How Much Does It Cost To Upgrade To Delta One?

Delta One is the flagship business class product of Delta Air Lines, offering passengers a luxurious and comfortable journey on some of the carrier’s longest routes. However, this level of luxury does not come cheap, especially as demand for lie-flat seats, suites with doors, and personalized service continues to rise.

In this article, we take a closer look at Delta One, breaking down what passengers can expect to pay to experience Delta Air Lines’ most high-profile business class product, and examining why prices fluctuate so dramatically.

About Delta One

Firstly, what is Delta One, and what can passengers expect onboard? As mentioned, Delta One is Delta Air Lines’ flagship business-class product, designed for long-haul international routes and select premium transcontinental flights. Delta One first appeared in 2017 with the debut of the Delta One Suite on the Airbus A350 – the first all-suite business-class product offered by a US airline. This marked a major shift toward greater privacy and personalization in the premium cabin.

The Delta One Suite features fully lie-flat seats with a 180-degree recline, direct aisle access, and sliding doors or high privacy partitions depending on aircraft type. Delta Air Lines fitted the suites with large entertainment screens, plenty of personal storage, adjustable lighting, and thoughtful design elements aimed at making long flights more comfortable. Over the years, the airline has continued rolling out these suites across additional long-haul aircraft, giving more passengers access to the enhanced experience.

The Delta One journey starts well before boarding, as passengers receive dedicated check-in, priority security lanes at select airports, and early boarding. Lounge access is included where available, including a number of dedicated Delta One lounges at key hubs across the US, including New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), offering a quieter space to relax, work, or enjoy a pre-flight meal.

Onboard, the focus is on comfort and service. Flight attendants greet Delta One passengers individually, offering a welcome drink before takeoff, and the meal service typically includes multi-course dining with chef-inspired dishes and carefully selected wines. Bedding is noticeably upgraded compared to standard business class, with a full pillow and duvet set designed to make rest more restorative, while amenities such as noise-reducing headphones, well-stocked amenity kits, and high-resolution entertainment screens round out the experience.

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How Much Does It Cost To Fly In Delta One?

Boeing 767 Delta One Cabin Credit: Delta Air Lines

Flying in Delta One can come with a hefty price tag, although the reality is that prices can vary significantly depending on the route, flight, and demand. Simple Flying has made a series of dummy bookings for the cheapest available one-way flight in Delta One on four different long-haul routes in the SkyTeam carrier’s network on April 29th, 2026, with the results outlined in the table below:

Route

Economy Class / Delta Main

Premium Economy / Delta Premium Select

Business Class / Delta One

New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

$234

$533

$3,803

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) – Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)

$453

$778

$4,392

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) – Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)

$1,633

$3,609

$9,683

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – Sydney Airport (SYD)

$478

$1,493

$4,316

The difference in price for a Delta One ticket between a relatively short long-haul hop across the Atlantic between New York and London, compared to an ultra-long-haul route such as Atlanta to Johannesburg, is astounding.

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What Factors Influence The Cost?

Delta Air Lines DL296 A350 before departure from Haneda Airport during storm in Tokyo, Japan. Credit: Shutterstock

Several key factors influence the cost of a Delta One ticket, and understanding them can help passengers make sense of why prices can swing from reasonable to extremely high. One of the biggest drivers is the route, and long-haul international flights, particularly to popular destinations like Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT), Sydney Airport (SYD), or Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), tend to have the steepest fares due to distance, operating costs, and limited premium-cabin capacity. Even within the US, Delta Air Lines’ premium transcontinental routes, such as New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), often see elevated Delta One pricing because they reliably attract business travelers willing to pay for lie-flat seats.

Demand also plays a major role, and Delta Air Lines adjusts fares dynamically, meaning prices rise when aircraft begin to fill or when peak travel periods approach. Holidays, major global events, and business-heavy weekdays can push Delta One prices significantly higher. Conversely, when premium cabins are selling more slowly, the airline may offer more competitive fares or release additional award space to fill seats.

Timing is the third major factor when it comes to the varying price tag for a Delta One ticket. Booking far in advance does not always guarantee the lowest price, but waiting too long, especially within the final weeks before departure, usually results in a sharp increase. Delta Air Lines’ sophisticated revenue management system closely monitors booking trends and adjusts prices accordingly, and savvy passengers may occasionally find better deals by searching midweek or targeting shoulder seasons when business and leisure demand softens.

The Aircraft On Which Delta One Is Found

Delta Air Lines Airbus A330-900 lifting off on next journey Credit: Shutterstock

Delta Air Lines’ latest Delta One product is found onboard its two most modern widebody aircraft types – the Airbus A350-900 and A330-900. The A350-900 was the first aircraft in the carrier’s fleet to feature Delta One when it was launched back in 2017, and Delta Air Lines now has a total of 38 of the aircraft in its fleet with a further six on order, according to the latest data from ch-aviation. The carrier deploys its A350s on some of its most high-profile long-haul routes.

The Airbus A330-900 has also become one of the most important widebodies in Delta Air Lines’ long-haul fleet. The carrier took delivery of its first A330-900 in 2019, with the type entering commercial service that same year on transatlantic routes. Powered by fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, the A330-900 offers lower operating costs and extended range, allowing Delta Air Lines to profitably serve key markets in Europe and Asia. Today, the aircraft is a core part of the carrier’s international growth strategy, pairing efficiency with a consistent premium product across its network.

Older versions of Delta Air Lines’ Delta One product, including those without the suite privacy doors, can also be found on some of the carrier’s aircraft types, including the Boeing 767-300ER, 767-400ER, and even the 757-200.

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Delta Air Lines’ Current Fleet

Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 Credit: Shutterstock

In addition to the aircraft types that offer Delta One, Delta Air Lines also has a varied fleet of both Airbus and Boeing aircraft, as outlined in the table below:

Aircraft

Number In Fleet

Number On Order

Airbus A220-100

45

Airbus A220-300

35

65

Airbus A319

57

Airbus A320

47

Airbus A321

127

Airbus A321neo

85

70

Airbus A330-200

11

Airbus A330-300

31

Airbus A330-900

39

Airbus A350-900

38

6

Airbus A350-1000

20

Boeing 717

80

Boeing 737-800

77

Boeing 737-900ER

163

Boeing 737 MAX 10

100

Boeing 757-200

76

Boeing 757-300

16

Boeing 767-300ER

38

Boeing 767-400ER

21

Total

986

261

Today, Delta Air Lines operates a vast global network. The carrier’s primary hub is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), supported by major hubs at Detroit Wayne County Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS).

About Delta Air Lines

northwest airlines aircraft flying Credit: Northwest Airlines History Center

Delta Air Lines traces its history back to 1925, when the company began as Huff Daland Dusters, a crop-dusting operation based in the southern US. A few years later, in 1928, C.E. Woolman led a group that purchased the company and renamed it Delta Air Service — a name inspired by the Mississippi Delta region. Over the following decades, Delta Air Lines expanded steadily, adding new aircraft types, longer routes, and a growing domestic network.

The airline became known for operational reliability and a strong presence in the southeastern US, particularly at its largest hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport(ATL), which is also the busiest airport in the world when it comes to passenger numbers, processing more than 100 million passengers in 2024. One of the most significant chapters in Delta Air Lines’ modern history came in 2008, when it announced a merger with Northwest Airlines. The merger officially closed later that year, forming the world’s largest airline at the time. Northwest Airlines’ routes, staff, and hubs were gradually integrated, and by 2010, the brand and livery disappeared completely, with all operations consolidated under the Delta Air Lines name.

This merger also strengthened Delta Air Lines’ Asia-Pacific presence, thanks to Northwest Airlines’ long-established network in the region. Delta Air Lines is also a founding member of the SkyTeam alliance, launched in 2000. Through SkyTeam, the carrier partners with several major international airlines, including China Airlines, Aeromexico, Air France-KLM, and Virgin Atlantic, allowing passengers to connect to hundreds of destinations worldwide using coordinated schedules and shared frequent-flyer benefits.