Two years ago, Delta Air Lines raised the bar for what luxury could look like at U.S. airports when it cut the ribbon on its first Delta One Lounge in New York. There was a luxurious check-in lounge, a real spa, and authentic high-quality, restaurant-quality food. And good food has been a staple as the airline has expanded its business class outpost to five locations in four hubs. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY Now Delta hopes to up its food and drink game in the sky. The airline announced Wednesday a review of the menus it will offer in its flagship Delta One cabin in the future. A Delta A350-900 aircraft at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUYOOn your way to your tray tables: Wagyu beef burgers, Hong Kong-style sea bass and braised lamb. Flight attendants will serve $200 bottles of Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa and bottles of premium Kentucky bourbon from Blanton’s. And that’s before serving Taittinger champagne over scoops of sorbet for dessert. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYIt’s part of a broader update to the so-called “soft product” in Delta’s premium cabins. Reward your inbox with TPG’s daily newsletter Join over 700,000 readers to receive breaking news, in-depth guides, and exclusive offers from TPG experts. By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. That service upgrade, executives say, is intended to synchronize the onboard experience with what big-spending passengers now find in its most exclusive lounges. Sushi station in a Delta One lounge at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY “We’re basically making sure there’s consistency on board the aircraft,” Ranjan Goswami, director of marketing and product, told TPG at an event in New York introducing new amenities and meals. “If you’re starting your trip by going to Italy, or on an African safari, or touring Tokyo, you’ll want to start that experience in Delta One.” Delta One Product ‘Soft’ Update Delta will begin rolling out its revamped Delta One service on Nov. 2 on some key long-haul routes from Los Angeles, including flights to Auckland, New Zealand and Brisbane, Australia. Changes include an updated menu with new dishes like a seasonal risotto. Additionally, cocktail and mocktail offerings have been expanded and will eventually include servings of expensive sake on the airline’s routes to and from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND).1 of 4Short Rib. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYBeyond the menu, Delta is also introducing clean linens, dinnerware and glassware to bring a new feel to the dining experience in its finest cabins. And airline amenity kits from Italian fashion house Missoni will include special socks from popular retailer Bombas emblazoned with the airline’s former nickname “Fly Delta Jets.” private suites that are a staple in the front of their planes today. 1 of 2 Delta’s “Business Elite” class debuts in 1998. DELTA MUSEUM OF FLIGHT dream experience, all converging,” he said. First Look: Next-Generation Delta One SuitesOh, and speaking of suites? New ones are coming. Earlier this year, Delta announced a next-generation Delta One suites product, which is expected to debut next year on its fleet of new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft. After After sharing images of the new seats in April, we got our first look at the product “in real life” during this week’s showcase in New York City. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYA As TPG first reported in April, these latest Delta One digs come with longer beds and built-in mattress protectors. Plus, they feature Delta’s largest entertainment screen to date and, of course, the sliding privacy doors the airline pioneered. US a decade ago.1 of 5SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYExpect these seats to be present on long-haul routes to Asia and the Middle East, executives said last spring. This is notable as Delta is targeting significant growth across the Pacific Ocean in the coming years. An arms race in the front of the plane This push by Delta to improve its forward cabin comes at an especially competitive time for airlines, especially for customers willing to splurge on a high-end seat. range. Earlier this year, United Airlines made a splash when it launched its next-generation Polaris business class product. It included extra-luxury Polaris Studios in the forward and bulkhead rows, large suites with which United has combined eye-catching amenities of its own such as a Laurent-Perrier Cuvee Rose caviar and champagne combination.1 of the new Boeing 787-9 “Elevated” Dreamliner from 2United Airlines. GUY To date, Delta hasn’t announced an elevated business class product to directly compete with United’s new “studio” suites (“We’re always looking for new ideas” was all Goswami had to offer.) But it’s safe to say that the pressure on airlines to attract big-spending customers to their planes (and, ultimately, their loyalty programs and credit card wallets) has no end in sight. plush, more premium seats and faster onboard Wi-Fi. Increasingly, it’s also coming in the form of high-end food and expensive drinks. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUYLooking aheadAfter introducing its updated Delta One “soft product” on those initial routes to Australia and New Zealand next month, the airline plans to expand the offerings across its network. Passengers will begin seeing the upgrades in advance on select domestic Delta One flights in February. March. SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY The airline also plans to bring some of the new touches to its domestic first class cabin early next year. In addition to the new products and menus, Delta also plans to start giving customers more time to pre-order their in-flight meals. Today, passengers must submit their options at least one day before their flight.
