Delta Air Lines offers a “Comfort+” product, which is advertised as an “upgraded experience.” The airline says C+ (as we call it) has “additional legroom on all flights, compared to a standard Main Cabin seat” and “dedicated overhead bin space just for your items.”
You might even get complimentary alcohol and Starbucks coffee — and better snack options than the peasants back in Main Cabin! But all that depends on how long your flight is.
It charges more money or SkyMiles for these seats (which are the same width as Main Cabin seats). Medallion elite status members can upgrade to them for free — but only within certain windows.
But are there times when Main Cabin is better than Comfort+?
100% yes.
When is Main Cabin Better Than Comfort+?
This Reddit post by u/Bitter-Ordinary-8535 got me thinking.
757 C+ feels worse than Main
byu/Bitter-Ordinary-8535 indelta
Does it feel like C+ on these 757s are worse than Main? Stay with me a moment…
You board in the middle of the plane, everyone is jockeying for the overhead because of the bulkhead. So you wind up storing the roll aboard 2-3 rows ahead or behind. And deplaning everyone is stepping over each other to get their bags as FAs are trying to disarm doors and stand there. And the lav is right there, which brings a crowd and smell which we don’t need to get into.
Just feels like a big bag of crazy to me.
Just to clarify, u/Bitter-Ordinary-8535 is assigned to seat 19E. That’s a middle seat in Comfort+ on this particular aircraft. I assume they are a Diamond or Platinum Medallion and received a complimentary upgrade right after booking their ticket. (That is a good perk of Diamond or Platinum status.)
But there are much better seats — in my opinion — in Main Cabin.
I would take something (even a dreaded middle seat!) in rows 26 or 27. Those are emergency exit rows with exceptional leg room. Far more than most seats in Comfort+. They also have underseat storage and seatback inflight entertainment screens (as opposed to Comfort+ bulkhead seats, which are also OK with me).
I can’t select emergency exit row seats when traveling with my daughter because she’s seven years old. She can’t sit in an exit row until she’s 15. (Fine with me! I’m happy with her staying “little” as long as possible. 🙂 ) So, I select Comfort+ seats when I travel with her because I appreciate the extra two inches or whatever of legroom.
RELATED: Delta Platinum and Diamonds: You Don’t Have to Buy Comfort+!
But when I fly alone or with my wife, if I can’t get a Comfort+ bulkhead (or exit row, depending on the aircraft), I opt for an exit row. Yes, the seat pads are thinner than standard seats. The arm rests are a little tighter. But I’ll take the legroom.
Is Comfort+ Really an Upgrade?
This is a beauty-is-in-eyes-of-the-beholder situation.
Plenty of people say it’s not an upgrade because the seat itself is no different than standard coach seats. In that sense, C+ is not an upgrade from Main Cabin.
But when I’m with my kid, getting a little extra legroom in C+ is a bit of an upgrade. But I would never pay substantially more for it than a Main Cabin seat.
I know some Medallions who select exit row seats when they book tickets — but hope and pray for a Comfort+ upgrade. And we’re not talking about when Premium Select seats are marketed as Comfort+ (score!). I mean getting a good overwing exit row seats and then trading them for anything in Comfort+. Even if it means losing two (or more) feet of legroom.
Why do they do this? Well, because it’s Comfort+! It’s an upgrade, don’t you see? (Delta really needs to serve Kool-Aid in Comfort+…)
When I ask them about this, the conversation goes something like:
ME: Don’t you want more legroom?
THEM: We do get more legroom in Comfort because it’s an upgrade. Comfort has more legroom than coach.
Note: Comfort+ is still coach
ME: Sure, but exit rows have way more legroom than almost all Comfort seats.
THEM: But Comfort is an upgrade! It’s free because we have status.
ME: Right, but —
THEM: We get free drinks! Well, not on short flights. That’s so cheap.
ME: Agreed and I get it. But legroom is more valuable to me. I’d pay for my drinks or use drink coupons.
THEM: Yeah but we save money on drinks! And the snacks are better! And it’s an upgrade with more legroom! Because it’s Comfort.
ME: The snacks are better for sure. But the legroom is —
THEM: But Comfort is an upgrade! There’s more legroom! And it’s an upgrade for elite members!
Final Approach
Hey, if the prestige of a Comfort+ upgrade, free drinks, and decent snacks makes you happy, that’s great! But when it comes to legroom, there are usually much better options for Medallions in Main Cabin.
What’s your take?
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When it comes to legroom I absolutely understand that people like to be seated in an exit row. Of course you have lots more legroom there than in a typical C+ seat.
Personally, I don’t like to sit in an exit row. We had that once and it was one of my least comfortable flights (one of the reasons was the immovable armrest). Of course it was way better than flying Lufthansa, but still …
I am not that tall so I don’t feel cramped in an ordinary main cabin seat and having that little extra space (I know, not in width, just the pitch) in C+ is fine to me. A little more space for my feet to move around and it is a bit easier to get up and sit down.
And, depending on flight length and all, I do enjoy the better snacks and the beverage selection.
This is not worth the extra money one has to pay for C+ that’s right. But I liked the upgrades while we were still Medallions. Especially that year of being Platinum and getting upgraded almost instantly after booking. That way we were able to choose between available C+ seats and make sure we sit together.
Oh, with “we” I mean my plus one and me 😉
Now that we won’t be Medallions anymore my thinking has changed a bit and I might pay a little more for C+ for earlier boarding and having a chance to store my carry on. Or, if the price for Premium Select is somewhat reasonable (to me), I might go for that. Luggage checked, better seat, …
Long story short: I always considered C+ an upgrade over main cabin. Not like a “wow that’s amazing!” upgrade … but still an upgrade. Especially since I don’t like exit rows.
I think it’s important to emphasize the significance of flight time for this discussion. On a short 1-2 domestic flight, the seat difference is minimal. Any of us can put up with a little less leg room or fewer drinks for 75 minutes.
If we’re talking about a 5 hour transcontinental flight or a 12 hour (Atlanta to Athens) flight, then getting Comfort+ is huge. Sitting next to a door in aisle row is freezing. Having the extra overhead space and proximity to the front of the plane (important for getting through Immigration in a reasonable time) is a huge win. Right now, my wife and I travel a lot internationally with our less than 2 year old daughter. Any seat in Comfort+, but especially the bulkhead seat, is a huge win.
As with almost any issue, context matters. I’m in a unique group of flyers who flies long distances regularly, but only 5 or 6 times per year, and I have a daughter under 2. Comfort+ is always better.
Comfort plus is an upgrade. I was just on a flight where I had exit row at booking and even as a lowly silver I was able to select C+ window seat at my window. It bumped me up to zone three which is higher than Platinum and Gold members not in C+ which was the deciding factor that made me change seats. I was able to put my bag overhead at my row and the legroom was good. I had a moveable armrest and the kicker was an empty middle seat as that person got upgraded. Last year was the first time in years since I’ve flown Y and forgot about zones and narrower seats as a non status person as I was just paying for F fares. After I got the status upgrade for AS via their bilt promo I quickly requalified for their basic status and did the same with DL via their Biz reserve card. I came to appreciate even the basic status as there is always the C+ upgrade or AS equivalent at your window if you just keep checking. Will probably drop AS this year though as I have sky club access and enjoy seat back screens with free wifi on DL. The points are terrible but product is good.
The best (and perhaps only) reason to get yourself into C+ is for deplaning. Often times the C+ row may be marked 10 or higher but in reality it may be “actual” Row 5 or 6. Recently, I was in C+ Row 14 but it was actually Row 6. Plus, the people in front of you are in FC. Which in almost every case will only be a 2-2 configuration at the most (sometime even a 1-2). Zone 3 is a big help when boarding for the overhead also. As for the drinks and snacks…not a game changer. Use your coupons if you have them (I have 12 already) and “borrow” a bag of chips from the Sky Club…lol.
I’m 6’6″. My POV (Point Of View) on the subject is:
Main cabin is quite uncomfortable.
C+ is just uncomfortable
Exit row is comfortable. Even with the reduction of seat thickness.
I actively refuse C+ upgrades.
@Steve – I am with you. Now that I am a lowly GOLD down from Diamond I am 100% happy with Exit and will 100% turn down C+ on domestic flights. IMO just NOT any kind of an upgrade. On international that is another conversation.
I want to thank you about “when Premium Select seats are marketed as Comfort+”, I had no clue this happens.
Sure thing!
I think the issue isn’t really coach vs C+ it’s the terrible situation for the two rows located at the middle door on the 757s. I fly these multiple times a month from ATL to various destinations, mostly in FL. The overhead space is challenging, the lavatory is right in front of you, you have to put all of your luggage in the overhead (see first point), the bulkhead seats are narrower due to the flip up IFE screens, the FAs sit there, you get run over during boarding…it’s just a hot mess. If I can’t get the 20F seat on the starboard window or one of the window/aisle seats immediately behind first class I’ll downgrade myself to an exit row. Now I really like the first class on the 757s because they usually have a higher % of PDBs as the entire plane doesn’t walk through to board the plane allowing the FAs to provide service.
Comfort minus not an upgrade and would never pay for it. As a Diamond in 2025 my upgrades to FC is < 50%. I do NY – FL weekly and 10D is the go to; way more legroom than FC but again not worth it. Am flying to Vegas via ATL next week and the cost to upgrade is $983 – not sure what Ed and Glen are smoking but I assume earnings outlook and the stock getting clamored will make the marketing geniuses reevaluate how they treat loyal flyers
Regarding the original point about overhead space being taken up by the regular main cabin folk, all airlines should have a flight attendant in the First Class / C+ vicinity to make sure nobody puts their bags there which shouldn’t.
With Delta switching over to the A321 while relacing a lot of 757s, the exit row is in C+ negating the option of staying in Coach. Unless you are a platinum or above, the likelihood of snagging an exit row on an A321 is slim to none.
In both the A321ceo and A321neo, there are exit row options in Main Cabin. In the ceo, they’re toward the back of the plane.
IDK if I want to be that far back……to be honest I never check that far back, but good to know. Thanks and keep up the great work.
I know it’s pretty far back but I don’t mind it. Decent amount of space and it feels relatively quiet, TBD. There is a lav, so beware of that. The portside of the plane is better for avoiding, erm, aromas.
Not an upgrade. The seats are just slightly larger.
You can get the same comfort without the cost by sitting no more than four rows back. This is what I do now. I stopped crossing my figures for the Comfort+ upgrade.
I’m a Diamond, I rather travel in main class in Delta, the seat in comfort are not pleasant to seat. AA have better seats. Before, I was flying 95 % with Delta but with the change 2 years ago with choice benefits, I’m now 90 % with AA and I got bump to first class every other flight (Platinum Pro).
Don’t forget the extra little pocket for you cell phone. I joke but actually miss this when I’m in main.
For me, the exit rows with additional legroom beat C+. Free booze is the major perk C+ offers compared to exit row coach seats. Free drinks are a perk with a significant downside. Let’s face it: alcohol is unhealthy. It is a neurotoxin and a carcinogen. Airlines have made drinking and air travel go hand in hand. Alcohol is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and dementia among other side effects including inappropriate social behavior. I appreciated double Woodfords before becoming more aware of the long- and short- term effects. Now I generally prefer exit rows for maximum-legroom and skip the temptation of free poison.
Somewhat off topic: The “You’ve Been Upgraded” emails for C+ are annoying. Don’t bother me unless it is a real upgrade to first class.
Hi, John! I’m with you pretty much 100% on this. I put an indefinite pause on alcohol last fall, basically for health reasons. My blood pressure is great, I’m much more patient, I sleep better, etc. (FWIW, the Delta Sky Clubs now offer Heineken 0.0, which I love.)
And, yeah, I love (/s) the “You’ve Been Upgraded” emails that are all but meaningless — when Delta could instead upgrade their IT.
I recently flew Delta from LAX to Auckland and received an upgrade to Comfort +. Because of the upgrade, I paid for an upgrade for my wife as well. We both initially had Exit Row seats in the Main cabin. I’ve flown Air New Zealand from the US to Auckland in the past and their Comfort + equivalent is definitely worth it.
In this case, with Delta, we would have kept our Exit Row seats if we would have known the difference. The seats were less comfortable, as we had less legroom, and we chose to keep our Main Cabin Exit Row seats on the return trip to LAX. I usually have good experiences with Delta, but this was not what we anticipated. Not a bad experience, just not consistent with what I would have expected for the upgrade, especially for an international flight. I wish I would have turned down the upgrade and kept our initial Exit Row seats for the flight from LAX to Auckland. We would have saved money in the process, for my wife’s upgrade, as well.