Delta Business Class to Seattle
NRT-SEA
DL 146
747-400
3:30P-8:15A
July 2, 2013
Seat 75K
Dinner and Breakfast
It's been 20+ years since I've flown a US airline TPAC/TATL and at least five years since I've flown anything but F. So with a mix of curiosity and trepidation, I'm at Gate 26 waiting to board. Then I consider the price and figure, OK I'll deal with it. How bad can it be?
Speaking of price, this mistake fare was even worse (for NH and DL) than I had thought. ShF and jfkeze retold the story of their conversation with NRT DL check-in agent as they tried to change flights for one of our group. After considerable discussion, the agent apparently finally said "you paid $13 for the ticket. I'm not going to make any changes". LOL. I had forgotten about the taxes so the base fare and net revenue to both NH and DL was indeed only $13.
So I'm at the gate waiting to board my $7 Business Class flight to SEA. OK, I can live with J for 9 hours.
This is nicest concourse and gate area that I've seen in my treks around NRT.
The cast and crew from Amazing Race are also on our flight today.
And the now regular "evil eye" pic, this one from one of the Amazing Race cameramen. How does it feel dude?
Short hair Francis again forces me to be gate lice, although he was hanging back. If we are going to be gate lice, we may as well step right up.
After a few handicap/families with small kids boardings, pleasant and efficient gate agents began boarding with Business Elite. ShF ran ahead to board and take pics without worrying about other pax. The pointy end...
And now the upper deck. Only 14 pax and it is a pretty calm and quiet oasis from the main level. Not as good as this. 
But not too bad, for $7.
Thanks to Short hair Francis for some of these pics.
Overall impressions is that the seat and space are a little tight, but then again my frame of reference is First. One of our group, an LH SEN, says it is way better than LH Business Class seat. Still very difficult to work and retrieve items from a back-pack. Then again, you have an entire overhead compartment for both roller and backpack.
Delta has a lot of wonderful employes and does a lot of things right, but today's NRT-SEA is a perfect example of why as long as LH, SQ, NH, CX etc. are in business, I will never feel compelled to rush to fly Delta or any US carrier. Why play roulette with your FAs when I have a 50/50 chance of getting a crappy "senior" crew that would rather be elsewhere? And I just when these clueless FAs sit in the jump seats yapping away the entire time. Ugh.
When we boarded, we were greeted by two smiling, youngish FAs on the lower level. Lots of personality. The kind of FAs you love to fly with. Unfortunately, they were not working the upper deck. Seniority ruled the upper deck and our FAs were senior, dour, seemingly unhappy to be here today, and very slow to warm. Add in the fact that we were a group having a good time and it was not a good combination.
PDB was offered.
As I explored my seat area and controls.
Amenity kit. Nice Tumi case, but what's the point as there was little worthwhile inside.
On the other hand, the Westin Heavenly pillow and duvet/blanket are really nice.
We were barely in our seats for 5 minutes, still doing PDBs, chatting and taking pics, when FAs came around asking for our dinner selection. Whoa Nellie, what's the rush?
Group hug.
On time push, and we were on our way home.
I've enjoyed Michael Chiarello's meals on DL's JFK-SFO/LAX transcons, arguably the best domestic food offerings. From those in the DL forum, apparently his promotion to international is new.
Today's menu...
A hot towel is usually a nice touch, but not today. How about a scalding hot dripping wet towel.
Again, thanks to Short hair Francis for some of these pics.
Lights out and sleep time. The bed was pretty comfy especially with the wonderful Westin Heavenly pillow and duvet. I slept for nearly 4 hours, while SHF explored, ate and drank.
The best meal of this flight was breakfast. Substantial and great tasting. 
Lots of pretty pics on the approach to Seattle.
All in all, a reasonably pleasant flight. But the inconsistency of FA roulette and lack of First Class would prevent me from flying much DL internationally.