Akon -- Tricks Delta Airlines ... Gets First Class Seat Back

Akon had his first class seat snatched away from him, but got some sweet luxurious revenge on Delta yesterday ... thanks to an odd coincidence.

We heard Akon was sitting back in steerage coach during his flight to LAX -- which was hard to believe, but when we caught up with him at arrivals he confirmed he was indeed forced to take a commoner's ticket ... because he was late for the flight.

But you gotta hear Akon explain how he not only reclaimed his seat in the land of fresh baked cookies and free booze -- but also made a buck off Delta.