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Delta Air Lines announced that its Premium Select (premium economy) product will soon take flight in several US markets.
That’s enough to make some Medallion/elite status members shake in their boots. Why?After the Global Upgrade Certificate devaluations Delta introduced last year, what’s to make us think they won’t do the same to Regional Upgrade Certificates for flights offering Delta Premium Select?
Delta Premium Select US Domestic Flights
Here are the routes that will feature Delta Premium Select within the US 50 later this fall.
- Atlanta (ATL) to Maui (OGG)
- New York-JFK (JFK) to Honolulu (HNL)
- Salt Lake City (SLC) to Maui (OGG)
Basically, two Hawaiian destinations: Honolulu and Maui.
So, at least some flights on those lines will then feature four cabins:
- Delta One
- Delta Premium Select
- Delta Comfort+
- Main Cabin (and Basic Economy)
I rode the Premium Select seats from Los Angeles (LAX) to JFK a few months ago on a 767-400. And I really liked it. They’re like jazzier versions of most Delta domestic First Class seats.
On some US domestic routes featuring wide body aircraft, Premium Select seats are considered Comfort+ That’s how I got to sample the DPS seats.(In those instances, regular Comfort+ seats are considered Main Cabin and receive Main Cabin service).
But I don’t think I’d pay a steep premium for them.
Are More US Domestic Routes Getting Delta Premium Select?
Delta hasn’t yet announced it but I’d bet dollars to donuts that they’ll bring a Premium Select product (amenity kits, meals, etc.) to at least a few of the US routes offering Delta One. Think JFK to LAX, SFO to JFK, etc.
Remember when Diamond Medallions could book a Main Cabin ticket on an international flight then confirm an upgrade to Delta One (inventory permitting) using a Global Upgrade Certificate (GUC)?
Ah, those were the days. (You know, 2021 and the years before.)
But now, the best a GUC can do is get you a confirmed a Delta Premium Select seat (again, inventory permitting) and then on the waitlist for Delta One.
I fear the same thing may happen to Regional Upgrade Certificates (RUC) in regards to Premium Select. (Wait a minute, you say, Delta might make RUC even more difficult to redeem for premium products?)
So, what’s the plan for processing upgrades?
“For now, Delta isn’t spilling the beans,” wrote TPG’s Zach Griff. “An airline spokesperson shared that ‘more information to come once we are closer to our ready-to-fly dates.’”
Lovely.
Worst case scenario: we’re back where we started: in Main Cabin or Comfort+ seats.
What do you make of all this? Please share your thoughts in the below Comments section?
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Ugh….. another bites the dust!!!! Poooof
Remember, Delta didn’t allow eligible elites to get complimentary upgrades into Delta One when Delta first launched Delta One on domestic flights between JFK/BOS and LAX/SFO. That changed eventually to the point now where you can get a complimentary upgrade but also use either a regional or global upgrade certificate. While Delta’s regional upgrade certificates are pretty useless these day, getting a complimentary upgrade is even harder these days — especially on desirable routes. Delta needs to clarify how it will handle complimentary upgrades. If I’m a diamond and there are empty seats in premium and Delta One, do I clear into Delta One or clear into premium and waitlist for Delta One?
What lounge if any is Delta using in Maui? There’s no Sky Club there. Or are Delta One customers not getting lounge access?
Another issue I have with expanded premium flights to/from Honolulu is the Sky Club there. It is VERY, VERY small. It is already overcrowded at peak times with aircraft flying in a mostly domestic first-class configuration. Add a bunch of premium seats and more passengers with Sky Club access, it’s not ideal at all.
Well there are other airlines. Might be good timing that we are finally dropping to Platinum after being Charter Diamonds. I am tired of Delta in so many ways. Screwing your top customers will not improve your bottom line.
The expression you used, “dollars to donuts,” does not mean what it used to mean. It has sort of gone the way of GUC upgrades.
Considering all the poor service provided by Delta in flight and reservations and any communication over the past year you would think Dekta would be on a path to win back loyalty.
Delta front line people seem to be really good folks. I assume Revenue Management must be decent people as well. Only thing I can figure is pressure from investment community to increase/maintain stock price is driving Delta management to cut costs and grow revenues …. Other words, raise prices, cut “free” frequent flyer benefits, cut onboard food service, pack SkyClubs, etc. Delta management seems to try and be just a bit better than competition. Guess we root for United and American. And, it looks like United might be catching on to that strategy. American, not so much.
I paid for an upgrade to Premium Select about 6 weeks ago on 767 ATL-MAD and was very disappointed. The meals were the same as economy, had to walk 40+ rows back to the lav in economy. The seat was a bit wider and a bit more pitch, but for $500 each way, I’ll get a nice hotel room, a good dinner, and a massage at arrival.
Wasn’t premium economy originally receiving business-class meals but economy wine when Delta first launched it?
@FNT – Yes. I flew the first one ever and commented it would not last: https://eyeoftheflyer.com/2017/11/05/review-delta-air-lines-premium-select-experience-meals-drinks-entertainment/
As many of you have commented, I’m never ecstatic to see medallion benefits get devalued (I’ve been PM for the last 7-8 yrs). I’ve been a loyal Delta flyer for so long, I’m completely out of touch with what American and United are doing. I don’t know that it would make sense for me, since my home airport is RDU, to move to a different primary airline, but I really don’t have any idea if the grass is even greener with a different airline. I can point to three positive things Delta has done in the last year for ALL flyers: 1) no change fees; 2) $5 per flight for MUCH improved WiFi; 3) after all the issues they’ve had over the past few months, Delta has been noticeably proactive in the last month or so with compensating flyers (meal vouchers/snacks on long delays; bonus miles, etc.) when things do go wrong. When Delta does these types of things, it definitely helps my perception of the company and the value I’m getting, even if my status doesn’t get me quite as many benefits as it once did.
Delta is a waste of time. Way behind the power curve with PE. Just walk through this article and notice how confusing the Delta offering is if your intent is to have a true PE experience. Not the same on all flights. Comfort plus is NO WAY a PE experience in my mind.
I flew premium select from DTW to Shanghai in November 2019. I was very happy with the product and it’s offerings. To me it’s very comparable to current domestic 1st class (not delta one) Delta is going to do what they think they must to stay profitable and support the shareholders.