Delta One Review: Is Delta’s Business Class Worth the Upgrade?
Why We Decided to Fly Delta One
This was my first business class experience, and after the year I’ve had, I NEEDED to arrive to our trip refreshed. My nervous system was already more fried than a bucket of KFC chicken legs, and 13 hours to Asia in an economy seat? No thank you. So when we got offered a Delta One upgrade for a reasonable price, we jumped on it. This was on Delta’s route from SLC to Seoul, still in its first year of operation. And I fear that I am now so spoiled that I will never be able to go back 😂
Delta One Suite Review
The Seat
This was, hands down, the biggest upgrade over economy.
The ability to lie completely flat completely changed the flight for me. Instead of trying (and usually failing) to sleep sitting upright, I spent most of the flight comfortably stretched out. By the time we landed, I actually felt like I'd rested instead of simply survived another international flight. When your body is hypermobile, when you’re the teeniest bit claustrophobic, and when you can’t get comfortable upright unless your legs are in the world’s weirdest positions, being able to lie flat—even if I didn’t sleep—was a game changer.
One thing I especially appreciated was how customizable the seat was. Rather than simply choosing between "upright" or "bed mode," you can adjust individual sections independently. That made it much more comfortable during meals because I could keep my legs elevated while sitting more upright to eat. Or being able to tuck one leg under and stretch the other out. You know, the myriad of ways my hypermobile body wanted to sit.
There was also plenty of room to comfortably work on my laptop, several charging ports to keep devices powered throughout the flight, and a dedicated space beside the seat to keep my water bottle within easy reach instead of constantly digging around under the seat.
Our flight featured the newer Delta One Suites, complete with sliding privacy doors. We were seated in the middle section, and once the doors were closed, it felt like having my own little private room once I was lying down.
Sleeping
I honestly spent most of the flight in the reclined position. I maybe napped for about 30 minutes? The rest of the time, I read—comfortably.
Delta provides a mattress pad, pillow, blanket, and bedding that make the experience much closer to sleeping in an actual bed than trying to sleep in an airplane seat. My only complaint was that I actually got a little warm once everything was layered together. If you tend to sleep hot like I do, you may find yourself kicking the blanket off halfway through the flight and opening the door to let some air in.
Still...I'd take being slightly too warm over trying to sleep upright in economy any day!
Delta One Food Review
It should come as no surprise that the food was significantly better than anything I’ve had in economy. I really appreciated the variety of meals to choose from before the flight, which gave me time to ask the flight attendants about ingredients so they could check if they would meet my allergy requirements. Everything felt thoughtfully presented rather than like reheated airline food. And trust me, there’s nothing worse than the half-frozen bread served with economy gluten-free meals.
Between meal services, snacks were available throughout the flight, and my personal favorite ended up being the gluten-free cheese straws. I’d had them in economy a few years ago, but it seems now Delta is keeping those for its premium customers… Either way, win for me to have some extra snacks!
Drinks were also plentiful throughout the flight. The flight attendants were proactive about offering refills, and I never felt like I had to wait long for anything.
Midway through the flight, we were served warm cookies (that I could not eat). Andrew's official review of the cookie?
"Average."
So there you have it, folks.
Delta One Amenities
Delta includes a small amenity kit at each seat, and I thought it was adorable. There was lotion, lip balm, socks, an eye mask, and a disposable toothbrush! The bags themselves were luxurious and I will absolutely be keeping mine for future makeup bags. It's one of those little touches that makes the experience feel more premium before the flight even takes off.
Combined with the large entertainment screen, bedding, noise reduction from the suite, multiple charging options, and attentive cabin crew, everything added up to make the cabin feel thoughtfully designed.
The only disappointment for Andrew was that the live TV wasn't working during our flight, which unfortunately meant no watching the World Cup. He survived—barely.
Delta One Service
The flight attendants were excellent throughout the flight. They were attentive without hovering, frequently checked whether we needed drinks or snacks, and kept everything running smoothly from takeoff until landing. I don’t know about you, but I feel like it is SO hard to find good service these days. And for it to be so frictionless? Infinite stars.
Delta Sky Club at Salt Lake City
Flying Delta One also includes access to the Delta Sky Club before departure, and honestly, it was the perfect way to start a long international travel day (getting drunk before noon for the win!). The lounge had plenty of seating, making it easy to find a quiet place to relax before boarding. The food selection was much better than I expected, with enough variety that you could easily eat a full meal instead of grabbing overpriced airport food.
Drinks were also included, and overall the lounge felt calm, comfortable, and significantly less stressful than waiting at the gate. For a long-haul international flight after an absolutely hectic year, I absolutely took advantage of having a quieter place to recharge before boarding.
Is Delta One Worth It?
If you're flying a short route?
Probably not unless the upgrade is only a few hundred dollars.
But for an international flight lasting ten or more hours, I honestly think Delta One transforms the entire travel experience.
Instead of arriving exhausted and spending two days recovering from the flight, I landed feeling rested enough to start exploring almost immediately.
Yes, it's expensive, but if you have airline miles, a good upgrade offer, or you're celebrating a special trip, I absolutely think Delta One is worth considering.
What I loved
Lie-flat bed
Excellent food
Comfortable bedding
Spacious suite
Great service
Large entertainment screen
Plenty of snacks
Delta Sky Club access
Laptop-friendly workspace
Multiple charging ports
What could be improved
Airflow in the middle seats (because the bedding can get warm)
Live TV didn't work on our flight
The famous cookie was...fine, according to Andrew 😂
Delta One Review Final Thoughts
Are you going to stalk the Delta app for your next international trip for those Delta One prices to drop? You should absolutely snag your seat before someone else does!
And if you’re flying Air Astana (because imo Kazakhstan is going to be the next IT destination), check out my Air Astana Business Class Review!