On October 14, 2026, Delta announced the biggest refresh of Delta One, its long-haul business class, in decades. The changes cover nearly everything except the price of admission: food, drinks, bedding, amenity kits, service flow and, starting in 2027, a brand-new suite on the Airbus A350-1000.
If you redeem SkyMiles for Delta One or hope to, here is what is changing, when, and how it fits into your plans. Details are as of October 2026.
What is changing
Delta says the new service starts this fall on transoceanic Delta One flights departing Los Angeles (LAX) and expands across its global network in 2027. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the LAX launch begins November 3, with a wider rollout starting in March 2027.
- Earlier meal pre-select: You can now choose your entrée up to 18 hours before departure, six hours earlier than before. Pre-select options add gluten-free, lighter and protein-added choices.
- New menu: Items include a Wagyu beef burger, sea bass, braised lamb and short rib, plus new mid-flight snacks. On long flights you can skip the morning meal and take coffee and a croissant before landing instead.
- Drinks: Blanton’s single-barrel bourbon starting December 1, Champagne Taittinger expanding to domestic Delta One flights, and DASSAI 45 sake on Tokyo-Haneda flights starting November 3. The wine list now rotates twice a year instead of four times.
- Amenities: A new Missoni amenity kit starting November 3, and a Missoni pillow on all transoceanic Delta One routes.
- Ground transfers: Delta’s Porsche tarmac transfer fleet for eligible premium customers grows from 40 to 70 vehicles across 15 airports by 2028.
The new suite comes later
The hardware is the part most frequent flyers will notice, but it is not here yet. Delta expects to begin taking delivery of the Airbus A350-1000 in early 2027, and that is where the new Delta One suite debuts. According to Business Traveller and The Boston Globe, the suite has an 83-inch bed and a 24-inch screen, and Business Traveller reports sliding privacy doors and 53 suites per aircraft in a 1-2-1 layout. Delta has not said which routes the A350-1000 will fly first.
What it means for SkyMiles members
Delta’s announcement does not mention any change to SkyMiles award pricing, upgrade rules or Medallion benefits, so nothing on the loyalty side changes because of this refresh. Delta prices awards dynamically, so the miles needed for a given Delta One seat still depend on the route, date and demand.
- Booked a Delta One award from LAX this winter? You are likely among the first to see the new food, drinks and kits. Use the 18-hour pre-select window to lock in your meal.
- Flying from another hub? Expect the new soft product to reach you sometime in 2027. Delta has not published a route-by-route schedule.
- Want the new suite? Do not book around it yet. Wait for Delta to load A350-1000 schedules, and even then, aircraft swaps happen.
- Watch for award deals: Delta One award prices swing widely. Checking flexible dates is often the best way to find a reasonable price.
Building a SkyMiles balance? The Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card earns SkyMiles on everyday spending and Delta purchases. If you’re interested, you can apply through our American Express referral link.
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Our take
The service changes are real improvements, especially the later pre-select window and the option to skip breakfast for more sleep. Those small things make a bigger difference on an overnight flight than a fancier wine list.
The catch is timing and consistency. For most of 2027, Delta One will be a mix of new service on old seats, and the new suite will be on a small number of aircraft at first. A nicer product also tends to mean higher demand, and with dynamic pricing there is no guarantee Delta One awards get any cheaper. We would treat this as a reason to look harder at Delta One redemptions, not a reason to pay any price for them.
Sources: Delta News Hub; The Atlanta Journal-Constitution; Business Traveller; The Boston Globe; Travel Market Report.
