Delta One check-in expands to every Delta hub

Published on Oct 13, 2025, 3:54 pm CDT

5 min read

Delta Air Lines will extend its Delta One check-in experience to every U.S. hub by adding dedicated areas at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) before the end of 2025. Executives said the private, walled spaces will separate premium customers from the main lobby and include light refreshments. The move complements Delta's rapid rollout of Delta One lounges at major gateways, reinforcing a broader push to grow premium cabins and services that the airline says are driving record revenue.

Key points

Why it matters: Faster, calmer, premium check-in at every Delta hub.
Travel impact: Dedicated access at SLC and MSP reduces lobby crowding and queue times.
What's next: Continued lounge expansion and premium-heavy cabin retrofits.
Private check-in includes doors, seating, and snacks, plus expedited support.
Premium revenue momentum underpins Delta's 2025 strategy.

Snapshot

Delta's premium ground experience is converging across hubs. The carrier already offers Delta One check-in at most hubs and will fill the remaining gaps at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) by year-end. This aligns with the opening of Delta One lounges at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). On October 9, 2025, Delta reported a record September-quarter operating revenue of $16.7 billion, highlighting the continued outperformance of premium products. Executives also reiterated that premium customers are a central growth pillar heading into the holidays, with demand trends favoring high-yield seats and elevated ground experiences.

Background

Delta One check-in areas are enclosed, invitation-only spaces staffed for faster document checks, baggage assistance, and irregular-operations support. They sit upstream from the main counters to streamline the "curb-to-gate" path for business-class travelers. The ground product complements the Delta One cabin on long-haul aircraft, where lie-flat suites and upgraded dining have become brand signatures. Over the past year, Delta layered in a new class of lounges exclusively for Delta One travelers, debuting at JFK, then opening at LAX and BOS, with SEA added in June 2025. The company has also been reconfiguring select widebodies to increase the number of Delta One suites, signaling a sustained shift toward premium yield.

Latest developments

Delta One check-in to reach every hub, with SLC and MSP next

Delta leaders said Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) will get Delta One check-in areas by the end of 2025, completing hub-wide coverage. These spaces are designed with doors, walls, and a calmer ambiance than the public lobby, and typically offer coffee, water, and snacks. The timeline ties to comments made during the airline's October 9 earnings call and subsequent briefings. For premium flyers who originate at SLC or MSP, this closes a notable service gap, aligning those hubs with Atlanta, Detroit, and other stations that already feature the experience. Expect coordinated signage and wayfinding so travelers can bypass general lines and proceed directly to security after check-in.

Premium lounges now at JFK, LAX, BOS, and SEA

Delta's dedicated Delta One lounge network has come online at four key gateways. New York-JFK was first, followed by Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) in late 2024. In June 2025, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) added a two-level complex featuring a Delta One lounge above a new Delta Sky Club. Each location pairs restaurant-style dining with spa-like amenities and concierge-style service. With premium check-in extending to SLC and MSP, Delta's ground portfolio now spans private lobbies, lounge access, and priority security, creating a more consistent end-to-end journey for Delta One customers across its U.S. hubs.

Analysis

Delta's push to standardize Delta One check-in across every hub is a logical extension of a broader premium strategy that is clearly paying dividends. The company's record September-quarter revenue underscores how premium products can buffer cyclicality in mainstream demand. Adding private lobbies at SLC and MSP solves a practical inequity, since many frequent flyers in those markets buy Delta One for transcontinental or long-haul trips and expect parity with larger hubs. Operationally, premium lobbies pull high-touch transactions and baggage issues out of the main hall, reducing friction for all travelers.

On the network side, the lounge buildout at JFK, LAX, BOS, and SEA anchors the premium promise where long-haul demand is deepest. Pairing those lounges with more Delta One suites via cabin reconfigurations positions Delta to monetize affluent leisure and resilient corporate segments. Competitively, this keeps pressure on United's Polaris and American's Flagship experiences, especially as Delta closes remaining ground-product gaps. The near-term risk is over-indexing to premium as main-cabin softness persists, but Delta's diversified hubs and transatlantic strength give it room to calibrate. For travelers, the takeaway is straightforward, more hubs with true curb-to-gate premium continuity.

Final thoughts

With Delta One check-in coming to Salt Lake City and Minneapolis, Delta finishes a multi-year effort to harmonize its premium ground experience across all hubs. Coupled with Delta One lounges at JFK, LAX, BOS, and SEA, and ongoing premium-cabin expansion, the carrier is aligning product, real estate, and revenue strategy around its highest-yield customers. If you value a calmer lobby, quicker assistance, and a consistent pre-flight routine, the expansion delivers real benefits, and it cements Delta's positioning in the premium space built around Delta One check-in.