Delta Premium Select Review (Is It Worth the Upgrade?)
Introduction
I used to live in Hawaii and fly home to visit family in Massachusetts regularly. I would generally have a layover somewhere between California and Arizona or Texas, meaning I was stuck in an economy seat for 5-6 hours at a time and often on a red-eye.
Last year I decided to upgrade to Delta Premium Select for my husband and I’s trip from Montreal to Honolulu. Premium Select is a new tier of seat between economy and first class. Technically, it is considered “Premium Economy”; however, it can also be listed as first class on Delta’s website, with Delta One being the premium lie-flat seats.
This Delta Premium Select review covers our experience over two flights in this cabin class. This is my honest review, as I paid for these tickets myself and don’t have Delta status or points. I will discuss the amenities, food, cost, and whether I think it was worth the upgrade.
What Is Delta Premium Select?
Delta’s Premium Economy Cabin Explained
Delta Premium Select is a mid-range cabin class that is more expensive than economy but much cheaper than first or business class. Premium Select offers more legroom and larger, reclining seats. Meals and drinks are also included, and it feels like a premium first-class service.
Routes and Aircraft Offering Premium Select
Delta offers Premium Select seats on most trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic routes and some longer domestic routes. Flights from some destinations to Hawaii have Premium Select seats as well as longer routes from New York to Los Angeles or San Francisco.
Our round-trip route consisted of two flights each way. Our outbound flight had one leg from Montreal to Minneapolis-St. Paul and then from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Honolulu. The Montreal to Minneapolis flight was Comfort+ on a Bombardier CRJ-900, and the Minneapolis to Honolulu flight was Premium Select on an Airbus A330-300. Our return flight was from Honolulu to Detroit and then from Detroit to Montreal. The Honolulu to Detroit leg was Premium Select on an Airbus A330-300, and the Detroit to Montreal leg was Comfort+ on a Bombardier CRJ-900. The outbound flight had a layover of less than 2 hours, and the return flight had a longer layover of about 4 hours.
How It Compares to Main Cabin, Comfort+, and Delta One
Fare class is all going to depend on the route and plane. Our full route included a shorter flight each way that was technically the Comfort+ fare. However, since it was such a small regional jet, I don’t think Comfort+ was worth it.
According to Delta’s website, the benefits of Comfort+ are earlier boarding (zone 3), extra legroom, and a dedicated overhead bin space. They also offer amenity kits on longer flights.
Delta’s main cabin fare is the standard seat fare. The main cabin generally includes a snack and a drink. Meals and alcoholic drinks can be purchased. The boarding zones will be anywhere from zone 5 to zone 8. Some fares do not include seat selection. Baggage fees are $35 for your first checked bag and $45 for additional bags.
Delta One is the highest tier and includes the lie-flat seat. This fare will typically set you back thousands of dollars, depending on the flight. Delta One fares also include lounge access. There are Delta One lounges at JFK, BOS, LAX, and SEA. You will board in zone 1.
Our flights were short, approximately 3 hours from Montreal to Minneapolis and 2 hours from Detroit to Montreal. The flights were an Endeavor Air Delta connection on a CRJ900 aircraft. The CRJ900 is a twin-engine regional jet manufactured by Bombardier. It only has a capacity for around 76-90 passengers.
I have to say, my husband and I had a scary experience on the ascent on the first flight. We both felt like we were going to faint. Apparently, there is a point in the takeoff when the plane levels off, and people’s sensory response, especially in our inner ear, tricks us into thinking we are falling. It was a strange sensation that got better after about 5 minutes. All I know is this does not happen in larger planes at all, so that has something to do with it.
Booking Delta Premium Select
The booking experience for Delta Premium Select is pretty straightforward. I used Delta’s website to view routes and prices for my travel dates. One thing to note, as I mentioned above, is that Premium Select is only available on select flights. So the first flight we were in Comfort+ instead. Still, you do retain all of the airport benefits of Premium Select if it is included in your route at all. So we had priority baggage, priority boarding, and two free checked bags, even though we did not have Premium Select for the full route.
Price vs. Value
I found the Delta Premium Select experience to be worth the price. We paid $1533 USD ($2140 CAD) base fare for each round-trip ticket. Looking at a comparable flight in 2026 over the same route, the prices are similar. Our final price ended up being about $1666 USD. Since our route encompassed Canada and the United States, we ended up having to pay airport and security fees for both countries with our ticket. Comparing Premium Select with the same route main cabin fare, the rates range from $645 to $860 USD ($900 to $1200 CAD). Meanwhile, the same Delta One flight is a whopping $6450 USD ($9000 CAD).
Delta Premium Select is an elevated experience without the huge price tag of Delta One. I, for one, do not have an extra 10,000 dollars to spend before my vacation even starts. However, for such a long route, the comfort and experience made the price tag worth it for us.
Airport Experience & Boarding
Priority Check-In Experience and Baggage Allowance
As I mentioned, even if your whole route is not Premium Select, it will still be noted on your ticket. At the airport, you can check in via the Sky Priority line. Your bags are tagged priority, so they come out first when you arrive at your destination. This makes such a difference when you finally arrive after a long day of travel.
Baggage allowance is also an extra perk with this ticket. Each traveler receives TWO free checked bags of up to 50 lbs (23kg) each. This came in useful on our return flight, as we bought a duffel bag in Hawaii and filled it with our dirty clothes, and packed our souvenirs in our locked suitcases. You also receive one free carry-on.
Does Premium Select Include Lounge Access?
According to Delta’s website, lounge access is “permitted with credentials”. In order to have credentials, however, you must be a Delta Sky Club member, a Delta One passenger, or have one of the Delta or American Express cards. We did not try to use this feature as our flight left very early in the morning, but it seems that we would not have qualified on our ticket alone. Single-visit passes to the Delta Sky Club have also been discontinued.
Boarding Process and Boarding Group
Another perk to the Delta Premium Select ticket is priority boarding. Premium Select ticket holders board in Zone 2. The only group in front of you is the Zone 1 (Delta One) boarding group. We found this to be a nice feature as well, so we could get settled in and relax in our seats.
First impressions stepping onboard
Our flight was on the Airbus A330-300. The Premium Select cabin has 21 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration. It is separated from the main cabin, although it shares bathroom access with the main cabin, which is back in row 42. We sat in row 21 in seats J and H (window and aisle seats next to each other).
Everything is in your seat when you board the plane. Included on our seat was a blanket and pillow, a nice set of headphones to use on the flight, a menu, and an amenity kit. The Delta amenity kit is from Someone Somewhere and includes a lip balm, eye mask, socks, earplugs, a dental kit, hand cream, and a pen. It is stored in a reusable cloth pouch that I have since repurposed to hold other things like chargers.
Delta Premium Select Seat Review
Seat Comfort & Dimensions
The A330 has 21 Premium Select seats. The seat width and pitch are 18.5in / 38 in or 47cm / 97cm. The underseat dimensions (depth x width x height) are 14in x 13.3 in x 6.2 in. I had room under my seat to store both my backpack and my purse, which were both full-sized items.
There is also plenty of overhead space for carry-on suitcases. Since you are seated in a cabin with 21 seats and are boarding early, there is not the same issue as in economy when you get to your seat, and all the overhead bin space is somehow already taken! The amenities in the seat are Wifi, a personal video screen, an in-seat power outlet, and USB in-seat power.
Amenities Provided
The amenities included with the seat are Wifi, personal video screen, in-seat power outlet, and USB in-seat power. The amenity kit features a reusable pouch, toothbrush and toothpaste, socks, eye mask, pen, lip balm, earplugs, and hand cream. The headseat was impressive too, as it was a nice, thick pair of over-ear noise-cancelling headphones. The headphones are not meant to be kept and are collected at the end of the flight. There is also a pillow and blanket on the seat for you to enjoy on your flight.
Footrest + leg rest details
The Premium Select seats also include a fold-out adjustable footrest and leg rest. The additional legroom is almost like a recliner chair. My husband, who is 5’11”, was very comfortable in these seats and was able to stretch out and sleep. Considering our flight from Minneapolis to Honolulu was 8 hours and 58 minutes, this was key to why we booked these tickets in the first place. At 5’3″, I don’t have as much of an issue on flights, but any economy seat is going to be extremely uncomfortable after 4-5 hours.
Delta Premium Select In-Flight Experience
Food & Dining Review
The meal service in Delta Premium Select is elevated and feels like first class. You start with a hot towel service and are given a drink and snack right away. It seems that the drink cart goes from Premium Select to Economy. So it was nice to have a little bite to eat while everyone was served drinks.
After the drink service is complete, the flight attendants come around with meals. This is an elevated experience compared to Economy, as we were given cloth napkins and real glassware. I have flown first class on Air Canada and was served on plastic trays, so this was quite a different experience in Premium Economy.
We pre-ordered our meals on the Delta app, but I believe that could be changed on the flight if you wanted to. There was one vegetarian option and one chicken option on both flights we took. I got the vegetarian option on both flights, as I am a vegetarian, and my husband got the chicken one flight and the vegetarian option on the return flight. We both liked the meals. They were also served with a salad, a roll, and a dessert. I am impressed with a good salad on planes because it seems like it would be hard to keep fresh – and this one did not disappoint!
In addition to our pre-ordered meal, there was also a pre-arrival course, which was honestly like a second meal. On our outbound flight, the pre-arrival meal was an afternoon lunch, and on our return flight, it was breakfast.
In addition to the meals, there are drinks and snacks that are available at any time. There is a time mid-flight when one of the flight attendants comes around with a snack basket that you can choose from. We also had flight attendants coming around regularly, so it was always easy to ask for more water or a drink.
Delta In-Flight Entertainment System
The in-flight entertainment was okay. I think the selection of TV series was good. There were many new shows from Paramount+, CBS, and Showtime. The movie selection was a bit dated as there were not a lot of new releases. I know the selection changes often, but I felt like a lot of the movies were pretty old or movies I had never heard of.
The Delta Premium Select screen is a 13.3-inch touch screen that also comes with a remote control. The screen size is smaller on some of the other planes, like the 757. The screen size is quite large and is mounted on the seatback in front of you.
In addition to the screen, there is a headphone outlet and a USB port. There is also AC power and USB outlets next to your seat or on the side of your seat.
Cabin Crew & Service
The cabin crew was very friendly and attentive. I know that the Delta website says you have dedicated flight attendants, but I am not sure that was the case. Or maybe extra flight attendants are coming around during meal service. Either way, I have no complaints. If you look at Delta’s website, you will see that there is a galley where they store food and drinks right in front of the Premium Select cabin, so there was always someone nearby or walking through our cabin.
Delta Premium Select Sleeping & Long-Haul Comfort
How Easy It Is to Sleep in Premium Select
Both my husband and I slept for hours at a time in our Premium Select seats. We both had our first meal and then relaxed a bit watching some TV before falling asleep. As I mentioned before, my husband is 5’11” and was able to recline comfortably in his aisle seat. I was in the window seat and am 5’3″, so it was easy for me to recline as well. The blanket helped because I am always freezing in airplanes and would not be able to sleep if I were uncomfortably cold.
Noise Levels
There were no noise issues in the Premium Select cabin. It did help that the cabin was full of adults, so we didn’t have any disruptions nearby. We were given the noise-cancelling headphones to wear, but I always pack some of my own earplugs as well. My husband slept with his own Bose noise-cancelling headphones on and was very comfortable. I don’t mind a bit of background noise, but I find that when I wear one of the eye masks, I can sleep much more comfortably.
Comparison to Economy and Comfort+
On the A330, the big difference between Economy and Comfort+ is the size of the seats, recline, and seat configuration. Both Economy and Comfort+ have a 2-4-2 seat configuration and a larger cabin. The Comfort seats have a 1/2 inch smaller width and 4 inches less pitch than the Premium Select seats. The Economy seats have the same width as Comfort but 6 inches less pitch than Premium Select seats.
The fact that the Premium Select cabin has only 21 seats makes it much quieter and calmer. The blankets and seat recline allow you to really rest on your trip.
Arrival Experience
Deplaning
Since the Premium Select seats are near the front of the plane, you are going to be off the plane very quickly. You are in rows 20-22 in the A330. There are only 34 seats in Delta One from rows 1-9, so there is not much waiting for deplaning.
Priority Baggage Delivery
As I mentioned before, this was a huge perk for us when we landed. We started our first flight at 6 am in Montreal and landed at 3:10 pm in Honolulu (which is basically 8 pm in Eastern time). So after more than 14 hours of travel, no matter how comfortable we were, we were tired.
Having a Premium Select ticket meant that our bags came out super fast, and we were on our way. I always joke that when waiting for your bags in Honolulu, you realize what Hawaiian time is because it always seems to take so long, so it was nice to be up and out of there quickly. Similarly, on our return flight, we went through Customs and are bags were waiting for us, and we were on our way.
Pros & Cons of Delta Premium Select
Pros
Having more space and a more comfortable space was a huge pro for this seat. I think flying economy for around 5 hours is fine, but beyond that, it can be extremely uncomfortable, and you can start to feel really antsy and claustrophobic. It is also better for your legs to be able to stretch them out and not have to sit with your legs bent or try to get up and climb around people in order to stretch.
The meals were very tasty. I know that airplane food can be kind of dicey, but the whole experience was elevated, and the food tasted fresh, and the meal was warm. In comparison, there is basically no free food in Economy, and the meal choices are not as nice. We also had a bonus pre-arrival meal, which I did not realize we would have.
In addition, having priority services like boarding in Zone 2, 2 free checked bags, and Priority bags enhanced our long day of travel.
Cons
A con of Priority Select is that there is no lounge access. Now this really depends on your flight and schedule. Since our first flight left at 6 am, I am not sure that the lounge would be open at that hour. I do know that I would rather sleep in than arrive early at the airport to sit in the lounge for an hour, though. We also had a layover of less than 2 hours in Minneapolis.
Our return flight had a longer layover of 4 hours, so lounge access would have been nice on that leg of the trip. Since we did not have one of the credit cards or other options, we did not have access to the lounge.
The higher cost is a con as well, but when I was comparing all the seat options, the Premium Select was much closer in price to the Economy ticket than it was to the Delta One ticket. Given the extras like the baggage you don’t have to pay for, along with food and drinks, it does make some sense to pay a bit more.
Another con is the limited aircraft availability. We could only get the Premium Select seats on one portion of our ticket. Some aircraft do not have Premium Select at all, and it is replaced with Comfort+ (which felt almost the same as Economy on our flights because of the small aircraft).
Is Delta Premium Select Worth It?
When It’s Worth the Upgrade
I would say yes, it is worth it for longer flights (5 hours or more or red-eye flights). I am perfectly comfortable in Economy for cross-country flights like from Boston to Los Angeles. When you are awake, and you have something to watch or a book to read, it is fine. However, flying from Montreal to Honolulu is quite a journey. I used to fly economy quite often from Boston to Honolulu in red-eye flights, so I know how uncomfortable it is.
In my experience, the jet lag going back from Honolulu to Eastern destinations is the worst! You are often on an overnight flight leaving Hawaii. It always takes me a week to recover and adjust to the time zone on return. So, if budget is an issue, that is the leg that I would recommend booking Premium Select on.
When You Can Skip It
I don’t think Premium Select is worth it on shorter flights. I think the benefit of Premium Select is on long routes and international routes. Also, many flights to Europe include meals and drinks in Economy tickets, so the Premium Economy meals are not always a perk depending on where you are going. Similarly, if I were booking this same route now, I would skip the Comfort+ ticket on our shorter flight. The plane was so small, and the flight was short, so there was really no added benefit to it.
Conclusion
Final Thoughts on Flying Delta Premium Select
I hope this Delta Premium Select review has been helpful for you in deciding whether to book in the future. Both my husband and I were very comfortable and enjoyed the food and drinks, and the great service in this cabin. As I mentioned, I think it is worth the cost for longer flights and red-eye flights when you don’t want to sit uncomfortably in Economy, unable to stretch out, but also don’t want to spend 10K on flights.
Would I Book Premium Economy Again?
Yes, I would book Delta Premium Select again. In fact, I tried to book this same route for 2026; however, it was not offered on the day I was flying, and I did not have the flexibility to change my travel dates. So, in 2026, I will be trying out United Economy Plus and will be comparing the two in a later blog post.
