Being over 6′ tall I understand what it means to enjoy a few extra inches of legroom in Economy Class on a long-haul flight. Scoring a seat at the emergency exit can sometimes feel like you’ve won the lottery!
That’s why today I’m excited to announce the introduction of “Economy Comfort,” a new section of seats in the front of the Economy cabin on our long-haul intercontinental fleet (that’s all 747-400, 757-200 ETOPS, 767-300ER, 767-400ER, 777 and A330 aircraft in the fleet—a total of 169 planes). Now instead of hoping for a seat with extra legroom, you can snag an Economy Comfort seat for a few extra dollars.
What does Economy Comfort offer?
- Priority Boarding in Zone 2 if you are not already Sky Priority eligible.
- 4 inches of additional legroom—many seats at the bulkhead and exit rows offer even more legroom.
- 50% more recline.
- Free spirits and specialty cocktails, in addition to free beer and wine currently offered in international Economy.
- In-Seat Power on all 757-200 ETOPS, 767-300ER, 767-400ER, 777 and A330 aircraft that feature personal video. Power will be installed at all Economy Comfort seats over the next two years.
- Free HBO, coming later this summer.
What does Economy Comfort cost?
Diamond and Platinum Medallion members (and their travel companions on the same reservation) and customers who purchase a full-fare Economy ticket can book these seats for free. Gold and Silver Medallions will receive a 50% and 25% discount, respectively, on the applicable published Economy Comfort seat fee. And for everyone else who has purchased an international Economy ticket on Delta, the cost is $80-$160 per segment (the price will vary by market) for access to an Economy Comfort seat.
And just where did the name “Economy Comfort” originate? Our friends (and Joint Venture partner) at KLM launched a similar product in 2009, also called “Economy Comfort.” And one of our ongoing goals is to align our products and services with our partners. With that in mind…voilà, Economy Comfort!
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this new product.
Have a great week!
Chris B.
Sr. Product Manager
Customer Experience Planning & Development
Economy Comfort seating will be offered on Delta’s Boeing 747, 757, 767 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft flying long-haul intercontinental routes between the U.S. and Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and South America (Lima, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Buenos Aires and Santiago only). Economy Comfort seating is limited and may not be available on all flights. The Economy Comfort Medallion travel companion benefit is applicable for up to eight companions traveling on the same reservation as the Medallion member. Group reservations are not applicable. For companions of Gold and Silver Medallion members, fees apply per seat. All SkyMiles program rules apply to SkyMiles program membership, miles, offers, mile accrual, mile redemption and travel benefits, respectively. To review the rules, please visit Membership Guide & Program Rules.
February 7th, 2011 at 4:43 pm
I would rather Delta get on with the upgrades to Business Elite and leave the premium economy seating to later on. The majority of the Business Elite seats are of a style dating 10 years! And, if you want a true lie-flat seat in Business Elite, you better be heading somewhere on a select B-777 or going to/from London. Otherwise, forget about it. Delta, your competition and your own SkyTeam members are way, way ahead of you.
February 7th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
your forgetting About Gold and Silver this should be complimentary to All Medallions at no Charge!!!!!!!!!! I don’t think its a great idea to add Ecomony Comfort if its not Complementary to All Medallions Delta is going to see allot of not happy Medallions members that spend allot of money on Delta each Year that flies internationally.
February 7th, 2011 at 5:13 pm
This sounds great and looks better than United’s Economy Plus product…
You already mentioned that Delta Medallions can enjoy Economy Comfort for free or at a discounted rate… What about partner elites such as SkyTeam Elite Plus members, or Alaska Airlines’s Gold members?
I know chances are good that we all will have to pay the regular rack rate, but it never hurts to ask…
Also, PLEASE do not reduce the regular economy seat pitch [from 33 or 32 to 31-30] as it is already pretty tight.
February 7th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
I like it. Reasonable charge in exchange for measurable value that I believe more than a few customers (this one included) will pay for. Will look forward to seeing the actual product when it rolls out. Keep up the good work!
February 8th, 2011 at 6:24 am
This is great news! I am a tall guy, and have been flying KLM for both personal and business travel purely for the Economy Comfort seating offered. I’m happy to pay a little extra for extra legroom for long haul flights, and I’m really glad to hear I’ll now be able to do that on Delta. It will make a 15 hour trip from Dubai to Atlanta bearable, whereas I had previously sworn I would only fly through Europe on KLM for flights that long.
One question though: will Economy Comfort availability be shown at the time of booking so that you can plan travel around availability?
February 8th, 2011 at 10:55 am
The only “concern” with the name is that it implies those not in Economy Comfort are in “Economy Discomfort”. A moniker like United’s “Economy Plus” seems less so from a marketing point of view.
February 8th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
In September, I traveled in a bulkhead seat in the first row of coach to Singapore. As a Silver Medallion flyer, I was able to book this seat for free. Now, I’m going to have to pay for it. With my Silver “discount,” the four segments I flew (SEA-NRT-SIN-NRT-SEA) would now end up costing me between $240 and $480 if I chose to sit in the same seats. Despite endless feedback from Silver Medallions complaining of the degradation of their frequent flyer benefits, Delta continues to chip away at what used to be a nice program. Changing my airline loyalty to Alaska Airlines was a good decision.
February 8th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
Potentially a plus for Diamond and Platinum Medallions who fly coach and for non-medallions who are willing to pay a little extra (the price point seems reasonable). Not sure if Gold and Silver will like it much: these folks were eligible to grab preferred seating at the front of the aircraft. What will happen to preferred seating as it exists now: will it disappear, or now be in the middle of the plane? Will Economy Comfort live up to Economy Plus on Air France (if you buy AF “S” or “W” class you might as well buy business class most of the time).
February 8th, 2011 at 10:44 pm
This is good news for those of us whose companies won’t pay for Business Elite, except. Most companies have travel policies that explicitly ban using Premium Economy, so you are asking most of us to pay out of pocket for this, so will there a way to use Skymiles for this?
Most important is that you get the 1970′s vintage 747 economy sections updated, I am having trouble finding a Delta flight to Shanghai in the fall that does not involve a 747.
February 9th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Mitchell Everhart…we’ve announced that all our international wide-body planes will be fitted with flat-bed seats by 2013. All the 777s and 767-400ERs will be done by this summer.
PolarBearinDubai…yes you’ll be able to see availability within the “View Seats” window.
Resplendent…that discussion did come up internally, however the goal was to align the product with our JV partner, KLM. We’re not taking anything away from Economy, we’re just offering more comfort, space and recline with Economy Comfort seating.
gsgreen…the first 747 with new BusinessElite and Economy seats will roll out in September, with the entire fleet done by July 2012.
February 9th, 2011 at 10:40 pm
This looks like a nice program. The pricing seems reasonable and making it free for Diamond and Platinum plus their traveling companions is more generous than the competition’s practice.
I understand that silver and gold could be disappointed. Hopefully, they will still have access to good preferred seats. Making it free for silver and gold would clearly overwhelm capacity and probably eliminate the additional revenue that Delta should derive from the better product.
I am guessing that many Diamond and a lot of Platinum members already fly business class so this may not be as important to them.
One question: I often travel with a group in which I purchase business class (or upgrade an M fare with systemwide upgrades). Will I be able to have my traveling companions obtain complimentary economy comfort seats? If I buy a business class ticket or an M ticket and my companions are using cheaper coach tickets can they be in my reservation and moved to Comfort?
Thanks for a good move!
By the way, I just booked my first flight today on a 777-200ER with flat bed seats (DTW-ICN in late June). I was about to buy that ticket on Korean Air to use their flat bed seats but I am delighted that I will now be able to make the purchase through Delta instead. Thanks for getting those 777-200ERs reconfigured! For this trip and my other upcoming Asia trips that use 777s, you have my business back. As soon as the 747s to NRT are converted, you will get that business back also. Well done!
February 12th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Nice idea to upgrade comfort in both coach and bus class.
However, let’s also pay some attention to the existing equipment. Three times in the course of a year (last time yesterday) there has been broken equipment that impact either comfort or service.
Flight attendants always apologize profusely, and there’s a few miles given after I call to complain. But I believe that customers who pay 7,500 plus for bus class accommodations should receive a refund when the outcome is worse than what they would have had in coach. From what I can tell Delta’s financial model looks like this:
Revenue from expensive ticket: $7,000 plus
Deferred cost of maintenance: $ ??? (alot)
Miles or Vouchers to customers that complain – $200 (very little)
– - – - – - –
Profit more than deserved
From what I hear in our local business community Delta’s efforts are too little too late. By the time they can consistently provide value for the bus class traveller, most will have moved on as I plan to do, beginning with my next trip.
February 13th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
Hey Chris B,
I’ve been a loyal Delta flyer and fan for years! Nice to read about the new “Economy Comfort” seating. Question: Will there be any change in seating width or just pitch? If you are interested in reading my segments on Delta in my blog (I’m just starting, but it is good PR for Delta), please visit my site. Thanks and I hope to write a segment on your new seating to spread the word.
http://www.thetravelimpact.com
February 16th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
Sounds like a great product. AF also has something similar not just KLM.
February 18th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
@Badger_Prof: The passengers must be in the same reservation as the Diamond or Platinum Medallion member traveling to take advantage of the complimentary companion upgrade to Economy Comfort.
Also, Silver and Gold Medallion members will still have access to preferred seats in the Economy cabin.
@David Przybyla: Economy Comfort seats will be the same as the Economy seats but with more pitch and recline, thus no more width added.
March 9th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Bad idea Delta. You’ve just told your Gold and Silver Medallion Int’l fliers that you have no concerns about once again reducing their already tiny benefits. I believe this is going to cost you customers. I hope you come to your senses and drop this VERY BAD IDEA!
April 4th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
what will happen to those unused comfort seats? will they be free at least an hour before the flight? will you give priority reseating to medallion members? or will they remain as an empty seat and FA’s will put a “pay to seat” signs during flight?
April 6th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
I flew in EC from MAD to JFK last month (apparently the first flight for the crew with EC) and was pleasantly surprised. As a Platinum Medallion, it was a great differentiator for loyalty. The space is really a big difference for the economy flier while the pitch difference was hardly noticeable. However, I was still getting charged for liquor. I guess the crew training wasn’t up to speed with the product launch.
My questions for Delta:
When will the seat maps on international flights provide information about choosing a seat in Economy Comfort? I just booked JFK-ATH and the rep stated all international planes will be converted by end of May. However, he couldn’t confirm the seat I chose would be in EC. Also, the first 15 rows on this flight are blocked out consistently for about 6 weeks beginning in June. Is this where these seats are going? Where are the updated maps?
April 23rd, 2011 at 10:13 am
It looks like someone in Delta is moderating this, so hopefully I’ll get an answer here.
I fly IND-NBO every year, and the last two years have tasted economy comfort on KLM on the AMS-NBO leg. The catch is that KLM has made it impossible to book these in advance if you buy your ticket through Delta. Phone calls don’t work to KLM either in US or Netherlands, the KLM counter agents in AMS can’t do it, and their website absolutely prevents it if you buy your ticket through Delta. (Seat assignments with KLM are another nightmare, even as GM). I literally wasted hours trying to secure seat assignments in economy comfort with KLM on my last trip.
With this enhanced product, will I be able to buy Economy Comfort at the time of booking and comfirm seat assignments all the way through to my destination, including the KLM segments?
May 4th, 2011 at 10:56 am
I was just able to finally choose seats in Economy comfort for an upcoming flight to Athens! Totally psyched to finally have this flexibility. As a 6’3″ passenger I definitely need the extra space (not to mention the free cocktails in flight). I used my medallion status to choose the seats.
May 17th, 2011 at 10:46 am
Hi Chris. Just wondering if there are any plans to upgrade the old Northwest planes, specifically A319, A320 and B757, with the personal technology video screens? I almost perfer flying throught Atlanta in order to fly Delta planes. This was a very big plus for us NWA elites after the merger.
Thanks for listening!
Jim
July 26th, 2011 at 9:43 pm
In one way the economy comfort sucks. As a 6’3″ Gold Medallion member the best benefit was the ability to choose an exit row or bulkhead seat for some extra legroom at no charge. Not it appears that these seats will be part of economy comfort and now require an up-charge. My loyalty to Delta is about to take a hit.
August 24th, 2011 at 9:12 am
Flew EC DTW to TPE this summer. It was well worth the up-charge for what amounted to about 16 hours seated in the plane. Tall passengers gain definite value from the added leg room.
Room for improvements:
Allow payment with sky miles. “Care more about us” by not making us pay out cash if we fly enough to want to use miles to be more comfortable.
Improve service for EC passengers. **While I understand that in-flight service won’t match a Korean Airlines, Singapore Airlines, etc; it would be nice for EC passengers to have some degree of added service. If EC customers want a 2nd drink – of any kind – they should be able to get it. Cabin crews routinely ignore the polite requests of their passengers on Delta’s long haul flights. This specifically speaks to times when the cabin crew is NOT employed with other tasks such as meals, takeoff/landing, etc. If they are not busy, why can’t EC have a 2nd drink?
Standardize customer service across long-haul flights. Sometimes the crew is great – amazing even- and many times they’re not. Why does the cabin crew appear to resent the people who are riding in the plane? Everyone complains about it, and its why many fly with Asian/European competitors who at the very least have a consistent standard of service.