Do Delta One Suites on the A350-900 Live Up to the Hype?

There are business class seats and there are business class suites – you know, the ones with closing doors for unparalleled privacy. Delta business class passengers know the distinction well: Delta One Suites are the cream of the crop.

The Atlanta-based airline set itself apart in 2017 when it started flying its brand new Delta One Suite on its flagship A350-900 jets. Fast forward to present day, and Delta no longer stands out: Business class with doors are all the rage nowadays, with dozens of airlines now offering them onboard. Delta even has a second aircraft type with suites onboard: its A330-900neo.

Still, Delta One Suites on the A350-900 are as good as it gets for Delta … especially compared to the airline's woefully outdated business class seats on other jets. But is Delta's best business class seat worth all the accolades?

After my first flight in Delta One Suite years ago, I thought the airline was knocking on the door of one of the world's best business class experiences. After spending 14-plus hours in a Delta One Suite on a recent flight from Sydney (SYD) back to Los Angeles (LAX), I'm not so sure anymore.

 

 

How to Book Delta One Suites

First things first: You need to find a route where Delta has these suites at the front of the plane. That can be easier said than done. 

Despite Delta's “premium” brand and the glossy photos of suites you'll see in all the airline's advertising, the majority of Delta's long-haul fleet is more than a decade old. The fancy suites are only available on two planes Delta flies – the Airbus A350-900 and Airbus A330-900neo. And you'll almost exclusively find them flying the airline's longest routes to Asia, Australia, and South Africa, along with a few ultra-popular transatlantic routes to hubs like Amsterdam (AMS) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG).

 

 

Lucky for me, the Airbus A350-900 is a mainstay on Delta's route connecting Los Angeles (LAX) and Sydney (SYD). If you're flying Delta to Sydney or back home from the Land Down Under, you'll find suites at the front of the plane. Always. 

Next comes the hard part: Booking that suite without breaking the bank.

Paying cash, you can safely expect to pay $5,000 or more roundtrip. Worse yet, Delta is notorious for charging an arm and a leg for business class, with rates regularly north of 400,000 SkyMiles … each way. Here's what you'll typically see when trying to redeem your SkyMiles for a business class flight between Australia and the states. 

 

 

Ouch. The automatic 15% discount you get with a Delta card in your wallet like the *delta skymiles gold card* barely makes a dent in those sky-high rates.

But don't give up hope. Again and again 2024, we've seen a slew of deeply discounted Delta One redemptions like: 

• Nationwide flights from the U.S. to Seoul (ICN) in Delta One Suites as low as 85,000 SkyMiles each way
• Delta One Suites on the new route to Taipei (TPE) for as low as 83,000 SkyMiles – the lowest business class rate we've seen from Delta since 2020! 
• Lie-flat Delta One fares all the way to Brisbane (BNE) in Australia for 123,000 SkyMiles each way
• Roundtrips to Auckland (AKL) for under 300,000 SkyMiles total
• And going back a few months more, we've seen fares to Tokyo-Haneda (HND) as low as 85,000 SkyMiles each way, too

 

 

At the same time, dirt-cheap upgrade prices to Delta One like $500 (or 50,000 SkyMiles) or less have been more prevalent than ever – especially over to Europe. But none of that worked for our plan to get home from Australia. 

In this case, I used a (since-eliminated) workaround to book business class for a fraction of the SkyMiles: By starting or ending your trip in Mexico instead of the U.S., that rate of 400,000-some SkyMiles dropped to just 95,000 SkyMiles each way. 

 

 

Sadly, that trick no longer works. But we booked before Delta closed that loophole, working a pitstop in Mexico City (MEX) into our return home. The final cost? Just 95,000 Delta SkyMiles and about $120 USD in taxes and fees.

It was well worth transferring Amex points from our *amex gold* to top off our Delta accounts and fly 15-plus hours in a Delta One Suite.

At Thrifty Traveler, we don't accept freebies. We use our own points, miles, or cash to pay for every single flight or hotel you see reviewed here – including this one!

 

Lounge Access at Sydney

There are some phenomenal lounges in the Sydney airport like the Qantas First Class lounge, among many others. I wouldn't put the lounge Delta One passengers can visit on that list. 

With a Delta business class ticket in hand, you can enter the SkyTeam Lounge in Terminal 1, not far from gate 24. It's also open to other SkyTeam carriers flying in and out of Sydney like China Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Korean Air, and Vietnam Airlines. And because the shared space is actually managed and operated by Plaza Premium, the lounge also sells day passes to everyday travelers, too, for about $50 USD for a two-hour stay.

At under 8,500 square feet, the SkyTeam Lounge in Sydney isn't massive by any means. So go figure: It got crowded fast during our early morning visit. 

 

 

Throughout our relatively brief stay, the lounge bordered on feeling both chaotic and unkempt. Outnumbered by travelers, the staff clearly struggled to keep up with the steady rush.

On the plus side, it's a fairly nice looking lounge, well-designed in bold blue, with pops of green from the furniture and plant life. Floor-to-ceiling windows along the side of the lounge let in plenty of natural light while giving travelers a glimpse of the planes just outside. 

There was an assortment of seating options throughout the space, most (but not all) with charging nearby. At the far end of the lounge, there were even phone booths as well as a private VIP area, which could be reserved … for a price. 

For breakfast, there was a small spread available for breakfast: eggs, baked goods, fruits, and even a DIY noodle bar. The highlight was a made-to-order coffee bar, where I enjoyed one last (excellent) flat white before boarding the long flight home. 

 

 

There were also showers available inside the lounge for travelers looking to freshen up before boarding. 

In short: The SkyTeam lounge in Sydney was basic , but it got the job done. I don't know that I'll be flying Delta (or another SkyTeam airline) out of Sydney again … but if I were, I might try out the nearby Amex Centurion Lounge instead.

After a nearly 90-minute delay due to an aircraft that arrived late, it was finally time to board and head across the Pacific Ocean. 

 

Cabin

Even up in business class, many Delta planes look a bit … well, drab and outdated on the inside. Not these planes.

Delta is going all out with these suites, with more and more brand-new Airbus A350 and Airbus A330-900neos coming into service. Over time, those two state-of-the-art jets should become the workhorse of Delta's international fleet. Delta also previously offered suites on its Boeing 777s, but the airline retired those planes during the pandemic.

So for now, you'll only find Delta One Suites on the A350 and A330-900neo. And if you ask me, the A350 is the one to beat. Take a look and you'll see why.

 

 

Delta's A350-900s have 32 Delta One Suites onboard, all laid out in a 1-2-1 arrangement to give every passenger a straight shot into the aisle. The airline will soon begin flying a different configuration of its A350-900 and an even larger A350-1000 – both with even more suites onboard. 

The seats themselves are staggered in each row: Some are closer to the aisle with a console table along the side, while others are positioned farther away from the aisle and separated by the console. These alternate row by row. If you're flying Delta One solo on an Airbus A350, the odd-numbered seats along the wing are closer to the window.

 

 

Meanwhile, even-numbered suites are positioned slightly closer to the aisle.

 

 

And then there are pairs of seats in the center aisle, which is where couples and companions should gravitate. Because of how the seats are staggered from row to row, none of these are closer together. Still, it's fairly easy to lean forward and chat with your neighbor. 

 

 

If you don't know your neighbor, there's a privacy divider you can easily slide.

 

 

And privacy is the name of the game here: No matter where you're sitting, there's a closing door at each and every seat. One of the common criticisms of these suites is that the suite walls and doors are only about 4 feet tall. And while that's true, it's hardly a problem unless if you've got a fellow passenger peering over.

 

 

One thing I love about Delta's A350 is that the airline didn't install overhead bins above the center aisle. These so-called “cathedral ceilings” make it feel far more spacious – particularly for passengers seated in the middle of the cabin. And don't worry: There's still plenty of overhead bin space along the windows. 

The one downside of that decision? There are no overhead air nozzles above the center suites, unlike the solo seats on the other side of each aisle. Fortunately, Delta kept the cabin fairly cool throughout the flight. 

 

 

There are two lavatories in the Delta One business class cabin, both at the front of the plane – plus two more in the rear that passengers can share with travelers in Delta Premium Select seats. They're fairly spacious but nothing special, aside from the Grown Alchemist hand soap and lotion available. 

 

 

The Delta One Suite

While its competitors will catch up soon, Delta is still the only U.S. airline offering fully closing suites in business class. That alone makes Delta One Suites special. 

There's no question these are darn good looking business class seats. Between the diamond blue stitched leather, pops of red from the storage cubby, and smart lighting inside each suite and throughout the cabin, it's well designed. Aside from the occasional scuff and mark on the white suite walls, everything was in good shape. 

With this chic design and wider seats (thanks to the wider fuselage), the suites on Delta's A350 would be my pick over flying Delta One on the A330-900neo, personally. 

 

 

My wife and I picked seats 4B and 4C in the center section, where couples and companions should gravitate. 

 

 

While there are some flaws with Delta One suites (trust me, we'll get to those), I just don't buy the criticism that these seats are small or claustrophobic. At 24 inches wide, the seat isn't the widest you'll find in business class – but it's far from the narrowest. And after you add in the extra space from the table console, there is plenty of room to stretch out within the suite walls. 

The suites are plenty long, as well. At 5 feet 10 inches, I had no shortage of legroom both while sitting up straight or in bed mode. The footwell is fairly large, too – though the downside is that thanks to the sloping floor that leads up to it, there's no room for a personal item here. You'll need to stow a backpack overhead, too. 

 

 

But while there's plenty of space, I have one major gripe with these seats: They're hard as a rock. Within just an hour or two, I could swear I had sunk through all the padding. A mattress pad wasn't enough to make it comfortable for the ultra-long-flight – and not every route benefits from that additional layer, either. 

Delta is planning to redo its cabins from nose to tail, reinstalling memory foam padding in Delta One while reupholstering the seat with a breathable fabric in place of leather. But that process will likely take years – for now, you might need to prepare for a stiff seat. 

Storage is another shortcoming of Delta One suites. Aside from the red cubby where you can hang a pair of headphones and the console table, there's just not much room to store your things.

In our center seats, there was also a small compartment along the floor where you could stow a pair of shoes … but not much more. And some suites don't even have this additional cubby! 

 

 

OK, enough complaining. A lie-flat seat is always a treat, and Delta One Suites are far better than most.

One thing that stands out to me are the designs and details that photos can't always capture. Up close, it looks even nicer. Look at the stitching and patterns on the seat, for example.

 

 

Or the blue fabric on the front wall of each seat behind the TV screen, accentuated by the soft under-lighting throughout the suite.

 

 

There's a sizable console table on the side of each suite, with plenty of room to leave a laptop or amenity kit. 

 

 

That's also where you'll find all your seat controls as well as outlets. There's a universal power outlet and USB socket, though it's a standard USB-A – not the speedy USB-C power that has become a standard in recent years. 

The seat controls are incredibly easy to use to arrange the seat just how you want it, whether you want to quickly recline to bed mode or adjust the leg rest, just so. While the seat controls are pretty straightforward, mine were pretty finicky and not very responsive.

You can also control the suite lighting and activate “Do Not Disturb” mode, which turns the numbered placard on your suite door red so flight attendants know not to wake you. 

 

 

There's another, simpler, set of controls farther down the console wall that are even easier to use.

 

 

A quick push of the “Table” button on the main controls pops out a sizable and sturdy tray table, plenty big enough for meals or getting some work done. 

 

 

Oh, and then there's the main event: The door. With a quick pull of the latch underneath the sconce light, the door slides into place to block out the rest of the cabin. Flight attendants come around to unlock these doors soon after takeoff.

 

 

I'm always skeptical about the main selling point of these doors. How much additional privacy would the door actually provide? Will it come at the expense of space? Was it functional, or just flashy?

But with Delta, I am sold: They're both flashy and functional. It adds an extra layer of privacy without sacrificing the spaciousness of the seat.

 

 

Come bedtime, closing the door and hitting “Do Not Disturb” made this a cozy space for a few hours of sleep. If the seat itself were more comfortable, Delta One Suites on the A350 would be a total home run. 

 

 

Amenities

It's not perfect, but Delta's amenity game is fairly strong in business class.

There were stacks of goodies waiting inside each suite at boarding. Let's start with the bedding, which was good … but could have been better. 

 

 

For years, Delta prided itself on its set of pillows (yes, plural) and duvet from Westin's Heavenly line. But that disappeared years ago, replaced by a more eco-friendly set of Delta-branded bedding, all packaged in a zipped bag.

The duvet and pillow were both high-quality, though a second pillow would have been a nice touch. And while the mattress pad was more substantial than the flimsy cloth liners most airlines provide, it still wasn't enough to make up for the rock-hard seat underneath.

There was also a Someone, Somewhere amenity kit waiting inside my suite, all packaged inside a neat fabric bag. Delta has since replaced these handmade fabric pouches with a leather kit from Italian luxury brand Missoni.

 

 

And the contents were quite good, covering all the basics and then some. There was an eye mask, ear plugs, a pen, dental kit with a wooden toothbrush and toothpaste, and some toiletries from Grown Alchemist. 

 

 

Just a handful of airlines give out pajamas to business class passengers. And while Delta started off with pajamas when it launched Delta One Suites back in 2017, it has since stopped. There are, however, a pretty great pair of slippers waiting inside the suite. 

 

 

Finally, there was a decent but unremarkable set of Delta-branded, noise-canceling headphones available for use. They're over-ear and fairly comfortable, though the noise-canceling technology could have been better.

 

 

They're certainly passable and a major upgrade over what you get in economy. Compared to other airlines, Delta could do better here … but they could also do much, much worse. 

 

Service & Dining 

Ask any ultra-loyal Delta flyer what sets the airline apart, and you'll hear a common refrain: The service is almost always leagues better. 

This flight was a great reminder of just how much better Delta can be. From start to finish, the service was second to none – in large part due to the flight attendant working my aisle. I'm sad I missed his name, because he was a rockstar: Attentive and engaging, quick to crack a joke (or several), but proactive in offering something and constantly asking what else he could fetch for us 

One great flight attendant can make or break a flight. This one stood out as one of the best I've ever had the pleasure of flying with – not just with Delta, but ever. 

The dining, however, fell short of that same standard. 

Don't get me wrong: Business class meals are (almost) always a huge step above what you get back in economy, and that was true here. But while the service was memorable, the food was forgettable. 

In-flight service started with a drink before departure, then another once airborne along with a ramekin of mixed nuts. Champagne for me, thanks – Delta was pouring Champagne Duval-Leroy Brut.

 

 

Ten or so minutes later, our flight attendant swung by with a tray of starters: a small salad with vinaigrette, poached shrimp with beef tenderloin, a roll, and an empty bowl … which was promptly filled with a piping hot potato and parsnip soup. 

The salad was simple but crisp as could be, while the poached shrimp dish was just confusing. While high-quality, the flavors were all over the map: Shrimp with beef tenderloin … throw in some asparagus and a tomato … and a side of mustardy curry sauce?

The soup, though, was the highlight of the entire meal: simultaneously light yet hearty and deeply flavorful, topped with a handful of croutons for a bit of texture.

 

 

For the entree, Delta emailed us a week before departure offering the chance to reserve our meal in advance – though, unlike a growing number of carriers, Delta doesn't offer any additional items for travelers to select online. Online or on paper, there were just three choices: braised beef, roasted chicken breast, or beetroot ravioli. 

 

 

I went with the beef, which was good but by no means great. The green beans and two potato rosti were both excellent, as was the rich bordelaise sauce. But the beef itself wasn't up to par: It was quite fatty and yet also obviously overcooked. 

 

 

Dessert came to the rescue with a choice of fruit and cheese, a dark chocolate brownie, or one of Delta's famous build your own ice cream sundaes, straight from the food cart. Crumbled Tim Tam candy bars (think Australian Kit Kats … but 10 times better) on top was an excellent touch and a great way to cap off the meal. 

 

 

There were a few mid-flight snacks available throughout the flight like a beef brisket sandwich or bruschetta, and flight attendants came through the cabin with a basket of other salty and sweet goodies. I decided to save my appetite for breakfast.

The cabin lights came up just under two hours before arrival, as flight attendants swung through the cabin to set tables and take orders. There were just two options for breakfast: a spinach omelet with chicken sausage or a bowl of bircher muesli. 

I ordered the omelet which, again, was just fine. It wasn't the worst breakfast I've had on a plane – not even close – but the omelet itself was bland and slightly overcooked. The chicken sausage was flavorful … but also quite cold. 

 

 

Overall, the service was stellar while the dining was average, arguably close to a letdown. And with just three choices for a dinner entree and two options for breakfast, I'd think Delta could easily give business class passengers more variety without sacrificing quality.

 

Entertainment

Every single suite is equipped with an 18-inch TV screen. And while that's not that large on paper, it's positively massive thanks to how close it is to your seat. Not too close, but just right, in my mind.

 

 

The screen itself is fairly high-definition, though not quite to the standard of brand-new 4K screens that airlines are installing up in business and first class nowadays. It's touchscreen, though there's also a wired remote built into the console table.

As always, Delta has a fantastic selection of movies and TV loaded – better than any other major U.S. carrier, if you ask me. There was a great smattering of new releases, some older classics and full seasons of several TV shows. You can always check in advance to see what is streaming onboard Delta every month.

 

 

But if you need to stay connected while flying across the ocean, it's not so great – at least not yet. While Delta has promised fast-and-free Wi-Fi is coming to all its long-haul international routes, that expansion abroad is taking place slowly. It's cropping up on some routes to Europe as we speak, but it may not be available on long-haul routes across the Pacific Ocean until late 2025.

At $22 for a full flight of Wi-Fi, I decided to skip getting online and focused on getting some sleep instead. 

 

Bottom Line

Delta One Suites have most of the essential ingredients for being one of the world's best business class. But a few critical elements are amiss.

Yes, the suites looks great and the privacy of closing a door is tough to beat … but what good is a flashy setup if the seat itself is uncomfortable? And while the entertainment onboard and service were excellent, the meals were average – far from what you might expect from an airline that has branded itself a “premium” carrier.