Delta Airline currently only offers two classes of service: Business class (or domestic first) and economy class. In addition, on most aircraft, Delta also has a section of the economy class cabin they refer to as economy comfort. Economy comfort by definition is the same as the economy class cabin but provides slightly more legroom and recline. Furthermore, on flights from New York to San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles, along with all international flights, alcohol is also free of charge. The only other benefit to economy comfort is priority boarding, but priority luggage and security screening is not an added benefit.
I only bring this to everyone’s attention because a media release yesterday announced the US DOT approval of the Delta-Virgin Atlantic joint venture claimed that Delta would offer a premium economy cabin on trans-Atlantic flights.
“Delta and Virgin Atlantic’s business class uniquely includes forward-facing full flat-bed seats with direct aisle access on every flight. In addition, both airlines will offer a premium economy product on its trans-Atlantic services.”
Notice that the news release says both airlines will offer a premium economy product on its trans-Atlantic services. There is no time frame of when this will happen, however the new flight schedule goes on sale October 5, 2013 for flights to/from London beginning March 30, 2014. In addition the news release continued and said,
“Delta and Virgin Atlantic will unveil further product enhancements later in the year, appealing to the business customer and improving the travel experience of customers across the trans-Atlantic.”
As of now, Virgin Atlantic is the only airline in this JV to offer a true premium economy cabin, however, maybe Delta will break the trend of US Airliners and actually offer a true premium economy cabin instead of the industry norm of just adding extra leg room i.e. Economy Comfort (DL), Main Cabin Extraa (AA), or Economy Plus (UA). After all, Air Canada recently announced the roll out of Premium Economy on eight routes, could Delta follow suit? I would love to hear your thoughts and reactions to this announcement.
Delta’s Economy Comfort VS Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy – See the Difference
