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The Delta boarding order is an important topic if you're a frequent flyer of the airline. Boarding early not only guarantees you overhead bin space but also allows you to escape the crowded gate area quickly. This gives you more time to settle in for your flight.
May 1, 2024, Delta is revising its boarding process, with a few notable changes. The Delta boarding order will now be determined by what numbered “zone” you find yourself in. There are eight boarding zones, not including pre-boarding passengers or those with strollers and car seats. Other airlines may use the term “boarding groups,” but the intent is the same. The new boarding changes mostly affect those in the first two boarding zones. Boarding zones are indicated clearly on your ticket, and thankfully Delta's gate displays will also clearly show which zone is boarding currently.
This changes from Delta's prior boarding process, which used a named system, rather than numbered zones.
So, if you're curious how many zones are ahead of you for your next Delta flight, or if you're interested in learning how to board your next flight sooner (spoiler alert: Delta credit cards), we dig into the details below.
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Delta Boarding Groups
While there are officially eight Delta boarding zones, there is a group that boards before everyone else: preboard. Previously, these were flyers “needing extra assistance or additional time to board” and active U.S. Military with I.D.
Now, this group will also include Delta 360 members, Delta's invite-only status that's similar to American Airlines' ConciergeKey status or United‘s Global Services. This matches the process I've seen with ConciergeKey passengers who pre-board American flights. If you are a member of either of these three groups of travelers, you'll board before the rest of the passengers, though still officially in “Zone 1.”
If you do need extra time, you'll be in Zone 1, regardless of what your boarding pass says. Delta spells this out clearly on their website. There, the U.S. Passenger Bill of Rights reads:
“Airlines must allow a passenger with a disability who self-identifies at the gate as needing additional time or assistance to board, stow accessibility equipment or be seated, the opportunity to board before all other passengers.”
After those flyers, boarding continues by zone, which confusingly includes more flyers in Zone 1, as discussed below. Additionally, there will be others crowding the gate well before their zones are called. I like to politely ask those in front of me what zone they are in before moving in front of them.
How To Get Delta Sky Priority
After pre-boarding, Zone 1 continues boarding for Delta One or First Class passengers. Delta One is the airline's most premium product, flying on long-haul international routes (plus several domestic routes), always with a lie-flat seat and Delta Sky Club access. First Class operates on flights without a lie-flat seat.
Readers can access Delta One or First Class by simply buying a seat or using Delta SkyMiles to redeem an award. The only difference in this group with the changes to the Delta boarding order is Delta 360 now boards with pre-boarding.
Delta reserves Zone 2 for Diamond Medallion members and Delta Premium Select customers for airlines equipped with that cabin. Under the old system, Diamonds boarded before Premium Select. Now, both groups board together. Technically, Delta devalued boarding for Diamonds, since they'll be boarding with more passengers, rather than before them. However, this will only be noticeable on long-haul flights with three-cabin operations or select domestic flights that sell Premium Select (like Atlanta to Honolulu).
Early Access Customers
After Zone 2 comes a group of passengers called “Early Access” — those with strollers and car seats. These passengers need to identify themselves to the gate agent; this allows them to board earlier than the zone on their boarding pass. Confusingly, Delta's changes for the sake of simplicity do not assign this group a zone number.
Status, Credit Card Members, and Main Cabin Customers
Zones 3 through 8 have no changes. You'll find yourself in these zones depending on your status with Delta or a Delta partner and the fare class you booked. For example, if you are seated in Basic Economy but otherwise have a status that qualifies you for a higher zone, you'll board with the higher zone.
Zone 3 is for Comfort+ customers, which is seating in the main cabin with extra legroom. There are also perks like premium snacks (for flights over 900 miles) and alcohol on flights over 251 miles.
Zone 4 is for Delta Platinum and Gold Medallion members, as well as elite status on these partner airlines:
- Flying Blue Platinum & Gold
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold
- SkyTeam Elite Plus
- LATAM Pass Black Signature, Black, Platinum Elite
- WestJet Rewards Platinum & Gold Elite
Zone 5 boarding is for Delta Silver Medallion members, as well as these partner airlines and statuses:
- WestJet Silver
- Flying Blue Silver
- Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver
- SkyTeam Elite
- LATAM Pass Gold+ Elite
In addition, Delta Corporate travelers and Delta Amex co-branded cardmembers will board with Zone 5. Cards that qualify include:
- Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card cardmembers are sadly excluded.
Zone 6 boarding is main cabin customers who didn't book cheaper fare classes detailed below.
Zone 7 boarding is for main cabin customers booked in T, X, and V fare classes.
Finally, Zone 8 boarding is for customers who booked a Basic Economy fare.
Final Thoughts on Delta Boarding Groups
Delta is a business at the end of the day, and it wants to incentivize customers to engage with its brand to make more money. A big way Delta does this is through boarding zones, allowing you to feel valued by boarding before others. Besides pre-boarding, the easiest way to board early is to fly in a premium cabin, followed by earning status with Delta. By holding a Delta credit card, you'll also board before others who booked cheaper fares. This is the simplest way to move forward in the boarding order, but it can only get you so far.
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