Upcoming Changes to Delta Air Lines Boarding Process

Delta Air Lines passengers will soon experience a new way of boarding their planes that may feel familiar. Starting on May 1, the airline will implement a system where customers will be boarded according to numbered zones. This change marks a return to the previous boarding process that was in place until early 2019, before the switch to the current method of boarding based on named categories such as cabins, status, and ticket types.

Delta will continue to use the same boarding order, but will now refer to the categories as "zones." The zones will start with zone 1 and go up to zone 8.

For instance, the "Pre-Boarding" and "First Class" categories will fall under zone 1, the "Comfort+" category will now be in zone 3, and the "Main Cabin" groups will be divided into zones 5 through 7. Finally, the "Basic Economy" category will be in zone 8.

The airline announced that they have introduced new numbered boarding zones to make the boarding process clearer for customers. These zones will be implemented on all Delta flights. Customers will see their assigned numbered zone printed on their boarding passes.

End of a five-year system

A flight information display system shows departure times at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia.

A flight information display system shows departure times at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on December 27, 2021 in Arlington, Virginia.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Related article

What to do if your flight is canceled or delayed

Next month, Delta will be making changes to its boarding process. This change will mark the end of a five-year boarding process that Delta had implemented to board its planes based on the branded fares purchased by customers. The goal of this change is to bring consistency, simplicity, and clarity to the gate and boarding experience.

As part of the updated boarding process, Delta introduced colors on gate screens and electronic boarding passes to help flyers identify their boarding zone. This color-coded system will continue to be used by the airline to assist passengers in easily identifying their designated boarding zone.

Delta announced in a 2018 release that zone boarding, a long-standing aviation standard, will no longer be used for their customers. The airline has also increased the number of boarding groups in order to reduce the amount of customers waiting in line at the gate area. Additionally, Delta will maintain the same number of zones for boarding.

Every minutes counts when boarding

Of course, any flyer knows that boarding is usually a chaotic process that no US carrier has exactly nailed down.

United Airlines has updated its boarding process for economy class passengers, starting with window seat passengers boarding first, followed by middle seat and then aisle seats. According to the airline, this new procedure can save "up to two minutes of boarding time."

John Milne, a professor at Clarkson University in New York, explained that even saving just one minute in airplane turn time can result in significant cost savings for a large airline. Milne, who has co-authored over 20 journal articles on airplane boarding, emphasized the financial impact of efficient boarding processes.

Milne explains that airlines can save time by using airplanes more efficiently, leading to significant cost reductions. He also mentions that offering an extra flight during the day can result in substantial savings for airlines.

American Airlines implemented a nine-group boarding system in 2017 and later made some adjustments to improve the system in 2023.

CNN’s Pete Muntean contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

Delta Air Lines' return to numbered boarding zones marks a shift towards greater clarity and consistency for passengers. The previous system, which relied on named categories, often led to confusion and long waiting times. By assigning each passenger a specific zone, Delta aims to streamline the boarding process and make it easier for customers to identify their designated boarding time.

Moreover, the article highlights the importance of efficient boarding processes for airlines. Every minute saved during boarding translates into significant cost savings and increased efficiency. By adopting innovative boarding strategies, airlines can optimize their aircraft utilization, reduce waiting times, and ultimately provide a more seamless travel experience for their passengers.