Sometimes a big splurge makes an epic trip even better. Other times it can feel like buying a bill of goods. Every savvy traveler got that way because they’ve made regrettable mistakes. Nonetheless, most travelers expect more from a multinational airline like Delta Air Lines than they do from a random tour guide on the street.
When TikTok creator Ryelee Steiling (@ryeleejase) booked her Delta flight to Italy, she decided that for comfort, she’d reserve a business class ticket. Then she boarded and learned that her flight was on an older airplane.
In a TikTok that has garnered over 430,000 views, Steiling pans around her seat area. On-screen text explains, “When you splurge on 7k seats for a long haul flight and this is the quality of the plane with no divider.”
Currently, per Delta’s website, there are multiple business class tiers. But none promise seat dividers. The focus is on service, flexibility, meals, and boarding. Steiling seems to have upgraded in part to get more privacy, hence why she felt duped.
Commenters .annaerb suggested, “They should be required to charge less for the dinosaur planes I don’t understand why it’s the same price for such an outdated seat.”
Though several others users reminded her that it’s possible to research the plane she’d be on, others think that an almost $10,000 price should guarantee a certain level of experience: “This is not something that should require research. Quality should match the price,” said thebengib.
“Nah I’d actually throw a fit. immediately call amex and request refund,” promised loloincome.
The oldest “narrowbody” aircraft in Delta’s fleet is 34 years old. The oldest “widebody” aircraft in the fleet is 33 years old. A narrowbody airplane is a plane with one row of seats down the middle of the fuselage. A widebody “can carry from 200–850 passengers” and typically has two aisles per cabin. They also typically have two cabins or more with a range of flight levels from economy to business and first class cabins.
Thus an aircraft that was designed and decorated in 1993 might lack some of the features that travelers in 2026 expect, particularly when they upgrade. This can mean the premium, personalized experience is missing, per World of Aviation Festival. So though capable of safely flying the friendly skies, these older planes are often relegated to less frequent routes.
After her experience, Steiling wonders, “How can they charge so much for these seats when our plane is so dated?” The short answer is supply and demand. More specifically, airplanes are expensive, and when one is paid off, the profit margin generally increases. But that’s balanced against the costs of caring for an older plane. “New aircraft are more expensive to finance, so they are a good choice for airlines that fly them a lot. With high utilization, fuel costs become more important than leasing/financing costs,” noted Mentor Pilot. New commercial-grade planes can retail for anywhere from $80 million to $400 million.
This is how older aircraft come to be used. The cost-t0-benefit ratio still works in the airline’s favor.
There’s one way to avoid flying on an older plane: research. Google Flights also allows travelers to set price alerts, filter for specific planes, and compare prices across a selection of dates. It further tracks the documents needed for international destinations and alerts travelers to what they’ll need.
It’s not foolproof, because an airline can replace one plane with another on a given route, but it can help you avoid planes that don’t have the desired amenities. Steiling herself conceded that after her initially disappointing experience, the actual plane she took to Italy was “newer and nicer.” Hopefully that set the tone for the rest of her trip.
BoardingArea reached out to Steiling via email and TikTok direct message. We reached out to Delta Air Lines via their media email. We will update this article if either reply.
@ryeleejase ♬ Oh No (Instrumental) – Kreepa
