For the average traveler, flying at 30,000 means tight seats and dried-out peanuts—not exactly luxury.
But for passengers on Delta One, the airline’s premium class for long-haul routes, the flight is the experience, and it’s about to get a major upgrade.
Delta Air Lines announced the next generation of it’s top-tier cabin, the first major holistic redesign of its kind in 30 years, backed by more than $1 billion in fleet upgrades, with major revamps from the passenger’s seat, like larger screens and wireless charging options, to the menu, offering elevated takes on classic dishes.
“Intentionality behind every detail”
The overhaul is unsurprising given that Delta’s premium cabin has been earning a larger share of revenue, exceeding economy cabin revenue for the first time ever this year. Airlines more broadly have been aggressively pursuing higher-end travelers for a while now.
“Delta’s fully reimagined experience is rooted in solving real customer needs and desires, with intentionality behind every detail,” Ranjan Goswami, Delta’s chief marketing and product officer, said in a statement.
The upgrades will first begin rolling out this fall, starting with transoceanic Delta One routes departing Los Angeles International Airport, and expanding across the international network through 2027.
A new cabin
Passengers will be able to experience the redesign upon stepping into the aircraft, with newly designed Delta One seats for the Airbus A350-1000 aircraft, which will begin flying early next year.
Optimized for privacy and comfort, the seats have sliding doors to create an individual suite, equipped with fully lie-back seats and added mattress pads for comfort.
The devil is in the details, with small features on the new seats coming directly from customer feedback, including hooks for handbags, a small stand to hang eye glasses from, and larger seatback screens.
Small design fixtures carry through the suite, like perforated light fixtures that bring in a more residential feeling, as well as Delta’s widget logo emblazoned in various elements on the seat.
When designing the seat for comfort, members of the Delta team tested the seats by sitting down on them for hours, mimicking the conditions of a long-haul flight.
Beyond the seat, Delta One passengers will also be greeted with an upgraded Missoni amenity kit, which launches on November 3.
Inside, traditional amenities like an eye mask and a toothbrush are available, as well as eye patches from popular skincare brand Grown Alchemist. Missoni’s recognizable design extends to the bedding, with a pillow and duvet branded with the Missoni’s signature chevron.
Dining in the air
The experience continues on the food tray, with a new menu filled with elevated classics and wine pairings led by chef Simon Hulstone and master sommelier Andrea Robinson, Delta’s in-house culinary team.
Taking into account how taste buds change in high altitude and pressurized environments, the team experimented to create recipes and beverage curations that retained its flavor while in the air.
The ambitious menu includes ample protein options like Wagyu beef burgers, braised lamb entrée, beef short rib, and Hong Kong-style sea bass. Other fan favorite additions include a chicken Caesar salad, mac and cheese, and a seasonally rotating risotto.
To end the dining experience, Delta One passengers may choose between various dessert options, including a sundae or a dairy-free sorbet paired with champagne.
And drinking too
The drinks menu is also getting a revamp, expanding on the cocktail and wine menu. The new Delta One experience will offer passengers Blanton’s bourbon and Dassai 45 Sake—although the latter will only be available on flights to Japan.
The cocktail menu will now also include popular drinks like Hugo Spritz and Palomas. The wine list will expand with global labels, as well as $200 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon and other Napa favorites.
“This elevated dining and hospitality experience reflects our relentless focus on raising the bar while giving customers greater control throughout their journey,” Goswami added. “Every investment we make is deliberate and designed to deliver the industry’s most premium end-to-end travel experience.”
