Delta Premium Select: Benefits, Highlights, and Expert Review

Like many premium economy options, Delta’s Premium Select cabin has grown in popularity since its introduction in 2017. This seating choice bridges the gap between economy and business class, offering travelers enhanced comfort and amenities on international and long-haul flights.

If you have a flexible budget but are not looking to shell out thousands for Delta One, Premium Select is a pretty solid happy medium. It’s comparable to other premium economy cabins across airlines, including United’s Premium Plus. 

If there’s any room for improvement, it’s in seat width. At just 18.5 or 19 inches wide, depending on the aircraft, Delta’s Premium Select seats are far smaller than some of the top products on the market. Virgin Atlantic, for instance, has Premium seats that are 21 inches wide. (The airline does partner with Delta, for what it’s worth.) That said, it’s still certainly a step up from economy. 

Key takeaways

• Delta Premium Select bridges the gap between economy and Delta One, making premium comfort accessible.
• It offers wider seats (still a bit narrower than most airlines), extra legroom, deeper recline, and adjustable footrests—ideal for long-haul flights.
• SkyPriority perks are included (priority boarding, check-in, and two free checked bags).
• Features curated meals served on real plates with complimentary premium beverages.
• Costs vary, but Going’s Elite members receive the best deals to make this class surprisingly affordable without hassle.
• While lounge access is not included, entry to Delta Sky Clubs is possible through credit cards or elite status.
• Using Delta SkyMiles cards can unlock upgrades and discounts (especially when paired with Going memberships).

Going experts’ Delta Premium Select review & score

Delta’s Premium Select offers a significant upgrade from main cabin or Comfort+, providing a refined experience that balances luxury and affordability. Not only do you get wider seats and enhanced recline, but you also get an elevated dining menu and ample drink selection. In our opinion, it’s a good choice for long-haul international travelers seeking comfort without splurging on Delta One.

The lack of lie-flat seats can be considered a major drawback, especially for long-haul flights. Still, the seats are comfortable enough for a relaxed flight experience. The attentive service and premium amenities are key qualities of Delta Premium Select, though the pricing doesn’t seem justified for some shorter international flights, especially since it doesn’t include lounge access.

Expert score: 7.5/10

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What to know about Delta Premium Select

What is Delta Premium Select?

Delta’s Premium Select is a seat offering that falls somewhere between economy and business (Delta One) when it comes to services, amenities, and price.  It generally can be found on flights to all six continents and includes perks like fine dining, additional recline and legroom beyond that of Comfort+, footrests, and SkyPriority access for check-in, boarding, and baggage. 

While there’s really no comparison between Premium Select and Delta One—one seat simply reclines while the other lies flat—Premium Select is substantially more comfortable than economy. If you’re on a long-haul flight that’s more than eight hours long, particularly if it’s a daytime flight, you’d likely benefit from the extra roominess. But if you’re looking for a genuinely good night’s sleep, you’ll probably want to pay up for that flat bed in Delta One. 

The other consideration you might want to weigh is your status with Delta. Premium Select comes with benefits like SkyPriority check-in, boarding, and baggage, not to mention two free checked bags—but those perks are already offered to most Delta elites. 

If you're chasing Delta status, you should know that Premium Select tickets earn 150% of the distance flown in Medallion Qualifying Miles (MQMs). Besides, if you’re an Elite Going member, you’ll receive convenient notifications for discounts, even for offers with points or miles.

 The difference between Premium Select and other classes

• Premium Select vs. economy: Delta Premium Select offers significantly wider seats, better meals, enhanced recline, and more legroom than standard economy, making it ideal for long-haul flights.
• Premium Select vs. Comfort+: While Comfort+ provides extra legroom and complimentary snacks, Premium Select takes it up a notch with priority services, more spacious seating, and an upgraded dining experience.
• Premium Select vs. Delta One: Delta One is a true business class with features like lie-flat seats, premium bedding, and elevated service, while Premium Select focuses on providing premium economy comfort at a lower price.
• Premium Select vs. First Class: First Class on Delta is primarily available on domestic and short-haul international flights. It includes wider seats and premium perks, but it lacks some of the long-haul luxury features of Delta One and the affordability of Premium Select.

For a detailed comparison between Delta One and First Class, check out our guide here.

What routes operate Delta Premium Select?

Since its introduction in 2017, Delta Premium Select has continuously expanded to cover routes to many different destinations. Currently, this class is available in most trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic routes, as well as on specific flights to Latin America. Since 2022, Delta Premium Select has also been available (and continues to add new routes) on domestic flights, operating in routes like Atlanta–Maui, Salt Lake City–Maui, JFK–Honolulu, and JFK–LAX. 

Delta Premium Select benefits

Get more comfortable seats, extra legroom, priority boarding, lounge access, and more—all while saving thousands of dollars. Download the Going app now!

The Delta Premium Select experience at the airport 

Lounge access

Lounge access is not included with Delta Premium Select fares. Passengers must use their elite status or a credit card to enter Delta Sky Clubs.

Check-in for Delta Premium Select

Delta Premium Select passengers have access to the SkyPriority lane at check-in, which typically offers shorter wait times than the regular desks.

Baggage allowance for Delta Premium Select

Delta Premium Select passengers can check two bags up to 50 lbs each for free, with SkyPriority service—bags are given a special tag that theoretically expedites delivery, though your mileage may vary.

The Delta Premium Select experience in the air

Seats in Delta Premium Select

Delta’s Premium Select seats are definitely a big step up from Comfort+, Delta’s extra-legroom economy seat. They’re a few inches wider with far more legroom and recline. Plus, they have those helpful leg rests. But each Premium Select seat also has more substantial armrests, which means you and your neighbor don’t have to share. 

Overall, they’re very comfortable seats akin to domestic First Class with more space than economy in every aspect except one: storage. The only in-seat storage here is under the seat in front of you, just like in economy, though there are also dedicated overhead bins for the cabin.

• Airbus A330-900neo: The 28 Premium Select seats on Delta’s A330-900neo are arranged in a 2-3-2 pattern, and they’re set between a galley and the bulkhead in front of the economy cabin. The seats have a pitch of 38 inches and a width of 18.5 inches. 
• Airbus A350-900: There are 48 Premium Select seats on Delta’s A350, arranged in a less-than-ideal 2-4-2 layout. The cabin is located between a galley and lavatories to the front and the economy cabin bulkhead to the back. The seats have a pitch of 38 inches and a width of 18.5 inches.
• Boeing 767-400ER: Not all of Delta’s 767s have been retrofitted to include Premium Select, but the ones that have have been done right. There are just 20 seats in a staggered 2-2-2 pattern, meaning every single one is an aisle or a window. Plus, they’re slightly wider than Premium Select seats on Delta’s Airbus aircraft—19 inches instead of 18.5.
• Boeing 777-200ER/LR: Like Delta’s A350, Delta’s B777 have 48 Premium Select seats in a 2-4-2 layout. The one advantage to this cabin is that the seats are 19 inches wide instead of 18.5. Every bit counts on a long-haul flight.

Benefits of flying Delta Premium Select

For most travelers, the best perk of Delta’s Premium Select is the extra space associated with each seat—up to 38 inches of pitch, up to 19 inches of width, and up to 7 inches of recline. The seats also come with adjustable footrests, which makes a surprisingly big difference in terms of comfort levels. But passengers in Premium Select also receive SkyPriority boarding, a TUMI amenity kit with Le Labo toiletries, noise-canceling headphones, and fine dining. There’s also at least one flight attendant solely dedicated to the cabin, which equals more attentive and faster service.

Meals in Delta Premium Select

Meals are a big step up from what’s served in economy with locally inspired menu items, such as beef with garlic ginger sauce and soba noodles on flights to Japan and bibimbap on flights to Korea. They’re also served on real plates with real flatware.

Do note that though you’re offered multiple courses, they’re all served at once on a single tray. Since Premium Select cabins only exist on long-haul flights, you’re guaranteed to be served at least one meal, quite possibly two.

Recently, Delta has incorporated the option to pre-order your meal selection up to 24 hours before your flight so you know exactly what you’ll get once you’re in the air.

Alcohol in Delta Premium Select

Alcohol is free for Premium Select passengers who are 21 and up. Delta’s beverage selection includes a wide selection of wine, beer, and spirits, with some decent premium and craft options, including Du Nord Foundation Vodka, Breckenridge Brewery beer, and canned Tip Top cocktails such as the Old Fashioned and margarita.

How to book Delta Premium Select

How much does it cost for a premium economy ticket on Delta? 

Generally speaking, Premium Select fares can cost up to twice as much as main cabin (economy) fares when paying in cash. Luckily, Going is your best ally to find cheap flights. Our Travel Experts constantly monitor airfare to over 900 destinations worldwide to send our members the best deals, even on high-fare classes like Premium Select. For example, while a typical premium economy flight to Europe on Delta might be around $1,500 roundtrip, we’ve frequently found fares in the $700s and $800s at Going. 

As Delta uses dynamic pricing for award travel, redemption values can range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of SkyMiles. 

Don’t miss out on expert-picked premium deals that make luxury affordable. Sign up for a Going Elite membership today!

How to upgrade to premium economy on Delta for free

Delta frequent flyers can use Global Upgrade Certificates (GUCs) to upgrade to Premium Select for free. GUCs are a Choice Benefit offered to Delta’s Diamond Medallion status holders. Otherwise, there are no free upgrades to Premium Select.

How much does it cost to upgrade to premium economy on Delta? 

Because of Delta’s dynamic pricing model, the price of upgrades to Premium Select varies from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Sadly, you cannot upgrade from a basic economy ticket.

How many miles to upgrade to Delta Premium Select? 

Upgrades usually start at 10,000 SkyMiles, depending on the route and availability. However, because of Delta’s dynamic pricing model, it’s hard to predict the cost of upgrading to Premium Select with SkyMiles. As we’ve previously mentioned, you cannot upgrade from a basic economy ticket.

How to save while traveling in Delta Premium Select

Book-off peak

Timing is everything when it comes to saving, no matter what class you’re flying. Traveling during off-peak seasons, such as late winter or early fall, will help you find better availability and lower fares, even on Premium Select.

Use Delta Skymiles cards

With a Delta SkyMiles credit card, you earn miles with your everyday purchases. You can then redeem those miles for flight upgrades or discounted fares. Keep an eye out for promotions and sign-up bonuses. Delta frequently offers introductory offers that award tens of thousands of bonus miles.

Cardholders also have other benefits, like a free checked bag for themselves and up to eight companions on the same reservation. That alone can save up to $60 per person per roundtrip!

Join Going and get notified about great deals

With Going’s Elite membership, you’ll get alerts about exclusive deals, including discounts on Delta Premium Select flights. Enjoy premium perks and travel amenities like priority boarding, lounge access, and more, all while getting access to exclusive high-fare class deals. 

Here are some recent examples of Going deals we’ve sent our members for Delta Premium Select fares:

• New York City to Rio de Janeiro for $953 roundtrip
• US to Lisbon starting at $1,303 roundtrip
• Seattle to Taiwan for $1,421 nonstop roundtrip

Make the most of your Premium Select experience with Going

Delta Premium Select strikes an excellent balance between comfort and affordability. With upgraded amenities like wider seats, enhanced recline, and curated dining, it serves as a reduced alternative to Delta One. Its main drawback is the lack of lie-flat seats on ultra-long-haul routes. Still, this class delivers a significant boost in comfort compared to economy.

To maximize your experience, let Going help you make this premium service more accessible. With our expertise, you'll know when and how to book, ensuring you get a high-fare class at an affordable price. Join Going’s Elite membership today, and find the Delta Premium Select deal you are looking for.

More resources for flying premium economy

• Premium economy on Air France
• The best airlines for international premium economy
• The best value routes for premium economy and business class