Review: Delta Premium Select (2025): What You Get & Is It Worth It?
This is my honest review of Delta Premium Select from a recent 10-hour international flight. I don’t usually splurge on upgrades, but after too many uncomfortable long-haul trips in economy, I wanted to see if Delta Premium Select is worth it.
In this post, I’ll share my full experience: seats, food, amenities, and service, plus a quick comparison of Premium Select vs Economy to help you decide if the upgrade is the best value for your next trip
My Favorite Travel Resources:
– Best accommodation site: Booking.com
– Book day tours here: Viator
– Best rental car service: Rentalcars.com
What Is Delta Premium Select?
Let’s get one thing straight: Delta Premium Select is not business class. It’s Delta’s version of Premium Economy, a step above Main Cabin (economy) and Comfort+, but a big leap below Delta One (their fancy flat-bed business class).
That said, Premium Select feels more premium. Think of it like the travel equivalent of getting a really nice booth at your favorite diner. Not the chef’s table, but definitely an upgrade from the barstool near the bathroom.
If you’re wondering, “Is Delta Premium Select worth the upgrade?”, keep reading.
Delta Premium Select: Priority Boarding & Sky Priority
Sky Priority is one of the most underrated perks. Here’s what it comes with:
➔ Priority baggage handling
➔ Expedited check-in
➔ Priority security (at select airports)
➔ Early boarding before the Main Cabin (aka no scramble for overhead bin space)
Delta Premium Select Review: Seats
If you’re flying on a Delta Airbus A330-300, Premium Select is worth it. The seats have a fold-out foot and leg rest, deeper recline, larger screen, and extra width.
It’s the first time I’ve ever fallen asleep on a plane, and that alone made the upgrade worthwhile.
Keep reading for a breakdown of detailed amenities and services.
Seat Maps is my go-to website for checking the aircraft seats during my booking process.
Delta Premium Select Review: Legroom
In my aisle seat in row 21, I had more space than Premium and Economy, but noticeably less than the middle seat in Premium Select, about half the legroom.
Even my usual backpack didn’t fit. It was still a solid step up from the cheaper cabins, but next time I’ll book the middle seat for the extra comfort.
Delta Premium Select Review: Food & Service
Delta Premium Select offers upgraded meals compared to Economy. As someone with Celiac, this review is based on Delta’s gluten-free options.
When I booked, my GF request didn’t save, and it wasn’t showing during check-in or on the menu. I called Delta, and the rep quickly fixed it in about 20 minutes, super easy.
Here’s what I was served: a full dinner with hot entrée, salad, fruit, and a bread roll (dessert was removed since it wasn’t GF), real silverware and glassware, complimentary drinks, and a pre-landing snack (only pistachios and chips were safe).
Quick rundown: the food wasn’t worth it. I always eat a bigger meal before the airport, and I’d recommend doing the same.
- Main course (chicken, couscous, veggies): bland and flavorless, I only ate a third.
Bread roll: cold, hard, crumbly. - Salad: fresh and decent.
- Fruit: tasty, pineapple, orange, cantaloupe.
- Pre-arrival meal: egg and cheese sandwich (looked questionable, so I skipped it) plus more fruit.
Overall, the gluten-free meals fell flat, but service was excellent. Flight attendants were attentive, served my meals early to avoid mix-ups, and handled everything professionally.
Delta Premium Select Review: Amenities
You know you’ve upgraded when your seat comes with a little pouch full of tiny luxuries.
The Delta Premium Select amenity kit included:
➔ Toothbrush and toothpaste
➔ Eye mask
➔ Earplugs
➔ Lip balm
Delta Premium Select Review: Entertainment
I enjoyed the entertainment much more than the main cabin for the bigger screen and better sound.
The entertainment on the Delta Premium Select seat includes:
➔ A larger seatback screen than in economy
➔ A handheld remote for easier navigation (was nice when I wanted to be extra lazy)
➔ A wider selection of movies and shows
➔ Much better noise-canceling headphones
If you actually watch movies on long-haul flights, this upgrade is worth it. The bigger screen and noise-canceling headphones made a huge difference: comfortable fit, great sound, and far better than Economy.
I also received a thick blanket and a comfy pillow, which helped me sleep. A big deal since I never sleep on planes.
Is Delta Premium Select Worth the Upgrade For a 10-Hour Flight?
If you’re flying internationally and don’t want to splurge on business class, Delta Premium Select is a great in-between option. Here’s my honest take:
Worth it for:
➔ Long-haul and/or international flights
➔ Red-eye flights
➔ Travelers looking for more comfort but not full-on luxury
Not worth it for:
➔ Short-haul flights under 4 hours
➔ Budget travelers who don’t mind less space and comfort
Comparing Premium Select vs. Economy
Here’s what makes Delta Premium Select different from economy:
➔ Wider seats with more recline and a leg/foot rest combo
➔ Extra legroom for better comfort on long flights
➔ A quieter, more private cabin
➔ Upgraded meals and real silverware
➔ A larger entertainment screen with better headphones
➔ Travel amenity kits
➔ Priority check-in and Sky Priority boarding
Conclusion: Is Delta Premium Select Worth It?
I went in skeptical, but Delta Premium Select made my 10-hour flight much more tolerable. I wasn’t checking the time every 30 minutes to see how much longer I had to sit in my seat uncomfortably.
It delivers real comfort and a quieter, more relaxing experience. For travelers who usually fly economy, this upgrade feels like a luxury.
If you’re wondering whether Delta Premium Select is worth the cost, the answer is yes, especially for international flights.
Would I fly Delta Premium Select again? 100% yes. Whenever I have another long-haul flight with Delta, I won’t be booking Economy ever again after this experience.
Happy Trails,
Mindful PNW Travels
