Delta Starts Selling Premium Select Between JFK & LAX

Delta Starts Selling Premium Select Between JFK & LAX

34

It’s finally happening — Delta will start selling premium economy on its most premium transcontinental route, and it has implications for upgrades.

Delta adds premium economy on transcon route

Delta primarily flies wide body aircraft between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX), given what a competitive market it is. On most frequencies, Delta uses Boeing 767s, which aren’t exactly modern jets, but at least offer a pleasant economy experience.

The Atlanta-based carrier has also been working on installing premium economy (which the airline markets as Premium Select) on these jets. Up until now, the premium economy cabin on these planes has been a treat, since those seats have been sold just like standard Comfort+ seats (which is the name of Delta’s extra legroom economy seating). That has been a great deal, since it has been possible to get a much better seat without paying a lot extra.

Delta Premium Select on the Boeing 767

Unsurprisingly, Delta will finally get around to monetizing this cabin. As of this fall, Delta will begin selling premium economy on flights between New York and Los Angeles:

  • As of September 10, 2024, four of Delta’s 11 daily flights between New York and Los Angeles will have Premium Select for sale
  • As of November 11, 2024, all of Delta’s flights between New York and Los Angeles will have Premium Select for sale
Delta Premium Select seat map between JFK & LAX

I imagine this will evolve over time, but currently it looks like premium economy is running a $400 one-way premium over the standard (non-basic) economy price.

Delta Premium Select pricing between JFK & LAX

While Delta hasn’t formally announced what the soft product product will be like, some people have reported being on test flights in recent weeks, where they were offered full meals, bedding, and amenity kits, so I imagine that will make up part of the premium economy experience. Think of it as almost being like domestic first class, while Delta One (the “real” business class) will get a flat bed.

Here’s how Maurico Parise, Delta’s VP of Brand Experience Design, describes this development:

“Delta Premium Select will bring a new level of comfort, luxury and practicality to one of Delta’s most important routes in the domestic U.S. as we continue to work to deliver more premium experiences to our customers. This product has been a success internationally, especially following the recent investments we’ve made onboard, and we know that customers flying between New York and Los Angeles will enjoy the opportunity to treat themselves to a more spacious seat and premium experience.”  

What does this change mean for upgrades?

With Delta introducing premium economy between New York and Los Angeles, this also has implications for upgrades. So, how will upgrades work for domestic flights with premium economy?

Upgrades from economy to premium economy will clear the same way as domestic first class upgrades clear:

  • Diamond Medallion members will clear at most 120 hours (five days) before departure with priority
  • Platinum Medallion members will clear at most 120 hours (five days) before departure
  • Gold Medallion members will clear at most 72 hours (three days) before departure
  • Silver Medallion members will clear at most 24 hours (one day) before departure

Furthermore, as before, Medallion members will 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 will still be possible in some cases.

Delta is finally fully monetizing its 767 interiors

Bottom line

As of this fall, Delta will finally start selling premium economy seats on flights between New York and Los Angeles. Up until now, the airline has just treated it the same as extra legroom economy. Soon these seats will cost extra, but will also come with significantly more service. Furthermore, upgrades will be possible to this product.

What do you make of Delta selling Premium Select on transcon flights?

Conversations (34)
The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.
Type your response here.

If you'd like to participate in the discussion, please adhere to our commenting guidelines. Anyone can comment, and your email address will not be published. Register to save your unique username and earn special OMAAT reputation perks!

  1. JJ Guest

    IMO crazy pricing when compared to other options like Mint

  2. iamhere Guest

    You are incorrect on this one. Premium economy is comfort+. Premium select is another type of premium economy that is a mix of business class and premium economy. In other words, the seat, food, and services are different from that of comfort+ and basic economy.

  3. Eric Guest

    It seems to me that us airline continue to struggle to reward customers who spend top dollar when it comes to upgrades . They should move to a bidding system like in Europe /South American. They rather seems to incentivize customers with status to simply play their luck to see if they get a free upgrade . That’s terrible business .

  4. BVT New Member

    Paying 3-4x for premium economy on a reasonably short route like JFK-LAX is quite stupid to me.

    1. Brian W Guest

      If you look at the total price, paying $400 extra for a much more enjoyable experience with space and food is reasonable. There are a lot of people with wealth where this is an easy trade off who dont need a layflat bed for a 2200 mile flight.

  5. digital_notmad Diamond

    Look no one likes to see upgrades become more difficult, but for those of us who are also shareholders, this feels sorely overdue. Management dragged their feet for years and frankly this just feels like too little too late. Better management could have achieved this much earlier, while the domestic premium travel boom was in full swing.

    As always, frustrating to watch the current DL management squander value while coasting entirely on the strategic foresight...

    Look no one likes to see upgrades become more difficult, but for those of us who are also shareholders, this feels sorely overdue. Management dragged their feet for years and frankly this just feels like too little too late. Better management could have achieved this much earlier, while the domestic premium travel boom was in full swing.

    As always, frustrating to watch the current DL management squander value while coasting entirely on the strategic foresight of past generations of management.

    3 more replies
  6. John S Guest

    DL does sell Premium Economy on the Long haul HNL flights: JFK, DTW, MSP, ATL, and later this year, BOS. They also offer it to HND.

  7. DiscoPapa Guest

    You've got an error, Ben. You state: "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."

    Only the GUC will clear to DPS upon request. The RUC will still require upgrade inventory into DPS. More info here: https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/medallion-program/medallion-upgrades

  8. Jan Guest

    This is a nerf for the customers, for sure, but something that makes sense. Plats and Diamonds have been getting free PS seats as "Comfort+" on these routes.

    5 more replies
  9. Bossman Guest

    This aligns with what UA is doing LAX-EWR where they have several wide body frequencies daily and sell the Premium Plus seats. Double upgrades from economy to Polaris with Plus Points are nearly impossible but upgrades from PP to Polaris are often possible using plus pts.

    1 more reply
  10. Tim Dunn Diamond

    Delta is the largest airline in the NYC-LAX market and they did it by using widebodies that had a consistent product.
    The 767 was designed and optimized for domestic flights; while it does not have a cabin wide enough for modern transoceanic business class, it does work well on transcons. Given that other airlines heavily use narrowbodies, perception of what is better differs a whole lot between people.
    When Delta made the decision...

    Delta is the largest airline in the NYC-LAX market and they did it by using widebodies that had a consistent product.
    The 767 was designed and optimized for domestic flights; while it does not have a cabin wide enough for modern transoceanic business class, it does work well on transcons. Given that other airlines heavily use narrowbodies, perception of what is better differs a whole lot between people.
    When Delta made the decision to retrofit the 767-300ERs with a Premium Select cabin, they used those planes first to Europe. Although DL is retiring some 763s, the airplanes they intend to keep until the end of the decade when the fleet will be retired will have PS.
    It now makes sense to sell PS eventually on all flights as the widebodies that operate NYC-LAX become all PS.

    And remember that multiple airlines are adding PS and lie flat seats on A321NEOs. DL is doing it on premium configured basic A321NEOs that are supposed to enter service later this year while AA and UA will use A321XLR that are also delayed but won't be far behind DL's premium transcon A321s.

    DL will likely operate JFK-LAX with a mix of widebodies and transcon A321NEOs and will get better fleet utilization by being able to rotate widebodies better between its international and transcon routes.

    3 more replies
  11. Rene Guest

    As long as there's no shortage of foolish DM's paying for what they once got for free via UG's the price creep upward for FC will not stop.

    1. JustinB Diamond

      How dare Delta charge people for something they are willing to pay for

  12. CSR 2.0 Guest

    Pricing is crazy. D1 used to start at $599 one way on this route. Now to charge $899 for premium select is wild. We'll see how it does. Delta has officially made me a free agent.

    3 more replies
Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

Extraordinary1 Member

I'm not a UA fan, but EWR is an NYC airport and UA is the biggest airline in LAX-NYC.

3
digital_notmad Diamond

Look no one likes to see upgrades become more difficult, but for those of us who are also shareholders, this feels sorely overdue. Management dragged their feet for years and frankly this just feels like too little too late. Better management could have achieved this much earlier, while the domestic premium travel boom was in full swing. As always, frustrating to watch the current DL management squander value while coasting entirely on the strategic foresight of past generations of management.

1
Rene Guest

UANYC... Hard for DL to sell the 3 cabins when they didn't even exist on 763s until recently...

1
Meet Ben Schlappig, OMAAT Founder
5,527,136 Miles Traveled

39,914,500 Words Written

42,354 Posts Published