Most people don’t know this (since the airline doesn’t publicize it in any way), but Delta has a VIP service that any passenger can book. I’m not going to suggest that this is some amazing deal that everyone should take advantage of, but it’s at least a pretty comprehensive service. I’d like to go over the details in this post, and in a separate post, I wrote about American Five Star Service, which is the Fort Worth-based carrier’s equivalent program.
In this post:
How Delta’s VIP Select program works
Delta VIP Select is the Atlanta-based carrier’s premium ground service package that’s available to all passengers. For those willing to pay, Delta VIP Select offers customized service and extra amenities, which should make your ground experience seamless. Let’s take a closer look at how this works.
What does Delta VIP Select offer?
You can use Delta VIP Select either on departure, during a connection, or on arrival:
- If you use Delta VIP Select on departure, you’ll be met by a Delta representative at the curb (and they’ll already have pre-printed bag tags, if you’re checking bags), you’ll be escorted through security, and then you’ll be escorted to the Sky Club, which you receive complimentary access to (if you don’t otherwise have access); you’ll usually have a reserved table there, and then you’ll be picked up at the Sky Club and brought to your gate when it’s time to depart
- If you use Delta VIP Select during a connection, you’ll be met at your arriving flight, you’ll be brought to the Sky Club (where there should be a reserved table), and then you’ll be brought to your connecting flight
- If you use Delta VIP Select on arrival, you’ll be met at your arriving flight, and you’ll then be transferred to a pick-up spot, which has been coordinated with the person or party who is picking you up
Note that generally speaking when you’re picked up or dropped off at a flight when using Delta VIP Select, it will be in a car, and you’ll be driven across the apron. Furthermore, it’ll usually be in a Porsche, the same that’s sometimes offered to SkyMiles Diamond Medallion members on a surprise and delight basis, when they have a short connection.
However, that’s not guaranteed. It’s also possible that you’ll be driven in a golf cart through the terminal, and it’s also possible that you’ll be driven across the apron in a non-Porsche.
Who is eligible for Delta VIP Select?
Anyone traveling on a Delta operated flight is eligible for this service, with the exception of those in basic economy. There’s no need to have elite status with Delta SkyMiles, or even to be traveling in first or business class (though presumably most passengers using this service are in a premium cabin). Note that you can’t use this service if traveling on partner airlines, though.
What airports have Delta VIP Select?
Delta VIP Select is available at 10 airports, all of which are Delta hubs or focus cities. These include:
- Atlanta (ATL)
- Detroit (DTW)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Minneapolis (MSP)
- New York (JFK & LGA)
- Salt Lake City (SLC)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Seattle (SEA)
- Tokyo (HND)
How much does Delta VIP Select cost?
Back in the day, Delta VIP Select had a consistent cost ($500 for the first person, and $100 for additional people), regardless of the airport. Nowadays the pricing is higher than that, and also varies based on the airport:
- In New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX), the service costs $650 for the first passenger, and $100 for each additional passenger
- At all other US airports, the service costs $550 for the first passenger, and $100 for each additional passenger
- In Tokyo (HND), the departure service costs $550 for the first passenger, and $100 for each additional passenger, while the arrivals service costs $350 for up to four passengers, and $100 for each additional passenger
I should note that at all US locations, the reduced cost for additional people only works if you have up to four people. If there’s a fifth person, you’d be stuck paying the full amount for that person, since there can be up to four people per group, for these purposes.
When you purchase the Delta VIP Select service, you’re paying specifically for the service at one airport. In other words, if you were flying from Los Angeles to Atlanta to New York, you’d specify at which airport you want the service, or else you’d be paying at each airport separately. With the exception of Tokyo, it doesn’t matter whether you’re using the service for a departing, connecting, or arriving itinerary.
How do you book Delta VIP Select?
Delta VIP Select is bookable by phone, at 855.235.9847. You have to specifically call that number, as standard Delta phone agents can’t help you with a Delta VIP Select booking (and may not even be familiar with the program).
Is Delta VIP Select worth it?
I’m not going to argue that Delta VIP Select is a program that everyone should always use. It’s not. However, if you really like to avoid hassles, or if you have an elderly family member traveling alone and you’re willing to splurge, then maybe this is worth being aware of.
If you’re just arriving at an airport and need to get to the curb to get in a car, then it’s almost certainly not worth spending the money for this. That’s a lot of money for a service that will maybe save you a few minutes.
Conversely, say you have a four-hour connection at New York JFK Terminal 4. The terminal is huge, so by using this service:
- You’d probably be picked up at your arriving aircraft on the apron, and driven to the Sky Club
- You’d then get Sky Club access (if you didn’t otherwise have that), and at a minimum, you’d get to skip whatever line there is to get into the Sky Club, and probably get a reserved seating area
- You’d then be driven to your connecting flight, with the option to board first or last (and if you board last, you can bet there will be space for your carry-on)
- If there were irregular operations, the Delta VIP Select agents would help you with that as well
If you have a special trip, or value your time and a stress-free travel experience immensely, some people might think that’s worth considering. It’s not something I’d splurge on with any frequency, though I do think the program is worth being aware of.
Bottom line
Delta VIP Select is a special service that any Delta passenger can purchase. It essentially takes all of the hassle out of the ground experience when flying with Delta, as you’ll be escorted every step of the way, whether you’re departing, connecting, or arriving. The cost varies depending on the airport, but you’ll typically pay $550-650 for the first passenger, with a discounted cost for additional passengers.
Since Delta doesn’t publish anything about this program, I figure it’s worth calling out, for those who might be interested.
Could you see yourself using Delta VIP Select?
No way 918, no space. Eds just trying to get a GT3RS allocation so they bought several Cayenne taycan and Panamera under an expense line. Turned it into a revenue stream and customer service mechanism - brilliant. But if that 918 is really on the books. Depending on when they bought it. Whoaaa. Could save a quarter of they sold it. All this is pure bananas
It's amusing to see the most common use case for this mentioned in the comments is shuttling Mom/Grandma around the airport. I guess using a Porsche allows Grandma to channel her inner Speed Racer.
How do they get you onto the tarmac if it's a jetbridge airport? #confused.
Ha! It’s not available in Boston. You can’t even pay them to be pleasant.
I suspect the problem is the layout at BOS. If the pax is connecting domestic to international, the most likely need to at A and get to E. There is no post-security way to do it other that a shuttle DL offers. I've been on that shuttle. It can take forever as it has to pass right behind active gates. I suspect the don't want to be ferrying pax between A and E in a car/golf cart.
For that price I would want to be personally greeted by TD and told how great Delta is and that I am lucky to not be flying United because baggage handling metrics are so bad.
He claims to be a WB pilot (FO seat only) now too - maybe he also was a F1 test driver?
Hey Ben - one additional point not mentioned here and that they also do not advertise - when booking the LAX service, they offer a chauffeur service. I believe it's for up to 20 miles of LAX. They may introduce it in other locations soon too but for now it's just LA. The other edits SW made below are accurate as well.
I'm 100% using this service the next time my mother visits me. She's in her early 80s and does fine at home, but can get easily confused in an airport. This will be so much less stressful for her during the connection. For people wondering who would purchase main cabin & pay for this service...it's us.
I agree - I sometimes buy my mum business class tickets within Europe to get her lounge access for connections, she's definitely not bothered about having to fly in the back for a couple of hours (longer flights are different). ITA Airways (and I think SAS too) sell lounge access as an add-on to economy tickets so I bought her that combination.
If she had mobility issues etc, I'd happily buy her a special...
I agree - I sometimes buy my mum business class tickets within Europe to get her lounge access for connections, she's definitely not bothered about having to fly in the back for a couple of hours (longer flights are different). ITA Airways (and I think SAS too) sell lounge access as an add-on to economy tickets so I bought her that combination.
If she had mobility issues etc, I'd happily buy her a special ground service package like this DL one- there'd still be no need for a business class ticket.
Some inaccuracies in this article that might be worth fixing. I use this service quite a bit.
JFK/LAX - $650, $100 per additional person
HND departure - $550, $100 per additional person
HND arrival - $350 up to 4 people, $100 for each additional person
All other airports (ATL, BOS, BNA, DTW, LGA, MSP, SEA, SLC and SFO) - $550, $100 per additional person
Also, as of earlier this year you need...
Some inaccuracies in this article that might be worth fixing. I use this service quite a bit.
JFK/LAX - $650, $100 per additional person
HND departure - $550, $100 per additional person
HND arrival - $350 up to 4 people, $100 for each additional person
All other airports (ATL, BOS, BNA, DTW, LGA, MSP, SEA, SLC and SFO) - $550, $100 per additional person
Also, as of earlier this year you need to purchase Main Cabin Classic or higher to use the service (no basic economy)
This last part isn't official yet, but when speaking to an agent a few weeks ago they informed me they'd be further restricting it to premium cabins only (Delta Comfort and above in the near future)
That'd be wild if someone was so cheap as to book Basic, but then dish out upwards of $650 at JFK/LAX to use this service. LOL.
@1990 it's never simple when booking partner awards. I have had to pay $50 for checking in a bag on a 2-hour flight with Gol because the AF-issued ticket didn't include luggage; there was no option to use miles for a ticket that included any baggage allowance (it was a single-class configuration).
@ sw5162 -- Thanks for the heads up, that's super useful! I updated the post to reflect that.
Theyre shuttling passenger in a 918???
I dont think so.
I imagine they strap your carry-ons to the spoiler.
It does suggest that most shuttles are for one person at a time. I'd assume they also have some Cayennes or Panameras in the fleet.
EXACTLY! you beat me
918 would have almost no space for a carryon and I doubt that's really part of their fleet. Look up the cost/current value. Car nerd here. Ed Bastian bought a bunch of Cayenne Taycan and Panamera for this. Why,? He wanted an allocation for a new GT3RS.
Access to Delta One lounge or regular sky club?
Even basic economy has access?
This would be useful when connecting through ATL or JFK for the elderly with limited mobility, specially if they also include getting to the front of line for immigration and customs and help with baggage at baggage claim.
Could anything sound less VIP Select than a US airline lounge like the Sky Club? Mass-produced, plastic-wrapped muffins, rubbery scrambled eggs, and industrial-grade oatmeal. Lukewarm pasta, sad cheese cubes, and regional slop like heavy clam chowder to ensure you bloat before boarding. At least you’ll have your own table to lay out your paper plates and BPA-lined disposable cups.
Say you've got an elderly parent (or two or three) flying to visit you, connecting in ATL. They get picked up at the gate, escorted to a reserved table in a lounge, and then escorted on the plane. I can guarantee those older than boomers will be awfully impressed despite our shared disdain for club quality.
hah hah well said it matches their ancient planes
FWIW the last time I used this service it triggered the Amex Plat airline fee credit so the out of pocket cost came down significantly.
Thanks for writing about these so-called 'VIP' paid airline escort programs. Have zero interest in paying for such a thing, but fascinating to know that this is what those folks get for their money. Seems like awful value, but helpful for those who need their hands held through an airport...
Eskimo, I... see what you did there... and that sure does sound... delightful.
I'll splurge for some extra load-factor and yield, please.
I guess that offended too many snowflakes?
Take this as a hint 1990. Satires are no go. Just like how Jimmy Kimmel got it.
We have a reincarnated Draco in a overly sensitive generation.
And Timmy has a new guardian angel.
I’m genuinely curious on the rationale behind using a two-doored Porsche 918 or a 911 GT3RS to shuttle passengers. They’re very cool cars but surely they can’t be practical or comfortable considering the limited seats and space in these sports cars?
Unless they let you get behind the wheel. Doing donuts on an airport tarmac like a lunatic is something I'd like to check off on my bucket list.
Hell yes!
they have a partnership with Porsche and this is just marketing. They made a whole press release about it like 2 years ago.
Do DL speed up passport control for arriving/connecting pax who use this service?