A lie-flat business class seat is a great way to cross the Atlantic. But on an overnight flight to Europe, is it worth spending the extra money or miles? Or could premium economy give you enough comfort for less?
To find out, Gunnar and I put two popular options to the test: Delta Premium Select and KLM Premium Comfort. These two airlines are close SkyTeam partners, but how do their premium economy experiences compare?
I flew Delta’s Airbus A330-900neo, while Gunnar took KLM’s Boeing 777-200. Both seats promise more room to stretch out, and more recline for what’s undeniably an upgraded experience compared to economy. We compared everything from check-in and seat comfort to the meals, service, and how much sleep we could actually get.
The bigger question: Did either of us regret walking past business class?
Take a look for yourself. If you’re considering premium economy for your next trip, this comparison will help you decide where it might be worth spending more, and where you might want to save your money or miles. Watch and learn for yourself and let us know!
At Thrifty Traveler, we don’t accept freebies. We use our own points, miles, or cash to pay for every single flight or hotel you see reviewed here – including this one!
In This Video:
- 0:00 – Delta vs. KLM: Do You Need Business Class?
- 1:18 – Check-in & Lounge Access
- 2:13 – Seat Tours
- 5:04 – Service
- 8:01 – Can You Really Sleep Better In Premium Economy?
- 9:00 – Landing
- 9:35 – Ratings & How Much We Paid
- 11:54 – Was It Worth Skipping Business Class?
How much was the original main cabin seat on Delta? The $399 upgrade to Premium sounds reasonable, but it’s hard to judge without knowing the main cabin ticket cost.
Great question! For the nonstop round-trip between Minneapolis (MSP) and Copenhagen (CPH), I paid $580 for a main cabin ticket. On average i’d say most people would pay about $900-$1200 for this flight in main cabin. This was also during peak summer travel and was booked thanks to a price drop alert out Thrifty Traveler Premium team sent out in the spring! More proof that we use our own flight deals because we too, like to save more on airfare!