The carrier has some aircraft with new seats; here’s how to snag one and get twice as much for your money or miles.
You know the story by now: Seats come in many varieties, especially when a carrier is in the middle of a New Seat Roll Out, which can take years to complete.
During that time, if you can keep up with the routes and planes that have the new seats, you can book the best seats to get significantly more value.
Delta’s New Business Class Seat
Currently, the new seat, the Delta One Suite (picture on the right), has only been installed on the A350 fleet. As the name implies, the Suite consists of a flat-bed Business Class seat in a shoulder-high enclosure with sliding doors and privacy dividers between center suites. (Picture on the left is Delta’s standard seat.)
Sample Free In-Class Upgrade Concept:
Detroit – Amsterdam – Detroit
The Delta One Suite will be on Detroit-Amsterdam starting July 20, according to Delta. The airline offers up to four flights a day on this route but uses two different aircraft:
An A350 (DL132)—With the new enclosed flat-bed suite.
An A330 (DL134, DL136, and DL138)—With its legacy flat-bed seats.
The fares are the same (see below) for an October 16 departure.
Delta.com screenshot:
When searching, look for the words “Delta One suites” to identify flights with the Suite. Other routes using the A350 with new seats are:
- Atlanta to/from Seoul
- Detroit to/from Beijing, Seoul, Shanghai, and Tokyo
- Los Angeles to/from Shanghai (officially starting July 20)
NETWORKING, CONNECTIONS, AND FREE UPGRADES
If you’re flying Boston-Beijing, you must make a connection in Detroit or Seattle. So, opt for the former, connect in Detroit, and get the Suite for the same fare ($2,209) as the conventional seat.
Delta.com: Boston-Beijing fare connecting in either Detroit (DTW) or Seattle (SEA)
Remember: Don’t rely on flight numbers: rely on aircraft type to ensure that your flight has the Delta One Suite. A week before departure, and then the day before, check to make sure the aircraft hasn’t been “swapped out,” which can happen. This will give you time to take another shot at the Suite
More New Delta One Suites Coming
Per Delta media relations, Delta’s B777 fleet is on deck for the Delta One suite: “We’re retrofitting our Boeing 777 fleet to include Delta One Suites and Delta Premium Select seats; the roll-out will begin later this year.”
Delta’s New Premium Economy Seat
Delta’s A350 also has a new Premium Economy cabin called Premium Select (more here): 19-inch seat width, 38-inch pitch, 7-inch recline; 13.3-inch screen, foot, leg, and head rests, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service. Fares for PE from the East Coast to Asia start at $1,320. More here.