Airlines never stop investing in their passenger experience, as it’s a never-ending process. At the moment, we know Delta is trying to step up its game on long haul flights, and this includes new lounges, new seats, and more.
For some time, JonNYC has been telling us that Delta will soon update its business class product, including new meals, drinks, and amenities. Well, those details have now all been revealed. The Atlanta-based carrier is referring to this as “the next era of Delta One,” and is calling this its biggest investment and most holistic product redesign in nearly 30 years. Oh, and Delta also claims it has a “double-decade lead in customer experience and hospitality.”
Delta One business class soft product gets overhaul
Delta is introducing an all-new soft product in its Delta One business class — this will initially be available on long haul flights out of Los Angeles (LAX) as of the fall of 2026, before expanding to the full global network in early 2027.
The airline describes this as an investment that elevates dining, hospitality, and rest, and claims the experience is meticulously designed, spanning thousands of touchpoints. So, what all is changing with Delta One? Here are some of the highlights:
- Delta One menus will be reimagined, with a refreshed menu centered on elevated classics, with additions like the new Delta One wagyu burger, regionally inspired Hong Kong-style sea bass, and a Champagne Taittinger sorbet pairing
- Delta One will have enhanced hospitality and tableware, with a reimagined service experience and new tableware, offering customers greater choice, functionality, and comfort, throughout each meal
- Delta One will offer more personalization, including expanded pre-selection options, like gluten-free meals, lighter-fare, and pre-arrival selections, for customers prioritizing rest, while main course pre-selection is now available for six more hours before the flight (up until 18 hours pre-departure)
- Delta One will offer Blanton’s, a new single-barrel bourbon (available as of December 1, 2026)
- Delta One will feature a new wine program (already announced), including Napa favorites, global labels, and an expansion of the Champagne Taittinger partnership; the airline highlights how it’s serving Silver Oak, which retails for $200 per bottle
- Delta One will offer DASSAI 45 Sake on flights to and from Tokyo Haneda (available as of November 3, 2026)
- Delta One will offer an updated cocktail and mocktail selection, featuring takes on the Hugo Spritz and Paloma (available as of March 2027 on international flights, and as of April 2027 on domestic flights)
- Delta One will offer refreshed winter amenity kits, and a new Missoni Mini pillow on ultra long haul flights, which complement the existing mattress pad, memory foam cuddle pillow, slippers, and eye mask (available as of November 3, 2026)
- Delta One will offer Bombas socks on select domestic and international Delta One flights departing the United States
- Delta will expand its fleet of hybrid Porsche vehicles from 40 to 70 across 15 airports, though this isn’t included with a Delta One ticket (it’s offered through VIP Select)
For some small examples of how the soft product is improving beyond the above (which is pretty broad):
- Delta is introducing a new “sip & settle” moment, whereby a hot towel, warm nuts, and a preferred beverage, will be placed on the console next to the seat prior to the meal
- A fresh cracked pepper service will be delivered during the first course, and saucières will hold side sauces that accompany dishes
- Those who prefer to rest can advantage of a pre-landing coffee and croissant service, rather than the full breakfast
For those curious about the dining updates, Delta emphasizes that highlights of the new menu will include the following:
- Delta One wagyu beef burger with caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, and cornichons, on a toasted brioche bun
- Roasted sea bass with tomato tarragon sauce, grilled asparagus, and parsley mashed potatoes
- Braised lamb entrée with red wine demi-glace, lyonnaise potatoes, grilled asparagus, and wilted spinach
- Beef short rib with red wine demi-glace, haricot vert, baby carrots, roasted shallot, and potato gratin
- Seasonally rotating risotto wild mushrooms, parmesan cheese, roasted zucchini obliques, and cherry tomatoes
- Macaroni and cheddar cheese topped with garlic breadcrumbs
- A chicken caesar salad entrée featuring crisp romaine, parsley, parmesan, and caesar dressing
- Chicken salad croissant, hummus, and crudité — each a new addition, offered as mid-flight meal
- Delta One iconic dessert cart with added choice, including the classic sundae with a new signature chocolate sauce, a new dairy-free sorbet paired with Champagne Taittinger float, or a Napa Valley inspired fruit and cheese plate
Let me emphasize that this is separate from the hard product investments we’re seeing right now. We know that Delta will take delivery of its new “flagship” Airbus A350-1000s as of 2027, and they’ll feature new business class suites. The airline is also taking delivery of A350-900s and A330-900neos with larger premium cabins, as well as retrofitting existing A330s with new cabins.
My take on Delta One business class improvements
All things considered, I’m impressed by Delta’s business class refresh. Ultimately there’s only so much you can change with a product, and all of these changes do seem thoughtful and deliberate, so I’m a fan. For that matter, Delta has already made some nice soft product improvements over time, like rolling out Missoni bedding, amenity kits, etc. Delta is smart in how it invests in its product — it loves to introduce service items that will get people talking, especially in partnership with luxury brands.
This new soft product strikes me as being pretty well rounded, though definitely evolutionary rather than revolutionary. I’m not saying it’s good or bad, but I think it’s noteworthy how Delta still won’t offer dine on demand (not that I think it needs to be offered, but I’m just saying, Delta isn’t exactly redefining anything here).
This will all be a very nice improvement for passengers, I imagine. The more exciting change, of course, is that Delta is introducing a new hard product. I’d say at this point, the biggest weakness to the Delta One experience is just the seats, and the percentage of the fleet that’s sub-optimal. The Boeing 767s and Airbus A330ceos just don’t have an industry leading product, and those planes will be in service with existing interiors for years to come.
Bourbon and $200 wine can only do so much to make up for low definition, 10.1″ entertainment monitors… in business class! Either way, kudos to Delta for this, and I look forward to experiencing the updated soft product.
As you’d expect, though, Delta is emphasizing how it has the entire industry’s most premium product, with Ranjan Goswami, Delta’s Chief Marketing and Product Officer, describing it as follows:
“Delta’s fully reimagined experience is rooted in solving real customer needs and desires, with intentionality behind every detail. Every investment we make is deliberate and designed to deliver the industry’s most premium end-to-end travel experience. This elevated dining and hospitality experience reflects our relentless focus on raising the bar while giving customers greater control throughout their journey.”
“No airline has invested more intentionally in redefining premium travel. From connectivity and personalized entertainment to dedicated security, Porsche tarmac transfers, next-generation aircraft and Delta One dining, every investment is part of a deliberate strategy to deliver the industry’s most consistent and elevated customer experience.”
Bottom line
Delta has just unveiled an all-new soft product for its Delta One business class, which will start rolling out as of this fall on flights from LAX, before expanding systemwide as of early 2027. A lot is changing about the experience, including new dining, new amenities, and a more thoughtful approach to service.
I’m happy to see Delta updating its product, and I’m curious to see how substantial the changes are in reality, since it’s of course easy to make stuff look nice in a press release.
What do you make of these Delta One updates?
I've done fewer D1 flights this year than I normally would because their price has been so crazy. Let's see... BA F (the best business class in the world) for $6K or D1 for $15K. I had to book one of these painful choices last week for a trip later this month to London. It goes without saying which I booked. As a hub captive DL flyer, I flew most of my international travel on...
I've done fewer D1 flights this year than I normally would because their price has been so crazy. Let's see... BA F (the best business class in the world) for $6K or D1 for $15K. I had to book one of these painful choices last week for a trip later this month to London. It goes without saying which I booked. As a hub captive DL flyer, I flew most of my international travel on other airlines - BA, AF, VS and even Condor - some cash and some miles.
However, I did requalify as Diamond (and as EXP with those BA flights) and took a few D1 trips. Just returned from Haneda and I have to say that the wine selection has gotten pretty strong. I'll look forward to entrees that aren't domestic entrees served with an appetizer. And they need to do something about the awful mid-flight and pre-landing food. Also, the FAs who decide to serve everyone the express meal on a 13 hour flight so they can disappear into the galley as fast as possible.
I love that one of the primary focuses of the messaging is around food and beverage. Delta is working to further their competitive differentiation vs. United Polaris's paltry and poor options. United just doesn't seem to be believe that food and beverage is all that important despite their recent pledges to improve.
I love that one of the primary focuses of the messaging is around food and beverage. Delta is working to further their competitive differentiation vs. United Polaris's paltry and poor options. United just doesn't seem to be believe that food and beverage is all that important despite their recent pledges to improve.
While I’m a delta loyalist I think they’re overhyped, but this Is a great step and I’d rather see this type of investment. However… where is the espresso machine?? I was able to get one on Egypt air, but not on the most premium airline is the whole wide world??
So Zach Griff and Delta have reported a new Delta One Suite. It looks impressive and I am surprised that Ben is not reporting here. I mean there are videos out there.
It is past 5pm on the east coast, aka Ben's bedtime. Fret not though for he will be awake at 2am to serve you your Delta One articles for tomorrow
(also pretty sure he talked about the new seats a while back?)
Zach’s instagram post Doesn’t appear to be anything more than delta has announced (or others have reported on, perhaps) in past months (and has been covered)? A rough copy of AA and United new J seats
Am I missing something?
Am I missing this or have the appetizers replaced by a larger salad? I don't see any appetizers in the lineup. The soup is still there, but it is present at the moment.
Looks good until DL kitchen do it in mass and it will be sub-standard. You might complain about AA, but business and FC food is head and shoulders above DL and UA. More BBQ AA!
Aren't the flat beds in the 767s the 1st generation of Delta One? Meanwhile, United has updated all wide bodies with true Polaris and 2nd generation lie flats, including the 767 fleet. What does the Delta 767-4 look like these days?
When it comes to the 757s, DL and UA have comparable 1st generation chairs correct?
Then, UA has it's truly ancient 757-300 which still doesn't have an updated interior. It's the worst...
Aren't the flat beds in the 767s the 1st generation of Delta One? Meanwhile, United has updated all wide bodies with true Polaris and 2nd generation lie flats, including the 767 fleet. What does the Delta 767-4 look like these days?
When it comes to the 757s, DL and UA have comparable 1st generation chairs correct?
Then, UA has it's truly ancient 757-300 which still doesn't have an updated interior. It's the worst being on it from ORD to SFO. I am guessing DL's 757-3 are nicer....
Well, DL’s don’t literally say, “BusinessElite” (circa 1998), so probably not, but, still…
If you want an atrocious business class on United, try their high-density 772 with rear-facing 2-4-2 ‘coffin’ lie-flat.
Get rid of the tray service that’s been around 30 years.
I can't wait to enjoy these new amenities while sitting in a 2005 era seat with a 4 inch TV screen and slow wifi. Such product leadership!
Look, I'm with everyone who thinks Delta is too hyped up but all of these little touches add up to truly elevating the service. The sip & settle concept while minor is something you see more in international first class. I also like the idea of "elevating" some menu classics. I'm a 1K and hub captive with UA, so I have the pleasure of eating Polaris food frequently. Despite all the millions of dollars in...
Look, I'm with everyone who thinks Delta is too hyped up but all of these little touches add up to truly elevating the service. The sip & settle concept while minor is something you see more in international first class. I also like the idea of "elevating" some menu classics. I'm a 1K and hub captive with UA, so I have the pleasure of eating Polaris food frequently. Despite all the millions of dollars in investments, the food still sucks. They love to come up with these overly complicated dishes that are hard enough to execute on the ground. Give me short ribs and mashed potatoes, I don't need to eat the dog food version of a coq au vin.
But what do i get if i buy a delta ya basic business class? Choices of Kraft lunchable and a Miller Lite? Or no food at all? The 50 shades of "premium" with Ed.
“Delta One will have enhanced hospitality and tableware, with a reimagined service experience and new tableware, offering customers greater choice, functionality, and comfort, throughout each meal”
Are we still talking about forks and spoons? lol
It’s a nice refresh by delta but these types of stupid comments about silverware…
Unless you’re bringing out Marie Antoinette’s personal silverware for each flight, there isn’t much reimagining going on with flatware.
Introducing the DeltaOne spork.
Delta is adding better alcoholic beverages so you drink more and won't remember that their 'premium' has vanished.
The best news of this release is Bombas socks. Let's hope Delta didn't source the socks from the illicit trade of the 'donated' pairs of Bombas socks.
More menu items that will be out of stock or “unavailable” and served by a senior to the Virgin Mary 600 pound surly truck driver who hasn’t used a hair brush or dry cleaner since on probation.
No thanks Delta or any USA 3.
Just no thanks.
UNITED setting the bar and glad Delta is caught up - competition is good!
i am often amused that the actuality always turn out to be far removed form the pictures of the meals. sometimes disgustingly looking and inedible.
Reimagined food offerings are always fun and delicious, and they're reimagined as well.
Is it me or the food that Delta has shown in the pictures for its business class looks way better than the food that British Airways showed in the pictures for its first class.
It's you.
Lipstick on the pig that is the Delta 767-300ER.
I don't understand the hot towel / drink service at all. You're telling me instead of getting a hot towel on boarding, you're going to get warm nuts, a cold drink, and a by-then weirdly temperatured wet rag all placed on the same tray and delivered contemporaneously? Is that how they're saving enough time for FAs to offer freshly ground pepper?
Honestly the best thing in these updates are the socks. Folks like Bombas socks...
I don't understand the hot towel / drink service at all. You're telling me instead of getting a hot towel on boarding, you're going to get warm nuts, a cold drink, and a by-then weirdly temperatured wet rag all placed on the same tray and delivered contemporaneously? Is that how they're saving enough time for FAs to offer freshly ground pepper?
Honestly the best thing in these updates are the socks. Folks like Bombas socks (it's a premium brand fwiw) and nice to have socks you'll use again. Smart.
What's so hard to understand about a sip and settle moment... 😂
ED disappointed everyone once again. He positioned Delta alongside top-tier carriers like Emirates and Singapore Airlines, yet they can't even offer caviar.
Ummm… Would you really want to eat the caviar Delta (or any us carrier) served???
- “I’ll have some premium tilapia eggs with my app please! ”
The most important thing Delta must do is remediate the vast discrepancies in the seat quality and appearance across its fleet of planes that feature Delta One cabins. The A330-900 and A350-900 are the only jets that feature sliding doors, a more modern suite, and something resembling a premium product. The seats on the 767-300ERs are the worst. They are narrow, old, and tired looking, and very dated. These planes are mostly used on leisure...
The most important thing Delta must do is remediate the vast discrepancies in the seat quality and appearance across its fleet of planes that feature Delta One cabins. The A330-900 and A350-900 are the only jets that feature sliding doors, a more modern suite, and something resembling a premium product. The seats on the 767-300ERs are the worst. They are narrow, old, and tired looking, and very dated. These planes are mostly used on leisure routes that will not work with a newer plane anyway, and are being phased out very slowly. The 767-400ER Delta One cabin features narrow seats, due to the fuselage constraints. They fly some business heavy routes, like LHR and CDG. The A330-300 and A330-200s have cabins that are approaching 15 years of age. They are well maintained mostly, but very dated. The A330-300 in particular is the workhorse of Delta long haul. Missoni this and that, Silver Oak, and socks that say "fly Delta jets" is cute, but the product isn't. In this regard, United and increasingly American, have an edge on the seat alone.
The problem is these new meals will never, ever, look like these pictures. It's just different pre-plated food served in yet another bowl. The meals will continue to come out of the ovens with sauces slopped up and burned on the sides of the bowl, the vegetables will be overcooked and mushy, and it just won't be an overall pleasant dining experience. Wake me up when they decide to do individually plated meals.
On flights under 7 hours, Delta would be better off giving you an incentive to eat in the Delta One lounge. Knock $200 off the price of the ticket in exchange for not eating.
"Select" flights is key.
I can't believe they are actually going to spend the money on tableware and cutlery. That's the third update in 9 years. That requires a lot of logistics. Plus, it means separate tableware and cutlery for domestic flights than international flights. I doubt we'll see this on each and every Delta One flight.
Cracked pepper -- really? That's if it's catered and the FA has time to do it. Just like...
"Select" flights is key.
I can't believe they are actually going to spend the money on tableware and cutlery. That's the third update in 9 years. That requires a lot of logistics. Plus, it means separate tableware and cutlery for domestic flights than international flights. I doubt we'll see this on each and every Delta One flight.
Cracked pepper -- really? That's if it's catered and the FA has time to do it. Just like sometimes they don't serve champagne or don't have chilled wine.
All catering is created by or inspired by that Italian master chef Lucrezia Borgia.
The one who catered for Berlusconi's 'bunga bunga' parties? Great short-rib, actually...
Cracked pepper! - who needs Starlink?!
Delta will not make it to Riyahd in 2026.
Despite “double-decade lead in customer experience and hospitality.”
Is this supposed to be a prediction?
Because it's already old news. (Also, "R-i-y-a-d-h")
Willy - In Mexico , it's written R-i-y-a-d-a . (Because in photos they wear long white dresses)
I know it's fun to bash Delta's marketing hyperbole and to keep talking about an old fleet and small screens, which isn't really true anymore - we know all the timelines and they've taken delivery of tons of new planes - but as a NYC-based flyer who isn't close to EWR, flying DL from LGA and JFK are perfectly lovely experiences.
Well, getting into and out of JFK isn't fun but that's not on...
I know it's fun to bash Delta's marketing hyperbole and to keep talking about an old fleet and small screens, which isn't really true anymore - we know all the timelines and they've taken delivery of tons of new planes - but as a NYC-based flyer who isn't close to EWR, flying DL from LGA and JFK are perfectly lovely experiences.
Well, getting into and out of JFK isn't fun but that's not on Delta and will be sorted soon enough. LGA wasn't fun for a while and now Terminal C is excellent.
The employees are generally happy and helpful. The seats and suites are generally comfy. The food is generally good, for plane food. I (mostly) get where I am going on-time, and my bags show up fast at baggage claim when I need to check. All of these improvements sould good to me. SkyClubs and the D1 lounges are great.
I dunno. If EWR was convenient for me, maybe I'd try United. And listening to all of the drama at American, I'm good where I am, thanks. Yay Diamond.
All items are prepared in an Atlanta industrial kitchen under perfectly sanitary conditions by perfectly sanitary employees in an Atlanta industrial kitchen near the airport . The food is never touched by hands which have not been washed with hot water and soap . All employees are perfectly clean , and so is the industrial kitchen environment .
Troll score: 3/10. Good try and keep working at it.
As a food safety auditor, let me assure you that none of the airline catering companies allow us in the door. That says something.
ORD - Agree . That does say a lot .
I actually prefer the 'look' of the existing Missoni bags, especially the "Malta Coast (Aqua)" one, which is a beautiful blue-green (kinda reminded me of Alaska's Northern Lights 787, ironically... uh oh.)