In recent years, demand for premium air travel has increased significantly, with airlines focusing more and more on premium economy offerings that bridge the gap between economy class and business class. Among major US carriers, both Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have developed distinct premium economy products, designed for passengers seeking enhanced comfort, service, and amenities without the often hefty price tag of a business class ticket.

Delta’s premium economy product is called Delta Premium Select, while United Airlines’ equivalent is known as United Premium Plus. In this article, we will compare Delta Premium Select and United Premium Plus by examining multiple elements of the overall experience, including seating, cabin design, dining, in-flight entertainment, and service standards.

Seating Comfort & Design

Flying in premium economy can bring with it a whole host of benefits, and the seat itself is often the most immediately noticeable difference in premium economy products. Delta Premium Select offers passengers a seat pitch of approximately 38 inches, compared to roughly 30-31 inches in economy class, with a width of around 19.5 inches. The seat also features greater recline, adjustable leg rests, and enhanced cushioning designed to reduce fatigue on long-haul flights. The overall ergonomics reflect Delta Air Lines’ emphasis on combining comfort with functionality, ensuring that passengers have sufficient space for work or relaxation.

United Premium Plus, by contrast, offers a similar pitch, typically 38 inches, but with a slightly narrower width of around 19 inches on most aircraft. While United Airlines’ seats include adjustable footrests and enhanced recline, the slightly smaller seat width can make a significant difference on longer flights, such as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Sydney Airport (SYD). Additionally, Delta Premium Select seats are often equipped with headrests that provide better lateral support, making sleeping in a window or aisle seat more comfortable. Overall, while both airlines enhance seat comfort relative to economy, Delta Air Lines appears to offer a more ergonomically refined experience, prioritizing long-haul comfort and passenger rest.

Cabin Layout & Atmosphere

The cabin environment plays a significant role in the perception of space and exclusivity, and Delta Premium Select cabins are designed to create a sense of separation from both economy class and business class, often positioned at the front of the main economy cabin. These seats are arranged in either a 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 configuration, depending on the aircraft, providing easier aisle access and a feeling of openness. The cabin is fitted with modern finishes, subtle lighting, and storage compartments designed to enhance passenger convenience without feeling crowded.

United Premium Plus cabins also prioritize separation from economy, although the 2-4-2 layout is more common on some of the carrier’s aircraft (namely the Boeing 777-200ER and Boeing 777-300ER), which can make the middle seats feel less spacious than Delta Air Lines’ design. While United Airlines’ cabin finishes are contemporary and the lighting is thoughtfully integrated, some passengers report a sense of constriction compared to its competitor, particularly on longer flights where movement is necessary.

Additionally, the positioning of lavatories and galley areas relative to Premium Plus seating can occasionally affect cabin tranquility, whereas Delta Air Lines tends to shelter its premium economy passengers more effectively from heavily-trafficked areas of the aircraft. In terms of cabin atmosphere, Delta Air Lines appears to offer a marginally more refined and spacious environment, although its Star Alliance counterpart remains competitive, with a functional and modern design.

Inflight Dining

Food and beverage service is another area where Delta Air Lines and United Airlines differentiate in their premium economy offerings. In Delta Premium Select, passengers are served meals on upgraded dishware, with options often including high-quality ingredients and regional culinary influences, with the airline emphasizing flexibility, providing both pre-departure beverages and multi-course meals designed to appeal to long-haul travelers. The selection of wine and spirits available in Premium Select is also notably higher than in economy class, with careful pairing intended to enhance the dining experience.

Similarly, United Airlines’ Premium Plus also offers multi-course meals and pre-departure drinks, although while the carrier offers a wide variety of entrées, the emphasis on culinary refinement is generally considered lower than that of its SkyTeam competitor. Additionally, Delta Air Lines’ menu changes more frequently to reflect seasonal offerings, whereas United Airlines tends to maintain longer menu cycles. Snack service and mid-flight refreshments in both cabins are superior to those in economy class, although the SkyTeam carrier often integrates more premium snacks and specialty beverages. Overall, passengers seeking a higher-end dining experience may find Delta Premium Select marginally superior in terms of both quality and presentation.

Inflight Entertainment

Inflight entertainment options are increasingly critical for passenger satisfaction, especially on long-haul flights. Delta Premium Select provides a 13.3-inch personal in-flight entertainment screen, offering a wide selection of movies, television series, music, and games. Noise-canceling headphones are also available to enhance audio clarity, and seatback screens are complemented by the airline’s app-based streaming options, allowing passengers to access content on personal devices.

United Premium Plus offers similar in-flight entertainment, with seatback screens averaging around 11-13 inches in size, depending on the aircraft type, and a broad content library. Headphones are supplied to all passengers, and onboard Wi-Fi is also available. However, while differences are subtle, Delta Air Lines’ slightly larger screens may contribute to a more immersive entertainment experience. That said, both airlines maintain competitive entertainment systems that more than fulfill the expectations of premium economy travelers.

Onboard Service

The quality of the onboard service often distinguishes airlines beyond physical amenities like the size of the seat or the layout of the cabin, and over recent years, Delta Air Lines has invested in extensive crew training, emphasizing attentiveness, proactive assistance, and consistent service standards in Premium Select. Flight attendants are trained to offer personalized touches, such as remembering passenger preferences and providing additional comfort items like blankets and pillows without prompting. United Premium Plus crews also provide professional, attentive service, helping passengers’ experiences onboard to go smoothly and pleasantly.

In summary, both Delta Air Lines and United Airlines offer very solid premium economy products, which are bound to keep passengers comfortable throughout long and short journeys alike. When closely examining the finer details of each, Delta Air Lines seems to provide slightly more in terms of the little extra touches that can make all the difference without the hefty business class price tag.

Which Aircraft Have A Premium Economy Cabin?

Despite its popularity with passengers worldwide, premium economy is not found on all of Delta Air Lines’ and United Airlines’ aircraft. The latest data from ch-aviation shows that United Airlines currently operates the larger fleet of the two carriers, with more than 1,000 aircraft in service, while Delta Air Lines has a total of 988 aircraft, including the unique Boeing 717. These aircraft are outlined in the two tables below, including those that are equipped with premium economy cabins, starting with Delta Air Lines:

*not all aircraft of this type are fitted with a premium economy cabin.

The following table reflects the varied fleet of United Airlines, which includes the upcoming delivery of the Airbus A321XLR and Airbus A350-900, both of which are set to be game-changers for the carrier:

*not all aircraft of this type are fitted with a premium economy cabin.

As both Delta Air Lines and United Airlines continue to take delivery of modern aircraft equipped with premium economy cabins, the products will become more commonplace across the airlines’ respective fleets. This will ensure that more and more passengers have the opportunity to upgrade their travel experience without breaking the bank, all while generating sizable revenues for the airlines too.