Attention, Delta Diamond Medallions not sitting in Delta One or First Class: you now must slow your roll when it comes to boarding.
Diamonds Are No Longer Part of the Delta One/First Class Cool Kids Boarding Zone
TPG’s David Slotnick points out that Delta’s website now reflects a change to the airline’s boarding zone order.
Diamond Medallions not seated in First Class or Delta One used to enjoy boarding with those cabins. Maybe it was a “thanks for your loyalty” move or some sort of backhanded consolation prize for the non-upgraded.
But don’t worry about that anymore. Diamonds now have their own boarding zone! But it comes after First Class and Delta One.
Mr. Slotnick writes:
A spokesperson for Delta confirmed the changes to TPG, citing two main reasons. By having the front cabin board first without anyone from the coach cabin, aside from pre-boarders like people with mobility issues or travelers with small children, the on-board flight crew gets an extra few minutes to clean and prep the main cabin.
Additionally, the change is meant to help manage congestion at the boarding gate early on during boarding that can slow the whole process down. This is particularly noticeable on heavy business travel routes where there can be a lot of top-tier elite members.
That pretty much brings the Delta boarding zone number to 12:
- People needing extra time to board
- Active duty U.S. military with I.D.
- Delta One or First Class
- Diamond Medallion
- Delta Premium Select (when applicable)
- Passengers traveling with car seats and strollers
- Comfort+
- Sky Priority
- Main Cabin 1
- Main Cabin 2
- Main Cabin 3
- Basic Economy
A longtime Diamond Medallion friend (who truly is one of the more humble people on Earth) said to me, “This will drive the ‘Do-You-Know-Who-I-Am?’ Diamond people nuts.” (I sense a lot of grumbling during Porsche rides and in the Diamond-dedicated check-in lines at Sky Clubs.)
My family flew Delta last week and this past weekend — before the boarding change was made. When First Class (including Comfort+ and Main Cabin Diamond Medallions) was announced, a lot of people boarded. Like, there were 12 First Class seats on a regional flight. At least another 12-15 boarded. So, I can kind of see why Delta is making this change — at least, based on what they told Mr. Slotnick.
This potentially gives First Class and Delta One customers an extra minute or so to enjoy their pre-departure beverages (assuming drinks are actually served).
What do you think about this? #KeepClimbing or #KeepDescending? Please share your thoughts in the below Comments section!
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Thanks for the notice Chris. Definitely a #KeepDescneding move for me. One more slap in the face from ‘I got my mind on my money and my money on my mind. = MQD” Ed. Every move astounds me how he can screw up something worse that he took over from Richard where there was someone that at least appeared to care about the travelers and realized that was who paid his salary. Ed on the other hand, it seems he can give a _hit less. I’m a couple weeks away from a SkyTeam mileage run (arranged by Point.Me!) to get me back to full DM from DM (last years gratis not making the MQD), and now this just irks me all the more about wanting to maintain any status with that clown.
UNITED rising
Bravo Delta!
I gave up on Delta when they rewrote the GUC rules. United gave me a status match challenge and I’m now a happy Premier1k. My Diamond runs until the end of 2023 and I only fly Delta on routes UAL doesn’t serve.
I really don’t see the big deal. If you paid for first class, you should board first. And if you’re a diamond with a coach ticket, you get to board next. How are you being put out to have to board after first class? You’re not going to be sitting in their section or using their overhead bins. Sorry if your ego is bruised.
It will be an irritation, but I get it. The bigger issue is that they do not enforce anything already, so will they enforce Diamond? Everyone else will just board when they call Diamond and if they don’t stop it, the Diamond (like me) are the ones who suffer. I have been Diamond for over 10 years and the value keeps getting worse and worse while prices go up and up. Delta is in serious trouble in Detroit when JetBlue completes the Spirit merger!!
Right? Because spirit paired with JetBlue is going to be such a wonderful airline not
So now people will know that I’m a Diamond? I’ll take that ego boost.
But will you be OK with people knowing you’re a Diamond who didn’t get upgraded? (#WalkOfShame) 😉
I don’t think this is a change, I know they have been doing it together for a while but I thought it was always supposed to be this way but that they were just doing it wrong at the gate. I don’t have an issue with it.
Barry —- it is indeed a change. Check out this archived page from Delta’s website.
Thanks for the correction.
So some one in the military get’s to board before the DM? Why? And yes…I served and I’m also a disabled vet so yes, been there, done that.
Amen!! Not everyone served our country. You are entitled to board right away!!
It’s an unpopular opinion, but I don’t get why someone should have a special status just because they’re in the military. There seems to be a general assumption that every soldier is literally putting their life on the line for us. In actuality, only about 10% serve in combat positions. For the rest, it’s basically a job.
IRS employees and postal workers are “serving their country” too. Should they get priority boarding?
What do you mean why?? What a ridiculous question coming from someone in your supposed position. Obviously because they’re serving our country. Active duty members deserve special privilege’s like this. As a disabled vet why are you even complaining?? Suck it up and board after them, simple. I’m a Marine and I have absolutely no qualms with any active duty person boarding before me.
Please explain why you deserve special privileges to do something that you volunteered for and get paid for?
Well, I’m at it. I do not understand why people who choose to have children deserve special treatment when morning and airline. If you need more time, you should actually go last. Let those of us who can move quickly get there and then you can come on after we’re all seated
Unless I am worried about a place to put my bag, I usually wait to board. I do not want to sit on the airplane any longer than I have to. I do not see this new policy as a problem for most diamonds. So what if first or delta one cabin boards first. The Diamond, and thereafter the Premium Select passengers can board and have plenty of space for their carry on.
I’m not a Delta fan generally, but I absolutely love this! I’m someone who either pays for otherwise books first/business class for almost all my flights, and it can be super frustrating being 20-40th in line for boarding when I paid a ton (either in cash or points) for my seat. By making this change, Diamonds in economy will still be the first to be seated in their cabin so they really have nothing to be upset about. Awesome move, Delta!
Active duty military should not board so early. If they do, they should change the criteria to:
Active duty military, former military, doctors, fire fighters, CIA, charitable contributors donating over $100,000, wrongful termination victims, drivers of small cars.
Nope! If you put your life on the line for the people of the USA, these people should be able to have priority over $$$$$$$$$$. Not everyone serves their country .
Only about 10% “put their life on the line.” The other 90% work in non-combat positions. (They can’t even carry weapons.) It’s just a job. My ex was a paralegal in the Army. We lived in a three-bedroom villa in the middle of one of the biggest cities in the world, with every modern convenience at hand. Yet, many people back home assumed she was fighting a war somewhere. They even sent her care packages with soap and cheap DVDs.
Have they ever tried loading from the back forward after your disabled, military, kids and first class board. What slows down boarding is waiting for people to put there luggage away and than them waiting for their seat mates to move so they can get to their seat
The whole boarding process is a joke. It’s an honor system, and there isn’t much honor left these days. I’ve been on flights where half the plane boarded under the “people who need extra time.” Other times (like to FRA or ICN) half the plane boards with military – and they usually announce it as “active or retired military.” And quite often the PA announcement and monitors for boarding zones are out of sync with what’s actually going on. Also, they never question the folks who board under “people who need more time to board” because it is illegal to do so (medical condition). And if a gate agent decides to challenge someone who is boarding out of order, it slows down the boarding — THE LAST THING THE GATE AGENT WANTS. Nice try Delta. It’s NOT GOING TO WORK.
Absolutely active duty military should board before us all. (Except special needs passengers.) They protect our country and should even get a discounted flight!
Delta sure hates its diamonds right now. You know, the people who kept them profitable during the pandemic. They’re going to need all those diamonds with this recession that is just starting. I hope enough diamonds complain that Delta reverses the policy, just like Sky Club access on arrival was taken away and then restored after an outcry.
It’s clear that 360 is the new diamond. There are too many diamonds thanks to two years of status extensions and relatively low qualifying thresholds. 125,000 MQMs with credit cards and $15,000 MQD with record airfares is not hard to achieve.
I don’t see a problem. It will probably make the boarding process quicker. I normally check a bag and wait until the last group to board. I spend less time on the plane which is good.
I know this is not going to be a popular opinion, but can we stop boarding planes with active military FIRST?
One question for the experts, I am a platinum who just this week flew in coach as there were no seats in comfort plus or first. Does that mean I am in the eighth group to board?
If there’s Premium Select, then yes.
I think it’s a great plan, and I still don’t understand why active military get to pre board? I gave up on keeping any type of medallion status it’s not worth the trouble waiting until the let minute for upgrades. And most of the benefits have taken away. I just get the f/c ticket it makes things much easier
Am I crazy to suggest we should be boarding from the back of the plane to the front? Reserve the overhead bins for higher paying cabins. Boarding earlier just means your waiting to leave in a different spot (exception being a pre departure drink… if that’s ever a thing again).
HOW. DARE. YOU. 😉
To all the readers who can’t seem to grasp the patriotic must of allowing military and veterans to board early, I question whether you understand that each and every one of them volunteered for duty which could have called upon them to give the last full measure in service of country. In a meritocracy, this should take priority over frequent flier status or social station.
Military service is still a job so most in the military went in to be paid. Sure, war can happen but what about police officers or firefighters who are probably closer to the line of fire every day?
Anyone who finds this to be an inconvenience in their life needs to get a life.
Truth!
This is a HUGE problem … for fragile egos. Everyone lands at the same time and FC/BE can rush off first. People are starving, Covid-19 is evolving/returning, the world is in chaos and people want to rush on a plane first?!? Who in their right mind volunteers to be stuck in a petri dish aluminum tube any longer than absolutely necessary? Definitely First World issues. Big picture – small egos.
Since Platinum and Diamond are usually upgraded to C+, we would still board before the Priority people, which I assume includes Gold and Silver. Is that correct? I’m usually the last one boarding anyways, as I get distracted at the lounges, but when boarding on time, room in the overhead compartment is my main concern. I’ve seen C+ and main cabin passengers placing their bags in the first class bins, so if C+ shares bins with main cabin, finding an empty space may be challenging.
I am a veteran and I served just like my father a Vietnam veteran and we didn’t do for the purpose of getting discounts or expecting people to thank us for our service we did to protect our freedom and way of life. So no I don’t think active military deserve more than anyone else. Serving you country should be enough of a privilege. If it isn’t then your serving for the wrong reason
Wow..all these comments about who gets on the bus first. Once you are at your destination safely does it really matter?
@Tom – Some, who are traveling for work, may value those few extra moments to get things done before the door closes. For me, as a Diamond, getting myself in place with all my stuff I need for the flight without folks around me is a big perk (errr… was…).
If everyone complains like they did with Sky Club access upon arrival changes, they’ll reverse it.
I’m ok with this. The part that drives me nuts is when the gate agent whips through the announcements and doesn’t give each level the time to actually queue up.
So if I’m one of the intelligent people that doesn’t congest the boarding area and stays seated to try to (gasp) let the process work and they blow right through Sky Priority and announce that as the same time as Main 1 now I’m battling all them and my status literally means nothing.
I don’t expect more than I’ve earned but please just allow me the meagre scraps I HAVE earned.
People that go around asking the question, “Do you know who I am?” Should not be allowed to travel alone let alone be allowed in Public with a Guardian! As a former Customer Service Agent with almost 59 years of experience in the travel industry including being a Tour Group Escort, I’ve been asked this question far too many times! As a consumer, you’ve paid for a Service and surely not the Business as if you were so important, you’d be utilizing the service of Charter jet service! I applaud Delta for improving their boarding procedure as indeed passengers with mobility issues should be afforded to board unincumbered, followed by those passengers paying the highest fare to seat in First Class then so on! These Elire customers are afforded extra amenities due to their Mileage status! Kudos Delta Air Lines!
I’m looking forward to the return of the Sky Priority line.
Why not board the rear of the plane first! They seem to take the longest to get settled.
@Paul – Boarding is not about order it is about what those paying want and those who pay more or pay to earn status want on first.
I am with Paul. I have been flying first class only for 15 years and honestly I have always thought the fastest and most efficient way to board a plane would be from the back forward. So sit in the lounge a little longer and enjoy a drink. Or maybe as first class I just show up later and get on last. Really getting on a plane first and sitting there watching everyone walk by is not my favorite part of any trip. Relaxing somewhere besides the airport boarding area sounds better. Call me when everyone else is on. I will walk on and sit down.
traveled yesterday after my Moms funeral and inPHL they got the message asap Pre-board(what a zoo so many ran to board looking fit!!) then military then Fc then us lowly DIAMONDS Million ++ milers sad we are demoted again where is @ED