Business and First class tickets are often priced at 2 – 5 times higher than economy rates. You can estimate a full-fare premium ticket to be between $1,500 – $5,000 each way, depending on where and when you are flying.

That’s why upgrades are so important, as they give you a more fair fare (sometimes even for free if you participate in the airline’s loyalty programs).

Delta Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world, and most profitable, so I think they know what they are doing when it comes to pricing. The airline is one of the major US carriers, and also has one of the better food offerings, so it’s not a secret why travelers enjoy their premium cabins.

If you are booked in an economy ticket on Delta Airlines we will break down how you can go about upgrading.

How To Upgrade To Business Class

Delta Airlines has one of the leading business class products out of US carriers. Whether you are flying to London, Paris, Rome, or even Hawaii, Delta is usually one of the best options.

Luckily you don’t need to shell out the full fare ticket for a premium seat as there are many ways to upgrade into the cabin for a bit cheaper.

Once you have your reservation ticketed, you can apply for an upgrade in a few ways. The easiest will be online, but don’t rule out calling or checking once you arrive at the airport.

There is no set price on upgrading to business class and for Delta Airlines it also won’t come cheap.

Depending on your route, days till departure, fair class, available seats, and more will all factor into the price Delta is going to charge or chances of getting a complimentary upgrade.

While Delta does not offer a bid to upgrade program like other airlines, here are the various ways you can go about upgrading:

Upgrade On Delta Website

Delta Airlines makes it easy to apply for an upgrade on their website and mobile app. While the option usually presents its self during booking, you can also manage it on your trip page.

Here are the various ways and when you can go about scheduling an upgrade.

• During Booking: When you book a flight on the Delta website, you’ll be presented with different cabin options, including Main Cabin, Comfort+, and Business Class (Delta One). Typically Delta will make an offer for a higher cabin on the checkout screen, usually for cheaper than the outright fare of that class. If Premium Economy, Business Class, or First Class is available on your chosen flight, you can select it directly during this process.
• After Booking: If you’ve already booked your flight in a different cabin, you can still upgrade to a higher cabin. Log in to your account on the Delta website and go to ‘My Trips.’ Select your upcoming flight and look for the ‘Upgrade’ option. You will typically be present of an option to pay with miles or cash.
• Using SkyMiles: Delta’s loyalty program, SkyMiles, allows you to use your accumulated miles to upgrade to Business Class. This option can be found both during the booking process and in the ‘My Trips’ section for existing bookings. If you don’t have enough Skymiles in your account you can always transfer from a major credit card partner or open a cobranded airline credit card.
• Waitlist for Upgrades: If Business Class is fully booked, or if you prefer to wait for a potential complimentary upgrade based on your SkyMiles status, you can choose to be waitlisted. This option is subject to availability and often prioritizes higher-tier SkyMiles members.

Remember, the availability of Business Class upgrades can vary based on the flight, the time of booking, and your SkyMiles membership level. It’s always a good idea to check the upgrade availability frequently as your flight date approaches, as situations can change, and spots may open up.

If Delta does not show the available seats, try a points and miles tool that can often obtain a seat map.

When you are presented a fee to update, it could be quite high. This is because Delta operates on a revenue-based system, hoping to maximize how much travelers are willing to pay. If this happens to you, don’t give up. Because airline price flights dynamically, it may get cheaper over time (or more expensive).

Upgrade By Calling Delta

You may have more luck when calling he Delta line and can get an immediate answer of the availability. The call center is usually pretty reliable if you have status but if there is a major weather event you might hit delays.

If you want to upgrade over the phone then you should follow these steps.

1. Find the Right Number: Visit the Delta Airlines website and navigate to the ‘Contact Us’ section. Here, you’ll find various customer service numbers. For SkyMiles members, there are dedicated lines based on membership tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond), which can provide quicker service.
2. Prepare Your Details: Before you call, have your flight details ready, including your confirmation number, flight dates, and flight numbers. If you plan to use SkyMiles for the upgrade, ensure you have your SkyMiles number and password at hand.
3. Call and Request an Upgrade: Once connected to a representative, inform them that you want to upgrade to Business Class. The representative will check the availability for your specific flight(s) and inform you about the options, including the cost in cash or miles.
4. Discuss Additional Options: If direct upgrades to Business Class are unavailable, inquire about waitlisting for an upgrade or the possibility of upgrading at the airport. Delta representatives can provide information on the likelihood of upgrades based on the flight’s current booking status and your SkyMiles tier.
5. Confirm and Complete the Upgrade: The representative will guide you through the process if an upgrade is available. This will involve confirming passenger details and completing the payment or miles deduction. Ensure you receive a confirmation of your upgrade before ending the call.
6. Check Your Email: Delta will send a confirmation email with your upgraded booking details after your call. Review this email to ensure that all the information is correct.

Remember, upgrading by phone might involve a long wait time, especially during peak hours. Calling during off-peak hours can often result in shorter wait times.

We’ve also noticed no difference in price for upgrades when calling as the Delta agents seem to have consistent pricing. I would say to chose this route only if you prefer to talk to someone directly and look at additional options rather than trying to get it for cheaper.

Upgrade At Airport check-in

Lastly, don’t count out upgrading at the last minute during airport checking. When you arrive you can always ask check in agent if there are seats avaialble and how much it is to upgrade.

Don’t forget to be polite to your check-in agent, as they will be more inclined to help you score the better seat.

Here’s how you can approach upgrading your Delta Airlines ticket at the airport:

1. Arrive Early: To increase your chances of securing an upgrade, arrive at the airport earlier than usual. This gives you a better opportunity to inquire about available upgrades before other passengers potentially claim them.
2. Inquire at Check-In: As you approach the check-in counter, politely ask the Delta representative if any Business Class upgrades are available for your flight. If you’re a SkyMiles member it doesn’t hurt mentioning, as this may improve your chances of getting an upgrade.
3. Check Upgrade Costs: This can vary based on flight duration, destination, and availability. Sometimes, last-minute upgrades at the airport can be offered at a reduced cost but Delta is notorious for keeping them high.
4. Use SkyMiles for Upgrades: If you have enough SkyMiles, ask the representative if you can use your miles to pay for the upgrade. This can be a great way to use your miles, especially if the cash cost of the upgrade is high.
5. Gate Upgrades: If no upgrades are available at check-in, or if you choose not to upgrade immediately, you can also inquire at the gate. Sometimes, additional seats in Business Class become available as the boarding time approaches.
6. Confirm Your Upgrade: The representative will update your ticket once you proceed with the upgrade. Ensure you receive a new boarding pass reflecting your Business Class seat.

Upgrading at the airport is subject to availability and is often more unpredictable than securing an upgrade in advance. It’s also worth noting that during peak travel times or on popular routes, the availability of upgrades may be limited.

Cost To Upgrade To Business Class

There are two ways you can pay for an upgrade, either with cash or with miles. Both options are good, especially if you have miles to spare. Here is how you can go about it and how much you can expect to pay.

Upgrade with Cash

Upgrading to Business Class with cash can vary significantly based on several factors. We’ve seen Delta often make it the fair difference of anywhere from $300 – $800 for domestic flights and $1,000 – $3,000 for international flights. This is much higher than Delta’s Skyteam partner like Air France that offers business upgrades on international for $400 – $800.

There is no way to predict how much they charge but here are a few things to know:

1. Flight Route and Distance: Longer international flights generally cost more to upgrade than shorter domestic routes.
2. Demand and Time of Booking: The cost can be higher for flights in high demand or during peak travel seasons. Booking an upgrade well in advance can sometimes offer a cost-benefit.
3. Fare Class: Upgrading from certain fare classes may be more expensive. Lower economy fares often have higher upgrade costs compared to premium economy fares.
4. Last-Minute Upgrades: Sometimes, Delta may offer last-minute upgrades at the airport at a reduced cost, especially if Business Class seats are still available close to departure.

If you want to get a sense of pricing you can also check what the cabin you desire is currently priced at. It will most likely be equivalent or less than that amount but it gives you a good baseline before booking.

Upgrade with Miles

Using SkyMiles to upgrade to Business Class is a popular option for Delta’s frequent flyers. While Skymiles don’t offer the best redemptions compared to say Star Alliance partners or United, you can still find some deals and put them to use to upgrade.

You can expect Skymiles amount to align with the cash option, since we’ve seen rates anywhere from 30,000 Skymiles all the way to 200,000 Skymiles to upgrade. Here is what you should know:

1. Miles Required: The number of miles required for an upgrade depends on factors like the route, fare class, and availability. Longer flights and higher-demand routes generally require more miles.
2. Miles and Cash Combination: Delta also offers the option to use a combination of miles and cash for upgrades, which can be a flexible solution if you don’t have enough miles to cover the full cost.
3. SkyMiles Tier: Higher-tier SkyMiles members often have access to better upgrade rates and more availability.
4. Dynamic Pricing: Delta uses dynamic pricing for miles redemption, so the cost in miles for upgrades can fluctuate. Regularly check the Delta website or app for the current rates.

In both cash and miles upgrades, it’s beneficial to regularly check the Delta website or contact customer service for current upgrade rates, as they can change based on availability and other factors.

Is Delta Business Class Worth It?

Given the usually high cost of upgrading, you may be asking is it worth it? The answer, it depends.

Delta Business Class on long haul international flights is a great experience. The airline has all new suites that come with private doors, good food, and great service.

You will definitely have a good experience in Delta Business Class as its one of the most comfortable way to fly. We’ve experienced it many times from Paris to New York on an A330 and from Los Angeles to New York on a 767.

Note, not all Delta planes are created equal as they still run a lot of older business class products on many routes. Be sure to check the plane type before you upgrade to see what the experience will be like.

If you are able to get their new business class on planes like the A330 and its an overnight flight, it may be well worth the upgrade.

Summary & Takeaways

Navigating the options for upgrading to Business Class on Delta Airlines isn’t always about finding an ultra cheap option but there are still good deals to be found. If it comes down to booking a business class outright vs upgrading for less, its always better to save a few dollars.

Delta is the most profitable airline for a reason – their premium seats are in demand for travelers willing to pay full price.

When you are trying to upgrade from a lower booking you need to keep in mind that it is never guaranteed. A flight may be full, upgrade price may be crazy, or it may not even be eligible from your fare booking class. You should always be prepared to remain in your booked cabin if it doesn’t end up working out.

Luckily Delta does provide a few different ways to upgrade and depending on your trip it can certainly be worth it.

The post How To Upgrade To Business Class on Delta Airlines appeared first on Travel Season.

Since 2017 the company has been in the middle of a multi-billion investment aimed at upgrading their customer experience, and food is a huge part of that. They believe that by providing an elevated dining experience, more passengers will flock to fly Delta, and they’ll enjoy memorable experiences that keeps them coming back for more.

I would have to say I agree.

Having flown most of the major US carriers, Delta Airlines consistently serves up some of the best tasting food across the entire industry. Other domestic airlines have a tough time keeping up.

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not the absolute best, especially compared to some airlines based in the Middle East and Asia.

But what I appreciate about Delta Airlines is that while most domestic airlines seem to always be cutting back service offerings to save money, Delta continuously upgrades their services, and to great results. With recent announcements of elevated dining in both delta one and economy that provides welcome drinks and real plates of food, Delta is really setting itself apart in their meal offerings, and customers are starting to take notice.

When it comes to food, Delta Airlines also provides a dedicated section of their website that goes over their selections. They regularly update customers with news of new meal offerings and have added menus to their in flight selection via their news hub.

Delta even offers the ability to look up your menu in advance on a dedicated website – https://menu.delta.com. However, not it is limited to Delta One and Delta Premium Select but still a step in the right direction.

Here is everything you need to know about what to expect when it comes to the food and beverage offerings on Delta Airlines:

Cuisine Overview

Delta has taken a gamble that passengers place a high value on receiving good tasting, fresh food in the air. They’re betting that this experience will help make customers more loyal to the airline when considering future flights. They are one of several US based airlines investing heavily in overhauling how they prepare and present meals, especially for their higher spending passengers on business and first class flights.

While the company doesn’t post menus for specific flights aside from the Flight Fuel snack list, they do post information about culinary partners they work with, what to expect onboard, and how they curate their menu selection each season. It’s pretty cool, and very expansive.

Delta has partnered with renowned design company Alessi to create a unique and special line of dinnerware. Consisting of plates and drinkware that can be found in all Delta Sky Clubs and aboard flights around the world, these products are pretty sharp looking, and have a clean and modern aesthetic.

Delta Airlines, like many airlines nowadays, is really trying to implement a seasonal theme to their menu to feature fresh ingredients at their peak flavor. They work closely with a team of culinary experts to identify, craft, and serve authentic dishes onboard flights and in their lounges.

Delta’s goal is to give you an authentic experience tailored around your destination, before you even arrive.

The airline partners with a number of well known chefs based around each location, and leaves it up to the experts to do what they do best; decide the best ingredients and food to serve.

Culinary Partners

Delta works closely with critically acclaimed chefs to craft impressive menus. Many of these chefs own multiple restaurants. Some have earned James Beard Awards, and others are Michelin Star holders! It’s super impressive, and a great way to stand out from the competition.

Delta strives to create restaurant quality food for customers, and to serve it mid air to boot. It’s an ambitious undertaking aimed at serving the best tasting dishes possible. And they’re really onto something big.

Union Square Hospitality Group

Creators of some of New York’s most beloved restaurants, cafes, and bars, Union Square Hospitality was founded by Danny Meyer in 1985 and they’ve been blowing away taste buds ever since. Besides opening Union Square Cafe, the company is also behind iconic New York City hotspots like Shake Shack, Gramery Tavern, The Modern, and are the former owners of Eleven Madison Park. With over 28 James Beard awards and 3 Michelin stars, it’s easy to say that Union Square Hospitality is a powerhouse in the New York culinary world. The company tailors an Italian-influenced fare for all Delta flights operating from New York to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Chef Linton Hopkins

Atlanta based restaurateur and owner of many eateries such as Restaurant Eugene, H&F Burger, and Hop’s Chicken, is the man behind Delta’s culinary offering out of their largest hub airport. This menu is inspired by artisan foods of the American South like Carolina Gold rice and grits, local charcuterie and pork, mountain trout and seasonal fruits and vegetables. The food is also featured on all Delta operated flights from Atlanta to Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Munich, Paris, Rome or Stuttgart. It’s an impressive and tasty experience.

Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo

Los Angeles based chef’s and partners that are well-known for existing restaurants Animal, ­Petit Trois, and Jon & Vinny’s, these guys curated a menu that specializes in dishes that feature farm-fresh, seasonal ingredients from some of L.A.’s most beloved farmers and food purveyors. Their restaurants always strive to challenge the pallet, and these two have become notorious around the food scene. Their culinary creations are featured on Delta operated flights from Los Angeles to Amsterdam, Boston, New York – JFK, Paris, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Washington D.C. It’s a treat to enjoy their inspirational meals in the airport or mid-air.

Specifically working with Delta, Jon and Vinny specialize in classic Italian fare. Their creations have become hugely popular in Los Angeles, and now they’ve taken their talents to the skies. Certainly a treat to have at any altitude, Jon and Vinny is a must try.

Chef Jereme Leung

A Hong Kong based chef that is best known for blending modern Chinese cuisines with classical Chinese provincial food. He has developed menus featuring highlights such as Shanghai style steamed sole fish, oven-baked sesame dumplings with preserve mustard, dim sum and shaanxi biang biang noodles, for service out of Chinese markets.

Chef Norio Ueno

Delta travelers coming in and out of Asia will soon be able to experience Chef Ueno’s detailed and respected approach to prepared dishes. Inspired favorites like marinated rockfish and saimaki shrimp with special egg yolk vinegar, and kuro-buta pork served with steamed rice, Japanese pickles and miso soup on flights from Japan to the U.S. It’s a unique and satisfying bevvy of options that challenge the notion of “boring” in flight meal offerings.

Performance Kitchen

Formerly Luvo Foods, Performance Kitchen is a small business that focuses on creating nutritious prepared meals. The company has partnered with Delta Airlines to offer meals with a perfect balance of protein, fiber, and vegetables, so you can feel better and more energized during and after your flight. Some of the fan favorites include Cashew Ranch Chicken Wrap and the Casablanca Veggie Wrap (Vegan). These meals are exclusively crafted for Delta, and can be found on select North American flights.

Pre Departure Selection

Delta Airlines offers customers that fly in their premium cabins like Delta One and First Class the option to pre-select meals in advance in order to guarantee their preferences will be available during the flight.

The process typically includes the customer(s) getting an email in advance (usually 3 days) of the flight. This e-mail links to a website that shows all of the per-meal ordering options.

Note: some customers have reported inconsistencies in receiving these emails or not receiving them at all. If you dont see an email from Delta, you’ll unfortunately have to call them up in order to make your selection. We’re told that you can also use the chat feature via the Delta Mobile App.

After choosing the meal, you’ll also receive an email confirmation that confirms the selection.

Also note that pre-selected meals need to be ordered at least 24 hours in advance, and can also be changed up during that same timeframe.

For folks that get upgraded into a premium cabin, the meal selection is usually available shortly after – so long as the upgrade clears 24 hours in advance of flight time.

Delta Sky Club Lounge

Delta Airlines have been renovating many of their Sky Clubs as part of the broader effort to improve customer experiences. They recently unveiled new Sky Clubs in Atlanta, New York Laguardia, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Philadelphia, and Seattle-Tacoma. Following a renovation in Los Angeles, and a soon to be completed one for New York’s JFK lounge, the Delta Sky Club has rapidly become a big bonus of the entire flying experience. When it comes to food, Delta is investing heavily in additional healthy selections and unique flavors to keep customers satisfied with a ton of options.

Starting off with breakfast, you can now enjoy a yogurt bar that features options of strawberry, plain and cottage cheese, plus a lot of toppings. There’s also a huge selection of cereals, oatmeal, bagels, and healthy snacks like fresh fruit and hard-boiled eggs.

“Sky bowls” have become a customer favorites. They give you the option to pick and choose options down a line of buffet style dishes. You could start with a base of jasmine rice pilaf, penne pasta with diced tomato, bulgar wheat pilaf or salad greens; and top it off with a choice of grilled chicken strips tossed in cilantro, or black beans and red peppers. It’s pretty impressive. Some finishing touches for the bowl can include corn salsa, baja cabbage and red radish slaw, edamame and massaged kale.

Delta Sky Clubs are also stocked with plenty of snacks, soups, and salads. Choose from a selection of white chicken chili, chipotle sweet potatoes, split peas with ham, tomato and garden vegetable, chicken noodle or minestrone soups. If you’re looking for a smaller snack, you can grab a fresh salad or bar snacks that include popcorn with signature spiced salts, fresh veggies, pita chips, classic hummus, olive tapenade, garlic & herb spread, creamy ranch dip or peppercorn parmesan spread.

The bar has wine list specially curated by Delta’s Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson. It includes a full list of artfully designed cocktails, regional craft beers, fresh brewed Starbucks® coffee, and fresh squeezed orange juice.

To find the latest Delta Sky Club food offering, visit Delta’s website here.

To see all Delta Sky Club airport locations, visit Delta’s website here.

Onboard Dining

Enjoying a meal onboard a Delta Airlines flight is a fun experience. There are a ton of factors that help determine what the food experience will be, like the route flown and class level of the ticket. Delta has continuously upgraded their food offerings across their entire network, but there is still a huge difference when flying a short haul main cabin versus a Delta One international long haul.

A new feature of Delta is the ability to look up your menu in advance on their dedicate menu page. In our experience the website and menus are fairly accurate however it is limited to Delta One and Delta Premium Select menus.

Domestic Economy Cabin

Delta typically doesn’t include full meal service for domestic main cabin seats. Instead, they make their flight fuel menu available for purchase. While it depends on the route flown and time of day of the flight, the flight fuel menu contains a mix of sandwiches, cheese plates, wraps, snacks, drinks, and candy. All are available at a cost except for a select list of complimentary snacks that include Lotus Biscoff Cookies, Whole Grain Cheez-It, Almonds, Kind Dark Chocolate Chunk Bar.

The menu also offers a list of beer, wine, and spirits to purchase with complimentary drinks like soft drinks, juice, water, and coffee.

There are some exceptions. The company recently announced that they would being offering free meals in the Main Cabin on some of the longer domestic flight routes. As of early 2020, Delta offers complimentary main cabin meals between 12 routes that include:

• Boston and San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle
• Washington-Reagan and Los Angeles
• New York-JFK and San Francisco, Seattle and Portland, Oregon, and Los Angeles
• Seattle and Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Raleigh-Durham

Some complimentary items to choose from include a Honey Maple Breakfast Sandwich, Luvo Breakfast Medley or fruit and cheese plate. During daytime flights, customers can be select between a Mesquite-Smoked Turkey Combo, Luvo Mediterranean Whole Grain Veggie Wrap, or fruit and cheese plate. For overnight or red eye flights, customers will also be offered a breakfast bar during the pre-arrival beverage service.

Domestic First Class

Delta treats their first class customers very well on all flights regardless of the distance traveled. Their service offerings include a pre-departure drink, snack, and complimentary coffee, wine, beer and spirits.

While there is no meal service on short range flights under 900 miles, for the ones above Delta serves a full breakfast, lunch, or dinner option depending on the time of the day. For long range flights Delta also makes a full meal service available with the added bonus of multiple entrees to select from that come with an appetizer and dessert.

On our last flight we sampled the meatballs, which are a signature dish of Jon & Vinny’s out of LAX. For more on this meal, read our full food review of Delta 767 Business Class from LAX to JFK.

In the reverse direction I had the chance to try out the breakfast. Overall the food was decent enough. The sausage and eggs were just OK, while the strawberries were very fresh. The meat and cheese offering wasn’t anything special, and frankly not really needed so early in the morning.

Delta Airlines is also known to always have at least one vegetarian option available. It’s typically a pasta dish of sorts. However, these do tend to contain cheese and are not vegan friendly. We still applaud them for the accommodation, especially for those that forget to set their special meal and are worried that there won’t be options for them. There are.

International Main Cabin

Typically all airlines invest more heavily in their international service and longer flight routes, and Delta is no exception. Over the past year the company has upgraded the Main Cabin experience on flights that are 6.5 hours or longer to include a complimentary welcome cocktail, upgraded meal options, and service on upgraded silverware.

We found this handy chart that shows the company’s investment in their international experience since 2006.

The Main Cabin food and beverage offering is the best that it’s ever been, and here is what you can expect on your next flight.

It all starts with a per-departure cocktail, usually the signature of the flight. While this can depend on location, we’ve tried out their takes on Moscow mules and whisky drinks. They’re quite good! The welcome drink is a nice touch, but it tends to delay the meal service by about 20 minutes, which can be crucial on red eyes when you want to go right to sleep.

After the drinks comes a printed menu, something new to the main cabin experience.

After making a meal selection and receiving your food is where the difference really gets noticed. Delta has begun to serve all main cabin entrees on sleek black plates, which gives the meal a fancier touch.

The container the food comes in feels a bit out of place on this plates so nice. While we can understand that it would be a lot of work to actually plate the meal (even though that would make the experience feel 100x better), the black plate should be used as a replacement for a cheap looking tray.

It ends up feeling like your getting less food when its served this way. Delta used to provide a salad with all meals, but not anymore. They probably realized not everyone ate it, so it’s been discontinued.

Regardless the service and food is a big upgrade from previous Delta flights, and it shows that the airline is trying to cater to a specific crowd.

International Delta One

Of course you can expect that Delta’s highest flight class has the best food and service that the airline has to offer.

The main difference between flying Delta One and the Main Cabin is the sheer amount of food provided. Aside from a pre-departure and take off drink, an appetizer precedes the main course. On a recent flight the app included a salad, soup, and roast beef dish served cold. It’s really a lot of food!

The appetizers were pretty tasty, especially the soup. The salad had delicious shaved parmesian served on top, which helped create an upgraded touch. The beef was served cold, but was well seasoned and tasted great. This was a good amount of food, especially for an appetizer.

On the same flight the entree that was served was a tender piece of sirloin steak, paired with a bernaise sauce and potato au gratin. It was excellent. While the veggies were a bit forgettable, the rest of the dish was surprisingly great. For more on this meal, read our full food review of Delta A330 Business Class from Paris to New York.

All in all, Delta’s new international one meal offerings are a huge improvement, but still not quite the best in the sky. While the airline offers few options to choose from, United Polaris tended to provide better serving options in both the lounge and on board.

Delta still takes the crown for most improved meal service among US airlines. The continued investment and desire to tweak their offerings makes us think that bigger and better things are still to come.

Wine Selection

Delta’s wine selection is selectively chosen by Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson. She’s one of only 33 female Master Sommeliers in the entire world, and has been working with Delta since 2007. Pretty cool. She’s responsible for overseeing all of the wine served in Delta Sky Clubs and on Flights around the world. She even supposedly tests each wine offered in-flight to ensure the taste is just as good when enjoyed at 30,000 feet in the air as it tastes on the ground. A really nice touch that deserves some major kudos.

Here is the current list of wine available on Delta flights though vary by route and location:

Red Wine

Chateau Guibon – Andre Lurton (France 2016): A medium bodied wine that has smooth, plummy taste with subtle notes of spice.

Albert Bichot Horizon de Bichot Pinot Noir (France 2017): A light bodied wine with rose petal, juicy cherry and soft spice.

Erath Pinot Noir Resplendent (USA 2016): A light bodied wine with subtle potpourri-like layers with cherry fruit.

Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon (USA 2016): A full bodied wine with blackberry, cedar, and velvet classic.

Catena La Consulta Malbec (Argentina 2017): A full bodied wine that has spice notes with dark computed blueberry fruit.

White Wine

Broken Earth Viognier (USA 2017): A full bodied wine that has tropical mango with floral notes and lush juciness.

Zuccardi Chardonnay Viognier (Argentina 2018): A medium bodied wine that has a fruit cornucopia with floral exoticism.

Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand 2018): A light bodied wine that has bright, tangy acidity with passionfruit and grapefruit notes.

Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay (USA): A full bodied wine with ripe toasty, nutty and baked apple notes.

DeLille Cellars Chaleur Blanc (USA 2017): A medium bodied wine with tangy green apply and juicy melon with vanilla notes.

Champagne & Sparkling Wine

Champagne Canard-Duchêne Brut Cuvée Léonie (France): Crispy and ripe pear fruit enhanced by notes of brioche.

Delta Master Cuvée by Mionetto (Italy): Floral notes of acacia, clover, Fuji apples and pear.

Dessert Wine

Quinto De Noval 10-year-old Tawny Porto (Portugal): Candied pecans and toffee with a long, nutty finish.

Special Meals

Gluten-free? Kosher? Diabetic? Not a problem. Delta accommodates 17 different special meals on all of their flights that include complimentary meal service. Just make sure to plan ahead with their 24 hours advanced ordering.

Asian Vegetarian Meal: This is a non-strict vegetarian meal, typically prepared Indian style, with limited use of dairy products. This meal won’t contain meat, seafood, or egg.

Vegetarian Vegan Meal: Typically cooked in a Western style, this meal doesn’t contain meat, seafood, eggs, or dairy products.

Vegetarian Lacto-Ovo Meal: Prepared in a Western style, this is a non‐strict vegetarian meal which can include eggs and dairy products, but eliminates all meats and seafood.

Hindu Meal: This vegetarian meal is typically prepared Indian style, with limited use of dairy products. This is a totally meat free meal. Preparation and cooking style may vary.

Muslim Meal: All Muslim meals are Halal certified and do not contain pork or its by‐products, and won’t have any alcohol. Preparation and cooking style may vary.

Kosher Meal: Kosher meals are prepared by kosher caterers under rabbinical supervision. They may incorporate fresh fruit or sealed items, like individually packaged bagels that meet kosher laws. Special Kosher for Passover meals are supplied during Passover.

Bland Meal: Menu items that could potentially cause gastric irritation will not be used in the preparation of these meals. Examples of foods that are excluded include hot mustard, hot spices, pickles, garlic, fried and fatty foods.

Diabetic Meal: Meals suitable or those who need to manage blood sugar levels. Ingredients excluded are high in sugars, like syrups, jams, cakes and chocolate, unless specifically designed for diabetics.

Gluten Intolerant Meal: Meals exclude gluten containing foods and ingredients sourced from wheat, barley and rye.

Low Fat / Cholesterol / Calorie Meal: This meal is prepared with a reduced amount of fat, sugar, low fat dairy products, and lean meat.

Low Sodium Meal: Use of salt, processed foods (MSG and baking soda/powder) are either eliminated or restricted in preparation of these meals. Herbs and spices are used to flavor the meal.

Baby Meal: Suitable for infants less than one year old. Baby food is usually provisioned in jars. (Food may contain strained fruit, vegetables, meats, desserts, milk & juices.)

Toddler/Child Meal: Suitable for children from 2 to 12 years of age, and includes food offerings appealing to children. The meals planned follow Recommended Dietary Allowances for children.

Chinese Meal: Components include soup, salad and entrée and feature regional flavors on flights departing China. Available only to Delta One customers flying between the USA and China.

Jain Meal: Jain meals are Asian vegetarian style meal that additionally don’t contain any root vegetables (onion, garlic, etc.). Please note that Jain meals are not currently not available to be reserved via an agency.

Japanese Meal: Traditional Multi Course Kaiseki Style Japanese Meal accompanied by steamed rice, miso soup, Japanese pickles and green tea. Available only to Delta One customers flying on direct flights to/from the U.S. and Japan.

Korean Meal: Korean style Bibimbap with steamed rice, gochujang sauce and sesame oil accompanied by with soup, salad and banchan. Available only to Delta One customers flying between the USA and Korea.

For the latest information on special meals, visit Delta’s website here.

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I recently took a trip to Paris over the winter and planned a week long trip to conclude on Christmas Day.

I had flown into Charles De Gaulle over 8 times for layovers and never actually been to Paris city center. Being the most visited city in the world, I had to check it out.

I didn’t really know what to expect flying out on Christmas day. I’ve heard horror stories about traveling around Thanksgiving time and I was afraid Christmas could be just as bad.

But instead of a headache, I was able to score a last minute surprise.

Maybe it was the holiday spirit but after a friendly chat with my check in agent she smiled and handed me an upgraded boarding pass to Delta One. I had heard that the Delta A330 business class was incredible, and I knew that it had lay flat seats and I immediately got excited while passing through security.

I’ve flown Delta One in the past on a 767 from LAX to JFK and an A330 from Tel Aviv to JFK, so I sort of knew what to expect. Top notch service, tasty food, and a comfortable bed to get me over the Atlantic.

Airlines have recently become infamous for their frustrating cost cutting methods, with the in flight meals usually hit the hardest. On most flights I’ve been on, I could expect an extremely tiny complimentary bag of pretzels or nuts. In economy you get the privilege to pay out the nose for a candy bar or beverage. And while had always associated planes with bland food and limited, I’ve experienced first hand how well Delta was approaching their meal service. Even though I had just spent a week in the culinary capital of the world, I was excited to dig in.

Since the flight was a last minute upgrade, I didn’t have an opportunity to take advantage of Delta’s program that allows you to order meals in advance. Their menu features seasonal dishes designed by well-regarded Chef’s, and I was afraid of them running out of select menu items. Oh well.

I settled in and enjoyed a small complimentary snack before closing my eyes. Before I knew it, I was gently awakened by a flight attendant who set down a tray with an assortment of small dishes.

The presentation was solid, and each dish looked appealing. Before even digging in, I could tell that this Delta A330 business class food was going to be tasty.

I started with the Caesar salad, and while the lettuce was fresh and crisp, the dressing was unspectacular. The generous parmesan shavings atop the romaine helped add a needed level of flavor. The bread crumbs were somewhat stale, but enjoyable when combined with the other ingredients. Although the salad was satisfying, it was akin to the level that you might expect at a grab-and-go spot, or prepackaged at an airport restaurant.

To cleanse my pallet, I moved onto the cauliflower soup. It had clearly been reheated and was served lukewarm, but it tasted delicious. It was light and airy, with a subtle but pleasant, creamy aftertaste. I inhaled the soup pretty quickly, using the bread to sop up each drop from the bottom of the bowl.

Lastly, I started on the final plate of appetizers. A beef dish, served unheated, with a side of steamed cauliflower. The slice of beef was seasoned heavily, but it worked. There was a pepper rub on the edges of the cut that added an intense burst of flavor. The dollops of chipotle aioli on the sides added a welcomed element of decedent heat to the dish. I was even a fan of the cauliflower, an unimaginatively steamed side dish that helped break up the richness of the beef and sauce.

I was seriously impressed. While the food wasn’t exactly 5 star, it was sort of restaurant quality. It massively exceeded my expectations. It was tasty, interestingly crafted, and had a flavor profile that ticked off a lot of boxes. It would have been a perfectly delightful meal, until I realized that it was simply an appetizer…

That’s right…the real deal, main meal, was still to come.

After a glass of wine and a quick trip to the loo, I was promptly served the entree. A cut of sirloin served with a bernaise sauce, some assorted veggies, and a heaping side of potato au gratin.

The veggies were a bit forgettable. While they were fresh and it was nice to have some greens on the plate, they were steamed with very little imagination or creativity. They were served cold, but I didn’t mind as I mostly skipped over them.

The beef was also served at room temperature, but burst with flavor. The piece was juicy without being fatty, and paired well with the sauce which added a creamy and decadent finisher for each bite.

The potato dish was also lukewarm, but good. It must have been sitting out since it was somewhat soggy, a disappointing yet unsurprising development that didn’t diminish my over all enjoyment.

The entire meal was well put together and tasty with a few hiccups here and there. Usually a dinner of potatoes and beef and heavy sauce could put someone in a food coma, but the tidy portions made for a satisfying and comfortable dining experience. Overall the food on the Delta A330 business class flight was well prepared with impressive flavors, and it was a real treat to experience interesting, well thought out dishes while in the air.

The post Food Review: Delta A330 Business Class from Paris to New York appeared first on Travel Season.

Recently Delta Airlines has emerged as an option that tends to have much better food than competitor airlines. With other airlines constantly looking to cut costs, the culinary departments are often the first to go. But Delta seems to be moving in the opposite direction, and their meal service has emerged as a key differentiator that has a big opportunity to make flying with them way more appealing. And Delta 767 business class service is a case study in food done right.

Delta posts up to date food and beverage information on their website. This is a great way to search your exact flight to see the food that will be served on board.

Take a quick look at their hub at New York’s JFK airport and you will spot high quality restaurants crafted by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality group. Known for their trendy spots like Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe, and a burger behemoth known as Shake Shack, their terminal gives a strong first impression of just how seriously Delta is taking their food service.

I had a flight out of Los Angeles flying delta to my native New York City. I arrived at the terminal early for this particular flight, a 11:45am departure with a ticket aboard the Delta One premium cabin. I was lucky to snag the last available seat due a well-timed gate upgrade, so I had no time to pre-order my meal in advance, which is a pretty nifty feature option for these flights.

Once boarded, we were offered a drink option of either fresh orange juice or sparkling wine. Being a transcontinental flight, I sprung for the wine to help me get settled in. Upon takeoff, the airline hostess’ served up a small dish of mixed nuts, a welcomed appetizer to the meal ahead.

Food service rolled out around 45 minutes into the flight. At this point I was pretty hungry, having skipped breakfast in anticipation try out the well-regarded food on Delta One. Out of the 3 presentable options, I decided on the Marinara Braised Meatballs with bianco DiNapoli tomato and garlic bread, which was catered by Jon and Vinny’s, a popular Los Angeles eatery.

The meal came out with a side of prosciutto and fresh mozzarella, a salad, and some sort of brown onion soup. I quickly dove in, starting on the appetizers. The prosciutto and mozzarella tasted as expected for an airline serving of cheese and meat; nothing too special, but enjoyable nonetheless, especially on an empty stomach.

The salad was surprisingly fresh. With a nice sprinkle of bread crumbs that I enjoyed a lot, it was one of the more enjoyable elements of my meal.

The soup on the other hand… Let’s just say I had one spoonful was too many. Not something I would recommend or want to see on my tray table again.

Lastly, I moved onto the main event, the meatballs. I’ve read reviews of this dish in the past, and I had heard that it could be hit or miss on the quality. A lot of times meat and sauce dishes that need to be re-heated don’t travel well. The sauce can congeal and the meat may be not be consistently heated.

But this dish exceeded all of my expectations. Just one bite in and I found the meatballs were delicious. They were soft and easy to cut through, and had  a burst of well seasoned flavor. One bite combined with some of the provided garlic bread dipped in marinara sauce really hit the spot. I easily inhaled both of the meatballs and bread in record time. The only negative that I found about the dish was that there wasn’t more of it. Two meatballs for lunch was probably fine for my waste line, but would have felt meager for dinner. While I didn’t leave hungry, I certainly wasn’t full.

As a Delta Platinum Medallion member I have had my fare share of flights and airplane meals. I’ve always been pleased with the decent selection and quality over most trips that I’ve flown. The Delta 767 food was certainly decent enough.

Meals are truly an under appreciated and poorly executed feature for most flights, but with Delta continuing to invest in this area, it’s a plus for the future of airline travel. Let’s just say that I can’t wait to book my next flight, and not just for the trip itself, but for the meal that I’ll get to enjoy in the air.

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