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In 2026, premium economy is ultimately where the major US network carriers are fighting as hard as possible. It is the cabin that lets airlines monetize long-haul demand without the sticker shock of flying business class, and it is increasingly the product that frequent flyers notice when they set foot on an aircraft. American’s latest move is its new 
Boeing 787-9 premium configuration, which has been built around a higher-density premium section and a redesigned Premium Economy seat with privacy-oriented headrest wings, calf and footrests, wireless charging, and modern power options. Delta Air Lines, on the other hand, has spent years refining its Premium Select product.
The carrier’s flagship premium economy product offers a deeper-recline seat with leg and footrests, priority airport services, and an onboard experience that borrows cues from business class without crossing the price threshold. 
Delta Air Lines has begun rolling out Premium Select on select flights between John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where it now competes directly with 
American Airlines’ offerings.
Why Are Both Delta And American Interested In Premium Economy?
Premium economy sits between standard economy and business class cabins. The seat itself is designed to offer a meaningful upgrade, allowing airlines to charge more for the product. It is typically wider with more legroom, deeper recline, a leg or footrest, and upgraded charging and storage. The cabin itself is smaller and quieter, making it better for families. Airlines often pair the hard product with soft upgrades such as improved meals, nicer tableware, priority check-in, extra baggage, and an elevated amenity kit, depending on the route.
The idea here is to create a clearly differentiated experience without the cost structure of lie-flat business-class cabins. Both Delta Air Lines and American Airlines want premium economy for the same core reasons. For starters, it captures comfort-seekers who will not pay business-class fares but are still interested in the solid premium that they can pay to avoid the tightest economy-class experience, especially when it comes to long-haul flights. It also lets airlines segment demand and price more efficiently, as they can sell a higher-yield cabin to corporate travelers.
Leisure travelers upgrading for a special trip will also be interested in the cabin, as are frequent flyers interested in redeeming miles. Third, it improves aircraft economics by turning a portion of the cabin into higher revenue per square foot without the weight and space penalties of a full business-class expansion. Lastly, it is a competitive move. If a rival offers this kind of middle cabin and an airline does not, it will be at risk of losing high-value customers who care about comfort but still shop based on the headline price.
A Look At American’s Premium Economy
American Airlines’ Premium Economy is positioned as a true step up from Main Cabin, with customers getting access to wider, adjustable leather seats with additional legroom. They also offer extendable head and foot rests that are designed for comfort on longer flights. On the airline’s newest Boeing 787-9 models, which feature a premium configuration, the Premium Economy seat adds privacy-style headrest wings and upgraded calf and footrests.
These all come along with practical touches that matter in real life, such as advanced wireless charging, a dedicated water-bottle nook, and both USB-C and AC power on the seat. The overall onboard experience is built primarily around a premium but still approachable strategy. The airline is offering chef-inspired meals, complimentary beer, wine, and spirits on flights that offer full drink service, and a larger seatback screen that features free on-demand entertainment paired with noise-reducing headphones, according to the carrier.
Connectivity is also a key part of this product offering, with Wi-Fi available and power at every seat, so passengers can comfortably work from gate to gate. American Airlines also leans into small comfort details, like an amenity kit stocked with travel essentials and rotating skincare products from partner brands, which helps differentiate the cabin beyond just inches of pitch. All in all, it is meant for travelers who want noticeable comfort and service upgrades without paying business-class fares. The seat also features updated trim and finish.
American Vs. Delta Vs. United: Which Carrier Has The Best Premium Economy?
These three airlines offer the most prominent premium economy offerings in the domestic aviation market.
A Look At Delta’s Premium Select Cabins In 2026
Delta Air Lines is one of the largest operators of aircraft featuring premium economy cabins. The airline has begun to construct distinct, smaller sections with noticeably more space and a deeper-recline seat than the Main Cabin, one designed for long flights when Comfort+ seating still feels tight. The seat is built around the mechanics of comfort, offering additional legroom, an adjustable leg rest and footrest, as well as a wider cushion with a much larger pitch and width than typical economy seats.
On the ground, Premium Select seats are paired with Sky Priority services, including accelerated check-in, security and baggage handling, as well as earlier boarding. Once in the air, Delta Air Lines emphasizes a step-up service flow, including hot towel service, a welcome beverage, and a pre-meal savory bite. The airline also provides an elevated meal offering that includes complimentary beer, wine, and spirits.
Amenities are part of Delta’s brand here, as the carrier offers a premium kit (with items like an eye mask and lip balm), upgraded bedding such as memory-foam pillows and plush blankets, as well as noise-canceling headphones and Delta Studio entertainment on larger seatback screens. Overall, it is positioned as premium travel without the price of a lie-flat seat.
Two Products That Target Different Types Of Cabins
American Airlines’ new Premium Economy on the Boeing 787-9P and Delta Premium Select target the same sweet spot of travelers, offering meaningfully better than standard economy without the pricing of business class. They also emphasize different relative strengths. When it comes to the seat itself, both offer a wider chair, extra legroom, deeper recline, and lower body support that make overnight or transoceanic flying much more tolerable.
American’s newest seat is much more hardware-forward, leaning into personal-space cues such as privacy-style headrest wings, and adding modern convenience on the latest aircraft, including USB-C power and wireless charging, both of which matter for travelers working gate-to-gate. Delta’s Premium Select is more brand-forward and is designed to feel like a distinct cabin across the airline’s long-haul fleet. Delta also publishes clear size specifications that help set expectations, even though exact dimensions can vary by aircraft. The bigger difference is usually in the soft product.
In premium economy, Delta Air Lines goes to the trouble of trying to make its product feel closer to a mini-business class experience with Sky Priority services available, more ceremony in the meal service, and comfortable extras like upgraded bedding and an amenity kit. American’s onboard upgrades vary more by route and aircraft. If one cares the most about technology and privacy, there is a strong argument to make that American’s product is the way to go.
What Are The Benefits Of Flying In American Airlines’ New Premium Economy?
The refreshed premium economy seats are more comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and technologically advanced than older seats.
Where Are These Products Deployed?
American Airlines premium economy is deployed primarily on long-haul international flying with its widebody fleet. The newer version of the cabin is more heavily tied to its upgraded Boeing 787 models. That aircraft launched with Flagship Suite services on routes from Chicago-O’Hare (ORD) to London Heathrow (LHR) before expanding to services from Philadelphia (PHL) to London Heathrow (LHR). Additional seasonal long-haul deployments announced for DFW to Auckland and DFW to Buenos Aires will also support the service.
When booking, American Airlines notes that passengers can identify the new cabin by looking for the 78P aircraft designator. Delta Premium Select is deployed on a broader basis, with the airline saying that the product operates on a majority of its transoceanic flights. The cabin also appears on select long-haul routes to destinations deep in Latin America.
The aircraft is typically present on Delta’s flagship widebodies like the Airbus A350, A330, and Boeing 767. Since September 10, 2024, Delta Air Lines has also sold Premium Select domestically on some routes between JFK and LAX using a reconfigured Boeing 767, with plans to expand to more daily services.
What Is Our Bottom Line?
Premium economy is a relatively unique product. It emerged in the United States market somewhat recently and was mostly targeted at serving customers interested in an upgrade but not the full-fare premium that came along with flying in a flagship business-class cabin. This ultimately made for an appealing value proposition for customers.
Both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have attempted to cater to this segment of the market in their own unique ways. American aims to deliver on the staples that passengers actually want. The carrier is looking to deliver privacy and comfort, the two things that drive solid price premiums.
Delta aims to use its premium economy product to fit into a broader premium narrative. It offers better food and improved service in the cabin, giving passengers the ability to feel like they are actually receiving a better experience across the board. This makes the product not just a revenue-producing cabin, but also a valuable market tool.
