Delta Air Lines will tweak its boarding process a bit as of late next week, with one change I wasn’t expecting to see.
In this post:
Delta will start boarding Delta 360s with Zone 2
Delta 360 is Delta’s invitation only elite status. It’s even more exclusive than American Concierge Key or United Global Services, with a pretty small membership base. The status comes with several perks, including better soft treatment across the board.
In May 2024, Delta overhauled its boarding process, and as part of this, the airline introduced pre-boarding for its Delta 360 members, which wasn’t previously offered. Specifically, under the current system, pre-boarding is available for customers needing extra time and assistance, active military members, and Delta 360 members, and then boarding for premium cabin passengers starts.
However, it seems that this didn’t last for long, as the policy will be changing after roughly a year. Starting on May 16, 2025, Delta 360 members will board in Zone 2, with Diamond Medallion members, after first class. The airline hasn’t given any reason for this policy change, other than to say that pre-boarding is being reserved for those who need extra time, and active duty military.
I’m curious what prompted this policy change
Each airline takes a slightly different approach toward boarding, so it’s not like there’s a right or wrong system. Here in the United States, boarding has largely become not just about efficiency, but about monetizing the process, and recognizing elites and credit card holders.
So it’s interesting to contrast the policies of the other two “major” US airlines when it comes to elite boarding vs. premium cabin boarding:
- American boards Concierge Key members, and then premium cabin passengers
- United boards Global Services members, then Premier 1K members, then anyone with a pulse, and then premium cabin passengers (okay, I’m kidding slightly on the pulse part, but United has a lot of pre-boarding groups)
Delta will be alone in not pre-boarding its invitation only elite members. And it’s not even that Delta 360 members will board with first class, but they’ll even board after first class.
One certainly wonders what is prompting this policy change. Did it just cause more confusion than it was worth, with many people not knowing what Delta 360 is? Or what other possible explanation is there?
Personally, I think the best solution is probably somewhere in the middle. I’m not a fan of endless boarding groups, though at least boarding Delta 360 members with premium cabin passengers seems fair, no?
Bottom line
As of May 16, 2025, Delta will be downgrading boarding for its Delta 360 members. While they can currently pre-board ahead of first class passengers, they’ll soon only be allowed to board after first class, with Diamond Medallion members.
I don’t have a terribly strong opinion on whether certain elite members should board ahead of first class, though I am a bit surprised to see this cut after just a year, since this priority boarding benefit was only added in May 2024. It’s quite a contrast to what you see at United, in terms of priority.
What do you make of Delta downgrading boarding for Delta 360 members?
“… anyone with a pulse” hahaha so true thanks for the laugh
As a 360 member; it was hit or miss at the gates for announcing 360 boarding so not a big loss.
I pay for F. Nobody not in a wheelchair should board before or with me.
I have this nagging feeling there are about to be quite a few more 360s. Why?
1. DL never talked about 360 but now there is quite a bit of chatter
2. Now 5 million milers (ok there are few) automatically get 360
3. The whole travel industry tends to canonize ‘everyone a diamond” to pull folks in (witness Hilton where top tier is just a credit card away)
4. UA...
I have this nagging feeling there are about to be quite a few more 360s. Why?
1. DL never talked about 360 but now there is quite a bit of chatter
2. Now 5 million milers (ok there are few) automatically get 360
3. The whole travel industry tends to canonize ‘everyone a diamond” to pull folks in (witness Hilton where top tier is just a credit card away)
4. UA has a slew of GS members…virtually a handful every flight I take
5. The requirements for status go up but the perks are mostly promissory and keep getting watered down. lol try using a DL upgrade certificate. Example, usually msp-Phx, a 3 hour flight, will set you back a Global upgrade certificate
I've been a diamond with Delta since 2015.
This is the fourth or fifth iteration of the boarding process in the last 10 years. I think it's the third or fourth since just before the pandemic.
Anyone remember Delta's brief experiment with Southwest-style boarding signs?
In my experience, about 60% of gate agents NEVER follow the prescribed boarding order. As it stands now, 360 is often not called first. Likewise, diamonds are often invited to...
I've been a diamond with Delta since 2015.
This is the fourth or fifth iteration of the boarding process in the last 10 years. I think it's the third or fourth since just before the pandemic.
Anyone remember Delta's brief experiment with Southwest-style boarding signs?
In my experience, about 60% of gate agents NEVER follow the prescribed boarding order. As it stands now, 360 is often not called first. Likewise, diamonds are often invited to board WITH first-class, not AFTER. Moreover, it's basically all on the honor system since Delta's technology allows a non-360 to board with 360s. It's not like the scanner rejects the boarding pass.
Despite whatever is codified, I suspect the gate agents will continue to do what they want to do. Especially in out-stations.
As a 360, I felt the announcement at the gate was making too big a deal about using the privilege anyway. Zone 1 or 2 is fine to get some overhead bag space. Once I used it to board with the military group and was heckled by someone. And once a well meaning redcoat at a small station called out for to me to board when I was just standing there, waiting to board with...
As a 360, I felt the announcement at the gate was making too big a deal about using the privilege anyway. Zone 1 or 2 is fine to get some overhead bag space. Once I used it to board with the military group and was heckled by someone. And once a well meaning redcoat at a small station called out for to me to board when I was just standing there, waiting to board with Zone 1. It was an awkward perk — I’ll take the Delta One lounge perk and the SIGNIFICANT increase in upgrade percentages any day.
With just about anyone coming up with a reason to be able to pre-board, it baffles me that they wouldn't tell 360s that they can board at their leisure at any time. Why not just do pre-board and then say "Delta 360s may board any time" and then move on to military and boarding groups. It's just a dumb slight that I would find annoying if I was one.
I’m totally with you on the whole pre boarding process. The number of people who “need” extra time boarding has become a total free pass. I recently watched a passenger walk in with a limp and a cane then miraculously strolled off the plane with the cane under their arm.
I've been a Delta frequent flyer since 1986. They are Leaps and Bounds ahead of the competition for taking care of their customers. Are they perfect, no, but in my experience, Delta has the best employees
The thing is, 360 is pretty hard to earn, so I suspect a lot of them are usually flying in F/J. So in practice they’re just getting bumped from pre-boarding to Group 1.
This!!! I was 360 for 2 years and don’t recall not being upgraded once when holding 360 so it makes kind of redundant as if you are 360 you are most likely flying first class.
Delta supposedly has a much lower Delta 360 membership than AA Concierge Key or UA Global Services, and is even stingier when it comes to handing it out. Presumably, it doesn't need to offer pre-boarding to 360, because it doesn't have that many in the end.
Maybe the visual of a certain, high profile, politician boarding before people in wheelchairs is the reason for the change.
(And while I have no idea if Delta grants 360 status to politicians, the person in question does come from a wealthy family which could be why the status was granted.)
Sounds like that's the cause, but it seems to me that gifting people like that politician a status like 360 would be very low return for the airline.
Just another one of Delta's degraded decision-making in the Bastian era.