In September 2024, Delta Air Lines began selling premium economy on one of its premium transcontinental routes. This passenger experience is now being expanded to a second route.
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Delta adds premium economy on transcon routes
Delta exclusively flies wide body aircraft between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX), and also flies wide body aircraft on select frequencies between New York and San Francisco (SFO). Specifically, Delta tends to use Boeing 767s for these routes — while they’re not exactly modern jets, at least they’re pleasant in economy, thanks to the 2-3-2 layout.
In recent years, the Atlanta-based carrier has been installing premium economy on these aircraft, which the airline markets as Premium Select. Prior to September 2024, the airline simply sold these seats as standard Comfort+ seats, which is the name of Delta’s extra legroom economy seating. That was a great deal, since it was possible to get a much better seat without paying a lot extra.
As of September 2024, Delta began properly selling the Premium Select product between New York and Los Angeles. For an extra cost, passengers can reserve these premium seats, while also receiving an elevated soft product, like hot meals, complimentary alcoholic drinks, blankets and pillows, and more.
Delta has now announced that this will be expanding to a second premium route — as of November 9, 2025, Delta will sell Premium Select on select flights between New York and San Francisco. Since the route is operated by a mix of Boeing 757s and Boeing 767s, you can expect that only the latter aircraft will get this product.
It’s of course logical for Delta to monetize this cabin as much as possible, and to offer something between economy and business class. It is pretty wild how transcon pricing has evolved over time — it used to be that you could consistently snag a one-way business class ticket on these flights for $600-800, while now that’s what Delta is trying to charge for premium economy. At this point, all of the “big three” US carriers sell premium economy on select premium transcontinental routes.
What Delta premium economy means for upgrades
How does the existence of premium economy on select transcon routes impact upgrades? Upgrades from economy to premium economy clear the same way as domestic first class upgrades clear:
- Diamond Medallion members clear at most 120 hours (five days) before departure with priority
- Platinum Medallion members clear at most 120 hours (five days) before departure
- Gold Medallion members clear at most 72 hours (three days) before departure
- Silver Medallion members clear at most 24 hours (one day) before departure
Furthermore, as before, Medallion members continue to receive space available day-of-departure upgrades to Delta One, regardless of whether or not they’re confirmed in premium economy.
How does it work for those applying Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUCs) and Global Upgrade Certificates (GUCs)?
- If you purchase an economy ticket and apply a GUC or RUC, you’d be upgraded to Premium Select upon request, and will then be added to the Delta One waitlist, where you can clear up to 24 hours before departure
- If you purchase a premium economy ticket and apply a GUC or RUC, you’d be upgraded to Delta One, pending upgrade availability
On the plus side, at least that isn’t the worst case scenario when it comes to how upgrades are executed, as double upgrades are still possible in some cases.
Bottom line
In 2024, Delta started selling premium economy on one transcontinental route (JFK-LAX), and now Delta is expanding this to a second transcontinental route (JFK-SFO). With Delta primarily flying wide bodies in these markets, it also makes sense for Delta to monetize the middle cabin, which is most comparable to domestic first class.
For that matter, with the price inflation we’ve seen for business class on transcontinental flights, there’s something to be said for an in between option.
What do you make of Delta selling Premium Select on transcon routes? What do you think of Delta’s 767s (okay, I’m kidding about that part)?
It’s interesting to see Delta finally monetizing Premium Select on JFK-SFO, years after United led the way with true premium economy on select premium transcon routes like EWR-SFO and EWR-LAX. As usual, Delta’s playing catch-up while trying to sell an aging 767 product as “premium.” United’s widebody fleet is significantly younger and better equipped, with more consistent product delivery.
As for upgrades, United offers more transparent and flexible options, particularly for elites using PlusPoints. Delta’s...
It’s interesting to see Delta finally monetizing Premium Select on JFK-SFO, years after United led the way with true premium economy on select premium transcon routes like EWR-SFO and EWR-LAX. As usual, Delta’s playing catch-up while trying to sell an aging 767 product as “premium.” United’s widebody fleet is significantly younger and better equipped, with more consistent product delivery.
As for upgrades, United offers more transparent and flexible options, particularly for elites using PlusPoints. Delta’s “waitlist and hope” method for Delta One upgrades from Premium Select isn’t exactly confidence-inspiring. Sure, you can still clear for free, but then there are 40-plus people on a waitlist for 1 seat.
And let’s not forget aircraft. United’s use of the 787 Dreamliner on domestic premium routes is a leap ahead of DL’s 767s and recycled interiors. United’s continued investment in NextGen interiors, Wi-Fi, and IFE consistency, even on the 737 fleet, puts the overall passenger experience ahead.
Of course, Delta’s marketing team will do its best to spin this as innovation. But in reality, they’re simply catching up to a product United has already refined and scaled.
You just used 5 trigger words to summon Tim.
No, United's widebody fleet is not significantly older. It is, in fact, the oldest widebody fleet among major global airlines.
and a 10 abreast economy and 8 abreast business first class product is far from premium - which is what UA offers on its domestic configured 777s.
and UA's fleet of 757s, like DL's do not have direct aisle access. DL is reconfiguring its international 757s to standard domestic airplanes while UA is deathly...
No, United's widebody fleet is not significantly older. It is, in fact, the oldest widebody fleet among major global airlines.
and a 10 abreast economy and 8 abreast business first class product is far from premium - which is what UA offers on its domestic configured 777s.
and UA's fleet of 757s, like DL's do not have direct aisle access. DL is reconfiguring its international 757s to standard domestic airplanes while UA is deathly afraid of losing market share so they will not retire any international aircraft.
and DL does use its 339s and 350s on international routes, both of which have a class-leading business class product, not some high density business class product that crams more "premium" passengers into the same amount of space than virtually any global airline. Polaris is nothing to write home about as much as you and the usual bunch of UA fan nuts want to convince us otherwise.
Wow...at $814, if allowed, I would just buy 3 economy seats @$567 and lie down across. I think United & JetBlue? let's you buy extra seats online at booking.
Wonder if they will add this to their Hawaii and Alaska flights.
Delta does have premium economy on Hawaii routes from most hubs and I can see JFK-ANC getting it in summertime as well.
Delta is reportedly retiring the last of its 767s that don't have premium economy this winter and some of those aircraft are used for domestic flights.
Their premium configured A321NEOs do have premium economy but are supposed to have less than 150 seats so are not going to be used for heavily leisure destinations including Alaska or Hawaii.
DL's flights from the eastern US plus SLC need the range of a widebody so those...
Delta is reportedly retiring the last of its 767s that don't have premium economy this winter and some of those aircraft are used for domestic flights.
Their premium configured A321NEOs do have premium economy but are supposed to have less than 150 seats so are not going to be used for heavily leisure destinations including Alaska or Hawaii.
DL's flights from the eastern US plus SLC need the range of a widebody so those routes will have premium economy. DL also has some widebody flights from the west coast to Hawaii so those two will have widebodies w/ premium economy
Come along now Tim! …. Ben has posted a ‘D’ word article and we await your words of wisdom …. :-)
Uh oh.... what's cookin' as you're 'stirring the pot' !
.... lol
Premium economy is the highest margin cabin for airlines right now.
It is essentially what business class was for airlines 30 years ago and is affordable luxury.
in other news, DL just released another round of new additions from AUS, in preparation for its 3rd new hub in the past 10 years.
Blow! You beat me to it …. well done Tim …. :-)
$150 price difference-I'd jump on that in a heartbeat.
It’s not $150 - premium select is listed under the First column
Obviously this is in preparation for Delta taking the 757s off JFK-SFO and either going all 767s like LAX or using the A321 flat bed subfleet once it is certified.