Delta Air Lines Boarding Zones

Airlines love to make the boarding process distinctly theirs by doing things their own way, so having a clear picture of the boarding procedures of every airline you fly can be a bit of a challenge.

Delta Air Lines has always tried to be different. You can see it in the name, where 2 words are used for “Air Lines” instead of the single word “Airlines.” And when it comes to boarding, Delta does things differently, too.

But don’t worry — once you understand what is being talked about, it’s not that hard to follow.

We know the terms, we understand the procedures, and we’ll make sure that you do, too. Let’s take a look at the details of the Delta Air Lines boarding process, and you’ll be ready the next time you fly.

Table of contents

Delta Air Lines Boarding Zones
How To Get Priority Boarding
How To Boost Your Delta SkyMiles Balance
Final Thoughts

Table of Contents

Delta Air Lines Boarding Zones
How To Get Priority Boarding
How To Boost Your Delta SkyMiles Balance
Final Thoughts

Delta Boarding Gates — Image Credit: Leonard Zhukovsky via Shutterstock

It seems that Delta Air Lines couldn’t quite decide how it wanted to organize its aircraft boarding procedures. Or perhaps it just wanted to use fancy words to make its higher-tier customers feel more special.

Either way, it ended up with a mix of 10 numbered and named boarding groups, along with pre-boarding for certain customers and early boarding for others. Confusing, right?

We can only assume this leads to some cranky passengers who have boarding zone 1, but see 6 different groups of people get on the plane ahead of them.

Here are the details of who is eligible to board the plane in each of the groups that Delta uses, so you’ll know what to expect. You’ll never be that cranky passenger wondering why you aren’t on board yet!

Boarding Zone	Eligibility
Pre-Boarding	Customers needing assistance or additional time to board Active duty U.S. military personnel with ID
Delta One	Delta One passengers
First Class or Delta Premium Select	First class customers Delta Premium Select passengers
Diamond Medallion Members	Diamond Medallion members
Traveling With Small Children	Passengers traveling with car seats or strollers
Delta Comfort+	Delta Comfort+ customers
Sky Priority	Platinum Medallion members Gold Medallion members Flying Blue Platinum and Gold members Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold members LATAM Pass Black Signature, Black, and Platinum members Virgin Australia Platinum and Gold members GOL Smiles Diamond members SkyTeam Elite Plus members
Main Cabin 1	Silver Medallion members Delta Corporate travelers Priority Boarding Trip Extra customers Cardholders of the: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Flying Blue Silver members Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver members Virgin Australia Velocity Silver members LATAM Pass Gold+ members GOL Smiles Gold members Sky Team Elite members SkyMiles Select Members
Main Cabin 2	Main cabin passengers
Main Cabin 3	Main cabin passengers booked in T, X, and V fare codes
Basic Economy	Basic economy passengers (fare code E)

If you have any concerns about when your group is boarding, the Fly Delta app has a virtual queuing feature to let you know when your seat is boarding.

It should be noted that when departing Amsterdam (AMS) and Paris (CDG) on Delta flights, Silver Medallion members will not have their own priority boarding group. This is due to the boarding policies of Air France and KLM which operate at these 2 airports as their main hubs.

How To Get Priority Boarding

Pay for Priority Boarding

Delta Air Lines allows customers to purchase priority boarding for any flight operated by Delta or Delta Connection. The cost is $15 per flight, and it is one of the “Trip Extras” that Delta makes available to passengers.

Priority boarding, as well as the other available Trip Extras, can be purchased when booking your flight, through the Fly Delta app after booking, online when managing your trips, or at check-in.

Hot Tip: As a reminder — including Pre-Boarding and Early Boarding, Main Cabin 1 is actually the seventh group of passengers who are able to board the plane.

Once purchased, priority boarding will give you Main Cabin 1 boarding for your flight. It will be printed on your boarding pass, and you will be eligible to board when Main Cabin 1 is called.

After you have purchased Priority Boarding for a flight, it is tied to that specific flight and is non-refundable and non-transferable. That means that if you choose to change your flight at a later time, whether online, over the phone, or at the airport, you will forfeit the Priority Boarding pass that you have purchased.

Have the Right Credit Card

In addition, cardholders of Delta Gold card, Delta Platinum card, Delta Reserve card, Delta Gold Business card, Delta Platinum Business card, and Delta Reserve Business card will automatically receive Main Cabin 1 priority boarding as long as their SkyMiles numbers are on their reservations.

This benefit applies to the basic cardholder and is not available to additional authorized users on the card account. Up to 9 passengers traveling on the same reservation as the basic cardmember will be given Main Cabin 1 priority boarding as well.

Earn Elite Status

Of course, the higher your elite status the sooner you’ll be able to board. For example, top-tier Delta Diamond Medallion elites are one of the first boarding groups. And Gold and Platinum Medallion members can board Sky Priority.

Check out our guide to earning Delta elite status for an in-depth look at how you can earn and status. And don’t forget that being Delta credit card holder is also beneficial when it comes to more easily earning elite status.

Bottom Line: Although you will still be behind premium cabin passengers and upper-level elites, purchasing priority boarding will get you on the plane at the same time as the lower-level elite passengers and before the rest of the main cabin passengers. So it might be worth the $15 cost if you want to make sure there’s space for your bag in the overhead bin near your seat.

How To Boost Your Delta SkyMiles Balance

There are plenty of ways to earn lots of Delta Air Lines SkyMiles so you can put your newfound boarding knowledge to use on your next award flight.

Flying paid flights on Delta and its airline partners is probably the most obvious way, but you can earn a serious amount of SkyMiles (including Medallion Qualifying Miles) with its co-branded American Express cards, too.

Depending on the level of benefits you are looking for, the number of Medallion Qualifying Miles you are looking to earn, and the annual fee you are willing to pay, there is sure to be a card that is right for you.

Delta and American Express even offer co-branded business cards so you can earn SkyMiles with all of your spending, whether it be for home or for work.

Recommended Delta Cards

Final Thoughts

Delta Air Lines is an airline that people seem to love or hate, though it’s not because of the slightly confusing boarding procedure we’ve outlined. With a little explanation, this boarding process isn’t difficult to understand at all.

What people like about Delta is that the inflight experience is one of the best available for domestic U.S. carriers. However, the SkyMiles loyalty program has gotten a bad reputation over the past several years. Things like the removal of award charts and devaluations have made it very difficult to set a goal and save up for an award flight.

As the SkyMiles program continues to evolve (in a positive way, hopefully), you may be more likely to find yourself boarding a Delta Air Lines flight. Use the information we’ve provided above to understand the details of the boarding procedure, and you will be able to comfortably board your flight without any stress.

See you at the gate soon!

For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Delta

Frequently asked questions

How many boarding groups are there on Delta?

Delta Air Lines uses 10 different boarding zones for its flights. These include pre-boarding for children, premium passenger boarding, Sky Priority passengers, partner elites, and 3 numbered boarding zones, among several different groups.

Are Delta Air Lines flights assigned seating?

Yes, Delta Air Lines uses assigned seating for its flights. Seat assignments can be easily selected when booking eligible tickets or at check-in and can also be assigned or changed by gate agents at the airport.

Who is allowed to preboard on Delta?

Customers needing assistance or additional time to board and active duty U.S. military personnel with ID are allowed to preboard Delta flights. Families traveling with small children and with car seats or strollers can board after Delta One and First Class or Delta Premium Select passengers, but before a majority of boarding groups.

Who is in the first class boarding zone on Delta?

The First Class or Delta Premium Select boarding zone on Delta flights includes first class customers and Delta Premium Select customers.

Who is in the Sky Priority boarding zone on Delta?

The Sky Priority boarding zone on Delta includes:

Platinum Medallion members
Gold Medallion members
Flying Blue Platinum and Gold members
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold members
LATAM Pass Black Signature, Black, and Platinum members
Virgin Australia Platinum and Gold members
GOL Smiles Diamond members
SkyTeam Elite Plus members

Who is in zone 1 on Delta?

Boarding Main Cabin 1 on Delta includes:

Silver Medallion members
Delta Corporate travelers
Priority Boarding Trip Extra customers
Cardholders of the Delta Gold card, Delta Platinum card, Delta Reserve card, Delta Gold Business card, Delta Platinum Business card, and Delta Reserve Business card
Flying Blue Silver members
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver members
LATAM Pass Gold+ members
WestJet Rewards Silver members
SkyTeam Elite members

Who is in zone 2 on Delta?

Boarding Main Cabin 2 on Delta includes main cabin passengers who do not have any elite status and do not hold one of the premium co-branded credit cards.

Who is in zone 3 on Delta?

Boarding Main Cabin 3 on Delta includes main cabin passengers who are booked in T, X, and V fares and do not have any elite status or hold a co-branded credit card.

Who is in zone 4 on Delta?

The final boarding group for Delta includes basic economy passengers (fare code E).

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About Jeff Brownson

Since discovering miles and points in 2010, Jeff has traveled to over 35 countries, flying in first class, business class, and sometimes even in coach. Whether he’s staying in a hostel dorm, or in a luxury suite at a 5 star hotel, Jeff is constantly looking for the best deal to make travel as close to free as possible.

Disclaimer: Any comments listed below are not from the bank advertiser, nor have they been reviewed or approved by them. No responsibility will be taken by the bank advertiser for these comments.

17 comments

Eric English February 7, 2019

This article is no longer accurate. I’ve flown Delta every week for the past month, and they have tweaked their system a bit for 2019. They still pre-board first, and board first class next. After that, there is a separate group for comfort plus customers, then there are zones called “main cabin” 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Reply
- Jeff Brownson February 8, 2019
  
  Hey Eric, thanks for the head’s up. I was traveling a lot towards the end of the year and somehow completely missed that they were changing things around. I’ve updated the post according to their new official policies, which are pretty close to what you’ve seen in practice the last few weeks. Thanks again!
  
  Reply
THO DANG February 23, 2019

Hi Jeff. You have car seats or strollers listed under both pre-boarding and early boarding. I am traveling with my 4-year-old and his stroller and wondering where we will board with the recent changes. Also, do I have to pay using my Delta card to get the earlier boarding or just for including my SkyMiles account number when I purchase the tickets? Thanks.

Reply
- Stephen Au February 24, 2019
  
  Hey Tho,
  
  As far as your stroller goes, you will be in the pre-boarding group, which actually boards way before first class and the sort. You do not need to pay using your Delta card. However, you and your child must be on the same reservation.
  
  Reply
John April 15, 2019

When do you board if you book a basic fare, but are an Delta Amex card holder?

Reply
- Alex Miller April 17, 2019
  
  Hi John – which Delta credit card do you own? (Please be specific!)
  
  Reply
  - Eva Oropesa April 28, 2019
    
    I have the same question. Where do you sit if you buy a basic economy fare with the Delta Gold Amex card and are given Main 1 Priority Boarding? In the Main 1 area? Just confused because supposedly you are given a seat assignment at check in and don’t know if it will be in Zone 1. But then you have this Main 1 zone boarding benefit. Please clear this up for us? TIA..
    Eva
    
    Reply
    - Christine Krzyszton May 1, 2019
      
      Hello Eva. I can understand your confusion. You will board when Main Cabin 1 Priority boarding is called because you have the Delta Gold Amex card. You will then sit in the assigned seat you received at check in, regardless of which area of the plane it is located. I hope this clarifies the issue.
      
      Reply
William Childers May 2, 2019

Actually, Zone 4 is now being called “Basic,” it doesn’t even have a number. In today’s slang, “Basic” is a derogatory term. The agents seem unwilling to even say it out loud. I think Delta is trying to render the experience of flying without paying extra to belong to a “privileged” group as unpleasant as possible, to pressure us into coughing up more dough.

Reply
Paula Gant May 8, 2019

I was wondering… I am Active Duty Military. Can my traveling companion who is not active duty, board with me? I did purchase the ticket with my Delta SkyMiles Credit Card.

Reply
- Erin Miller May 9, 2019
  
  Hi Paula, in most situations, benefits afforded to active duty military personnel only apply to the active duty person themselves. Every once in a while, they apply to individuals traveling with the active duty military person, IF their ticket was also purchased on the same itinerary as the active duty individual.
  
  Additionally, some airlines require the active duty individual to be in uniform (we’re seeing some 2018 news reports stating United stopped this policy, allowing all active duty to board regardless of if they are in uniform or not) or show other proof of status in order to take advantage of the benefit.
  
  Since we’re not United, we can’t comment with 100% certainty on if your travel companion will be able to board with you. We suggest calling United’s customer service line at 1-800-864-8331… they should be able to help you out with the most accurate information!
  
  Reply
Shirley McBride September 27, 2019

The last time I flew internationally (I believe with Delta), there was a Delta staff who asked if we had purchased priority pass, to which I said “No”. She further indicated that I could register for a card that would give priority boarding not only in Canada and the US, but internationally as well. Please provide any information that you can on this, as we will be traveling to the British Isles in the near future.

Reply
- Jarrod West September 28, 2019
  
  Hi Shirley,
  
  That flight attendant was correct. There are many great credit cards that will give you access to the Priority Pass lounge network. We’ve compiled a list of all the top options for our readers, you can view that post here: https://upgradedpoints.com/best-credit-cards-for-priority-pass-lounges/
  
  Thanks for reading!
  
  Reply
jason van daele March 9, 2020

My wife and I are going to be flying with our 5 children. Ages range from 3 to 17. Will we be able to get seats together?

Reply
- Christine Krzyszton March 9, 2020
  
  Hi Jason. I applaud you for starting to work on this situation in advance and not wait until you arrive at the airport, or worse yet, when you board the plane and find you are not sitting together. Depending on the fare class of tickets you purchased, you should be able to access your reservation online and select seats for your family. Seat selection is not available in advance on basic economy tickets, however. You can also call Delta and make sure your reservations are linked. If you do have basic economy tickets, you may be able to select seats at check-in, based on availability. For this reason, check in as soon as it is available (24 hours before departure) to have the best options. If you still cannot select seats, and a Delta phone rep cannot assist because you have basic economy tickets, arrive at the airport early and speak with the representative.
  
  Reply
Gina August 20, 2021

Hey, I haven’t flown in a while but will do so Sunday. My concern is I have a 38 min layover in Atlanta. I understand 35 minutes is pushing it. I have first-class seats. If I miss my boarding call will I be able to board? Thanks. Gina

Reply
- Katie Seemann August 23, 2021
  
  Hi Gina,
  You’ll be able to board even if they have already called your boarding group as long as the doors are still open. Good luck with your short connection time.
  
  Reply

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Delta Air Lines Boarding Zones — Everything You Need To Know

Delta Air Lines Boarding Zones