Delta Air Lines has unveiled what it calls the biggest redesign of its Delta One business class in nearly 30 years, spanning food, drinks, bedding and a brand-new suite. There's just one snag for bragging rights: United's rival Polaris Studio suites still beat Delta on screen size.

The new Delta One suite, debuting on the Airbus A350-1000, gets a 24-inch 4K QLED display — the largest Delta has ever fitted — plus Bluetooth audio, wireless charging, extra storage, privacy doors and a longer lie-flat bed. United's Polaris Studio, flying on its refreshed Boeing 787-9s, counters with a 27-inch 4K OLED panel, three inches larger diagonally. OLED can deliver deeper blacks than QLED, though real-world quality depends on execution rather than raw numbers.

Delta's service changes may matter more to most travellers. Entree preselection now opens 18 hours before departure — the latest cutoff of any US carrier, and six hours closer to departure than before. A new "sleep-first" option on overnight flights swaps the full pre-landing breakfast for coffee and a croissant, so you can keep sleeping. The dining programme was built with chef Simon Hulstone and Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson, covering roughly eight million meals a year, and adds a "sip and settle" welcome with a preferred drink, warm nuts and a hot towel.

The drinks list is doing some heavy lifting too: 13 wines from 11 wineries, Dassai 45 sake on Tokyo-Haneda routes, and — from December 1, 2026 — Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon, which Delta says no other airline serves. Missoni amenity kits and pillows land in November, and the Porsche tarmac-transfer service grows to 70 vehicles across 15 airports by 2028.

Timing is the catch. The service upgrades start on select flights out of Los Angeles this autumn, spreading network-wide from early 2027. The first A350-1000s arrive in early 2027, and A330 retrofits follow, part of a wider refresh touching 800-plus aircraft over five years. United plans at least 30 Elevated-interior 787-9s worldwide by the end of 2027 — but Polaris Studio is only eight seats within a larger cabin, so availability varies by flight. Bottom line: check the aircraft type and seat map before you book, because two departures on the same day can offer very different products.