Delta Air Lines Premium Economy Review

Delta Air Lines markets its premium economy product as Delta Premium Select, a dedicated cabin available on many long-haul international flights. The cabin is located between standard economy and business class, giving passengers more personal space, a larger seat, and a more comfortable long-haul experience than economy.

This review examines the full Delta Premium Select experience, including the airport journey, Premium Select seats, onboard dining, in-flight service, entertainment, Wi‑Fi, and other amenities. It also explains what the cabin offers, where it fits within the Delta Air Lines network, and what passengers can realistically expect when choosing premium economy for an international flight.

Delta Premium Select includes Sky Priority airport services on eligible international flights, which makes the pre-flight process more organized. Sky Priority includes accelerated check-in, security (where available), baggage service, and priority boarding before the main cabin.

Passengers in the Delta Premium Select cabin generally receive an allowance of two checked bags, each up to 50 pounds (23 kg), along with one carry-on and one personal item. Standard Delta carry-on rules allow one carry-on bag and one personal item per passenger, provided both meet size requirements.

Delta Premium Select does not include standard lounge access. However, Delta Air Lines makes an exception for travelers who are part of Delta’s loyalty program, SkyMiles, and hold a Diamond, Platinum, or Gold Medallion status. If they are traveling on a same-day international flight, they can access Delta Sky Club lounges, with exclusions for travel to or from the Caribbean.

For most passengers, the airport value of Premium Select comes from Sky Priority services instead of lounge entry. The dedicated check-in and baggage handling help make the airport experience smoother before the flight, while priority boarding allows premium economy passengers to settle into the cabin before most travelers in the main cabin.

Delta Premium Select, Delta Air Lines’ premium economy cabin, is available on certain widebody aircraft in Delta Air Lines’ fleet. These are Airbus A350-900, Airbus A330-900neo, Airbus A330-300, Airbus A330-200, Boeing 767-300ER 76K, and Boeing 767-400ER aircraft. The overall premium economy experience is consistent, but cabin size, layout, and seat width vary by aircraft.

Airbus A350-900

The Airbus A350-900 has one of the largest Delta Premium Select cabins in the fleet. Delta uses two A350-900 configurations: the 359 version includes 48 Premium Select seats, while the 35H version includes 40 Premium Select seats.

Both versions use a 2-4-2 layout. This aircraft gives Premium Select a larger cabin than several other aircraft in the fleet.

The Airbus A330-900neo includes 28 Premium Select seats arranged in a 2-3-2 layout. The seven-abreast layout gives the cabin a narrower arrangement than that of Airbus A350-900 planes, while still maintaining the same seat pitch and width.

The Airbus A330-300 and Airbus A330-200 both feature 21 Delta Premium Select seats arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration. Each seat measures 18.5 inches (47 cm) wide and offers 38 inches (97 cm) of pitch.

These aircraft have a smaller Premium Select section than the Airbus A350-900 and Airbus A330-900neo.

The Boeing 767-300ER 76K includes 18 Delta Premium Select seats, arranged in a 2-2-2 layout.

The Boeing 767-400ER includes 20 Delta Premium Select seats in a 2-2-2 layout. The narrower Boeing 767 gives the cabin a different feel from Delta’s Airbus wide-body planes, even though the seats are of the same size and design.

On all aircraft except the Boeing 767 model, Premium Select seats measure 18.5 inches (47 cm) wide and offer 38 inches (97 cm) of pitch. The Boeing 767-400 seat measures 19.5 inches (50 cm) wide and is the widest Premium Select seat in the fleet. All seats offer up to 7 inches (18 cm) of recline.

Pairs traveling together generally prefer window-side seats, while solo travelers benefit from aisle seats for easier movement during the flight.

Delta Premium Select offers an elevated meal service on long-haul international flights. Meal service usually begins with a hot towel, followed by a beverage and a savory bite before the main meal.

Main courses vary by route and season. Passengers may receive dishes such as braised beef short rib with fingerling potatoes and Dijon green peppercorn jus, Impossible Meatballs with polenta, honey-harissa chicken thighs with jollof rice, and mango mousse with mango-passion-fruit compote for dessert.

Delta Premium Select passengers can pre-order and edit their entrée through the Fly Delta app 7 days to 24 hours before the flight.

Delta Air Lines’ crew presents the meal with linen tableware and napkins, silver flatware, and glassware.

Passengers with dietary needs can request special meals on eligible flights. Delta’s special meal options include child, Asian vegetarian, vegan, lacto-vegetarian, Hindu, halal-style, kosher, diabetic, gluten-intolerant, and reduced-fat, sugar, sodium, and cholesterol meals.

Passengers must add special meal requests again for every new or changed reservation, and Delta Air Lines only fulfills meals from its listed special-meal options. Availability can vary by region and catering provider, and certain special meals are not available at specific departure airports.

Pre-landing food depends on route, timing, and catering. On longer international flights, passengers can expect a lighter second meal or snack before arrival.

The beverage list in the Delta Premium Select cabin includes wine, beer, and spirits for passengers 21 and older. The beverage service follows the rhythm of the meal, beginning shortly after takeoff and continuing with the main meal and later service periods.

Shortly after takeoff, passengers may receive sparkling wine or water, and a small savory bite, depending on the route and catering. The in-flight beverage selection generally includes wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks, juices, mixers, tea, water, and coffee. Starbucks coffee is part of Delta’s broader onboard beverage program, but availability depends on route.

Delta’s beverage program also includes Coca-Cola products, juices, mixers, craft beer, seasonal beer options, tequila, and other spirits on eligible flights. Exact brands and selections vary by route, season, cabin, and departure airport.

Delta Premium Select operates as a dedicated cabin with its own crew section. The service follows a preset rhythm during meal periods, with crew available for additional requests throughout the flight.

Delta Air Lines' current crew uniforms are part of the Zac Posen-designed Passport Plum collection, introduced in 2018. A new collection called Distinctly Delta, featuring Navigator Navy, Boarding Burgundy, and Runway Red, was unveiled in November 2025 and is currently undergoing wear testing. The full rollout is scheduled for 2027. The new collection is being produced in partnership with Lands' End, with Missoni contributing accessories including scarves, ties, and pocket squares.

Delta Premium Select seats include a high-resolution in-flight entertainment screen of up to 13.3 inches (33.8 cm), depending on aircraft. The system offers access to Delta Studio, with more than 1,000 hours of free entertainment, including movies, TV series, playlists, podcasts, and games.

Many Delta Air Lines aircraft include live satellite TV, with up to 18 channels on equipped flights. Aircraft and route determine the exact programming selection, so passengers should not expect identical entertainment on every international flight. Delta Premium Select also includes noise-canceling headphones on widebody aircraft.

Seatback entertainment also includes a moving map, which allows passengers to follow flight progress during the journey. On aircraft with Delta Sync Wi-Fi, SkyMiles Members can access fast, free Wi-Fi presented by T-Mobile.

Delta Premium Select passengers receive a Someone Somewhere amenity kit on long-haul international flights. The kit includes travel essentials such as Grown Alchemist skincare products, a bamboo toothbrush and toothpaste, an eye mask, earplugs, socks, and a pen.

Someone Somewhere designs the kits, featuring work by Mexican artisans, and the amenity kit supports Delta’s broader move toward lower-waste onboard products.

Delta Premium Select passengers also receive a memory foam pillow and a plush blanket made from recycled materials.

Families traveling with infants can request a SkyCot bassinet on some international flights. Delta offers SkyCots free of charge for certain seats on equipped aircraft, and the bassinets suit infants weighing up to 20 pounds (9 kg) and measuring up to 26 inches (66 cm) long.

SkyCots must be requested directly with the airline before travel and confirmed again with the gate agent before boarding. Because each equipped aircraft carries only a few SkyCots, they are assigned on a first-come basis and cannot be guaranteed at the time of request. Securing one depends on availability and on getting a bulkhead seat, so it helps to request it as early as possible.

Delta Air Lines has set a goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and continues to focus on three main areas: aircraft efficiency, operational fuel savings, and sustainable aviation fuel.

Sustainable aviation fuel forms one of the airline’s central long-term priorities. Delta Air Lines has set a target for sustainable aviation fuel to make up 10% of its fuel use by the end of 2030, and the airline has signed agreements covering more than half of the volume needed to reach that target.

On board, Delta Air Lines has also worked to reduce single-use plastics and lower cabin waste. Its recent initiatives include introducing paper cups designed to reduce nearly 7 million pounds of single-use plastic annually, bagasse plates made from sugarcane fiber in Delta Premium Select dining, and Someone Somewhere amenity kits featuring artisan-made elements.

Delta’s community work includes a long-running partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Through that partnership, Delta Air Lines has contributed financial and volunteer support to help build or rehabilitate 287 homes in 13 countries since 1995.

Delta Premium Select is available on wide-body aircraft across Delta’s long-haul international network, with cabin size and seat width varying by aircraft.

Seat comfort is the main reason to choose Delta Premium Select. The cabin offers up to 38 inches (97 cm) of pitch, up to 19.5 inches (50 cm) of width, and up to 7 inches (18 cm) of recline.

The airport experience adds value on eligible international flights through Sky Priority services, including priority check-in, baggage service, and priority boarding. Delta Premium Select passengers also generally receive two checked bags weighing up to 50 pounds (23 kg) each.

The onboard experience includes a more defined meal and beverage structure than standard long-haul economy, with glassware, silver flatware, linen tableware, complimentary wine, beer, and spirits for eligible passengers 21 and older, and entrée pre-selection before departure.

Additional amenities help make longer flights more comfortable, with a Someone Somewhere amenity kit, Grown Alchemist skin-care products, a memory foam pillow, and a blanket made from recycled materials.

Delta’s sustainability efforts appear most clearly in the Premium Select product through bagasse dining plates, reduced single-use plastic initiatives, recycled bedding materials, and artisan-made amenity kits.

Delta Premium Select works as a true long-haul premium economy cabin, with recliner-style seats offering 38 inches (97 cm) of pitch, up to 19.5 inches (50 cm) of width, and up to 7 inches (18 cm) of recline. The Boeing 767-400ER holds the strongest aircraft-specific advantage, as it features the widest Premium Select seat, while the Airbus A350-900 has the largest cabin. Sky Priority, two checked bags, glassware, silver flatware, and long-haul amenities place the product above standard economy in both ground and onboard experience. The main weakness is aircraft variation, since cabin size, layout, and seat width change across Delta’s wide-body fleet. Delta Premium Select is worth flying on long international routes when the aircraft has a 2-2-2 layout, and the added seat comfort, airport benefits, and onboard service justify the price.

Seat Pitch: 38 inches
Widest Seat: Boeing 767-400ER
Airport Benefit: Sky Priority included
Best Use: Long international flights
Reviewed: June 2026

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