Delta Air Lines yesterday announced the launch of its new Economy Comfort product, which will provide enhance amenities to certain elite members or those who pay for an upgrade upon check-in. The offering is an enhanced coach seat with additional (up to four inches) legroom and 50% more recline than normal seats. The seats will be available in the first few rows (about four) of the economy cabin.
Economy Comfort also offers priority boarding and free alcoholic beverages in addition to the beer and wine available for all passengers. Delta says that the product will be available on all internationally-configured aircraft for this summer’s flying.
Image credit: Delta Air Lines.
The new seats are free for those traveling on full-fare economy tickets (makes sense) as well as those who are Platinum or Diamond Medallions in SkyMiles, Delta’s loyalty program. Everyone else will have to pay, with prices ranging from $80 to $160 one-way. Silver and Gold Medallions, however, will receive 25% and 50% discounts, respectively. Silver and Gold Medallions will still have free access to certain premium seats as well for no charge.
I have few thoughts on this:
Delta tells me that the space for the Economy Comfort seats, generally speaking, will not be coming from reduced legroom for the rest of the economy cabin. In some cases, the airline has removed a row of regular economy seats to make the extra room. The economy cabin traveler part of me welcomes this news, but the airplane/finance dork part wonders if that removal puts some slight upward pressure on CASM. But even if this move does have an effect on unit costs, I doubt Delta would make this investment without expecting an increase in revenues, whether that comes from upgrade fees, new customers, increased loyalty, or a combination of the three.
Image credit: Delta Air Lines.
One item that’s worthy of note is now all four members of the SkyTeam joint venture – Air France, Alitalia, Delta, and KLM – now have some form of a premium economy product for international routes. What’s also interesting is that Delta and KLM’s products here are quite similar – basically a coach seat with more legroom and recline. Air France and Alitalia, however, have gone for a full-fledged premium economy cabin, with their Premium Voyageur and Classica Plus cabins, respectively.
The new product will also be seen on some domestic routes as well, like Delta’s BuisnessElite service from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Delta is still a new entrant in this market, and this move could make them more competitive. I find this move important because American (Flagship Service) and United (p.s.) have an international-style service on these routes, and Virgin America and JetBlue have strong offerings as well.
Of course, a discussion on extra legroom at a United States-based carrier requires a mention of United’s Economy Plus. The airline has yet to make a decision on its future. I’ve thought that it will survive in one form or another, but I’m sure Delta’s announcement will factor into that decision. It is worth noting that Delta’s Economy Comfort seats will only be on internationally-equipped aircraft, while Economy Plus is found on allpre-merger United mainline aircraft and larger regional jets.
Overall, I like this move by Delta as its a nice way to reward elite members, generate some ancillary revenue, and possibly win some new customers. I also appreciate that the seat pitch for the economy cabin will remain about the same.
I think this really forces United’s hand on E+. Although I think they were probably leaning toward E+, this move takes it from a maybe to an all but absolutely, which I certainly don’t mind. It is interesting to see they are going to be charging, what I figure are equivalent to Premier and Premier Exec for the upgraded seats.
Unlike United, it’s important to note that EC is not free for all elites.
@Martin – that is worth noting. It’ll be interesting to see if United a) keeps E+ or b) keeps the same policies for all elites.
Frontier Airlines also has a extra leg room offering with its STRETCH seating. STRETCH seats have 5 inches more than the rest of the cabin which is an all economy setup. All Frontier’s planes, even the regionals operated by Republic Airlines have STRETCH.
Dan – While I’m an accountant by trade, I don’t have your detailed understanding of the airline industry. However, I’m not sure I agree with your analysis of the CASM effect, or at least the conclusion that this would be negative from a cost point of view.
Yes, I understand that decreasing the denominator (fewer available seat miles due to fewer seats) increases CASM, and yes, I understand the use of CASM as a standardized performance indicator, but I think you’re concentrating too much on the calculation itself instead of the economic impact.
If you look at, for example, a 764 which, according to seatguru.com has 181 coach seats in DL’s configuration and remove 1 row (7 seats), you’ve decreased the capacity by just under 4%. How often are DL’s planes more than 96% full? Their average load factor is around 75%. To me, DL will be effectively generating some revenue (whether directly from customers or indirectly from happier elite members) from space that would otherwise have been unsold, with no real additional cost (despite the increase in “CASM”). So to me, it makes financial sense and CASM is irrelevant to the decision.
I would love to see Delta install “Economy discomfort” headrests in the rest of the Y cabin…
Has anyone actually flown in this new Economy Comfort? Believe me if you fly a 15+ hour flight enough times having a little extra room is most welcomed.
I booked EC on my 11 hr flight from JFK-IST 01Jun. I’ll post my review when I arrive.
Just booked a flight eight days out from today.
During the purchase I realized there is only “ONE” economy seat left available on the A330-200: 36D, middle seat in a middle row!
This leg is for my return trip from overseas.
Then I called Delta, and the rep tells me there are actually upwards of 20 or so aisle seats available but all blocked; they will only be available at the airport for seat assignment.
Of course you have your economy comfort ones available to purchase.
I am not sure about their past practices but, seems like they are trying to force people to upgrade while they are keeping their better than worst economy seats unavailable.
I just searched for that same flight leg and sure enough there are bunch of aisle economy seats available if I were to purchase this return leg by itself.
I just spent extra money to get priority boarding so I had more time to do some work instead of waiting in line to get on the plane. Much to my surprise, when I asked if I had priority boarding, they told me that it is just for “business elite, first class, and medallion members”. So, I had to wait. I am writing this as I sit here and wait to get on this plane. Not sure how the seat will be, but my positive outlook is growing more dim by the minute. So far, this is a scam!
This 5’7″/135 lb passenger will be on Delta’s A330-300 & A330-200 international flights next month. How is the Economy “Comfort” seating experience?
Delta Economy Comfort (EC) Seats on domestic flights between JFK and SFO and between JFK and LAX, and a few flights between ATL and SFO.
Seating charts at Delta (https://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/aircraft_types_layout/index.jsp ) and SeatGuru (www.seatguru.com); show several EC configured aircraft that currently are used for some domestic routes.
All flights between JFK and SFO, are on “757-200ER (75E) V2″ aircraft, and according to Delta (and SeatGuru) it is an “Economy Comfort” configured aircraft. Also beginning Saturday, October 1 flight 2049 (767-300ER-I) from ATL to SFO is an EconoComfort configured aircraft.
Current Flights
All non-stop flights between JFK and SFO are EC flights.
All non-stop flights between JFK and LAX are EC flights.
EC seats on domestic aircraft beginning October 1
ATL to SFO
8:15am – Flight 2049 – 767-300ER -76L (767-300-I at SeatGuru)
SFO to ATL
11:55am – Flight 1870 – 767-300ER -76L (767-300-I at SeatGuru)
EC seats on domestic aircraft beginning November 1
ATL to SFO
8:25am – Flight 2049 – 767-300ER -76L (767-300-I at SeatGuru)
1:45pm – Flight 2349 – 757-200ER-75A (Atlantic)
SFO to ATL
6:20am – Flight 1580 – 757-200ER-75A (Atlantic)
12:00pm – Flight 1870 – 767-300ER -76L (767-300-I at SeatGuru)
Delta flight 1306 from SLC to ATL is and EC flight as it is a continuation of flight 638 (Airbus A330) from NRT to SLC which continues on to ATL as flight 1306.
Delta flight 983 (flight 1306 turnaround) is therefore an EC configured flight which then returns to SLC and then continues on to NRT.
If anyone travels between JFK and SFO (or LAX), or ATL to SFO or SLC and ATL, please post a comment/confirmation re Economy Comfort seating on these Delta flights.
Absolutely not worth the money! I didn’t notice more room. Try Turkish Airlines; now that’s much better.