Delta has said revenue from premium seating like premium economy or first class is growing faster than sales from standard economy.A Boeing 767 passenger aircraft of Delta Air Lines arrives from Dublin at JFK International Airport in New York as the Manhattan skyline looms in the background on Feb. 7, 2024.
Premium economy is a relatively new class of service that major airlines offer on longer, mostly international flights. It sits between first or business class and the rest of economy and can command a ticket price often twice as much as standard coach.Ticket revenue from Delta's main cabin rose 4% in the first quarter to $5.4 billion from a year ago, while premium-product revenue came in 10% higher at $4.4 billion.
The added service will start on Sept. 10 on four of 11 peak-day flights between Los Angeles and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport onDelta customers who purchase standard economy tickets will be able to pay for upgrades to premium economy on the transcontinental flights. Delta said Medallion elite members of its loyalty program, will be eligible for complimentary upgrades to so-called Delta Premium Select, but they will also be able to list for upgrades to its top-tier Delta One product on those flights.
Some of Delta's planes flying some routes previously had premium economy seats on them, but the carrier wasn't offering the service that comes along with it, like amenities kits, noise-cancelling headphones, a full meal and a blanket. The seats were sold as extra legroom tickets, which are a run below premium economy.' shorter domestic flights operate a similar model, featuring lie-flat seats but not the Flagship service offered on international flights.