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Delta Premium Select Review – See how it compares

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image credit: delta.com
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If you’re a fan of Delta Air Lines and you like to fly comfortably and save money, Premium Select might be for you. Delta Air Lines offers six different flight classes including two premium options, three economy options, and an option between premium and economy: Premium Select.

Today, we’re focusing on Premium Select, the newest flight class available on select international flights. As with any flight class, you may or may not feel like Premium Select is worth the added price of a ticket. In this article, we’ll compare Delta Premium to the options above and below it to help you decide if your next ticket should be for one of these roomy reclining seats.

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What Is Delta Premium Select?

Delta Premium Select is designed to give passengers more comfortable long-haul flights. This class offers priority services, exclusive amenities, and oversized seating among other perks. It is the flight class between Delta Comfort+ and Delta First Class, which is actually the airline’s version of business class. Delta Premium Select was introduced in fall 2017 and has been growing in popularity and expanding to more planes and flight routes ever since.

Premium Select seats are not available on every flight. At this time, they are only on four different aircraft including Airbus A350s, some Boeing 757-200s (75H), and, more recently, Boeing 767-300s and Airbus A330s. On certain planes, Delta Premium Select is the most elite seat class available. On others, Delta One or First Class are above Premium Select.

Features and Perks

Delta Premium Select seats are positioned in groups of two on the outside and three on the inside (depending on the plane) in a cabin of their own. This flight class is ideal for parties of two or three or those flying alone.

From Billboard noise-canceling earbuds to adjustable foot and leg rests and 13.3” entertainment screens, Premium Select passengers fly in comfort and are well taken care of in the air and on the ground. They also enjoy priority boarding and a cabin of their own on the plane.

To give you a better idea of what sets Premium Select apart from other classes on Delta flights, let’s break down the differences between these seats and the seats below and above it. Here are all the features and perks included in Delta Premium Select.

Premium Select vs. Comfort+

Delta Comfort+ is the seat class below Premium Select and previously the best of economy seating. Comfort+ has the most amenities and roomiest seats in economy, but Premium Select is a step better. Here is how these two flight classes differ starting with the flight itself.

The first difference is that Premium Select seats are larger and more comfortable. They are wider and have a greater pitch compared to Comfort+ and feature in-seat power ports as well. Premium Select seats have a pitch of 37” or 38” and a width of 18.5-21”, depending on the plane. Comfort+ seats have a pitch of 18” and a width of between 17.2 and 17.3”. Passengers in Premium Select can recline and Comfort+ passengers cannot.

Premium Select seats also feature adjustable footrests, leg rests, and headrests that Comfort+ seats do not. Amenity kits are available to all Comfort+ and Premium Select passengers, but Premium Select passengers enjoy more amenities in their TUMI kits including premium facial and hygiene products. Both flight classes offer complimentary pillows, blankets, and headsets upon request on long-haul flights.

You’ll also notice differences in accommodations. For example, the Premium Select cabin has the largest entertainment screens Delta has to offer at 13.3” while Comfort+ entertainment screens are standard for economy passengers when they are available.

image credit: delta.com

Additional in-flight services available to Premium Select passengers include Signature Service on dining and meal service on every flight. Meal service is offered on select Comfort+ flights.

Before the flight, Premium Select passengers enjoy Sky Priority services when checking in and boarding their flights. Premium Select passengers are prioritized over Comfort+ passengers, who use Comfort+ boarding services to check in and board before other economy passengers.

Finally, we searched several flights to figure out the difference in fare price. For a Premium Select ticket, you’re looking at a price tag of about 20% to 30% more per person compared to the same Comfort+ ticket

Premium Select vs. First Class

There are also several differences between Premium Select and First Class, the first of these being that Premium Select is technically an economy ticket and First Class is a premium ticket (often considered to be closest to a business class). First Class isn’t as premium as it gets, that’s Delta One, but it is more premium than Premium Select.

On the plane, First Class seats are a little wider on average and recline ever so slightly more. Whereas a Premium Select seat has a pitch of 37” or 38” and a width of between 18.5” and 21”, First Class seats have a pitch of between 38” and 39” and a width of between 20.5” and 20.9”. The seats and comfort level are pretty similar but there may be a little more space between First Class seats on some planes.

Both flight classes put you in a cabin separate from the rest of the plane for privacy and comfort. When they are on the same plane, the Premium Select cabin is located behind the First Class cabin in front of the Main Cabin for economy travelers. First Class passengers have a dedicated flight attendant in their cabin.

The meal service First Class passengers receive depends on the duration of their flight but is similar to Premium Select service on long international flights. Amenities are also comparable between the two flight classes.

Both First Class and Premium Select passengers use Sky Priority check-ins for expedited baggage delivery and priority boarding, but First Class passengers board first before everyone else and at the same time as One passengers.

Elite members of Delta SkyMiles are eligible for complimentary upgrades to First Class but complimentary upgrades are not offered for Premium Select. You can also use points to purchase First Class tickets when award seats are available.

But the biggest difference is in the price. Premium Select tickets are significantly cheaper than First Class tickets. When we compared multiple flights, we found that a First Class ticket costs upwards of $3,000 more than a Premium Select ticket for the same route. On some routes, you could be paying greater than twice as much for First Class.

How to Upgrade

Anyone with a Main Cabin or Comfort+ ticket (but not those in Basic Economy as this class is not eligible for upgrades) can purchase an upgrade to Premium Select if it is offered on their flight. You can do this when booking a ticket or before flying. Reserve your seat as early as possible as they are limited.

When you pay for your ticket and any post-purchase upgrades with cash, you qualify to earn Medallion Qualification Dollars and Medallion Qualification Miles that can help you reach the next SkyMiles tier.

Can You Use Points?

Yes, you can use Delta SkyMiles points to upgrade your ticket to Premium Select from an economy ticket. This option is subject to availability and may end up costing you more in points than it would in dollars, but this could still be a good way to save money.

And if you are a Diamond Medallion member, the highest tier, you are eligible to upgrade to Premium Select using Global Upgrade Certificates, which you may receive as a Choice Benefit. You can upgrade to Delta Premium if you purchased a Main Cabin or Comfort+ ticket or ask to be waitlisted for Delta One if you prefer. Upgrade requests must be made and cleared in advance of your flight before you check in or you may not be approved.

Delta Diamond and Platinum Medallion members can also save money on Premium Select by requesting complimentary upgrades to Comfort+ right after booking a flight and then paying the difference from Comfort+ to Premium Select with cash or points.

Note that Delta does not offer complimentary upgrades to Premium Select for any passengers regardless of their membership tier or ticket type.

Is It Worth it?

You’re going to notice a big difference between Premium Select and Basic Economy and Main Cabin tickets. From priority boarding to roomier seats and better inflight service, Premium Select is much more…well, premium. The cost of the ticket includes better food, faster check in and boarding, a more comfortable flight, and more amenities. Of course, it also costs about twice as much as an economy ticket, on average, so you’re getting what you pay for.

When you compare the price of Premium Select to the price of the next lowest seat class, Comfort+, you find that the difference is pretty insignificant. So if you’re already paying for an international long-haul ticket, you might as well shell out the extra $250 or $300 for Premium Select. Even better if you have points to spare and can use those to cover the difference.

Another thing to consider beyond just a more comfortable flight is that you can earn more elite qualifying miles with a Premium Select ticket than you do with lower fare classes. Premium Select fares, which can begin with an A, P, or G, are eligible to earn 150% Medallion Qualifying Miles. Comfort+ tickets and all other economy tickets earn only 100% Medallion Qualifying Miles. For 50% more miles, we think the price difference is more than worth it.

You just have to remember that Premium Select isn’t always going to be available. This is a disadvantage of the flight class that can make your life a little more difficult when booking.

If you’re trying to make the choice between Premium Select and Comfort+, it’s almost definitely worth the minimal added cost for Premium Select. It’s also worth noting that if you’re on a connecting flight and you’ve booked Premium Select, you may find yourself in Comfort+ seats, so you might not get to choose in certain instances.

And compared to First Class and Delta One, you’ll save a ton booking Premium Select for a flying experience that’s still pretty luxurious. For potentially less than half the price, you’re getting a flight that arguably shares more in common with premium than economy and you’re definitely not slumming it.

It doesn’t hurt to look at the seat map for your plane before flying to get an idea of how your Premium Select seat will compare to others. You may find that you prefer to book Premium Select on A350s, for example.

The only time we don’t recommend Premium Select is if you’re used to flying Basic Economy and your main priority is cutting costs.

Final Thoughts

When Premium Select is available for a long-haul flight you’re booking, you should generally book it. Premium Select strikes the perfect middle ground between a stripped-down economy ticket and a pricy premium ticket, both in terms of price and accommodations. For the extra miles alone, this flight class is worth booking if you’re working your way toward elite status. Use points to upgrade when possible or cash in a Global Upgrade Certificate.

Delta Air Lines is probably going to continue making this flight class available on more planes, so hopefully, it becomes easier to book.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

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Flying with Delta Airlines? Here’s How to Get Priority Boarding

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image credit: delta.com
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It’s no secret that Delta Air Lines offers a solid flying experience, but did you know that it’s easy to make that experience even better? As one of the most popular airlines in the United States with as many as 200 million passengers per year, chances are good that you’ll be on a Delta flight sooner or later. 

That’s why it may be a good idea to learn a few hacks to make your future Delta flight more enjoyable. Specifically, how to be one of the first passengers on the plane with priority boarding.

To board priority the next time you fly with Delta Air Lines, follow these tips and tricks.

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Boarding Priority Zone Breakdown

Delta sorts all flyers into eight boarding groups based on ticket type, loyalty status, and more. Here is a look a the order of boarding as well as who falls into which groups:

  1. Pre-Boarding: Those with disabilities that require extra time/space or assistance to board AND active-duty U.S. military personnel.
  2. Delta One: Passengers with Delta One tickets AND flyers with Diamond Medallion loyalty status.
  3. Delta Premium Select/First Class: Passengers with Premium Select tickets, Passengers with First Class tickets, AND flyers with Diamond Medallion loyalty status (if Delta One is not offered on a flight).
  4. Delta Comfort+: Passengers with Delta Comfort+ tickets.
  5. Sky Priority: See “Who Is Eligible to Get SkyPriority?”
  6. Main Cabin 1: See “Who Is Eligible to Be in Main Cabin 1?”
  7. Main Cabin 2:* Passengers with Main Cabin tickets.
  8. Main Cabin 3: Passengers with Main Cabin tickets purchased at T, X, or V fares (these are deeply discounted Main Cabin fares—read more about Delta Air Lines Exception Fares here).
  9. Basic Economy: Passengers with Basic Economy tickets.

Main Cabin (called Premium Economy with some airlines) is the flight class above Basic Economy, but only the Main Cabin 2 boarding priority class is designated for these customers (unless they have a loyalty status that bumps them into a higher tier).

Who Is Eligible to Get Sky Priority?

Sky Priority is going to be best suited for you if you are not a Diamond Medallion member and you’ve got a Main Cabin or Basic Economy ticket. 

All those eligible to board with the Sky Priority zone include:

  • Platinum Medallion members
  • Gold Medallion members
  • Flying Blue Platinum and Gold members
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Gold members
  • Virgin Australia Platinum and Virgin Australia Gold members
  • SkyTeam Elite Plus members

Who Is Eligible to Be in Main Cabin 1?

Right below Sky Priority in the boarding zone hierarchy is Main Cabin 1. These passengers are far from the last to board, and there are many ways to land a spot in this rank.

All those eligible to board with the Main Cabin 1 zone include:

  • Silver Medallion members
  • Delta Corporate travelers (those traveling on business that also enjoy specialized services and enhanced booking customizability)
  • Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card holders, Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card holders, and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card holders (see “Become a Delta Credit Cardholder” below for more information on Delta credit cards)
  • Flying Blue Silver members
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Silver members
  • Virgin Australia Velocity Silver members
  • Those with SkyTeam Elite status (SkyTeam is an alliance of 19 partner airlines including Air France, China Eastern, and Virgin Atlantic)
  • SkyMiles Select members

About Delta Sky Priority

Delta SkyPriority is one of the broadest boarding zones because it encompasses passengers of many flight classes and loyalty statuses, even with other airlines. In addition to letting passengers be some of the first on the plane, Sky Priority offers:

  • Faster baggage check-ins
  • Streamlined security checks
  • Expedited baggage services (Sky Priority passengers are some of the first to receive their bags after a flight)
  • Priority lanes for baggage and customer service lanes
  • Earlier access to the best seats on the plane
  • Opportunities to earn rewards for checking in online

Sky Priority is available wherever Delta Airlines flies, but not all services are guaranteed at every Delta airline. 

All of the benefits of Sky Priority listed above are granted automatically to passengers with Delta One, First Class, Delta Premium Select, and Business Class tickets. Delta Comfort+ comes with perks like priority boarding and earlier deplaning, but you do not get the benefits above with Delta Comfort+.

If you do not qualify for priority boarding with your tickets because you usually book Economy or Main Cabin, shoot for Sky Priority.

For the purposes of this article, priority boarding will refer to boarding ahead of your typical boarding zone. 

Who Gets Boarding Priority Automatically?

Active-duty U.S. military personnel automatically get top-priority status when they fly with Delta Airlines. All they need to do is show identification. Others that are automatically given priority include those with disabilities that require extra time/space or assistance to board.

Unless you fall under one of these categories, you are not eligible to pre-board no matter what loyalty status you have or flight class you purchase.

Purchase a Higher Flight Class

Board first with first class! Settle in early.

Delta Air Lines offers six different flight classes. From lowest to highest: Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+, First Class, Delta Premium Select, and Delta One.

Passengers in luxury flight classes enjoy the earliest boarding, with Delta One customers being the first to get on the plane behind those that pre-board. However, the price tag on a Delta One ticket is not going to be reasonable for most people as a ticket of this class may cost up to three times the price of the least expensive ticket available on a flight. 

But if you can afford to splurge on something between Economy and Delta One, you can take advantage of the priority boarding you’re looking for. Even Main Cabin tickets—the second-cheapest class—bump you up a little on the boarding totem pole.

Keep in mind, however, that it is possible to get priority boarding even when you purchase a Basic Economy ticket as there are many ways to qualify for priority boarding that have nothing to do with how much your tickets cost.

What You Need to Know About Delta Flight Classes

The first thing to note about the six different flight classes is that they are not offered on all flights. The first two, Delta One and Delta Premium Select are newer additions launched in 2017 that are mostly for long international flights. The four products from First Class down to Basic Economy are what Delta offers, for the most part, on domestic routes.

Here is a breakdown of the six flight classes Delta offers:

  • Delta One® – Delta’s most premium product. Mostly available on long international flights.
  • Delta Premium Select – Second most premium product. Also mostly available on longer international flights.
  • First Class – Third best option from Delta, but best for domestic flights.
  • Delta Comfort+® – Last premium option before the main cabin. Domestic flights. Main benefits are an expedited boarding process, more legroom and dedicated overhead bin space.
  • Main Cabin – Generally back of the plane seats with some standard Delta amenities.
  • Basic Economy – Main cabin seats but with less amenities.

Get to Elite Status With Delta SkyMiles

A great way to guarantee priority boarding for yourself on all Delta Air Lines flights is to work on your loyalty status.

Within SkyMiles, there are essentially two membership tiers. There is the general membership tier that all SkyMiles members start in and the Medallion membership tier that you need to earn your way into. Once you’ve gotten into the Medallion tier, there are four statuses: Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond.

The coveted Diamond Medallion status is not easy to get to, but reaching Medallion status is an attainable goal for many. Even just barely making it into that Medallion membership status will get you priority boarding. Remember, Silver Medallion members get to board with Main Cabin 1.

There is also Delta 360, an elite, invite-only tier for the most loyal Delta passengers there are. The perks at this membership are neither set nor publicly disclosed, but you can bet they’ll be luxurious when so few get an invitation.

How to Become a SkyMiles Member

If you’re not already a member of the Delta Air Lines loyalty program, what are you waiting for? To join SkyMiles, just 

Please keep in mind that each SkyMiles account is registered to only one person and that miles are not eligible to be transferred or sold to other accounts. Make sure everyone in your party has their own account.

How to Reach Medallion Status

Unfortunately, you won’t get out of the general SkyMiles membership status until after you’ve flown 30 Medallion Qualification Segments (MQS) OR 25,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQM) and spent at least $3,000 Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQD). You can earn MQDs on most Delta flights, flights with partner airlines, and flight purchases (as long as you’re booking directly with Delta). But once you’ve met these requirements, you’ll be bumped up to Silver Medallion status. Once in Silver Medallion status, you’ll board with Main Cabin 1.

To get to Gold Medallion status, you must fly 60 MQSs OR 50,000 MQMs and spend at least $6,000 MQDs on Delta Air Lines purchases and flights. Once in Gold Medallion, you’ll board with Sky Priority.

To get to Platinum Medallion status, you must fly 100 MQSs OR 70,000 MQMs and spend at least $9,000 MQDs. Members with Platinum Medallion status also board with Sky Priority, but there are more mileage bonuses, complimentary upgrades, and other perks in this tier than in Gold.

Finally, to get to Diamond Medallion status, you must fly 140 MQSs or 125,000 MQMs and spend at least $15,000 MQDs. Once in Diamond Medallion status, you will board with either Delta One or Delta Premium Select/First Class (depending on what is available on your flight).

Please note that you must meet the requirements for your status annually in order to maintain your elite membership. Otherwise, back down through the ranks you’ll go. 

Get to Elite Status With a Partner Airline

Not surprisingly, Delta partners with many other domestic and international airlines. This means that you may be able to benefit from your elite status with a different airline if your loyalty status with Delta leaves something to be desired.

Achieving elite status with Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Virgin Australia (Velocity Frequent Flyer), Flying Blue, and SkyTeam will guarantee you a better place in line when it’s time to board the plane. If you fly internationally a lot, try your best to do so through airlines that rub elbows with Delta.

Become a Delta Credit Cardholder

Bonus points are available for all new Delta SkyMiles card holders!

Another way to board a little sooner on Delta flights is to have a Delta-branded card. Having a Delta credit card will automatically get you into Main Cabin 1, no matter what type of ticket you have. All Delta cards are issued through American Express.

Here’s a quick look at the Delta credit cards currently available and how many bonus points you can earn if you sign up right now:

  • Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express: 40,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in the first three months.
  • Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express: 50,000 bonus miles and 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months.
  • Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express: 60,000 Bonus Miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months.

Read more about bonus mile earning requirements, rates and fees, and perks associated with each card here.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

Final Thoughts

It’s really not too difficult to get priority boarding with Delta Air Lines, and who doesn’t want to board before everyone else? However, as you can see, when you board ultimately comes down to loyalty status for most people. This means that if you haven’t joined Delta SkyMiles and started working your way up the ladder, you should probably get on that if you want to be prioritized when boarding.

You can also get a Delta credit card to easily obtain priority boarding status, but another surefire way to board earlier is to splurge on a higher flight class (if you can afford to). If you want to keep costs low but still board priority, shoot for a Main Cabin ticket or get your loyalty status up to at least Silver.

Guide to Buying Delta Miles and When It Makes Sense

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image credit: delta.com

The Delta Air Lines loyalty program, SkyMiles, rewards frequent flyers with countless redemption options and booking bonuses like no blackout dates.

This airline’s four-tiered membership programs stacks on even more benefits for the most loyal members. Each of the tiers (silver, gold, platinum, and diamond) have many features and perks with the diamond level being the most exclusive and rewarding.

You can use miles you rack up to book Award Travel flights, upgrade your seats to a better class, cash in on freebies with Delta Sky Club, and more. 

Though Delta miles aren’t worth as much as frequent flyer miles you might earn with other carriers (1.1 cent per Delta SkyMile vs 1.3 cents per average airline mile) they can still save you money if you know what you’re doing.

Whether you’re earning miles by flying Delta or making purchases through Delta partners or with Delta American Express credit cards, there may be times in which you need just a few more miles to get what you’re looking for. In which case, purchasing miles might make sense.

That said, purchasing Delta SkyMiles through your SkyMiles account is going to cost you 3.5 cents per mile at retail price with no promotions going on, which is significantly more than they’re worth.

Keep reading for more information about when it makes sense—and when it definitely does not—to buy Delta SkyMiles with your cash.

When is it a Good Time to Buy Delta Skymiles With Cash?

While purchasing airline miles in general is almost always a bad idea, it does make sense in certain situations.

In general, purchasing Delta SkyMiles in one or more of the following three scenarios tends to make the most sense for most people:

When Buying SkyMiles to Get a Free Ticket

If you have enough miles stocked up, you might be able to pull off flying for free (or almost free). To find out the price in miles of any given flight, simply select “Shop with Miles” in the search engine through the Delta site or the Fly Delta app. 

A minimum of 5,000 miles is required in order to use your miles to book Award Travel, and redemptions must be made in 5,000-mile increments. If you see a great deal on a flight—say 10,000 or 15,000 round trip—and you are within just a few thousand miles of being able to get it, buying miles could be a sound investment.

If this is the case, only buy as many as you need. Delta will allow you to purchase as few as 2,000 miles at a time, but prices vary.

Key Takeaway: Make sure buying miles in order to get a free ticket won’t cost more than simply paying the difference with cash.

For example, imagine you’re trying to fly from Los Angeles to New York City and you already have 34,500 miles in your SkyMiles account. You then come across a ticket available for 36,000 miles – or – $460. You can either purchase the ticket without your miles for $460 cash or you can spend $70 to buy the minimum of 2,000 miles to top off the 1,500 you needed for your trip. In this scenario buying SkyMiles makes sense.

Two additional variables to keep in mind that could affect your bottom line cost are:

  1. small fees are assessed for award redemption and
  2. flights through partner airlines will have different Award Travel requirements.

When Buying SkyMiles to Upgrade Your Seat

Purchasing frequent flyer miles for seat upgrades is fairly common practice across all airlines, and this is true for Delta as well.

You’ll be able to upgrade your seat during or after booking using your miles balance for as many flights in your party as you want (just make sure there are enough award seats available).

If you value the added luxury of business or first class but don’t necessarily want to cough up the money for the considerable up-charges, using miles to upgrade is the way to go.

And if you don’t have quite enough miles to get that upgrade, then purchasing a few thousand to top it off may make sense.

The miles required to upgrade your seat is going to depend on where you’re going and when, but don’t expect purchasing the additional miles needed to be a cost-cutting option unless you already have a good portion of the miles required in your account.

When Buying Discounted SkyMiles

Another situation where purchasing Delta SkyMiles might make sense is when they offer special deals and promotions that drastically bring down the cost per mile.

Delta has been known to offer very competitive discounts on miles in the past. We’ve seen discounts run as high as 75% on miles, effectively reducing the cost of purchasing miles to roughly 1.75 cents per mile (vs 3.5 cents retail). This is still above the average value you receive per SkyMile (which sits at roughly 1.1 cent per mile) but it makes buying miles a much more attractive prospect, especially if you have a specific use in mind for them.

Buying these miles in large amounts when they go on sale likely isn’t the best idea without specific use cases for them. That said, if you’re very loyal to Delta and fly regularly it may be worth it to pick some up when the promotions take place and set them aside for future use.

When it is Not a Good Idea to Buy Delta Sky Miles

It’s never a good idea to purchase Delta flight miles when miles cost more than they are objectively worth. Here are a couple of things to watch out for when you’re considering whether or not to buy more miles.

When the Math Doesn’t Work

To know for sure if purchasing SkyMiles is a wise decision, you will need to put in a little extra work.

In a nut shell, make sure that the total price you pay purchasing the amount of miles needed for a trip is always less than what it would cost in cash.

Generally speaking purchasing lower increments 2,000 – 5,000 to top off an award is going to be the way to go. Here’s a table illustrating how expensive SkyMiles can get the more you purchase:

Cost of SkyMiles (assuming full retail price of 3.5 cents per mile):

Number of MilesCost to Purchase
2,000$70
5,000$175
10,000$350
30,000$1050
50,000$1,750
Delta SkyMiles retail at $0.035/ea

When the Tickets You Wish to Buy Are Unavailable

Award seats are in short supply on most flights. If you’re considering buying miles for a particular flight or trip, make sure there are seats available ahead of time.

Sadly, not all flight seats can be purchased with miles, so you’ll need to plan as far in advance as possible if you intend to use miles to buy a ticket.

To check whether a flight has award seats available during booking, enter your desired flight information and select “Shop With Miles” or “Show Price in Miles.” If seats are available, you will see them and how much they cost. If there are no more seats available, you can try checking a different flight class to see if there are more there. 

Final Thoughts

To get the most out of your Delta SkyMiles, whether they are purchased or earned, you need to make sure you know what they’re worth. Purchasing miles is usually not a smart move, but a few scenarios (outlined above) make it potentially beneficial.

Visit the Delta SkyMiles Deals page for a complete list of advertised offers including the best-priced tickets available. Flash deals that maximize the value of your miles are updated monthly.

If you already have a sizable pool of miles in your account and you have a specific upgrade or trip in mind, then buying a few more to nab that offer may be a good way to travel cheaper.