Delta overhauls the premium economy experience with revamped onboard service

Delta Air Lines is putting the premium in its Premium Select offering.

On Tuesday, the Atlanta-based carrier unveiled an overhauled onboard service experience for those flying in the airline’s premium economy cabin on long-haul flights.

The highlights include a revamped dining experience, new amenity kits and upgraded bedding.

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The first aspect of the updated service begins Sept. 20, when Delta debuts new menus and refreshed tableware.

Delta highlighted several of the new entree choices, including:

• Braised beef short rib with fingerling potatoes and Dijon green peppercorn jus.
• Impossible Meatballs with polenta, pomodorini sauce and broccolini.
• Honey harissa chicken thighs with jollof rice and stewed greens.

Meals will be served on bagasse plates, which are made from plant fiber. Real silverware, glassware and linens will accompany the food.

Delta will also add a new “bubbles and bites” course — which consists of sparkling wine, water and an amuse-bouche — to be served after takeoff.

Beginning in October, the airline will debut new amenity kits designed and created by Someone Somewhere — the same company that’s now providing kits in Delta One.

At launch, Someone Somewhere will provide three designs for these “goodie bags,” one of which will be pink to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

These pouches are handmade by artisans in Mexico, and each kit tells the story of the artisan who crafted it. Inside, you’ll find travel essentials from Grown Alchemist, such as lip balm, eye masks and dental kits.

Other premium amenities — including a memory-foam pillow, noise-canceling headsets and plush blankets made from recycled materials — will also be available on all long-haul Premium Select flights.

While we’ll have to wait to judge the new meals and upgraded amenities on a future trip, it’s great to see Delta investing in the premium economy experience.

The airline has been chasing premium revenue in recent years, retrofitting much of its long-haul fleet with Premium Select cabins in a bid to offer an intermediate product between lie-flat business class and standard economy.

Premium economy has become an increasingly important revenue stream for U.S. airlines, and Delta’s revamped service is poised to become one of the best in the country.

The move will be especially exciting for frequent flyers, particularly those who’ve traveled with Delta during the COVID-19 pandemic.

That’s because the airline significantly scaled back the onboard service in Premium Select for much of the pandemic. The meal offerings were largely the same as those in the economy cabin.

Upgrading the Premium Select experience comes as the carrier increases the cabin’s footprint on more and more routes.

Going forward, the airline says that most flights to Europe, including all routes to Amsterdam and London, will feature Premium Select. This winter, Delta will operate nearly 400 weekly Premium Select flights to Europe. All transpacific routes will feature premium economy, too.

In addition to the upgraded service offerings, Premium Select flyers will enjoy larger recliners that resemble those in domestic first class with some additional bells and whistles, such as a leg rest and footrest.

Each seat features a personal entertainment monitor, as well as an oversize tray table and USB and universal power ports.

For those looking to splurge without breaking the bank for a business-class pod, Delta Premium Select might be the way to go.

As Mauricio Parise, vice president of brand experience, said in a statement, “Delta Premium Select sits at the intersection of luxury and practicality – giving customers the opportunity to treat themselves to a more spacious seat and premium experience at a lower price point compared to our Delta One cabin."