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Delta Air Lines offers Delta One or first class premium fares on its flights. Somewhat confusingly, first class isn't the most premium class — Delta One is. The difference:
- Delta One is the airline’s international business class offering, which is available on most long-haul international flights and certain long-distance domestic routes. It offers lie-flat seats and premium food and beverage service.
- Delta first class is typically available on shorter or domestic flights. It offers larger seats with more leg room but the seats don't turn into flat beds.
Here's what to expect when flying.
» Learn more: Delta Air Lines SkyMiles program: The complete guide
Delta One vs. first class
Delta One is the airline’s fanciest cabin and is comparable with other international business class products like United Airlines’ Polaris business class.
In Delta One, you’ll experience a seat that transforms into a lie-flat bed, premium meal service, complimentary access to Delta Sky Clubs and more. If you're flying on the Airbus A350 or A330-900, your seat may be a suite and feature a full-height partition so that you have even more privacy in the cabin.
If you’re flying Delta’s premium cabin on a domestic route, you’ll likely be in first class, not Delta One. Delta first class seats are slightly more spacious and comfortable than those in economy and offer more legroom. As a Delta first class passenger, you’ll also receive some airport priority privileges and personalized service.
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Delta first class
At the airport
Delta offers several perks for first class customers including SkyPriority check-in lines and accelerated security queues at some airports. Travelers can check two bags, up to 70 pounds each, without charge. During boarding, first class customers have priority boarding through the SkyPriority lane at each gate.
Unlike with Delta One, a first class ticket does not include Delta Sky Club access for most flights. You’ll need to combine a first class ticket with Gold Medallion status or higher to gain access, and even then it only applies to flights to Mexico, Canada or Central America.
Seats
Delta first class seats offer up to eight inches of additional leg room (when compared with economy class) and up to a 5.4-inch recline. On some flights, pillows and blankets are available.
In addition, Delta has recently begun revamping its first class cabin on the A321neo with new seats (pictured above). The seats are more private, have a stronger tray table, additional storage space for your personal items and memory foam seat cushions.
Onboard amenities and entertainment
Delta first class amenities provide some nice touches to enhance the flying experience. You will find power outlets at each seat in first class.
On most planes, there is a TV screen at first class seats offering movies, TV shows, music and often live TV. (Boeing 717s, some Boeing 737-900ERs, Bombardier CRJ-700s and CRJ-900s, and Embraer E-170s and E-175s are the exceptions.) Seat screens in first class range in size with the largest being 11 inches wide. Earbuds are free for first class passengers.
This is quite a differentiator between Delta and other airlines. American Airlines is in the process of ripping out onboard seat screens in favor of entertainment programming accessible via Wi-Fi signal. This, however, requires travelers to bring their own mobile device or laptop for viewing. Almost all Delta domestic flights offer Wi-Fi, which means travelers can stay productive in flight. For SkyMiles Members, this service is now free on most domestic aircraft. Free Wi-Fi is expected on international and regional flights in coming years.
» Learn more: In-flight entertainment: The complete guide
Food and beverage
On board, passengers will receive pre-departure beverages and find a small water bottle on their seats. Other airlines are less consistent than Delta in this regard, often bypassing pre-departure beverages for first class even when there is ample time to offer them.
Delta's first class food options vary by flight time and distance.
- On Delta’s shortest flights (under 900 miles) a full beverage service is available. This includes a long list of refreshments including Starbucks coffee, wine, beer, Coca-Cola products such as Minute Maid juices, and a full range of spirits and other soft drinks.
- Flights between 900 and 2,299 miles provide meal service to first class passengers depending upon the time of day. Breakfast is served between 5 a.m. and 9:45 a.m. Lunch options are available on flights between 9:46 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Dinner is offered from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Customers can pre-select their meal usually seven days to 24 hours before departure via the Delta app or through a link emailed to passengers.
- Flights over 2,300 miles in distance include fresh meals and a selection of snacks.
There are a few exceptions to this rule on some longer flights, but Delta doesn't publish a full list of these.
Delta flight attendants lay tablecloths down before serving trays with the meal. Food is plated on stylish Alessi serveware. Delta typically doesn't offer an aperitif service before meals; drinks are served just before the meal tray is served. Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines, American and United offer ramekins of nuts before the meal on most mealtime flights in domestic first class.
Delta One
At the airport
The Delta One experience begins before you board the plane. Delta One customers are treated to the same SkyPriority amenities as domestic first class passengers with the addition of enjoying access to Sky Clubs on their day of departure.
If you are departing from Boston, New York-JFK or Los Angeles, Delta One passengers can also enjoy a dedicated check-in experience and access to the Delta One lounge. The Delta One lounges are even more luxurious than Delta Sky Clubs: The Delta One lounge at LAX has table service at every seat (with menu items such as sushi and bento boxes), a wellness lounge with massage chairs and zero-gravity chairs, and a private Sky Deck.
Seats
All Delta One seats transform into flat beds and have direct aisle access, but many of Delta’s seats are narrower with smaller TV screens than its primary competitors, American and United. The airline has a convenient online chart allowing customers to compare what’s available on each aircraft.
Passengers on Airbus A330-900neo or some A350 aircraft enjoy the new Delta One suite with seat-height doors that slide closed for maximum privacy and 18-inch entertainment screens.
Onboard amenities and entertainment
On board, passengers will find a bottle of water, slippers and a Missoni amenity kit stocked with Grown Alchemist hand cream, chapstick and other travel essentials.
Delta One customers receive noise-reducing headphones and premium bedding made from recycled materials (plus a lumbar pillow that also works as a mattress pad on ultra-long haul flights).
There is variety when it comes to seat style and space. All Delta One seats have power and USB outlets, in addition to remote controls for the onboard entertainment screens. A wide variety of movies, TV shows, audio programming and often live TV is available. There is more personal space, too, with side tables or storage nooks built into the seat.
Food and beverage
Delta invests quite a bit into the culinary experience on Delta One flights. Delta offers pre-departure beverages to Delta One passengers, which typically includes a bottle of water.
Printed menus give guests a guide to what meals are offered and in what order they will be served. Multi-course meals begin with an aperitif service with mixed nuts. Drink refills are plentiful, followed by a tray of appetizers, salads and soup. The meal is served atop tablecloths using designer Alessi serveware.
Travelers can choose from one of several main courses, usually a beef, poultry, seafood and pasta option. Meals and beverages are served via carts in the aisles, but the main dish is delivered by hand from the galley. Dessert includes an impressive fruit, cheese, dessert and ice cream sundae cart rolled through the aisle and prepared at each seat.
Customers can pre-select their meal seven days to 24 hours before departure via the Fly Delta app. This list includes special meals like Asian vegetarian, diabetic-friendly and kosher options. All special meals must be ordered at least 24 hours before departure.
On certain flights, Delta partners with specialty chefs who are representative of the origin or destination to prepare meals for Delta One passengers. For example, specialty dishes include cocoa-braised short rib with creamy polenta, from Union Square Events, and a pecan honey bun with apple-cranberry compote for breakfast from Chef Mashama Bailey.
The wine list, detailed in the printed menu available before takeoff, enjoys special attention, too, courtesy of Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson, who has overseen the airline’s wine program since 2007.
Using credit cards to book Delta flights with miles
Naturally, you could book Delta One or first class with cash, but you can also save money and book these seats with Delta’s SkyMiles.
There are many ways to earn miles with Delta, but some of the easiest ways include collecting miles through spending on a Delta credit card or transferring points from American Express Membership Rewards to Delta. Delta credit card options include:
Top cards for Delta flights
Annual fee
$0.
$0 intro for the first year, then $150.
$350.
$650.
Earning rates
• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).
• 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on hotel purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).
• 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
• 1 mile per $1 on other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
Other benefits
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
• First checked bag free.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
• Companion certificate (main cabin).
• First checked bag free.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
• Airport lounge access.
• Companion certificate (first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin).
• Credit for application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry
• First checked bag free.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
Learn more
To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, see this page.
Once you’ve earned the miles, you can redeem them for Delta award seats, including those in Delta One or first class.
» Learn more: Best Delta Air Lines credit cards
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Delta first class called?
Delta has two separate versions of its highest-end fares, first class and Delta One. First class is generally available on shorter and domestic flights, while Delta One is the airline’s international business class product, which is available on longer international flights and includes more luxury perks.
What is Delta One?
Delta One is Delta’s international business class and most premium fare type, usually only available on long-haul international and some long-distance domestic flights. It includes a lie-flat bed, premium food and beverage, and other luxury perks. It isn't the same as Delta’s official first class fares, which offer fewer perks and are available on shorter and domestic flights.
Is Delta One the same as first class?
Technically, first class and Delta One are separate fare classes, but — confusingly — Delta One is technically a business class fare. Still, it offers what most people associate with a “first class” ticket, including lie-flat seats and premium food. Some flights offer first class cabins and others offer Delta One cabins, but no flights offer both.
Can I get upgraded to Delta One?
Yes, Medallion members can use upgrade certificates to upgrade to Delta One. Medallion elite members are also eligible for complimentary same-day upgrades to Delta One on select domestic flights where Delta One is offered.
Delta One vs. first class recapped
Delta offers a wide variety of products that depend upon aircraft type and route, but the airline is transparent about which amenities and services are available on each flight.
Those traveling in the Delta premium cabin are in for a treat, no matter where they are headed.
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