Trip to Taipei and Bangkok

I need to catch up on a few trips and posts. So much of these next posts that cover my trip to Taipei and Bangkok will be mostly photos.

This trip includes Delta business class flights, Cathay Pacific economy class flights, Lounges in Atlanta, Tokyo, Taipei, Hong Kong and Bangkok, dancing in Taipei and Bangkok, my hotel in Taipei, and a tour in Taipei and the coastal city of Jioufen.

Flights to Taipei (TPE)

This was my first visit to Taiwan. I booked a great economy fare on Delta from Charlotte. The fare was made even better because I was able to upgrade to business class seats by using a couple of my four Global Upgrade Certificates that I receive each year for qualifying for Diamond Medallion status. The route for this trip was Charlotte (CLT) to Atlanta (ATL) to Seattle (SEA) to Tokyo (NRT) to Taipei.

The flight from CLT to ATL was delayed by an hour due to the flight from ATL being late. There is no Delta Skyclub in CLT, but as a member of the American Airlines Admirals Clubs I could use their club in CLT to wait out the delay.

Once I arrived in ATL, the reason for the delay was obvious.

20160202_085022 — Thick fog on arrival in ATL

With time before my next flight I stopped at the Skyclub in Terminal E for a quick shower. A shower always provides nice attitude adjustment before a long trip.

20160202_073416 — Terminal E shower room

20160202_073422 — I sometimes use a shower room just for a quiet place to use the bathroom

20160202_073432 — This is one of eight showers in this club.

When the flight to SEA departed, the fog seemed even thicker than when I arrived in ATL.

The flight to SEA was on a 767-300. The seat was lie flat.

20160202_110725 — Not much room for feet and a small video screen for business class

The flight attendants served breakfast about an hour after takeoff.

I always try to sit on the left side of the aircraft on flights to SEA for views of Mt. Ranier.

On this trip I was also afforded excellent views of SEA, Seattle and Boeing Field.

20160202_105051 (1) — On left downwind visual approach for runway 16R

The downwind leg of the approach continued to downtown Seattle.

20160202_105233 — Downtown just before our turn to left base

After the short base leg of the approach, the captain performed one last 90 degree left turn to put us on final approach to runway 16R.

20160202_105953 — The final approach to SEA put us right over Boeing Field

I had a short time between flights but managed a quick trip to the Skyclub at SEA which I’ve reported on before.

20160202_111522 — The best way to get to the SEA Skyclub is the elevator near gate S9

The flight to Tokyo (NRT) was on an A330. We took off on time. Once again views were great.

The seats on Delta’s A330 are larger and more comfortable than on the 767.

20160202_115250 — Angled lie flat seat for SEA-NRT with amenity kit, quilt and large pillow

20160202_121207 — Seat controls, video remote and release for large swing out video screen

20160202_121219 — I stored my newspaper in a compartment below the seat controls

20160202_122011 — Delta slippers and plenty of room for feet

I enjoyed a predeparture glass of champagne. Nuts were served in a package.

20160202_115622 — Champagne and noise-cancelling headsets

The flight from SEA to NRT is less than 10 hours. As with almost all international flights there is only one main meal service.

I forgot to get a picture of desert. Before landing, breakfast was served.

NRT is a Delta hub. To my knowledge it is the only overseas hub operated by a US airline with connecting flights to countries other than in the US with widebody aircraft. This is a legacy of Delta’s merge with Northwest Airlines.

Since Delta has a connecting flight operation here it is only natural that it also has a Skyclub, actually two in the satellite pods of terminal 1.

20160203_173525 — Reception desk at NRT Skyclub. The agents here are very helpful with questions or resolving any problems with travel

The NRT Skyclubs used to be the nicest clubs in the Delta system by far, but they have not been updated in years and can be crowded when the hub is busy.