Delta Air Lines Changes Boarding Process: What Travelers Need to Know

Delta Air Lines announced it would begin operating a new number-based boarding process, starting on May 1.

According to Travel + Leisure, the boarding order will remain the same, but the airline is altering how it classifies the different boarding zones. The changes are designed to “provide customers with more clarity about [the] boarding sequence.”

Delta officials said that boarding passes will reflect the new zone numbers. Passengers will be boarded via zone in the following order, per Travel + Leisure:

• Zone 1: Delta One and first-class customers
• Zone 2: Diamond Medallion members and Delta Premium Select Cabin passengers
• Early access: Customers traveling with car seats and strollers
• Zone 3: Delta Comfort+ passengers
• Zone 4: Sky Priority customers
• Zone 5: Main Cabin 1 passengers
• Zone 6: Main Cabin 2 passengers
• Zone 7: Main Cabin 3 passengers
• Zone 8: Basic economy passengers

A Delta spokesperson told Travel + Leisure the revamped boarding process will be “more self-intuitive” and is similar to the system used by the carrier’s international partners. 

The airline also revealed it would continue offering pre-boarding for travelers needing assistance, active-duty military members and Delta 360 customers. Travelers using Zones 1-4 will use Delta’s Sky Priority Lane, while Zones 5-8 will use the general boarding lane.

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