Delta Air Lines Boeing 767-300 Premium Select Review [SLC to HNL]

Airline: Delta Air Lines (DL)
Aircraft: Boeing 767-300ER (76K)
Flight #: DL382
Route: Salt Lake City (SLC) to Honolulu (HNL)
Date: January 30, 2025
Duration: 7 hours, 16 minutes
Cabin and Layout: Premium Select, 2-2-2
Seat: 20A and 20B
Cost: 27,800 SkyMiles and $5.60 in taxes and fees each

When my partner and I were invited to his brother’s destination wedding in New Zealand, we wanted to travel as comfortably as possible without spending a fortune — whether in cash or points. Even with a few hundred thousand miles between us, we knew that award availability would be a challenge, so we had to get creative.

To our surprise, round-trip economy fares were relatively affordable — just under $1,000 per person —though we ultimately used a different strategy to break up the long journey. Instead of flying to Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO) for a nonstop flight to Auckland, we found a budget-friendly mileage ticket to Honolulu (HNL) on Delta Air Lines, took a rest day, and then continued down to Auckland (AKL) with Hawaiian Airlines.

Initially, we booked Main Cabin tickets but used 2 of my Regional Upgrade Certificates, or RUCs, to move into Delta’s Premium Select cabin. We were also waitlisted for Delta One, and with 10 open seats the day before departure, our upgrade chances actually looked promising. Unfortunately, our hopes were quickly dashed at check-in when nearly a dozen Diamond Medallions took priority. It’s also possible there were passengers from an earlier Delta flight to Honolulu who missed their connection and rebooked onto ours.

No matter the reason, we were still excited to experience a new cabin experience for the first time on a reconfigured Delta 767-300. Although Delta has been my airline of choice for years, this was my first time flying in Premium Select. Plus, a friend, a Salt Lake City-based flight attendant who frequently works this route, had mentioned that the airline had just launched its Premium Select dining program on this route, adding an extra layer of anticipation to the journey.

Keep reading to find out how this experience unfolded!

Booking Delta Air Lines

Delta operates up to 2 daily flights out of its Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) hub to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu (HNL), both serviced by a Boeing 767-300ER.

There’s also a third option operated by Hawaiian Airlines, but as a Platinum Medallion member, I knew I’d get better seats by booking with Delta. Our flight was scheduled to depart at 3:20 p.m. MST and arrive in Honolulu at 7:21 p.m. HST.

With one-way fares exceeding $500 per person, we redeemed SkyMiles instead. Thanks to my Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card, which offers a 15% discount on award tickets, I was able to book our Main Cabin seats for 27,600 miles each — down from the standard 35,000 — plus $5.60 in government taxes and fees.

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Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

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Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

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Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card

Frequent Delta travelers will enjoy this card's bonus categories, benefits, and ability to reach higher levels of elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

90,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $1,080

Annual Fee

$350

APR

19.99%-28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card can be a great option for those seeking additional ways to obtain a higher level of status — or to maintain their current status — with the airline.

A key feature of this card is the ability to earn bonus Medallion Qualification Dollars (MQDs) that are essential for earning Delta status. This could help you get closer to earning a handful of valuable benefits with the airline.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on Delta purchases
• 3x SkyMiles per $1 spent on purchases made directly with hotels
• 2x SkyMiles per $1 spent at restaurants (including takeout and delivery) and U.S. supermarkets

Cons

• $350 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not earn transferable rewards

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Card Highlights

• Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $4,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on a Main Cabin round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of the government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion^® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $20 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
• Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
• Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Resy Credit: Get up to $10 in statement credits each month after you pay with your enrolled Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: earn up to $10 in statement credits each month after using your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
• You can check your first bag free on Delta flights, saving up to $70 on a round-trip Delta flight per person. For a family of four that's a potential savings of up to $280 per round-trip flight.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Delta SkyMiles^® Platinum American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members and Reserve Card Members.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $350 Annual Fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99%-28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

We booked these flights less than a month before departure, and luckily, both the Delta One and Premium Select cabins were nearly wide open. While searching for flights on my Delta account, I noticed that upgrade availability was showing for both RUCs and Global Upgrade Certificates on our desired route.

As a Platinum Medallion elite member, I had just received 4 RUCs as part of my Choice Benefits, so I was able to use 2 of them to upgrade us instantly. However, since Premium Select is considered a separate cabin class, the RUCs only confirmed our upgrade from Main Cabin to Premium Select.

To secure a confirmed upgrade to Delta One, we would have needed to book Premium Select tickets (either with cash or miles) first and then use upgrade certificates for Delta One.

I reached out to Delta’s customer service via the iMessage chat feature in the Fly Delta app (iOS, Android), and the agent successfully applied our RUCs to the reservation. She also let us know that we would be placed on the waitlist for Delta One.

Our upgrade chances actually looked promising until the last minute, but we were perfectly content flying Premium Select for the daytime flight. After all, the cash difference between Main Cabin and Premium Select for our particular flight was more than $700!

Hot Tip:

Since Delta doesn’t offer a Premium Select cabin on all of its Boeing 767-300 aircraft, sometimes you may be able to use an RUC to upgrade instantly from Main Cabin to Delta One. That’s exactly what I did in 2023 when I scored a confirmed upgrade in Delta One from New York (JFK) to Honolulu (HNL) — a flight over 11 hours!

Salt Lake City International Airport

Check-In

We rarely check bags, and this trip to New Zealand was no exception. However, for those who do, Delta Premium Select passengers are entitled to check 3 free bags (up to 50 pounds each).

Navigating security was easy, thanks to having CLEAR (enrollment required) and TSA PreCheck with The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Delta Sky Club SLC

The Delta Sky Club is in Concourse A, level 2 east of the new Airport Plaza, and is open daily from 4:45 a.m. to 11:15 p.m. The Delta gates at Salt Lake City are conveniently just beyond check-in, and luckily, our gate (A27) was the first one to the right of the Delta Sky Club.

While having a Premium Select ticket alone won’t get you into a Delta Sky Club, having the right card with lounge access will.

The Amex Platinum card gives me same-day access to Sky Clubs when flying with Delta. I added my partner as an authorized user for a $195 annual fee (rates & fees), which gives him the same lounge access benefits, as well.

With about 30 minutes to spare, we had more than enough time to grab a quick bite and relax on the outdoor sky deck — surprisingly warm for January.

Hot Tip:

Our guide details the U.S. Delta Sky Club locations, hours, amenities, and access rules. Access policies for Delta Sky Clubs were updated in February 2025; our detailed article explains the new rules.

Boarding

We were notified on the app that the flight would depart 5 minutes early, so Delta’s boarding process began at 2:35 p.m.

Delta Premium Select passengers board with Zone 2, but since we were just steps from the Sky Club, we avoided the gate crowd by lingering a bit longer and boarding with the final zones.

On Board Delta Premium Select on the Boeing 767-300

Delta’s fleet of 767-300s are up there in age — the bird that took us to Hawaii was nearly 27 years old. Fortunately, Delta began retrofitting these interiors in 2021, and our particular aircraft was reconfigured with a dedicated Premium Select cabin.

Premium Select Seat

What immediately caught my eye about Delta Premium Select was how intimate it was — with only 3 rows, it’s the smallest cabin on the entire plane.

The Delta Premium Select seats are arranged in a 2-2-2 configuration, so there are only 18 passengers in the cabin at any given time. (Our flight ended up being sold out, so the entire Premium Select area was full.)

Delta Premium Select was right behind Delta One and Delta Comfort+ seats. The rest of the aircraft was filled with Main Cabin seats.

We picked the bulkhead on the left side of the plane (seats 20A and 20B). There was a ton of legroom — 38 inches to be exact — compared to 31 or 32 inches in Main Cabin, depending on the aircraft. My boyfriend, who sat in the window seat and is much taller than I am, could easily move out from his seat to the bathroom without forcing me to get up.

One downside of sitting in the bulkhead is that your personal items can’t be easily accessible, as they must be stored for takeoff and landing. However, this was only a minor annoyance, as once we were at 10,000 feet, I could bring my backpack down and store it between us without sacrificing floor space.

On the shared console, 2 full-sized water bottles were waiting for us. It was nice that they were 16 ounces rather than miniature bottles!

The leather seats were very cushy and noticeably more comfortable than Main Cabin or Comfort+ seats. It was nice to have a larger seat (roughly 18.5 inches wide) for a 7-hour flight, which ended up being longer because we waited 45 minutes after landing to park at our gate.

However, I think the real selling point of Delta Premium Select over a Comfort+ seat is the ability to recline far back with an adjustable legrest. In fact, the seat reclines up to 7 inches.

The footrest was sturdy, allowing me to stretch out fully. Being in the bulkhead meant there weren’t any passengers in front of me to infringe upon my personal space.

You could adjust the seats with the buttons on the console next to the remote. There were 3 controls for the footwell, legrest, and the recline, in that order.

The power outlets were also in the shared console.

One thing you won’t get in Delta Premium Select is extra storage, and being in the bulkhead meant there was absolutely no underseat storage. The only semblance of storage in our seats was within the console, which could just barely fit the headphones that each passenger got.

On the other hand, the headrests, which were equally plush, could also be manually adjusted up and down. You could also fold them in for a more comfortable position to lay your head.

Our inflight entertainment screens, which had a headphone jack and a USB plug, were on the wall and were the same size (about 13 inches) as the ones built into the seats behind us.

Being in the bulkhead also meant being more than 3 feet away from the screens, as opposed to the other seats in Premium Select.

The inflight entertainment screens were not touchscreen. The remote, attached to the console, allowed you to browse the media screen, control the reading lights, or call for a flight attendant.

On the right side of my window seat, I lifted the flap to find the tray table.

I caught up on a few work emails before the first meal service and had plenty of elbow room, even with my 14-inch MacBook Pro.

Food and Beverages

Our flight took off around 3:30 p.m. Shortly after we reached cruising altitude, the flight attendants assigned to Premium Select distributed hot towels.

After collecting our now-cool towels, the flight attendants served dinner and drinks around 4:30 p.m., roughly an hour after takeoff.

Since we were confirmed in Delta Premium Select, we could preselect our meal — a chicken or pasta dish — through the app. Having already made our choices, we were guaranteed our preferred meals, and we both had the chicken. We also ordered club sodas over ice.

The meal felt like a noticeable upgrade from economy and looked appetizing, whether because of the real tablecloth or the actual dishes. Besides the heaping serving of mashed potatoes, the meal didn’t feel overly heavy and sleep-inducing.

In fact, the chicken breast was, thankfully, not dry, and the sautéed cipollini onions and broccolini were delicious. (My partner was served broccoli while I received broccolini — perhaps a mix-up in the catering facility?)

The side salad wasn’t particularly worth writing home about, as it was just made up of mixed greens and diced peppers. What made it flavorful, though, was the blood orange olive oil dressing.

I devoured the tiramisu, which was nice and airy, and also nibbled on a couple of flatbread crackers. However, the crackers left me feeling like I needed to gulp a ton of water after.

Since the Premium Select cabin was so small, the meal service flew by rather quickly. The flight attendants also handed out a selection of snacks that they also gave out in economy. I asked for the snack mix and granola bar.

Bottom Line:

The meal service was on par with the food I’ve had in Delta One. While there isn’t a paper menu with dishes and drinks to choose from, my meal tasted pretty good and was even plated nicely.

Amenities

There were ups and downs to the amenities on board this flight.

Entertainment and Wi-Fi

The entertainment selection featured 16 pages of classic films, newly released movies, and a handful of episodes from popular TV series.

I had a tough time watching movies, as I usually turn the captions on but the font was a bit too small for my liking. Of course, that’s a minor critique in the grand scheme of things!

Amenity Kit

When we first boarded, we found a few items on our seats. There was a pillow, a blanket (wrapped in plastic), a Someone Somewhere amenity kit, and headphones (which were of decent quality and not flimsy at all).

The amenity kits were handcrafted and actually the same ones given to Delta One passengers. I kept the purple kit, while my boyfriend kept the gray bag.

Inside the kit, I found an eye shade, socks, earplugs, and a dental kit.

The blanket felt thin, which was a major differentiator from Delta One. However, it was actually quite warm for the entire flight, so a heavy blanket wasn’t necessary.

The pillow was actually decently sized but was pretty flimsy, though I ended up using it for more lower back support.

Lavatory

Although the Delta One lavatories were close by, a curtain divided the 2 cabins for most of the flight. I headed to the lavatories that were right past the Comfort+ section.

Wi-Fi

Delta offers free Wi-Fi to SkyMiles members for most domestic routes, and I have found over the past year that the coverage has increased (and improved) significantly. I was able to connect to the inflight Wi-Fi network on my phone before we even took off.

Once I could bring out my laptop, I was able to connect there, as well. The Wi-Fi speeds were promising … at first.

After the meal service, the Wi-Fi dropped suddenly for both my partner and me. And I could tell by the groans of my seat neighbors that their browsers were also giving them the spinning wheel of death. Once I could finally log in to Delta’s Wi-Fi portal, I got the following message.

About half an hour later, the Wi-Fi did start working again, but it would randomly drop off a couple more times throughout the flight. I eventually gave up on using my laptop for the rest of the flight.

Hot Tip:

As of January 2024, Delta’s free Wi-Fi coverage on the Pacific only extends from the U.S. West Coast to Hawaii. Once you’re past Hawaii and flying to Oceania or Asia, you’ll lose the connection altogether.

Service

The flight attendants in Premium Select were genuinely friendly and cheery. We felt like there was a huge difference between Premium Select and Main Cabin service, at least on this flight.

At 5:30 p.m. — about an hour after the meal service — the flight attendants came back, offering additional snacks and drinks. To our surprise, they came by every single hour on the dot and even made intermittent passes throughout the flight with cups of water. Occasionally, they’d bring around the premium snack basket, and we got to try other things like pistachios, cheese curds, and vanilla wafers.

When we were close to landing, we got another sweet treat: a small square of dark chocolate.

Arrival

By the time we landed in Honolulu, we were more than ready for bed. We also appreciated being seated just a few rows from the front, allowing us to quickly head home. However, our arrival was about 30 minutes later than scheduled because of storms sweeping through the island, causing widespread delays.

The only real challenge I faced while deplaning was retrieving my carry-on from the overhead bin.

Unlike the spacious bins on some of Delta’s newer aircraft, these were much tighter, making it a struggle to maneuver my overstuffed bag out.

Final Thoughts

Delta Premium Select is a really solid product that bridges the gap between a fully lie-flat seat and extra-legroom seats while offering more amenities than the latter. My first experience was a positive one and proved to be a good use of my RUCs. Honestly, the Delta Premium Select seats felt extremely comparable to a domestic first-class recliner seat on Delta.

Considering this was a longer domestic flight, I really appreciated the elevated meal service, ample legroom, and generous recline that came with Premium Select. What stood out beyond the hard product was the attentive flight crew, who checked in on passengers every hour with water and snacks — something I’ve seen less frequently even on some business class flights.

Given how pricey Delta One fares can be, Premium Select felt like a nice middle ground. My only wish is that it was available on more domestic routes — I’d happily book this cabin for long flights, like Salt Lake City (SLC) to New York (JFK), for example.