Delta Air Lines

by Anthony Losanno

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Delta Airlines Plane

Delta Air Lines is the second-largest airline in the US with over 5,400 daily flights to more than 325 cities. It’s also my secondary carrier of choice. I live in Chicago, which means connections on most of my Delta flights. But, the service, amenities, and overall experience has me recently choosing Delta more frequently and maintaining my Platinum Medallion® status.

Delta Fleet

As of September 2024, Delta operates a fleet with 991 aircraft. These planes have the second oldest average age (15.3 years) of any US carrier. It flies a mix of Boeing and Airbus aircraft on its mainline flights with Delta Connection flights operated by Bombardier and Embraer planes (these are operated by partner airlines including Endeavor Air, Republic Airways, and SkyWest Airlines).

Here is the breakdown of the mainline aircraft:

Delta has ordered additional Airbus A220-300, A321neo, A330-900, A350-900, and Boeing 737-900ER aircraft plus 100 of the Boeing 737 MAX 10, which will start to arrive in 2025.

Delta Hubs

The company is headquartered in Atlanta and has hubs in nine cities, including:

  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
  • Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
  • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
  • New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
  • New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA)
  • Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
  • Seattle/Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Classes of Service

Delta offers up to four classes of service on a given flight. This varies by aircraft type and market. These include:

  • Delta First Class: Domestic flights offer First class in most markets (all mainline flights have a premium cabin). It includes a larger seat as well as complimentary food and drinks. Flights to Canada also offer this class of service.
  • Delta One®: Longhaul international flights in business class are marketed as Delta One®. These flights include Sky Club® access, a lie-flat seat, bedding, an amenity kit, multi-course meals, and entertainment.
  • Delta Premium Select: The seats are similar to those found in Delta First Class, but this class of service is found on longhaul flights. It is Delta’s most recent addition and has rolled out to many of the markets where Delta One® can be found. It offers extra legroom, meals, and free alcoholic beverages (on international flights).
  • Delta Comfort+®: This class offers the same seats as Main Cabin, but these seats offer extra legroom. Dedicated overhead bin space, amenities, additional snacks, and alcoholic beverages are also included depending on the route and distance. They can be found in the first few rows of the coach cabin.
  • Main Cabin: This is your standard coach seating and service. Delta Studio® entertainment is offered on most routes with complimentary headsets. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are provided depending on the flight.
  • Basic Economy: These tickets are no frills and don’t include things you might expect to get with any airfare. Seats are not preassigned and there are no changes or cancellations allowed.

Delta Baggage

Baggage Fees

I choose to never check bags as I don’t have the patience to wait most times. Checked bag fees start at $30 for the first bag and vary depending upon the route and number of bags being checked.

Delta Baggage 2

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card holders, SkyTeam Elite and Elite Plus members, and Delta Medallion® members all get the first bag free. Additional baggage fees vary by status level. Weight limits can be seen above. The few times that I have checked bags, I love that Delta provides a guaranteed arrival within 20 minutes or you receive 2,500 bonus miles.

Boarding

Unlike when I fly United, I find that boarding a Delta flight is calm and orderly. Boarding is based on class of service, status, and fare purchased. I appreciate that Delta lets premium passengers board before Medallions®.

Here is Delta’s current pre-boarding and boarding process:

  • Passengers with disabilities
  • Active military members
  • Delta 360°
  • Zone 1: Delta One® or First Class
  • Zone 2: Delta Diamond Medallion® and Delta Premium Select
  • Customers with strollers or car seats
  • Zone 3: Delta Comfort+®
  • Zone 4: Platinum and Gold Medallion®, Flying Blue Platinum and Gold, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, LATAM Pass Signature, Black, and Platinum Elite, WestJet Rewards Platinum and Gold Elite
  • Zone 5: Silver Medallion®, Delta Corporate Travelers, Delta SkyMiles® Gold, Platinum, and Reserve American Express card holders, Flying Blue Silver, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver, SkyTeam Elite, SkyMiles® Select members, LATAM Pass Gold+ Elite, WestJet Rewards Silver Elite
  • Zone 6: SkyMiles members in the Main Cabin
  • Zone 7: Non-SkyMiles members in the Main Cabin
  • Zone 8: Basic Economy

Delta Sky Club

Delta Sky Clubs®

Delta operates more than 50 lounges across its hubs and many cities both in the US and internationally. Access is granted to passengers with memberships (purchased annually), one-time pass holders (earned from the co-branded American Express cards), Delta One®, SkyTeam premium cabin passengers, SkyTeam Elite Plus when flying internationally in premium cabins, the Centurion® and the Platinum Card® from American Express holders, Delta SkyMiles® Reserve cardmembers, WestJet business class passengers, and WestJet Rewards Platinum and Gold Elite. Allowed guests vary by access type.

A same-day boarding pass is required to enter the Delta Sky Club®.

Sky Clubs® can be found in many cities including:

Delta One JFK 19

Delta One® Lounges

The first Delta One® Lounge opened at New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in June 2024. Two other locations have been confirmed and are set to open by the end of the year.

  • Boston Logan International Airport (Opening Soon)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) (Terminal 3)
  • Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) (Opening Soon)
  • New York John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) (Main Arrivals Level on Terminal 4)
  • Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) (Opening Soon)
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) (Opening Soon)

Access to this lounge is exclusive. Delta is trying to avoid the crowding issues at many Sky Clubs®. The following passengers have access to the Delta One® Lounge before departure:

  • Delta One® passengers (these passengers also have exclusive access upon arrival)
  • Delta 360 members departing or arriving on a same day Delta First Class ticket
  • Air France La Premiere and Business Class
  • KLM Business Class
  • Korean Air First Class and Prestige Class
  • LATAM Premium Business Class
  • Virgin Atlantic Upper Class

Like United’s Polaris Lounges, Delta One® Lounges are not accessible by holding a credit card or membership. You need to be flying in one of the premium cabins listed above. Access does not matter if you paid cash, used miles, or upgraded.

Delta One Seat

Delta One®

In 2015, Delta changed its international business class from BusinessElite to its current offering: Delta One®. This service includes flat-bed seats, full-height suite doors on most A350 and A330 aircraft, Someone Somewhere handcrafted amenity kits, premium, 100% recycled polyester (rPET) bedding, Sky Club® access, meals and complimentary beverages.

Delta Status Levels

SkyMiles®

Delta’s frequent flyer program is called SkyMiles®. When you fly on paid tickets with Delta and its partners, you earn miles. These can be redeemed for free tickets. In addition to miles earned from flying, you can get them from purchases made with one of American Express’ co-branded credit cards, through Delta’s shopping portal, and a host of other ways. Elite members (called Medallions®) get specific benefits at each level ranging from priority boarding to free checked baggage to upgrades on certain routes. The higher the level, the juicier the perks become. Miles from flying are earned based on the price of the ticket with bonuses given to each Medallion® level. There are four published levels plus an invitation-only level called Delta 360°. In 2024, status is earned solely on Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs). There are no longer Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) required, so it does not matter how many miles you fly. It’s all about how much you spend with Delta.

MQD Accelerator

Platinum and Diamond Medallion members will start the year with $1,000 and $2,000 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) respectively.

Delta 360

Delta 360°

As mentioned above, Delta 360° is invitation only and reserved for Delta’s highest spenders. Qualification is not published and generally it is believed that spend must be high on premium tickets. It’s also believed that it is easier to qualify if your home is not at one of Delta’s hubs. This status comes with a Delta SkyClub® Executive membership, an exclusive phone line, bag tags (as seen above), and some other unpublished benefits. Holding this status is not supposed to impact upgrade chances (unlike United Global Services® and American Airlines Concierge Key.

Medallion® Benefits by Tier

Each tier offers additional benefits from the one before it.

Delta-Elite-Status-Benefits-Chart

Lifetime Medallion® Status

I’m working my way to lifetime status for flying over one million miles with Delta. With this achievement, my status will never drop below Silver Medallion®.

Delta Million Miler

Delta is now my primary carrier and I fly around 125,000 miles a year,. I’ll need another few years to hit my first million miles. Million Miler Status is based on total Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) earned over a member’s lifetime. In 2024, the status levels awarded are changing and becoming more generous.

Delta Million Miler

New in 2024: Now, it’s possible to earn Delta 360° at five million+ miles and one million now jumps to Gold Medallion.

Elite vs Elite Plus

SkyTeam Benefits

The sweet spots with Delta status come at Gold Medallion® and above where you also receive SkyTeam Elite Plus benefits. These grant access to SkyTeam member lounges, priority boarding and baggage, as well as some other benefits that vary slightly depending on the carrier.

SkyTeam Member Lounges

My favorite benefit is the lounge access. Being SkyTeam Elite Plus grants access to over 750 lounges worldwide. It doesn’t matter what class of service you’re flying, you’ll be able to relax before a flight. Food quality and variety as well as other amenities vary by lounge but they all provide a place to relax, work (with free Wi-Fi), and get ready for a flight. [There are some exceptions with Delta for flights not booked in a premium cabin. Please see the Delta Air Lines page for more information.]

Complimentary Upgrades

Upgrades on Delta come in several forms and the routes where they apply vary. The chart below details complimentary upgrades.

Delta Upgrades

 

Delta Upgrades 2

Upgrades with Miles

Miles can be used to upgrade to Delta One®, Delta Premium Select, First Class, or Delta Comfort+® on eligible flights within the U.S. while purchasing a ticket at Delta.com. If your reservation is eligible for an upgrade, you’ll see the option to upgrade in your Trip Summary.

Upgrades with Certificates

Upgrade certificates are available exclusively for Diamond and Platinum Medallion® Members as a part of their Choice Benefits.

  • Global Upgrade Certificates: available exclusively for Diamond Medallion® Members, offer upgrades on both international and domestic flights with Delta, and select flights with KLM, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Korean Air, and Aeromexico.
  • Regional Upgrade Certificates: available for Diamond and Platinum Medallion® Members, offer upgrades on the same routes as Medallion® Complimentary Upgrades, including all flights with First Class and the domestic Delta One experience.

As a Choice Benefit selection, Diamond Medallion® Members may choose any of the following three options:

  • Four Global Upgrade Certificates
  • Eight Regional Upgrade Certificates
  • Two Global and four Regional Upgrade Certificates

Platinum Medallion® Members may choose four Regional Upgrade Certificates. The chart below shows where these can be applied by region.

Regions Delta Certs

The chart below shows what cabin a certificate will upgrade you into.

Delta Upgrade Cert Chart

All Upgrade Certificates can be redeemed for a one-cabin upgrade above your purchased cabin of service.

  • Each one-way ticket is limited to one Upgrade Certificate per passenger. If you clear into Delta Premium Select, there’s no need to apply an additional Upgrade Certificate; You’ll automatically be added to the waitlist for Delta One® and be eligible to clear starting 24 hours prior to departure, pending upgrade availability.

Delta Amex Cards

American Express & Delta Credit Cards

Other than flying, earning miles with a credit card is a great way to quickly build your balance (especially with lucrative bonuses for getting the cards). American Express offers three personal and three business cards that earn Delta SkyMiles® with each purchase. These include:

The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

This is the entry-level Delta card with $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 (see rates and fees). It offers the following benefits:

  • 2 miles per $1 spent on Delta Air Lines, at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S and at U.S. supermarkets
  • 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
  • First checked bag free
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 20% back on in-flight purchases
  • $200 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases in a year, you can receive a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use toward future travel.
  • $100 Delta Stays Credit: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Members can earn up to $100 back annually on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings on delta.com.
  • Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
  • Terms apply

The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card

This is the best card for regular Delta flyers and the card I hold. Its annual fee is $350 (see rates and fees) and it offers:

  • 3 miles per $1 spent on Delta Air Lines and hotels (booked directly through the hotel)
  • 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets
  • 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
  • Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $20 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
  • $120 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $10 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
  • $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card. Enrollment Required.
  • A domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate upon renewal of your card (annually)
  • First checked bag free
  • 20% back on in-flight purchases
  • Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
  • A Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® fee credit — up to $100
  • Terms apply

The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

This is the best card for heavy Delta flyers who want access to the Sky Club®. Its annual fee is $550 (see rates and fees) and it offers:

  • 3 miles per $1 spent on Delta Air Lines
  • 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
  • A Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate with renewal (annually)
  • Delta Sky Club® access and two one-time guest passes for the Sky Club® (annually)
  • Upgrade Priority for Medallion® members
  • Complimentary upgrades if you don’t have Medallion® status
  • First checked bag free
  • 20% back on in-flight purchases
  • Complimentary Centurion® Lounge access
  • Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
  • A Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® fee credit — up to $100
  • Terms apply

If you own your own business then you can also hold one of these cards:

Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card

Similar to the consumer version, this Delta card has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $375. It offers the following benefits:

  • 2 miles per $1 spent on Delta Air Lines, restaurants, U.S. shipping purchases, and select U.S. advertising purchases
  • 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
  • $100 Delta flight credit after spending $10,000 in a calendar year
  • First checked bag free
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 20% back on in-flight purchases
  • Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
  • Terms apply

Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card

This is another great card for regular Delta flyers. Its annual fee is $350 (see rates and fees) and it offers:

  • 3 miles per $1 spent on Delta Air Lines
  • 1.5 miles per $1 spent on large purchases (over $5,000) up to 50,000 additional miles per calendar year
  • 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
  • A domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate upon renewal of your card (annually)
  • First checked bag free
  • 20% back on in-flight purchases
  • Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
  • A Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® fee credit — up to $100
  • Terms apply

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card

This is another great card for heavy Delta flyers who want access to the Sky Club®. Its annual fee is $650 (see rates and fees) and it offers:

  • 3 miles per $1 spent on Delta Air Lines
  • 1.5 miles per $1 spent after spending $150,000 in a calendar year
  • 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
  • A Domestic First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate with renewal (annually)
  • Delta Sky Club® access and two one-time guest passes for the Sky Club® (annually)
  • Upgrade Priority for Medallion® members
  • Complimentary upgrades if you don’t have Medallion® status
  • First checked bag free
  • 20% back on in-flight purchases
  • Complimentary Centurion® Lounge access
  • Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding
  • A Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® fee credit — up to $100
  • Terms apply

Delta Plane

Final take: Delta offers a vast route network, access to earn and redeem on SkyTeam airlines, and some great perks for holding Medallion® status. It’s been my secondary carrier for years and I’ll be flying Delta more in the future. This information was up to date at the time of publishing but Delta can make changes at any time. For specific questions, check out Delta.com.