Quick take: Spacious suites with closing privacy doors, stylish finishes and high-end soft touches all combine to make Delta One seats a great international business-class experience.
Pros
- Delta One seats feel extra private thanks to doors that slide shut and do-not-disturb indicators.
- Memory foam cushioning and cozy bedding create a restful experience in the sky.
- Crisp entertainment screens with tons of programming and affordable Wi-Fi with decent speeds mean you can make the most of your flight whether you want to work or relax.
- Bespoke Alessi service ware lends onboard meals an upscale tone.
Cons
- Delta One Suites aboard the Airbus A330-900neo feel slightly more constrictive than their counterparts on the A350-900.
- Just two lavatories for 29 business-class passengers means occasional bottlenecks.
- Time for Delta to get better noise-canceling headphones.
Delta first unveiled the designs for its Delta One Suites with closing doors back in 2016 in anticipation of receiving its first order of Airbus A350s. The airline put Delta One seats into service aboard those jets in 2017.
Although several airlines now have business-class suites with closing doors, including Qatar Airways’ Qsuite, British Airways’ Club Suite, Virgin Atlantic’s latest Upper Class suite, Etihad Airways’ A350 business-class suite and JetBlue’s Mint Suite and Mint Studio, the fixtures felt revolutionary at the time.
When Delta added Airbus A330-900neos to its fleet in 2019, these planes also had Delta One Suites installed, and I finally had the opportunity to test them out on a recent flight from Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).
Here’s what it was like flying Delta One seats aboard the A330-900neo and what passengers can expect from the suite-style experience.
How much does it cost to book a Delta One Suite?
Airfares and award redemptions in Delta One Suites can vary widely since the airline deploys them on so many international long-haul routes.
For flights from Salt Lake City to Paris, though, here is the range of prices for round-trip tickets over the next several months in economy, premium economy and Delta One business class.
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| Class | Economy | Premium economy | Business class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airfare | $985-$2,395 | $1,965-$4,345 | $4,045-$15,820 |
| Delta SkyMiles | 124,000-186,000 plus $88 in taxes and fees | 176,000-290,000 plus $88 in taxes and fees | 330,000-680,000 plus $149 in taxes and fees |
If you’re looking to stock up on Delta SkyMiles, you might want to consider applying for one of the following Delta credit cards:
Remember, you can also transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta SkyMiles at a 1:1 ratio if you have a card such as:
Leaving elite status out of it, Delta One passengers also receive the following services compared to economy and premium economy flyers:
| Class | Seat selection (cost) | Cabin baggage allowance | Checked baggage allowance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Varies | One carry-on, one personal item | One checked bag of up to 50 pounds for free |
| Premium Select | Free | One carry-on, one personal item | One checked bag of up to 50 pounds for free |
| Delta One | Free | One carry-on, one personal item | Up to two bags of up to 70 pounds each for free |
I had originally purchased a round-trip economy ticket from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Paris on Air France with the return on Delta. I booked it in July for travel in August – Europe’s summer high season – so my ticket was rather expensive at $2,100.
About two weeks before my trip, however, I needed to change my plans to return from Geneva instead and found that I could upgrade to Delta One for just $1,900 one-way if I altered my route to fly via Salt Lake City. Considering a similar ticket on the nonstop Paris-Los Angeles route would have cost nearly $9,000 more, it seemed like a (still-expensive) bargain, so I booked it.
My final itinerary had me leaving Geneva at 7:20 a.m., arriving in Paris at 8:40 a.m., then departing for Salt Lake City at 10:10 a.m. and arriving at 12:45 p.m. with a 2 1/2-hour connection before my final leg to Los Angeles.
Checking in to and boarding Delta One Suites
Delta One passengers can expect the following priority services at the airport:
| Priority check-in | SkyPriority |
|---|---|
| Lounge access | Yes, Delta Sky Clubs and SkyTeam partner lounges |
| Does the airline participate in TSA PreCheck? | Yes |
| Priority boarding | Yes, after preboarding, but ahead of Medallion elite members, Premium Select, Comfort+, SkyPriority and economy |
I began my journey in Geneva with a 7:20 a.m. departure on Air France to Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Thanks to my Delta Gold Medallion status and my Delta One ticket, I could access the SkyPriority check-in counters at the airport, where there was no line, and checked my bag within a minute before heading to the gate. I then made a quick stop by the small Air France lounge past security to grab a cappuccino and then went to the gate just as boarding started.
Although the plane boarded quickly and we pushed back early, we were held on the tarmac for about 30 minutes due to bad weather in the east of France. Once underway, though, the flight was quick and we landed 20 minutes behind schedule.
Unfortunately, that made my layover time, which had been 90 minutes, slightly tighter — especially considering we parked at a remote gate at CDG’s Terminal 2F. That meant a 10-minute bus ride to the main terminal, a hustle through immigration along with several other arriving flights’ passengers, and then another 10-minute bus ride to Terminal 2E, where my plane was departing from the M gates. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to visit the Air France lounge, like I had on my previous trip flying Air France’s new business class.
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When I arrived at the gate, general boarding had already started and there was a huge line for the main cabin. The SkyPriority line was much shorter. But even though there were just seven travelers ahead of me, it still took about 15 minutes since the single agent working SkyPriority was checking each individual’s passport, asking them questions about their trip and then waving them through to the automated boarding gates.
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I entered the Delta One cabin to find most of the other passengers had already boarded and settled into their seats, where they were being offered a choice of orange juice or sparkling wine in the airline’s signature Alessi goblet-style glasses.
I asked the flight attendant working my aisle for water and she said I could just have the bottle that was waiting at my seat.
Boarding seemed to continue for another 30 minutes or so as the back of the plane filled up, so I had plenty of time to snap photos of the cabin and my seat. We pushed back right on time, but due to some paperwork holdup, our departure ended up being delayed by about 45 minutes, during which time we sat on a strip adjacent to the runway. We made up part of that time in the air and landed about 30 minutes behind schedule.
How comfortable were Delta One Suites?
You can find suite-style Delta One seats with closing doors aboard the airline’s Airbus A350s and A330-900neos, but not the airline’s other aircraft, such as Boeing 767-300s and 767-400s.
Here are the dimensions and configuration of Delta One seats on the A330-900neo.
| Number of seats | 29 |
|---|---|
| Cabin layout | 1-2-1 |
| Seat recline | 79-80 inches, fully flat |
| Seat width | 22 1/2 inches |
| Screen size | 18 1/2 inches |
Delta One Suites are laid out in a 1-2-1 configuration with single seats along the sides of the plane and sections of two seats running down the middle. The A330-900neo has seven rows of four seats each, plus a single seat in the eighth row, 8A, which I would avoid since it’s by the lavatory and galley, where light, noise and passenger traffic might keep you awake.
Each Delta One Suite has a narrow armrest on one side and a larger console-style armrest on the other, so you might be closer or farther from the aisle depending on where you’re sitting. Side seats in odd-numbered rows have the narrow armrest on the aisle, while even-numbered ones have the larger armrest separating them from the aisle, making them feel even more private.
Down the middle, seats in odd-numbered rows have the narrow armrests on their right side, while those in even-numbered rows have them on the left side. Center seats also have privacy dividers you can raise if you’re not traveling with a companion.
Although seats with the larger armrests separating them from the aisle do feel more self-contained, thanks to the fact that each Delta One Suite has a door that you can slide shut once in flight (they’re locked open for takeoff and landing for safety reasons), they all feel very private.
These suites have been in service for a few years now, but I didn’t see too many signs of wear and tear on the blue upholstery, nor scuffs on the pearly and charcoal-colored hard surfaces. The doors were easy to open and shut as well.
Passengers are required to wear a shoulder strap that hooks into the waist belt for takeoff and landing, but can unhook it for the rest of the flight.
I brought a measuring tape along with me and clocked the seat width between armrests to be 22 inches (as opposed to the 22 1/2 inches Delta lists), while the distance from my seatback cushion to my entertainment screen was a roomy 36 inches.
My suite’s big armrest measured 15 1/2 inches wide, while the smaller one was 1 1/2 inches. Neither of them moved. Reaching to the top of my seat’s shell, the Delta One Suite door measured 43 1/2 inches high, with a narrow gap between it and the floor. So while the space is not totally enclosed, and flight attendants can easily see over it and into your seat, the door still provides a lot of seclusion from other passengers and activity in the aisle.
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The tray table, which was sort of trapezoidal, swung out from the large armrest with the touch of a button and measured 20 inches across at its widest and 10 1/2 inches deep, so it was large enough for my MacBook Pro, but not enormous. Luckily, I could slide my computer over to the wide armrest, where it fit nicely, when I was having drinks or a meal.
I also liked the armrest’s triangular patterning, an allusion to Delta’s logo. It lent what could have otherwise been a boring flat surface some visual variety.
In lie-flat mode, the bed extended to nearly 80 inches.
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Across from the seat, the suite’s foot cubby was 14 inches wide and 12 inches high — more than large enough to accommodate my feet, though if you have big feet and like to turn from side to side, you might feel constricted.
When extended into a fully flat bed, I found the seat to be very comfortable thanks to its relatively spacious dimensions and the memory foam cushioning, and I didn’t knock my legs into the armrest or door when turning from side to side. I did, however, manage to accidentally hit one of the sets of seat controls with my elbow a few times, which raised the seatback momentarily. Though designed to be more convenient for folks to manipulate while lying down, the sensitivity and placement of these buttons meant I had to be careful to avoid them.
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Although there was not a good place to stow a computer or large device for takeoff and landing, the seat did have a few convenient storage areas. There was a deep, narrow, rectangular cubby in the large armrest where you could put an amenity kit or other personal belongings.
Below that was a floor cubby where you could stow your shoes if you wanted to don the slippers provided by the airline instead.
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Beside the seatback was an open cubby with a hook for headphones, a water bottle holder and a little space for small personal items like a cellphone or glasses case.
Below this and next to the seatback, a curving, gray fixture held a USB-A port, a universal power plug with another USB-A port in it, and the dual-pronged headphone jack for the entertainment system.
Next to that were the seat controls, which allowed you to move the individual components, including the seatback, bottom and leg rest, as well as maneuvering it into preset positions for takeoff and landing, relaxing, lounging and lie-flat mode.
There were also buttons to control the suite’s accent and overhead lighting, plus a do-not-disturb button that turned the seat number on the outside of the suite door from green to red for when you wanted to rest without interruption.
Just below this, you could pop open part of the large armrest to reveal a simple control for the entertainment system and a mirror for any in-seat primping you might need to do.
Overhead air nozzles could be used to adjust the temperature in each seat, but since the flight attendants kept the cabin at a balmy 75 degrees (and lowered it just to 73 upon request so as “not to freeze everyone else out”), the temperature remained relatively high throughout the flight.
Overall, Delta One seats aboard the A330-900neo look and feel well-designed with colorful yet sophisticated blue-on-blue upholstery, thoughtfully placed storage areas and intuitive controls, and they seem to be holding up pretty well against the wear and tear of everyday use.
All 29 passengers in Delta One aboard the A330-900neo share just two lavatories: one at the front of the cabin near a small galley and the cockpit, and the other behind the cabin, through a set of mesh curtains next to the larger galley. This is probably the biggest downside of flying Delta One on the A330-900neo compared to the A350-900, where Delta One passengers can access four lavatories (though they share two with Premium Select).
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There was never a long wait for the lavatories, but lines did form at some points, and their placement right next to the galleys meant you sometimes had to do a little dance with flight attendants as they attempted to perform meal and beverage service.
That said, the flight attendants kept both restrooms very clean throughout the flight, and the Grown Alchemist hand wash and lotion provided in them were nice touches.
Amenities in Delta One Suites
Each Delta One Suite was provisioned with CoZzz bedding, including a pillow and blanket made from recycled materials and contained within a laundered, reusable fabric pouch to avoid the need for single-use plastic. The airline shifted to this eco-friendlier bedding back in 2021.
The medium-size white pillow had attractive gray piping, and the blanket was lightweight but warm and breathable. I slept well with them, but I do miss Delta’s former Westin Heavenly bedding, which just felt more plush and luxurious.
Each seat was also provisioned with a small amenity kit by the Mexican apparel brand Someone Somewhere. These colorful pouches are created on traditional hand looms by artisans in the states of Oaxaca and Michoacan, providing employment to over 250 people. Each one contains a label telling you who made it and where (mine was by Gerardo in Michoacan).
The airline claims that switching to these amenity kits eliminates over 90,000 pounds of waste each year by eliminating the need for single-use plastic items like zippers and wrappers.
Inside, the kits contained:
- The Humble Co. bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste
- A woven fabric eye mask
- Ear plugs
- A pen
- Grown Alchemist hand cream and lip balm
Though simple, the items were nice and functional, and the mix of herbal and floral scents of the Grown Alchemist products was pleasantly fragrant.
Delta provides basic, over-the-head noise-canceling headphones that you must plug into the seatside jack. While not super high-quality, they worked well enough. Unfortunately, there’s no option to pair your own noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones with the entertainment system on Delta’s A330-900neos, which would be a nice enhancement.
Speaking of the entertainment system, the slim-profile touchscreens are 18 1/2 inches across diagonally and crystal-crisp. According to the system, there were 536 movies, 83 television series and 140 audio selections on offer.
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The new-release movies included titles like “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” and “Evil Dead Rise,” while the TV shows available included hits like “1923: A Yellowstone Origin Story” and “Abbott Elementary.” There were also plenty of podcasts, musical playlists and albums and even a selection of Peloton meditation and chair yoga classes.
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I logged on to the plane’s Wi-Fi after we hit cruising altitude and was able to choose from three packages:
- One hour for $6.95
- Three hours for $18.95
- Full flight for $21.95
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I chose the full-flight option, which came to $22.17 with taxes and was more than adequate for emailing and browsing the internet thanks to speeds of nearly 24Mbps for downloads and 2.7Mbps for uploads.
How was the food in Delta One Suites?
A week before my flight, I received an email from Delta asking me if I’d like to preselect my meal.
The main course options included:
- Braised beef cheeks with braising reduction, truffled potato puree, artichokes, celery and carrots
- Roasted guinea hen with hunter-style sauce, tarragon, butternut squash puree, root vegetables and glazed pearl onions
- Vegetable and cheese lasagna with spinach sauce and asparagus
And a limited selection of entrees that you could only have if you preordered:
- Sea bream fillet with saffron-tomato sauce, bulgur wheat and yellow carrots
- Braised lamb shoulder with tomato and wine reduction, potatoes, snap peas and carrots
I decided on the braised beef cheeks, but had to wait to peruse the printed menu at my seat to see what else was being offered. The starters included:
- Corn soup with Poilane bread croutons
- Fennel and orange salad with pickled red onion and spicy lemon dressing
Then for dessert, a choice of:
- Fruit and cheese plate.
- Paris-Brest pastry with praline cream and almonds.
- Ice cream sundae.
About 20 minutes into the flight, the attendants came through with a beverage cart serving drinks and ramekins of warm nuts.
The wines on offer included:
- Duval-LeRoy Brut Reserve Champagne
- Aureliana Gavi from Italy
- A pinot grigio from Italy
- Chateau Argadens from Bordeaux
- Chateau Noaillac Medoc from Bordeaux
There were, of course, plenty of nonalcoholic beverages, too, including various Coca-Cola products; apple, orange, cranberry and tomato juice; a selection of Thrive Farmers teas; both sparkling and still water; and Fever Tree club soda and tonic water.
The beers aboard included Miller Lite and SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale, while the spirits included options like Buffalo Trace Distillery Bourbon Cream, Bacardi rum, Bombay Sapphire gin, Grey Goose vodka and several different whiskeys.
I tried the Gavi, which was crispy and citrusy, and paired well with both the salty nuts and the creamy corn soup, which had a dash of spice to it. The salad was fresh and light as well.
The braised beef cheeks I ordered came out extremely well considering they were served on an airplane. The meat was succulent and tender with a well-balanced, tasty sauce, and the truffled potato puree was silky and savory.
I went all-out and ordered the cheese plate with manchego and Roquefort along with some quince paste, apricots and grapes, and a chocolate sundae for dessert, which was simple but delicious.
About 75 minutes before landing, flight attendants came through the cabin to begin the second meal service, which consisted of a choice between:
- A ham, Comté cheese and mustard baguette with potato-artichoke salad, spicy lemon dressing and French mini desserts.
- Braised artichoke and fresh cheese salad with snap peas, mixed greens, spicy lemon dressing and fresh fruit.
I had the sandwich, which was served piping hot and was a nice combination of salty and spicy thanks to the mustard, while the bread was crusty and filling. It was nice to have a side of green beans, potato and tomato for something fresh, and the fruit pastry and cream puff served as dessert were both surprisingly soft and fluffy. Almost as soon as I’d finished, the flight attendants were by to clear my plate, and I appreciated the speedy service.
Delta serves Starbucks coffee, so I ordered a cup in order to help me wake up a bit and fight my impending jet lag. The brew was very weak, though, so I only had one and waited till I got to the Sky Club at SLC for another caffeine kick.
While other passengers were still finishing their meal, I changed back into my street clothes (I’d brought shorts and a T-shirt to sleep in since Delta does not provide pajamas) and our descent into Salt Lake City was smooth after that.
Would you recommend Delta One Suites?
It had been a few years since I’d last flown Delta One, in part because of the pandemic, but the experience was just as enjoyable as I remembered.
The Delta One seats themselves are attractively designed and feel very private thanks to their closing doors. The bedding is comfortable and environmentally friendly, while the amenity kits, though simple, support a great brand and contain high-end products like Grown Alchemist toiletries.
Delta’s excellent entertainment systems and strong Wi-Fi mean there’s plenty to keep you occupied on a long flight, whether you’re relaxing or working, and Delta takes its cuisine seriously, so the meals in Delta One are both elegant and appetizing.
The crew on this particular flight was friendly and warm but also efficient, making sure passengers’ glasses were kept full and their meals were served and cleared promptly, keeping the lavatories clean and remaining on hand in the galleys to help flyers between meals.
Overall, that combination of great hard and soft products means Delta One might just be the best international business-class experience among the legacy U.S. carriers.
The one major downside is that you now need an exorbitant number of Delta SkyMiles — sometimes ranging above a half-million miles each way — to book Delta One seats as award tickets. So if you want to fly Delta One yourself, prepare to pay plenty out of pocket.
Related reading:
For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Amex click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Gold Business Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Platinum Business Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Business Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta Blue Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Gold Card, click here.
