Delta One Marketing
Delta One is the premier cabin of service on Delta Air Lines and is marketed as a luxury experience for long-haul international and select domestic routes.
Amenities include lie flat seats, larger in-flight entertainment screens, noise cancelling headphones, power ports at each seat, and dedicated cabin attendants. Additionally, Delta One marketed flights get complimentary access to the Delta SkyClub.
Delta One Uncensored
The Delta One cabin varies dramatically in price and experience between aircraft. Even though the entire product offering does have lie-flat seats, passengers on older or un-retrofitted aircraft will have a significantly different “luxury” experience while paying a premium price.
This article was designed to give people an uncensored review of what to expect when flying on the Delta One premium product, not First Class.
The easiest way to tell if you’re flying Delta One vs First Class is by your seat color in the Fly Delta app. If your seat is Purple is it marketed as Delta One. If your seat is Magenta, the flight is marketed as First Class.
Delta One vs Delta One Suites
Delta is sneaky with their marketing and pricing without an easily recognizable difference between Delta One and Delta One Suites. It is based solely on the aircraft flown.
Boeing 757-200: Delta One
Only a few Boeing 757-200 aircraft are configured with Delta One and are configured in a 2-2 lie-flat layout. This strange aircraft is flown on low density transcontinental routes and some medium-haul international routes (frequently to KEF during the summer). The hard product is better than the 767-300, but the service capabilities are limited on a narrowbody jet.
Boeing 767-300: Delta One
The Boeing 767-300 aircraft is referred to as the “shitbox” of Delta Air Lines. These aircraft are tired, worn out and barely tolerable for an overnight flight. While they are still configured in a 1-2-1 lie-flat configuration that is marketed as Delta One, which is a joke. Frequent flyers refer to it as Delta 0.5 and the hard product is horrid and WiFi (if operable) is slow, at best.
Boeing 767-400: Delta One
While the 767-400 aircraft are equally as old, but fully retrofitted into an ‘almost’ Delta One Suite-looking seat. Each seat has a higher wall and more privacy, but no door. The 767-400 aircraft are configured in a 1-2-1 layout and aren’t awful; however, Delta flies these planes to some of the highest revenue markets (LHR) which is laughable as many other carriers showcase some of their most premium cabins to/from London.
Airbus 330-200 and 330-300: Delta One
The Airbus A330-200 and A330-300 aircraft are the previous generation of Delta One seating, which is not an enclosed suite, but open seating in a 1-2-1 staggered or herringbone lie-flat configuration. The hard product is better than the 767’s; however, these aircraft are tired and WiFi (if operable) is slow, at best.
Airbus 330-900 NEO: Delta One Suites
The Airbus 330-900 NEO aircraft is the newest aircraft in Delta’s fleet, and all are impeccably outfitted with Delta One Suites (with doors) and HD entertainment screens in a 1-2-1 layout. The 330-900 NEO is configured in the standard 1-2-1 layout with full-height doors on all Delta One Suites. These aircraft are extended range and typically serve transpacific routes and select long-haul transcontinental routes, but can be found on repositioning routes domestically; however, it will be marketed as First Class and not Delta One.
Airbus 350-900 (35L / LATAM): Delta One
The Airbus 350-900 (35L) is a new aircraft to Delta’s fleet; however, ~9 were acquired from LATAM airlines in 2022 and quickly shuffled into service partially retrofitted with Delta branding in a 2-2-2 layout. The seats are full lie-flat and the screens are new; but there is no doors and little privacy with your seat neighbor. Additionally, the 2-2-2 configuration can be problematic for single tranvelers as not all seats have direct aisle access.
Airbus 350-900: Delta One Suites
The Airbus 350-900 is Delta’s Flagship Delta One Suites aircraft configured in a 1-2-1 layout with, outfitted with Delta One Suites (full height doors) and HD entertainment screens. These aircraft are extended range and typically server transpacific and transatlantic routes, but can be found on repositioning routes domestically; however, it will be marketed as First Class.
Is Delta One worth the price?
Let me start by saying that ALL US-based airlines have a mediocre business-class product. [Full stop]. If you want a true luxury offering, fly non-US-based carriers – trust me.
Pricing and perceived value
Delta One is Delta’s legacy premium hard product, usually flown on older aircraft. While there is value in this product, it cannot command the prices of the Delta One Suites product.
Below is a table of typical pricing of Delta One:
| Route | Delta.com Advertised Prices | What’s a good deal? |
|---|---|---|
| Transatlantic | $2k-$6k | <$2.5k |
| Transpacific | $5k-$9k+ | <$5k |
| Transcontinental | $2k-$4k | <$2k |
Delta One Suites Pricing and perceived value
Delta One Suites is Delta’s most premium product and Delta is commanding an astonishingly high price for their hard product.
Below is a table of typical pricing of Delta One Suites:
| Route | Delta.com Advertised Prices | What’s a good deal? |
|---|---|---|
| Transatlantic | $3k-$6k | <$3.5k |
| Transpacific | $6k-$20k+ | <$5k |
| Transcontinental | $3k-$6k | <$3k |
Shenanigans to watch out for
There have been numerous times where you’ll book a Delta One Suites flight, but there will be a “quiet” equipment change to an aircraft that is only equipped with Delta One. If this happens, immediate call into reservations and ask to re-price your flight and refund the difference.
SkyClub Access
Generally, yes. You will be eligible for SkyClub access at the airport with the Delta One fight. If your first (positioning) flight is marketed as First Class, you will not be eligible for SkyClub access at the first class departure point without other eligible SkyClub access methods.
Upgrading to Delta One
While unlikely, there are ways to upgrade from Main Cabin/Comfort+ to Delta One, outlined in this article.
While unlikely, there are ways to upgrade from Delta Premium Select to Delta One, outlined in this article,
Show me what exactly the 767-400 delta one seat/bed/cabin looks like. And, how do you choose it when you book the flight??