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Delta Air Lines introduced a new boarding process on May 1, 2024 and it is now making a further change a little more than a year later. Delta 360° members represent the airline’s most valuable customers with many spending over $100,000 annually. The latest boarding order shakeup sees these folks bumped from preboarding back to Zone 2 after First Class or Delta One® passengers.
The current boarding order with the changes made in 2024 is shown above. Delta Air Lines changed up its boarding process with zone boarding versus the past order by cabin and elite entitlements (First Class, Comfort+®, Main Cabin, etc.). I first reported on this change in April 2024. There are eight boarding zones in the current process and that will all remain the same with the exception of Delta 360° members being bumped later as of May 16th.
It’s interesting to note that both American and United board their top-tier, invitation-only members (ConciergeKey and Global Services®, respectively) before First or Business Class passengers. Delta, who reportedly has some of the toughest criteria to qualify for Delta 360° when compared to comparable levels at other airlines, is demoting these members. There are not too many and I would say that they should board with Zone 1 if they needed to be pushed back in the boarding.
Anthony’s Take: Delta has not given any explanation for this change. It only impacts a small group of flyers, but I’m sure they won’t be happy about it.
(Image Credit: Delta Air Lines.)
(H/T: One Mile at a Time.)
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2 comments
If Delta were to downgrade boarding for one group, active military would make a lot more sense than angering your absolute best customers.
Has anyone ever thought to see how it would be more efficient to load passengers from the back of the plane first? Doesn’t take a genius to figure out how much time and money they could save. So what if first class has to wait for their drinks…