Sneak peek: On board the first Delta Air Lines jet sporting its all-new cabin look
It's been decades since Delta Air Lines gave its cabins an entirely new look. But that's about to change.
Tuesday night, a newly delivered Airbus A350-900 will depart Delta's Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) megahub sporting an all-new cabin appearance — one that will slowly become the standard look on Delta's planes over the coming years.
Inside a hangar in Atlanta this week, TPG got a sneak peek of the new cabin, which features an entirely new aesthetic, from updated mood lighting and design touches to new Delta One seat coverings that the airline says will be more comfortable for sleeping on long-haul flights.
Boarding
Step on board this particular A350 and the first thing that hits you is the "new plane smell." It's not surprising, considering Delta only weeks ago ferried the aircraft back from Airbus' Toulouse, France, headquarters.
Once that fades, what you're most likely to notice first is the absence of the airline's "enchanted blue" seats, which have become an almost unmistakable sign you're on a Delta jet since debuting in 1998.
Delta's new seat coverings are a sleeker — if less distinct — dark navy color, featuring small pops of red throughout the cabin.
The Atlanta-based carrier last fall announced plans to update its cabin aesthetic with a look it described at the time as "fresh, elevated and timeless," reflecting customers' "evolving tastes."
Delta sees the darker-colored seats as a more premium look befitting an airline that has positioned itself as the U.S. carrier that most caters to premium travelers.
Throughout this A350, the airline's trademark widget adorns newly designed cabin dividers sporting a "celestial sky" pattern — a design that's inspired, Delta says, by its global route map (once the most-read page, it notes, in the now-defunct Sky Magazine).
The celestial sky pattern is similarly found on the navy blue dividers with branding for the carrier's various cabins.
The vibe inside the cabin can change based on the time of the flight, with mood lighting settings ranging from "candlelight dinner" to sunrise and sunset. The more elaborate decor (compared with existing Delta jets) extends to the lavatory — which on this yet-to-be-inaugurated jet was already equipped with Delta's signature Grown Alchemist products.
Delta One
This newly delivered aircraft is Delta's more premium-heavy configuration of the A350-900. It features a hefty 40 Delta One suites spread out across both a standard front cabin and a second miniature business-class cabin behind the galley.
If you've flown in a Delta One suite on one of the carrier's existing A350s, there isn't much difference in the actual bells and whistles: The changes debuting on this aircraft are mostly (but not entirely) cosmetic.
As part of this cabin refresh, the carrier replaced the standard leather seat coverings with a cloth covering atop memory foam that's meant to be more breathable — and more comfortable for sleeping on long-haul flights, Delta said.
Here's what it looks like in 180-degree lie-flat mode.
Read more: Delta One Lounge at LAX dazzles as airline doubles down on big spenders
That said, these suites offer a variety of state-of-the-art touches, from wireless charging to USB-C ports and expansive inflight entertainment screens (though not the significantly upgraded ones Delta announced earlier this month in Las Vegas).
We mentioned splashes of red: In the business cabin, you'll find that in the storage cubbies (not unlike existing Delta One suites) and on small tags with the Delta widget decorating each seat.
Premium Select, Comfort+ and Main Cabin
In Delta's three remaining cabins on this A350, you'll still find traditional leather seat coverings but with the new darker color palette.
The Premium Select recliners sport a sleek dark leather design with red striping on the seat cushion and the red Delta widget tags on the side. Again, the rest of the "hard product" is what you'll find on existing Delta A350s.
Meanwhile, you can see a slight difference between the Comfort+ seats, which sport a red stripe just beneath the headrest on the side, and the standard economy seats in the rear of the aircraft.
Read more: Delta Sky Club crackdown is coming: Looking to the future of the popular lounge network
Over the course of this year, a growing complement of newly delivered Delta aircraft will get this overhauled cabin aesthetic, the airline told TPG late last year. And the carrier is planning interior refurbishments for its existing jets over the coming years, such as bringing improved seat cushions to its fleet of Boeing 757s.
Related reading:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.