Can I buy priority boarding after checking in Delta?

Priority boarding, as well as the other available Trip Extras, can be purchased when booking your flight, through the Fly Delta app after booking, online when managing your trips, or at check-in.



Yes, you can typically purchase Delta Priority Boarding (often marketed as "Priority Boarding" or included in "Trip Extras") even after you have checked in for your flight, provided the limit for that flight hasn't been reached. In 2026, the easiest way to do this is through the Fly Delta app. Simply go to your "Trip" view, and if available, you will see an option to "Upgrade" or "Add Extras." Buying this will move you to Zone 5 (the first zone for Main Cabin passengers), allowing you to find overhead bin space before the plane gets crowded. However, if you have already checked in and are at the gate, you may not be able to buy it through the app if boarding has already begun. In 2026, Delta also integrates these offers into their "SkyMiles" dashboard, sometimes allowing you to pay for the priority boost using points instead of cash, though the value per point is usually lower for these small "add-on" purchases.

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Holding the credit card could be the fastest way to elevate your boarding zone if you are traveling in the main cabin. These include popular cards like the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card cards.

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All passengers flying in a premium cabin get priority boarding. But the group you'll be assigned to depends on which class of service you're flying.

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How to get (and pay for) TSA PreCheck. To get PreCheck, you'll start by submitting an online application before moving on to an in-person appointment at a Transportation Security Administration Enrollment Center. If approved, you'll get a Known Traveler Number, which you'll then enter whenever you book a flight.

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Unlike American and United, moving up Delta's boarding group can be a straightforward process. The easiest way is to purchase a Comfort+ seat. This will come with several perks like free changes, cancelation for travel credit, free snacks, extra legroom, and Group 4 boarding, ahead of even SkyTeam Elite Plus members.

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Delta Main Cabin 1: It comprises of Gold, Platinum, and Reserve Delta SkyMiles Credit Cardmembers, GOL Smiles Gold members, Silver Medallion members, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver members Virgin Australia Velocity Silver members, Priority Boarding Trip Extra customers and Delta Corporate travelers.

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Whether choosing to upgrade your seat to a premium cabin or selecting a different seat, you have the ability to choose an available seat that works for you and your travel companions.

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If you upgrade your eligible Delta ticket to Delta One, First Class, or Delta Premium Select, you will receive priority boarding. The cost to upgrade your seat varies based on the original ticket purchased, the fare class you want to upgrade to, and seat availability at the time of upgrade.

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After booking, you may be presented with the option to upgrade with miles at Delta.com or through the Fly Delta app. You can check your reservation at any time to see if this is an option. Alternatively, you can contact a Delta representative to upgrade with miles.

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Card Members are entitled to receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights. Benefit is limited to Basic Card Members (not Additional Card Members) with the Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum or Reserve Cards.

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Elite 20K, 50K, and 100K members all get priority (also known as Zone 1) boarding. But it's not just elite members who get to board earlier; if you paid a carry-on bag fee, you may get access to Zone 1 boarding, too.

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Boarding Groups: Zones 1 to 4. Zone 1 passengers have purchased carry-on bags; Zone 3 fliers are toward the back of the plane; Zone 4 fliers are toward the front of the plane. What's new: n/a. Preboarding: Passengers with disabilities and those traveling with children under the age of 2. Advertisement.

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Main Cabin 3. Main Cabin customers booked in T, X and V fares. Basic Economy. Basic Economy customers (E)

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You can use miles to upgrade to Delta One®, Delta Premium Select, First Class or Delta Comfort+® for eligible flights within the U.S. 50 while purchasing a ticket* either at delta.com or with Delta Reservations. If your reservation is eligible for an upgrade, you'll see the option to upgrade in your Trip Summary.

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You can add Priority Boarding to your trip to get an earlier boarding group. If you add Premier Access to your trip you get Priority Boarding automatically and you get access to faster check-in and security lines.

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Groups 1 and 2 are made up of passengers with elite status in MileagePlus and partner programs, as well as those passengers seated in premium cabins. Group 2 also includes United co-branded credit card members and passengers who have purchased Priority Boarding.

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The price of priority boarding While the cost of priority boarding will differ among airlines and flights, you'll typically pay between $10-$30 to board the plane before your group. And we should emphasize before your group, as your priority boarding doesn't out-prioritize many others.

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Priority check in means there are separate check in agents for Platinum/Elite/Suite guests. But depending on the numbers, not necessarily faster. Priority boarding means that if you should arrive after check has started but before boarding has, you will be assigned a lower number boarding group.

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