7 hours and 20 minutes
Delta Flight 181: (HNL-HND)
- Departs Honolulu (HNL) at 2:40 PM
- Arrives in Tokyo Haneda (HND) at 6:45 PM (next day)
- Scheduled Duration: 9 hours and 5 minutes
Delta Airlines 767-300ER Flying From Honolulu to Tokyo
Unfortunately, Delta will not use its most up-to-date aircraft on its Honolulu to Tokyo Haneda route, but it will at least fly with a retrofitted cabin. Delta’s 767-300ER retrofit (variant 76K) has 26 Delta One business class seats, 18 Premium Select Seats, 21 Comfort Plus Seats, and 151 Main Cabin seats.
Delta One on the 767-300ER offers direct aisle access from every seat in a 1-2-1 configuration but lacks the privacy, modern tech, and comfort of the Delta One Business Class Suite found on the A350 and A330-900 (see comparison of images below). With that said, the retrofitted 767-300ER that Delta uses here at least features refreshed cabin finishes and a new memory foam cushion in Delta One.
Delta’s 767-300ER retrofitted aircraft also offers Premium Select, a true premium economy product not shown on the non-retrofit variant. Delta Premium Select offers 19 inches of width and 38 inches of pitch compared to Comfort Plus’s 18.1 and 34 inches, respectively. Premium Select is configured in a 2-2-2 configuration compared to Comfort Plus and Main Cabin in a 2-3-2 configuration. Finally, Premium Select offers SkyPriority services, an adjustable leg rest, a larger entertainment screen, and a premium amenity kit.
Delta typically offers an elevated dining experience for Premium Select passengers compared to the main cabin. However, Delta notes on its website: “Flights between HNL and HND will receive Main Cabin food and beverage service.”
Redeeming Miles for Delta’s Honolulu to Tokyo Haneda Route
Delta is not known for offering compelling mileage redemptions, and the same holds true for this newly announced route. From the date of launch onwards, the lowest price in either direction I am seeing is 165,000 Skymiles for Delta One, 115,000 Skymiles for Premium Select, 64,000 for Comfort Plus, and 52,000 for Main Cabin.
A better option for booking Delta’s Honolulu to Tokyo route with points is through Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club program. While I’m not finding any premium redemption availability, the main cabin can be had for a much cheaper 22,500 Virgin points and $5.60 in fees. Often, credit card rewards programs offer a 20-30% transfer bonus to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, so if you take advantage of a promotional rate, you could book the main cabin for as little as 17,500 points.
If you are looking for business class awards between Hawaii and Japan, Hawaiian Airlines business class can be had for 52,500 American Airlines miles on certain days.
Considering Delta’s Competition from Hawaii to Japan
In addition to Delta Air Lines – Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, and ANA all compete on the Honolulu to Tokyo Haneda route. Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, ANA, and Zipair fly to Tokyo Narita as an additional option if you are not locked into flying to Haneda.
If you are not loyal to Delta, I would personally prefer to fly JAL to Haneda for better food and service. JAL’s seat may also be superior depending on the aircraft being used for the flight (JAL flies multiple times daily on various aircraft).
If flying to/from Tokyo Narita and price isn’t an obstacle, ANA offers first class on its A380 aircraft on its Honolulu route, delivering the best soft and hard product you can currently experience between Hawaii and Japan.
Delta Launches New Honolulu to Tokyo Haneda Service (HNL-HND) – Pilot Debrief
Today, Delta Air Lines announced a new service between Honolulu and Tokyo Haneda beginning on October 28th, operated as Delta Flight 180 and 181. Service will be offered on Delta’s retrofitted 767-300ER, which includes Premium Select and refurbished interiors. This is great news for Delta and Skyteam elite members looking to fly nonstop between Hawaii and Japan.
For those looking to book this flight with miles or points, I would look at booking with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club for cheaper rates than Delta Skymiles. If cash rates are comparable, I would personally book with Japan Airlines or ANA over Delta’s offering for better service, food, and potentially a nicer seat, depending on the aircraft.
