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.
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)?
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