Delta One A350-900 Business Class Review (Seattle - Seoul)
Airline: Delta, DL
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
Aircraft registration: N514DN
Route: Seattle Tacoma - Seoul Incheon
Flight numbers: DL 197
Seat: 8A
I'll come right out and say it. I've been disappointed by every Delta One flight I've ever taken. For years, Delta fans have been telling me I need to try the A350 suites, and after flying more than 200 premium products across the world’s leading airlines - watch my full journey here, I finally stepped into Delta’s A350 Delta One Suites. This was day 13 of a two-week round-the-world trip, and I was running on fumes. If Delta was going to change my mind, this was the moment.
Delta 767 at Los Angeles International Airport
My flight today is from Seattle to Seoul, a little over 11 hours across the Pacific, on Delta's flagship Airbus A350-900 in Delta One. Oskar and I checked in at LAX and connected up to Seattle for the long haul departure.
How I booked my delta One ticket?
Our ticket was booked using Delta SkyMiles, and the rate I managed to lock in for a transpacific business class redemption between the US and Asia was surprisingly reasonable. Getting a rate that wasn't pushing the extreme end of the points scale for this route is unusual, and it took some research to find the right window. If you're sitting on a pile of SkyMiles wondering how to use them well beyond domestic hops, you can register interest and save $100 on my upcoming Delta SkyMiles Master Course here.
Delta One Porsche Transfer (surprise and Delight)
As we were getting ready to leave for the gate in Seattle, the host at the Delta One Lounge stopped us and asked if we would mind waiting around 10 minutes. Oskar and I looked at each other, not sure what was coming. The answer was a complimentary transfer directly to the aircraft.
Delta One Porsche transfer to aircraft
Delta offers Porsche transfers at select airports on a surprise and delight basis, meaning it is never guaranteed and always unannounced. You may never get it. But when you do, it is exactly the kind of detail that sticks in your memory long after the flight is over. Ten minutes later we were in a Porsche, being driven across the tarmac to our A350. As a ground experience, it is unlike anything I have experienced from any other US airline, like United Airlines.
Delta One Porsche transfer to aircraft
Delta One Porsche transfer to aircraft
Delta aircraft A350-900 on apron
Because of our tight connection in Seattle and time spent at the Delta One Lounge before departure, Oskar and I were the last passengers to board the aircraft.
Delta One A350-900 welcome drink
Walking on, the first impression is good. The A350 interior is noticeably spacious and modern compared to the 777s and older wide-body cabins.
Delta One A350-900 cabin logo
Delta One A350-900 business class cabin
Delta A350-900 Business Class Cabin and Seats
Delta One A350-900 business class seat map configuration
The Delta One cabin is located between doors one and two on the aircraft and features 32 suites. They use the Thompson Vantage XL seat with a door the same seat used by SAS in its long-haul business class, though SAS operates it without a suite door and therefore with less privacy. As business class suites with doors go, this is not the most cutting-edge product in the sky right now, but the door still makes a noticeable difference to privacy and the overall sense of having your own personal space on a long-haul flight.
Delta One A350-900 business class door
One layout point worth understanding before you book: there are no honeymoon seats on this configuration. All center seats are equally spaced from each other, rather than alternating between closer and further from the aisle. That means the window seats, and particularly the odd-numbered rows where the seat sits closer to the window and further from the aisle, are the best choices by a clear margin. There are only six of those seats in the whole cabin, so booking early matters if you want one.
Delta One A350-900 business class seat 8A
Delta One A350-900 business class seat 7A
Seat controls are positioned well away from where your arms naturally rest, so you will not accidentally change recline or lighting mid-meal. The storage is practical and easy to reach.
Delta One A350-900 business class seat control panel
Delta One A350-900 business class seat features
Delta One A350-900 business class seat features
Delta One A350-900 business class seat storage
Delta One A350-900 business class slippers
Delta One A350-900 business class seat door
Bedding quality is one of the highlights of the hard product here. The pillows and mattress pad does real work because the seat base is not the most generously padded on its own, and the overall sleep setup is above average for the category.
Delta One A350-900 business class pillows
Delta One A350-900 business class bed
Delta One A350-900 business class bed
Delta One A350-900 business class footwell
The entertainment system is excellent and easily holds up over an 11-hour flight. It’s more than enough to keep you occupied for the journey. One downside on this particular aircraft was the lack of WiFi over the Pacific, meaning you’re offline for a significant portion of the flight. While the onboard entertainment helps bridge the gap, it’s still worth noting on a long-haul flagship route.
Delta One A350-900 business class entertainment screen
Delta one A350-900 Departure from seattle
Departure out of Seattle offered clear views of Mount Rainier on climb-out, which is one of the more scenic departure views you’ll get in North American aviation.
Views of Mount Rainier on departure from SEA
Delta A350-900 take off
After the welcome announcement, one of the crew members, Natalie, mentioned that lavatories would be cleaned throughout the flight and that passengers should flag any issues to the crew. It was a small signal that the crew on this particular flight were running things to a higher standard than the standard Delta norm.
Delta One Business Class Inflight Meals
Service began with warm mixed nuts served from a cart after takeoff. It’s a nice touch, though this cart-style presentation feels a bit dated, especially as many premium airlines have moved toward more refined service flow with plated delivery directly to the seat. Even far less premium airlines have abandoned carts onboard - just look at the likes of Aer Lingus Business Class.
Delta One pre-meal snack
The main meal service follows an appetizer first, then main course structure. The tray itself has a subtle Delta logo detail that casts a shadow on the tablecloth underneath, which is a nice touch.
Delta One business class appetizer meal
Now let’s have a look at our menu for this 11 hour flight to Seoul.
Delta One business class menu
Delta One business class menu
Delta One business class menu
Delta One business class menu
Delta One business class meatball dish
Delta One business class three-cheese manicotti
My vegan meal was a chickpea curry - simple, but tasty.
Delta One A350-900 business class main course
Dessert was offered from a cart. No special meal dessert option existed, which meant I watched the cart go past. For an 11-hour flight, that’s quite disappointing.
Delta One business class ice cream dessert
Delta One business class dessert
Mid-flight, a snack basket came through during the sleep period. The overall snack selection was not particularly exciting given the length and premium nature of the route.
Delta One business class snacks
Pre-landing meals were the lowest point of the food service. The standard options were high in carbs, and did not match the quality level of the first meal service. My special meal option was marginally better but still not something I would look forward to. Delta also makes a point of highlighting Starbucks on board: I tried it with oat milk, and it tasted like most airplane coffee - bad.
Delta One business class pre-landing meal
Delta One business class beverage cart
Delta One Business Class amenity kits
The amenity kit is Missoni branded and the Grown Alchemist products inside match the soap in the lavatories. It covers everything you actually need on a long flight without anything particularly unexpected inside.
Delta One business class amenity kit
Delta One business class amenity kit
Delta One business class lavatory
Delta's A350 has two lavatories dedicated to Delta One and another two shared with premium economy, giving a ratio of roughly one to sixteen for the business cabin. That is perfectly average.
What stood out was the condition throughout the flight. Lavatories kept in reasonable shape for most of the journey, with minor mess on the floor here and there but nothing left unattended for long.
Delta One A350-900 business class lavatory
The Grown Alchemist soap is the kind of small detail that adds up. It smells like a spa product rather than an airline toiletry, and it is one of my favorite in-flight soaps anywhere.
Delta One business class toiletries
Delta One business class feminine products
Delta One business class service
Max and Natalie were the two crew members who handled most of the service in our section, and both were excellent. When I asked to see the other meal options, they brought them over without hesitation so I could photograph and compare. That kind of willingness to engage with a passenger's curiosity is not something every crew would do.
Hot towels were offered during the flight, and the crew kept a consistent eye on the cabin throughout without hovering. For a carrier positioning itself as the most premium in the US, those are simple things to add that would make the first impression land harder.
Delta One business class hot towel
Delta One A350-900 Arrival in Seoul
During the descent into Seoul Incheon, the crew came through the cabin with chocolates, a small touch on the way down that rounded off the service nicely.
Delta One business class chocolate
Overall Impressions
Delta One on the A350 is the best long haul experience I have had on a US carrier. That is not a small statement given how much time I've spent in the air, and it is worth saying clearly: nothing I've flown United Business Class, American Airlines Business Class, and JetBlue Mint, all of which are inferior all around experiences.
The A350 is the right aircraft. The crew on this Seoul route were excellent. The amenity kit, bedding, and entertainment system all deliver. The private check-in at LAX is unlike anything else offered at a US airline. The suite door creates real privacy, and sleeping with it closed is a different experience from an open business class seat on a long Pacific crossing.
Where Delta still has room to grow: the food is inconsistent, with the pre-landing options noticeably weaker than the first meal service. There is no boarding ritual or pre-departure signature drink, which are simple additions that would close the gap between the ground experience and the in-flight one. The WiFi not working over the Pacific on this aircraft at the time of the flight was a real inconvenience. And the seat, while comfortable with the mattress pad, is not the widest or most generous in pitch for a flagship A350 product. Would I fly Delta One on this route again? Absolutely!
