Delta Just Gave International Economy a Serious Upgrade

Delta is now serving welcome cocktails, hot towels, and improved meals to its main cabin passengers on long-haul flights.

Delta Just Gave International Economy a Serious Upgrade

Bellinis anyone? Delta’s international economy-class fliers now get welcome cocktails.

Courtesy of Delta

Airlines often pour a lot of love into the service and amenities they offer their international business- and first-class fliers—and we get it, those fliers paid a premium for that service. But what about the rest of us? Well, Delta Air Lines has debuted an enhanced main cabin experience on international flights that’s bringing some added class to economy class.

As of this month, main cabin passengers (aka the tired masses in the back of the plane) now receive a “welcome aboard” Bellini, hot towel service, and a choice of appetizers and entrées. The new services are available on international flights that are 6.5 hours or longer, as well as on select shorter international flights.

You can now choose your appetizer and your main course in economy.

You can now choose your appetizer and your main course in economy.

Courtesy of Delta

The welcome Bellinis are a mix of sparkling wine and infused peach puree, and Delta said that additional cocktails could be in the pipeline. Economy-class global travelers are also being provided a menu with a selection of upgraded appetizers and entrées that passengers can mix and match.

The entrées have been inspired by popular business-class dishes, such as grilled harissa shrimp. Dessert is being served separately, after the meal, along with coffee, tea, and wine. The enhanced meals are displayed on new custom-designed dinnerware along with new cutlery and placemats.

The airline is also offering a second hot towel service and chocolates prior to arrival.

The new main cabin experience is the result of testing that took place on more than 700 flights over the past year and feedback from 1,800 customer surveys, as well as from crews and a design team made up of 24 flight attendants. It is part of a larger, multi-billion-dollar investment that Delta is making in its overall customer experience.

Delta also recently upgraded its amenity kits and is planning on introducing new earbuds and headsets on international flights as well.

This story originally appeared on July 2, 2019, and was updated on November 13, 2019, to reflect current information.

>> Next: Delta Tests Free Wi-Fi in Advance of Larger Rollout

Michelle Baran is a deputy editor at AFAR where she oversees breaking news, travel intel, airline, cruise, and consumer travel news. Baran joined AFAR in August 2018 after an 11-year run as a senior editor and reporter at leading travel industry newspaper Travel Weekly.
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