ATLANTA − Last month, I had a unique preview of Delta Air Lines’ updated cabin designs at their headquarters in Atlanta. Although these new features aren’t in service yet, I can already see they’ll greatly benefit travelers.

It’s not just that the new color palette is more contemporary and soothing, or that the branding on the aircraft has become more understated. There are tangible improvements that passengers will notice as the new interior designs make their debut over the next few years.

Delta made it clear that it will take several years — potentially up to seven — for the entire fleet to be updated. However, here are two aspects I’m particularly excited about that will soon be standard, along with one cool feature that might not impact me much.

1. Additional pockets

Great news for Main Cabin passengers: A feature that was previously available only for those with extra legroom seating is now coming to the back. Currently, Delta Comfort+ seats have a little extra pocket in the back for small items, but after the redesign, standard economy seats will also include divided pockets.

Although this change might seem small, I believe it’s a significant enhancement for travelers. I’m often anxious about misplacing items in the large seatback pocket, so having access to smaller compartments will encourage me to use those amenities, rather than rummaging through my backpack during the flight.

Delta, I never shared this feedback with you, but I appreciate you reading my mind!

2. Improved seat cushions

One of my travel annoyances is the seams on seat cushions. They can create uncomfortable pressure points and, particularly during long flights, can be quite bothersome.

As part of the updates, Delta is smoothing out its seat cushions. They will remove the textures and seams that can be irritating, opting for a single bonded bottom surface instead.

This change, while seemingly minor, will significantly enhance the comfort for long flights across every cabin.

3. Fabric seats in Delta One

Although I’m a travel writer, I’ve yet to fly Delta One, so this shift may not personally affect me. Nevertheless, it’s a significant update. Delta is moving away from leather seats in its business class and reverting to fabric. Airline executives mention this will enhance passenger comfort while sleeping, especially when the seat is converted to a bed.

Delta’s European partners, Air France and KLM, already incorporate fabric seats in their business class, and the airline has gathered valuable insights from them regarding this change.

“We invested a lot of time collaborating with our partners, Air France, KLM, and even other non-partner airlines to understand what to anticipate after the transition,”

“To incorporate fabric into business class,” stated Mauricio Parise, Delta’s vice president of brand experience. “Typically, if you sleep on your bed, that mattress consists of cotton.”

Variety

Delta is also implementing some subtler changes, such as small branded seat tags to indicate the specific cabin you’re in. One Delta executive mentioned that even crew seats will have unique tags and that significant design attention went into perfecting the wings emblem on these accents.

Moreover, the airline intends to strategically place its triangular Delta “widget” throughout the cabin to maintain a consistent yet understated branding approach.

As the child of an electrician who often thinks about the appropriate color tones for lighting, I was excited to learn that Delta will shift to warmer lighting shades in the cabin as part of this renovation.

While these upgrades will take time to implement throughout the fleet, and not every aircraft will undergo a complete overhaul, these small enhancements can truly set airlines apart from one another, especially in economy class, where the seating and services can often seem quite similar across different airlines.