Delta Fare Class I

A comprehensive explanation of Delta fare class I including SkyMiles medallion earnings and upgrade eligibility information.

What is Delta Fare Class I?

Delta Fare class I is a revenue fare/booking class of service that is marketed as Discount First Class / Delta One on Delta Air Lines. The fare class is considered a discounted First Class / Delta One.

Below is a human-readable explanation of this fare class and the expectations passengers should have when flying with a I fare class.

Information about Delta Air Lines Fare Class I

Fare Class I booking information

Important information about Fare Class I on Delta Air Lines.

How expensive is Fare Class I?

Fare Class I is marketed as a discount first class / Delta One ticket, and is the second lowest revenue fare class in the cabin. If you’re looking for flights and see Fare Class I showing as the lowest fare class available, it means the cabin for the flight/route you are booking is nearly empty’ish with only few seats available on one or more segments of the itinerary.

How to find I fare inventory on Delta Air Lines

Tickets purchased in Fare Class I will be cheap’ish. To book a cheaper fare class, you’ll need to select a lower cabin or adjust your routing or dates.

In years past, searching for flights months out yielded Z-fare class inventory because there were no customers booked in Delta One. Sometime in 2021-2022’ish, Revenue management blocked Z-fare inventory for lowest fare sale until they explicitly released select inventory. This move effectively raised the cheapest fare for Delta One by controlling how many seats and when the seats this fare class is available for sale. Additionally, it eliminates savvy flyings seeking Z fare class routes.

If you are a frequent flyer with additional insight or are with Delta seeking to clarify the information provided, please contact me.

SkyMiles earnings on Delta Air Lines Fare Class I

SkyMiles frequent flyer earnings

Explore what you'll earn as a SkyMiles member flying on Delta Air Lines with a ticket in Fare Class I.

  • Medallion Bonus: yes
  • Minimum MQMs earned: 500

SkyMiles Member

150% MQM

Based on distance flown1. Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


1:1 MQS

Based on number of flight segments flown. Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


MQD earnings based on Ticket Price

Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


5 SkyMiles earned per $1 MQD

SkyMiles are earned and redeemed for travel, upgrades and other eligible purchases. SkyMiles never expire.

Silver Medallion

150% MQM

Based on distance flown1. Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


1:1 MQS

Based on number of flight segments flown. Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


MQD earnings based on Ticket Price

Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


7 SkyMiles earned per $1 MQD

SkyMiles are earned and redeemed for travel, upgrades and other eligible purchases. SkyMiles never expire.

Gold Medallion

150% MQM

Based on distance flown1. Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


1:1 MQS

Based on number of flight segments flown. Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


MQD earnings based on Ticket Price

Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


8 SkyMiles earned per $1 MQD

SkyMiles are earned and redeemed for travel, upgrades and other eligible purchases. SkyMiles never expire.

Platinum Medallion

150% MQM

Based on distance flown1. Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


1:1 MQS

Based on number of flight segments flown. Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


MQD earnings based on Ticket Price

Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


9 SkyMiles earned per $1 MQD

SkyMiles are earned and redeemed for travel, upgrades and other eligible purchases. SkyMiles never expire.

Diamond Medallion

150% MQM

Based on distance flown1. Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


1:1 MQS

Based on number of flight segments flown. Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


MQD earnings based on Ticket Price

Earns toward status and resets each calendar year.


11 SkyMiles earned per $1 MQD

SkyMiles are earned and redeemed for travel, upgrades and other eligible purchases. SkyMiles never expire.

1 Distance calculations are at the sole discretion of Delta Air Lines; however, calculations generally follow the great circle distance between airports.

Delta Air Lines Fare Class I

SkyMiles upgrades with Fare Class I ticket

Important upgrade eligibility and upgrade order information with a Fare Class I ticket on Delta Air Lines.

  • Loyalty program linked to PNR: SkyMiles
  • Complimentary upgrade eligible:

Complimentary upgrades on Delta Air Lines

Upgrading to Premium Cabins (Delta Premium Select / Delta One)

  • There are no cabins of service higher than Delta One.

Official upgrade rules found on Delta.com.

Mileage Upgrade Awards (MUA) changes (as of 08/22/2023)

  • It is unlikely to see buy up offers or MUAs because the ticketed fare class is the highest cabin of service available, but Delta's IT has been know to do shady, illogical things like sell you a buy-up to a refundable fare in the same cabin.

Official mileage upgrade awards rules found on Delta.com

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