Credit Cards Airline Credit Cards

Delta Boarding Zones: Everything to Know About the New Delta Boarding Order

Know your boarding zone on your upcoming Delta flight and learn how to move up the boarding ladder.

Updated Oct. 24, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

When boarding a Delta flight, you’ll notice a number one through nine on your boarding pass. This is the zone in which you can board your flight. Delta implemented this procedure to help streamline the boarding process and reduce congestion at the gate.

Before using zones, Delta would call out a seating group like main cabin, Delta Comfort+, or first class, and any passenger in this group would board. With more zones than fare classes, the process is much easier with less confusion. You don’t need to be one of those standing up at the gate to wait to board your flight, simply get in line whenever your zone is called. Here’s everything you need to know about Delta boarding zones, including how to get priority.

What are the Delta boarding zones?

Delta Air Lines has nine different boarding groups. Customers needing assistance, active military, and people with top-tier elite statuses board first.

Travelers who purchased a premium ticket and have a Delta credit card also move up in the boarding order. Those who bought basic economy tickets typically board the plane last, though there are ways to get around the restriction. Delta gate agents announce zone boarding in order, and you can find your exact boarding zone on your boarding pass after you check in.

Delta boarding zone Passenger eligibility
Pre-boarding
  • Passengers who need special assistance when boarding
  • Active Duty U.S. Military with ID
  • Delta 360 members
Zone 1
  • Delta One customers
  • First Class customers
Zone 2
  • Diamond Medallion Members
  • Delta Premium Select customers
  • Early access for customers traveling with car seats and strollers
Zone 3
  • Delta Comfort+ customers
Zone 4
  • Platinum Medallion members
  • Gold Medallion members
  • Flying Blue Platinum and Gold members
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold members
  • SkyTeam Elite Plus members
  • LATAM Pass Black Signature, Black, and Platinum Elite
  • WestJet Rewards Platinum and Gold Elite
Zone 5
  • Silver Medallion Members
  • Delta Corporate travelers
  • Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Reserve credit card members
  • Flying Blue Silver members
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver members
  • Sky Team Elite
  • LATAM Pass Gold+ Elite
  • WestJet Rewards Silver Elite
Zone 6
  • SkyMiles Members in Main Cabin
Zone 7
  • Non-SkyMiles Members in Main Cabin
Zone 8
  • Basic economy customers

How to get priority boarding on Delta

There aren’t many tricks to get priority boarding on Delta. As you can see from the chart, the process is pretty simple—if you want to board early, you either need to be extremely loyal to Delta (to the point of being a member of the invite-only Delta 360 program) or purchase a Delta One or first class ticket.

If that’s out of your budget, you can purchase a Comfort+ or Premium Select (Delta’s version of premium economy) to still be higher up in the boarding process. If you have a co-branded credit card or elite status, you can board about halfway through the process. You’d think folks with mid-level elite status would board earlier, but they don’t.

Purchase a Delta One or first class ticket

If you want to be the first on board, purchase a Delta One or first class plane ticket. Delta One is only available on select long haul routes, while first class can be found on shorter domestic routes. Personally, I always try to fly first class when I’m in the U.S. because the planes are often small, and I’m pretty tall. The price difference between Comfort+ and first class is usually minimal, so it’s worth the comfort.

Earn elite status

If you want a way to board earlier without shelling out for a first class ticket, you’ll need to fly Delta frequently enough to earn elite status. If you have the top-tier Delta Diamond Medallion status, you’ll board in Zone 2, regardless of your ticket. However, you’ll need to earn $28,000 Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQDs) to reach Diamond Medallion. Essentially, you’ll be spending $28,000 on Delta flights throughout the year to attain this status level. Someone who can spend that much each year will probably be flying Delta One, to begin with, and won’t need the boarding privileges that come with status.

Lower level Platinum and Gold Medallion members board in Zone 4, after Comfort+ and Premium Select passengers. Again, if you’re loyal enough to Delta to reach these tiers, you will likely already be on board by Zone 4.

Get a co-branded Delta credit card

Having a Delta co-branded credit card can be a great way to get earlier boarding if you typically purchase basic economy or main cabin tickets. Delta has four co-branded personal credit cards, and the three options with an annual fee offer priority boarding in Zone 5.

Although having a co-branded credit card doesn’t bump you up too far in the boarding process, it puts you ahead of anyone traveling in the main cabin or those with a basic economy ticket. Plus, the two highest annual fee cards in the lineup give you a path to elite status, where you might move further up the boarding ladder. For example, you can earn $1 MQD for each $20 of purchases made with your Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or $1 MQD for each $10 of purchases with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. With both cards, you’ll also receive an MQD headstart of $2,500 MQDs per Medallion Qualification year, which puts you halfway to Silver Medallion status.

FAQ

What is the boarding order for Delta?

Delta has nine different boarding zones. The first to board in preboarding are active duty U.S. military members and those who need additional time to board. Zone 1 is for Delta One and first class customers. Boarding concludes with Zone 8 for those with basic economy tickets.

Is the Delta SkyMiles card worth it?

Each Delta SkyMiles card can be worth it for a different type of traveler. If you regularly fly Delta, want access to the Sky Club, and can utilize an annual first class companion certificate, go for the Delta SkyMiles Reserve. On the other hand, if you just want a free checked bag and a discount on award redemptions, the SkyMiles Gold is an excellent choice. If you aren’t loyal to Delta, a general travel rewards card with airline transfer partners can be more valuable.

Why did Delta change boarding to zones?

Delta announced changes to the boarding process earlier this year. Although the order in which passengers board the plane remains unchanged, the marketing was updated to better communicate the boarding process. This change was done to help make boarding as efficient as possible.

Bottom line

Delta has a defined boarding process with nine different boarding zones. Your boarding group is determined by your elite status, the type of ticket you purchased, and whether you have a Delta credit card. I have Silver Medallion status and the Delta SkyMiles Gold card, both of which give me Zone 5 boarding. As with most airlines, if you want to board first, you’ll need to pay for a first class ticket.

Great Welcome Offer and Continuing Rewards

4.6
info

Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Current Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months

Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, $150 per year thereafter

Rewards Rate

2X miles on qualifying Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S supermarkets; and 1X miles per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details