Last week, I made a post comparing premium economy and economy class on Japan Airlines. In a similar way, I’m going to compare Delta Premium Select and Delta’s economy class seats here.
I think that Delta Premium Select is a very solid product, and it does its job on long-haul flights. As economy can feel tight on 10+ hour flights, the added space and comfort of Premium Select is a game-changer. It’s not a seat with a full lie-flat bed, but it still helps me find comfortable positions and get rest.
Let’s go over the differences between these two seats. I’ll also discuss Comfort Plus in this as well.
Legroom
31 inches of pitch is the standard in economy, no matter if you’re on a domestic flight or an international flight (some domestic aircraft can see 30 inches of pitch). This can get tight pretty quickly, and it’s not a lot of fun on an long flight.
The 34 inches of pitch in Comfort Plus is much better.
In addition to the legroom, Comfort Plus also comes with a few other benefits, such as priority boarding and dedicated bin space. Read about it here.
Delta Premium Select boasts 38 inches of pitch, and even more space if you grab the bulkhead seat. I’m 6’1/183cm tall and my feet barely touch the wall in these seats. This is a world of a difference.
It’s easier for me to find positions to sleep in, and the added space is also nice when I just want to lounge around on my phone or the IFE.
Related: Where to sit when flying Delta Premium Select
Food
The food on Delta Premium Select is fantastic. The meals are basically equivalent to Delta One business class, except that they all come on a tray. This is a big upgrade compared to the economy class meals.
Good presentation makes a big difference.
This is an example of an economy class meal on Delta. It’s usually not the worst of airplane foods (the pork and rice were good in this one), but it’s definitely a noticeable difference. The Premium Select meal is larger, better balanced, and is presented in a much better way.
Sky Priority and Other Benefits
The ground experience is a bit better on Premium Select. Passengers get to board much earlier in Zone 2, whereas Main Cabin boarding begins in Zone 6.
Premium Select passengers can also enjoy Sky Priority benefits, which include dedicated check-in desks and a faster line for TSA at participating airports.
Overall Thoughts
Premium Select is typically priced at about $1,000 in addition to Main Cabin, which is pretty steep in my opinion. Upgrade prices do go down every so often; I would consider about $500 to $800 to be a better deal.
With that said, it’s understandable that we would prioritize comfort the longer a flight is. Premium Select, although not a lie-flat business class seat, still provides that extra comfort that is hard to find in economy. In addition to legroom, the wider seat is helpful when lounging around. I think it’s absolutely worth it on long routes, such as ATL-ICN or DTW-HND. On daytime flights on mid-haul flights (such as transatlantic flights to the US), it might be better just to stay in Comfort Plus.
All photos taken by the author.
