I paid $639 to upgrade to Delta's Premium Select cabin on a 15-hour flight. It was a great alternative to business class.
The seats felt noticeably larger and more comfortable than those in economy.
I was also impressed by the quality of my meals and snack options throughout the flight.
I've traveled to 88 countries and have spent a lot of time on airplanes. After many years of flying economy, I now try to fly business class or first class whenever possible.
Unfortunately, I was fresh out of credit card points and miles when trying to book last-minute flights to travel from Sarasota, Florida, to Bangkok to tour apartments for my family.
I'd resigned to sitting in economy for all 21 hours of flying, but when I checked in, Delta offered an upgrade to its Premium Select cabin on the longest flight, Atlanta to Seoul, for $639.
So, I took a chance and booked it. Here's how it went.
My ticket ensured I had access to Sky Priority services.
I'd never flown Premium Select before, so I was happy to see that the benefits started the moment I arrived at the airport.
Even though I was only in the Premium Select cabin for one of my three flights, I got the Delta Sky Priority designation for all three so I could board earlier.
I only travel with a carry-on, so priority boarding helps ensure there's enough space for my luggage on board rather than needing to check it.
When I found my seat in the Premium Select cabin, I was surprised by how spacious it was.
According to Delta's website, the seats in the Premium Select cabin are wider and have more legroom than those in the economy cabin.
Having just flown economy on the flight before, the seats definitely felt noticeably larger and had more comfortable padding. I could see buttons to adjust the seats, and there was a footrest for more comfort, too.
As a larger traveler, I found the seat comfortable. I didn't feel constricted in any way, and I had plenty of room on either side of me.
I was blown away by the high-quality meals.
I was shocked by the quality of the meals served in Premium Select — they seemed equivalent to what would typically be served in first class.
For dinner, I chose a chicken dish, and I had an omelet for breakfast. Both of my meals were served on real plates, and I was provided with silverware. I also had a variety of beverage options to choose from.
Throughout the flight, I was offered water, along with juice, chips, crackers, granola bars, and more.
There were upgraded entertainment options and amenities.
When I got to my seat, I noticed there were noise-cancelling headphones. I put them on almost immediately and thought they worked pretty well.
The entertainment screen showed a wide selection of movies, TV shows, and music. I chose to watch " Rogue One: A Star Wars Story."
I also received an amenity kit, which included a toothbrush, toothpaste, compression socks, lotions, a sleep mask — which I used mid-flight — as well as a memory-foam pillow and blanket.
I'm happy I paid to upgrade to Premium Select.
The 15-hour flight was smooth, and the upgraded experience made it even more comfortable.
The attentive flight attendants accommodated all of my requests, from additional snacks and more water to a helpful explanation of how my seat worked. The extra space was also a much-appreciated perk on such a long trip, and the thoughtful amenity kit came in handy as well.
Although I couldn't afford a business class seat on this trip, I'm glad I had an opportunity to experience Delta's Premium Select cabin.
I think it's a great alternative when business class tickets are out of my budget or when I don't have the points and want to fly more comfortably on long flights.
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