Best domestic first class airline: Delta, United or American?
There is often a lively discussion among travelers about which U.S. airline — American, Delta or United — offers the best first-class experience. To determine the answer, I recently flew with all three carriers to put them to the test and see how each matched up to the others.
While each airline has both strengths and areas for improvement, one clear winner emerged from my experiences.
First-class comparison methodology
To ensure a fair comparison of similar seats and services, I chose to book discounted first-class tickets on a version of the Airbus A320 in each airline's fleet.
It is important to note that the overall experience would have been enhanced if I had opted for United's Polaris business-class seats on a transcontinental flight or American's A321T premium transcontinental first class or Delta One on a transcontinental flight.
Conversely, the first-class experience would have been compromised had I chosen to fly first class on a smaller regional jet on any of the airlines. For that reason and to maintain fairness, this assessment focuses solely on each carrier's first-class experience on a type of jet they all fly.
Additionally, I selected flights that were generally around three hours in length and included meal service. Catering plays a significant role in the first-class experience, as it involves additional interactions with the crew and, ideally, a satisfying repast.
Here are the flights I booked:
- American Airlines Airbus A321neo: Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) for 24,000 AAdvantage miles (worth $360 at TPG's valuations) plus $5.60 in taxes and fees
- Delta Air Lines Airbus A321neo: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) for $274
- United Airlines Airbus A320: SEA to LAX for $254
Now, let me share my impressions of flying with American, Delta and United in their domestic first-class cabins.
Comparing American, Delta and United's first class
As mentioned, I selected flights on a version of each carrier's Airbus A320. The American and Delta aircraft were recently delivered planes (A321neos); while the United plane I flew was around 25 years old (A320), the interior had been updated recently.
United has new recliner seats and seatback entertainment on its Airbus A321neo, but the airline hadn't taken delivery of this aircraft at the time of my travel. However, they are flying now and we'll update this comparison soon with a flight on the new aircraft.
In the meantime, here's a quick overview of how the seats, cabins and amenities in each airline's first-class cabin compare to one another.
| American | Delta | United | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of seats | 20 | 20 | 12 |
| Cabin layout | 5 rows in a 2-2 configuration | 5 rows in a 2-2 configuration | 3 rows in a 2-2 configuration |
| Seat pitch and recline | 37 inches, 5 inches | 37 inches, 5 inches | 39 inches, 6 inches |
| Seat width | 21 inches | 21 inches | 19 inches |
| Seatback screens | Not offered | 13 inches | Not offered |
| Charging | AC power outlet and USB-A | AC power outlet and USB-A | AC power outlet |
| Preorder standard meals | Between 30 days and 24 hours before departure | Not offered on this flight | Between 5 days and 24 hours before departure |
| Predeparture beverage service | Choice of water, orange juice, or sparkling wine | Choice of any beverage | Not offered on my flight |
| Meal offered | On flights over 900 miles during meal times | On flights over 900 miles during meal times | On flights over 800 miles during meal times |
| Checked bag fees | Two checked bags up to 50 pounds each included | Two checked bags up to 50 pounds each included | Two checked bags up to 50 pounds each included |
| Boarding group | Group 1 | Zone 1 | Group 1 |
Which U.S. airline has the best first-class ground experience?
All three airlines let you check in for your flight 24 hours before departure on their apps to skip the airport check-in lines. All three also let you track the status of your inbound flight to stay apprised of potential delays. Most notably, none of the three carriers offers access to their lounges with standard domestic first-class tickets (i.e. non-transcontinental flights).
American Airlines
American had a priority check-in line, and plenty of agents were available to assist priority customers despite its also being accessible to AAdvantage elite members, Oneworld Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald members and primary Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees) cardholders.
The gate area was cramped and excessively cold, but since the plane was only two-thirds full, there were plenty of seats with power outlets. Boarding began on time, and as a Group 1 passenger, I was among the first to board.
Delta Air Lines
Delta first-class passengers can use the airline's SkyPriority counters and self-service kiosks, and customer service lines were short. SkyPriority is also available to those in Premium Select, Delta Medallion members, SkyTeam Elite members as well as select LATAM and WestJet elite members.
The gate area for my Seattle flight seemed crowded due to narrow boarding lanes, but there were plentiful seats as the plane wasn't full. The gate agents demonstrated remarkable professionalism and remained composed while addressing passengers' numerous inquiries. There were television monitors that displayed flight information. Despite a slight delay caused by two flight attendants arriving late, the boarding process proceeded smoothly, allowing us to depart punctually. First-class passengers boarded in Zone 1.
United Airlines
United provides a dedicated priority check-in area for those with Premier Access. That includes all Premier status elites and Star Alliance Gold members as well as primary United Club Infinite Card cardholders. The lines for both self-service kiosks and customer service were minimal, and the signage was clear.
The gate area had tons of seating options, and the terminal had high ceilings and large windows with lots of natural light. Certain seats near the gate were equipped with power outlets for convenience.
The two friendly gate agents efficiently managed the boarding process, maintaining good organization. Furthermore, the television monitors near the gate were easy to read and understand, adding to the overall positive experience.
Best ground experience: United Airlines, for a quick check-in process and ample power outlets in the spacious gate area with highly efficient gate agents who kept boarding calm and well-organized
Which airline has the most comfortable first class?
On my flights, each carrier-operated recliner armchairs were arranged in a 2-2 configuration. Now, let's compare their comfort levels and see how they measure up against each other.
American Airlines
American Airlines' A321neo dark-gray leather first-class recliners are sleek and streamlined, and look even sharper thanks to dramatic blue mood lighting. A cabin divider behind the last row of first class is emblazoned with the distinctive American Airlines logo, marking the transition to the economy section.
While lacking built-in seatback entertainment screens, these seats offer an expandable personal device holder for tablets or phones. A seatback USB-A port is conveniently located next to the device holder, which limits cord entanglement. Each seat provides a universal AC power outlet for inflight charging in the center armrest.
The seat control is a single metal button for reclining. You can also adjust the headrest up and down and curl it for neck support. However, your space may be limited by the recline of the passenger in front of you, so watch those electronics!
The foldable metal tray table, which pulls out from the non-center armrest, includes a personal device stand when partially unfolded. It offers ample workspace when fully extended, even for larger devices like a 16-inch MacBook Pro.
First-class passengers and pilots share the lavatory behind the cockpit, which is stocked with upscale D.S. & Durga soap. The lavatory needed attention and remained unserviced during the second half of my flight. The sinks and toilets on the airplane required physical touch for use rather than newer versions that have touchless flush and faucet controls.
Delta Air Lines
Delta has meticulously designed its A321neo domestic first-class seats, placing utmost importance on privacy. Designed with winged shields and with privacy dividers between each pair of seats, there is an intimate and secluded ambience to the cabin.
The adjustable headrest and supportive neck cradle enhance sleeping comfort on long flights. However, the footwell is less comfortable due to limited space caused by the entertainment and power box in the seat-support column.
Unlike the other two airlines, Delta's seats feature 13-inch seatback monitors with a wide selection of movies, TV shows and music. Users can filter movies by duration for convenience. What's more, passengers can pair their personal Bluetooth headphones with the entertainment system, providing a higher-quality viewing experience.
The seat control is a single metal button on the center armrest, allowing recline adjustments. However, there is no forward-cradling feature. Also, while not a common feature on domestic first-class flights, there were no leg or footrests, which reduces ergonomic comfort. The center armrest houses a universal power outlet, USB-A port and cupholder for each passenger.
The foldable tray table that deploys from the center armrest provides a large workspace and accommodates bigger devices. However, sudden adjustments may be needed when the passenger in front reclines to avoid damage to personal devices.
A single lavatory, exclusively for first-class passengers, is behind the cockpit. Grown Alchemist soap and hand cream add a high-end feel. Like on American, the sinks and toilets require physical touch for use.
United Airlines
United's A320 first-class experience lacked the welcoming ambience of the other two carriers, with no mood lighting, which is understandable since this was an older plane.
However, United's seats stood out with their generous legroom, surpassing the personal space of American and Delta by two inches. The extra space was immediately noticeable, and the adjustable headrest added comfort for my neck, allowing me to nap more comfortably.
Despite the absence of built-in seatback entertainment, passengers could conveniently utilize personal devices by placing them on the fold-out tray table stand located within the center armrest. When fully extended, the tray table provides a generous workspace, capable of accommodating larger laptops.
The seat control button on the center armrest smoothly reclined the seatback and slid the seat cushion forward. The center armrest held a power outlet and a phone tray. However, I encountered some challenges with charging my phone as the plug needed to be held in place. The outlets for U.S. plugs may show signs of wear due to frequent use. Fortunately, I had a European-pronged power adapter that allowed my phone to charge without issues.
Each seat had a spacious foldable tray table, providing surface area for larger devices. The window-side laptop holder was especially convenient during meal service.
On the downside, the lavatory lacked updates and exuded a dilapidated 1980s office vibe, and there weren't any no-touch sinks or flush controls.
Most comfortable first class: Delta Air Lines, for thoughtful, privacy-focused seat design and high-end bathroom amenities
Which airline has the best first-class amenities?
Soft amenities were somewhat limited on all three carriers, as no pillows, blankets, amenity kits or paper menus were provided. However, there were some things to note.
American Airlines
American Airlines provides various inflight entertainment options through the AA Inflight streaming portal. Passengers can enjoy 12 stations of live TV, a vast collection of TV shows and movies, including popular titles like "Crazy Rich Asians" and "Carmen," access to Apple Music, Apple TV+ and even Rosetta Stone language classes. While I didn't count how many movies American offered, it was nowhere near as many as Delta.
Additionally, I purchased full-flight Wi-Fi for $29. Although the speeds were not fast enough for uploading photos, I could comfortably send emails and Slack messages throughout the flight.
Delta Air Lines
SkyMiles members receive complimentary Wi-Fi on Delta, enabling smooth switching between laptops and phones without noticeable delays. While the internet speeds were sufficient for tasks like email and Slack, downloading photos proved challenging.
Delta provided basic, wired earbuds to passengers during boarding, but hearing the inflight entertainment system, even at maximum volume, was difficult. It is recommended to bring your own headphones, whether wired or wirelessly connected via Bluetooth, to enjoy the entertainment.
I was very impressed by Delta's selection of 648 movies.
United Airlines
United offers passengers a variety of inflight entertainment options through the United app, and even if the Wi-Fi signal's internet connection is unavailable, as it was on my flight, you can still stream. The app featured 207 movies, TV shows and podcasts, including popular titles like "Avatar" and "The Departed." United didn't have nearly as many movies as Delta.
Unfortunately, the internet remained down for the entire duration of the flight. No announcements were made regarding this issue during the boarding process, leaving me unaware and unprepared without any offline work downloaded.
Furthermore, the lack of internet meant there was no way to track the flight's progress, and the flight deck provided minimal announcements about our journey until the descent.
Best first-class amenities: Delta Air Lines, for offering complimentary Wi-Fi and earbuds as well as its excellent entertainment selection
Which airline has the best first-class food?
On my flights, the three carriers served a hot full meal. American and United let me preorder first-class meals, while Delta took my order on board (the airline is working to expand its preorder options).
American Airlines
American Airlines offers preordered meals on eligible routes, including Philadelphia to San Francisco. After boarding but before takeoff, the flight attendant confirmed my preordered golden roasted chicken with roasted tomato chutney, salted smashed potatoes and haricot verts. The entree was created by James Beard Award-winning author and nutritionist Ellie Krieger with a focus on wellness.
Dinner service on my evening flight started about 20 minutes after takeoff with a hot towel, beverage and mixed nuts. Dinner was served 10 minutes later on one tray with a shrimp appetizer, green salad, warm bread roll, olive oil and butter.
The chicken dish had a bright, citrusy flavor, and the portion size was decent, but the shrimp appetizer tasted more like mayonnaise than seafood.
Complimentary beverages were available, but the lack of a menu made it challenging to know all the options.
After the dinner trays were collected, and about an hour later, a choice of hot fudge sundae, lava cake or fruit and cheese plate was offered. I selected the sundae, which you could customize to your liking with fudge, caramel, nuts, fruit and whipped cream. I went for the classic — hot fudge with nuts, whipped cream and cherries and it hit the spot.
The flight attendants were available for drink requests throughout the flight, and a snack service was offered about an hour before landing with options like Uglies kettle potato chips, honey-roasted pistachios, Stellar mini pretzel braids and sea salt Love corn nuts.
Delta Air Lines
Delta has been working on implementing preordered meals for first-class flights over 900 miles. However, on my flight, I was unable to preorder a meal. Once we reached an altitude of 10,000 feet, a flight attendant started taking meal orders from the back of the cabin. Passengers in the front rows missed out on their preferred choices. Across from me, I noticed a dissatisfied passenger who was disappointed with the remaining lunch options. To compensate for the inconvenience, the flight attendant used a mobile device to offer them bonus miles or a future flight credit.
Approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, the lunch service began with a snack basket and drinks being served. I selected the chicken salad, which surpassed my expectations with a delicious combination of cranberries, walnuts and goat cheese. The portion size was satisfying, and the fruit plate offered ripe selections.
A wide range of complimentary beverages was available, including beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks. Choices included Bacardí Superior rum, Buffalo Trace Distillery bourbon, Bombay Sapphire gin and Miller Lite. Passengers could also select between a Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay or sparkling wine. Those connected to Delta Wi-Fi could access the full menu using a QR code displayed on the seatback monitors.
For dessert, which was also presented on the single meal tray, the prepackaged Bell's triple chocolate chunk cookie from Seattle was soft and chewy. Its touch of sea salt made it the perfect post-lunch treat.
After the meal service, the flight attendants mostly allowed the passengers to enjoy their time, but they remained available to fulfill drink requests.
United Airlines
United's inflight catering still requires significant improvements, as evident on my recent flight.
United Airlines offers preorder meal service for eligible flights over 800 miles during meal times. Passengers can reserve meals up to five days before the flight until 24 hours before departure. Special meals for dietary preferences are also available.
I ordered chicken meatballs, and the flight attendant confirmed my choice shortly after boarding. Lunch began with warm almonds and cashews served about 20 minutes after takeoff, followed by the main course, which was served on one meal tray about 30 minutes later.
However, the chicken meatballs were rubbery and overly salty, and the polenta was overcooked and grainy. Most passengers didn't eat much of their meals either. Some of the other lunch entrees included a cheeseburger and Thai beef salad. All passengers were served the same crumble cake on their trays, which lacked flavor. Complimentary beverages were available, but no menu was provided. The flight attendant fulfilled requests efficiently, but the service lacked a personal touch.
Best first-class food: American Airlines, for James Beard-inspired delicious meals that you can preorder, ensuring you get your top choice
Which U.S. airline has the best domestic first-class product?
Delta offers the latest seats, top-notch, extensive entertainment and a variety of meal choices, even if you can't preorder. Additionally, they provide complimentary Wi-Fi, making it a hard combination to beat.
However, it's important to note that redeeming mileage with Delta can be costly, and recent changes to the SkyMiles program are bound to have a negative impact on many flyers.
Ultimately, determining the best domestic first-class experience depends on personal preference. For most travelers, convenience plays a major role in choosing an airline. If you reside in a major hub city like Houston, Atlanta or Miami, your preferred airline is likely predetermined. Conversely, travelers in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York have a broader range of options.
In the past, I consistently chose United Airlines for my travels. However, due to their perpetual upgrade waitlists, unreliable Wi-Fi, underwhelming food and significant decrease in mileage value, I wouldn't hesitate to fly Delta instead in the future.