When Delta Air Lines premiered the Airbus A350 wide body jet a number of years ago with the new Delta One Suites I choose not to fly the suites because they were not that much of a shift from the other Delta One business class experience on other aircraft. Instead I wanted to experience something Delta had never ever had before that is a Premium Economy experience called Premium Select by the airline.
It was very impressive. The seat, very similar to a domestic “first class” seat with the addition of leg support reminds me of what was considered a full business class experience a decade ago. Heck when you had domestic legs attached to your Premium Select flight you even got to fly first class on those legs (that was cut a while ago fyi).
What really stood out was the meal. It basically was what those one cabin ahead, that is Delta One passengers, received but all in one tray service instead rather than course by course presentation. Compare this to the fact that currently Premium Select flyers get the exact same meal that coach passages get. Will things move back to what once was? Delta has teased us recently and posted:
“Customers can expect additional enhancements to the Delta Premium Select in-flight experience later this year.” – Delta News
I always have a bit of a gag reflex every time I see Delta use the word “enhancement” as for us it normally means something is way worse than it was before.
We reached out to Delta to ask if real Premium Select meals would be returning and were told they didn’t discontinue Premium Select meals and drinks.
Ummmm k – if you say so Delta! 🙁
We already know real Premium Select amenity kits are gone as they have become the new business class kits on AeroMexico and Premium Select flyers have been getting Comfort Plus kits instead (I guess maybe better than nothing?).
My real disappointed with the current Premium Select offering by Delta comes from the fact that the Delta CEO himself referred to Premium Select as a business class cabin (no really, he said that – see for yourself) and simply providing a larger seat and a 100% coach experience does not in any way scream business class to me. Beyond that the current pricing for Premium Select award seats with Skymiles is now very similar to what business class was just a few years ago!
What do you think? Will Delta make the Premium Select experience as good as it once was or will revenue management keep it coach for good? – René
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i flew prem select a few weeks ago and it was exactly that: “a larger seat with economy service” – an economy service that was in addition particularly bad on this flight (JFK-AMS). only the meals were served and the FAs didn’t even make a round one time before the pre-landing snack (not even to provide water, like they used to do in economy). given that the galley was in the back of the plane, and no FA was resident in the nearest galley to PS+, it really felt neglected and sad. this was also a 4:35pm flight, so it wasn’t really even overnight (technically we landed to AMS and 11:35pm EST). hopefully they work this out because selling upgrades for this fo $500+ or even charging $1500 one way makes no sense.
@augie – Thanks for your comment and I agree on the upgrade prices – yuck! Question, is Delta still offering Delta One noise canceling headphones to Premium Select folks?
yes, you get the the earphones and the d1 amenity kits (looks like whichever one they have in stock – i got the new ones from the someone somewhere, and i also received one of the older tumi soft ones), i’ve flown it a few times in the past 2 months transatlantic.
@augie – Well at least they upgraded the kits! That’s good at least.
I flew this to Shanghai in November 2019. I loved it. Nice seat, food and drink were good as well as the service. If now its the equivalent of the “big front seat” on spirit, not sure I would do it again, but will look for it on a partner airline…..
What I hated most is that they stopped offering Kids meals. The Hotline let me order them, but on the flight they told us they only have the Pasta meal as a Kids meal. That was really bad because it was Ravioli with Pesto, something I don’t think any kid likes. The other option was to go with chicken, but that was spicy like crazy. And even in the morning we could only choose between a goat cheese or spicy Sandwich. I really don’t get how they can offer about 11 different meals for allergies or religious people but nothing “special” for a kid. Especially since they nearly pay the same as adults.
I flew to Israel in Premium Select a few weeks ago and the kosher meal was a standard kosher meal. At the time I thought I had read that Premium Select meals were supposed to be the same as first class meals so I am glad you confirmed that I was remembering correctly. Also now, with the new Global Upgrade policy, this basically means that anyone that gets upgraded to first class with a special meal is unlikely to ever get a first class meal (although thankfully on the Tel Aviv flights they appeared to bring enough kosher meals for everyone that wanted, regardless of what they had booked, as I found out on the way back when I got the Delta One upgrade at the gate). So YES, Delta ought to be offering the same food in Premium Select as they are offering in Delta One.
I just flew Premium Select DTW to LHR and it was terrible. Definitely the economy meals and it was the worse airline food I’ve had in a long time. Only got the Comfort Plus kits if you can even call it a kit. It was truly the poorest PE experience I’ve had and in the last two years, I’ve flown this route in PE on United, American and Virgin. Not worth it.
Presently on Premium Select JFK to Paris. Sorry service was strictly economy or comfort plus at best. Real disappointment.Dessert was prepackaged cookie Breakfast was egg sandwich in a box. It couldn’t have been better than economy.
I’m flying comfort plus back. Let’s see if there is a difference. Doubtful.
Just flew round trip to and from Israel. Service was amazing as it always is on this route.
So here is the comment from Delta Representative:
“Hi! Thanks for messaging with Delta. My name is LeAnn. I’ll be happy to assist you! I am showing that upgraded meal serice is offered in Delta one only. It is the same for Premium Select. Comfort plus and Main cabin.”
Save the money and just get upgraded to comfort plus.
Flew back Comfort Plus Bulkhead. If you ask me, it was just the same as Premium Select but cheaper. Premium Select is simply not worth the price difference when compared to Comfort Plus.
On a plane now from Tokyo to Detroit. I was really surprised on the way out that the PS service was the same as coach. Plastic bottles of crap wine, and gross meals. I thought it must be a mistake. Nope – on the way back now. Same trash.
Tokyo?! I’m jealous!! How was it?