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1. Delta Premium Select 777 Seat Map
2. Delta Premium Economy Review
3. Delta Premium Select 777-200
4. Delta A350 Premium Economy

Delta emphasizes customer comfort with first refreshed 777-200ER. Delta has embarked on a full-fleet interior renovation of its 777 aircraft, with the first refreshed 777-200ER taking flight this afternoon from Detroit (DTW) to Beijing (PEK) featuring the award-winning Delta One suites, the new Delta Premium Select cabin and the widest Main Cabin seats of Delta's international fleet. “Premium Select is Well Worth the Money on the Delta's A350” Review of Delta Air Lines. Great experience on Delta's newest flagship plane, Airbus A350. Very quiet compared to Delta's other wide bodied aircraft - 777, 767 and A330. Service: Delta One. Aircraft: Boeing 777-200. Departure: Los Angeles, California (LAX) 9:55 PM. Arrival: Sydney, Australia (SYD) 7:55 AM +2 Days. Distance: 7,488 miles The day had finally arrived! I’d spent the majority of 2016 working on the details of this itinerary and now it was finally time to fly the crown jewel, Delta One.

Come November, there will be one less Boeing 777 operator.

In a pandemic-related fleet shakeup, Delta is gearing up to bid farewell to one of the largest planes it operates — the Boeing 777. This widebody jet was the workhorse on many of Delta’s flagship long-haul international routes, including flights from Los Angeles to Syndey and from Atlanta to Johannesburg.

But then the coronavirus came stateside and nearly wiped out all demand for these routes. Although Delta recently completed a cabin retrofit project across its 18 777s, the Atlanta-based carrier later decided to simplify its fleet for cost-effectiveness.

To that aim, in May, Delta announced the retirement of its entire fleet of 777s by the end of the year. Well, 2020 is nearly over (thankfully), and the carrier has scheduled its final two 777 flights.

If you’re looking to catch one final ride on this Boeing widebody, you better start planning now. The final two flights are as follows, according to Cirium schedules and confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.

• Oct. 30: Delta Flight 8787 ATL — LAX, 3 p.m. — 4:30 p.m.
• Oct. 31: Delta Flight 8807 JFK — LAX, 1 p.m. — 4 p.m.

Of course, there’s a possibility that the dates and timing shift. Over the past few months, there’s been an increased number of pandemic-related schedule changes across airlines. So while these are the final scheduled flights, anything could theoretically change at the last minute.

There are still seats left for sale in all cabins on the first retirement flight from ATL to LAX. The JFK to LAX flight is currently sold-out in business, but there are seats left in the other two cabins. Coach fares start at $149, premium economy starts at $350 and business class starts at roughly $1,200.

Award availability is limited, though there are currently some coach seats available at saver rates on the JFK to LAX flight. Delta’s charging 16,000 SkyMiles, though you can book the flight through Virgin Atlantic for 12,500 points.

You’ll still see plenty of these Boeing jets flying across the country. Aside from the myriad of international airlines that fly the 777 to the U.S., two of Delta’s biggest competitors — American Airlines and United — both operate the 777-200 and longer 777-300 variant. You’ll even find AA and UA 777s flying on domestic routes from time to time.

Related: These are the jets that could end up in the boneyard

Delta’s retirement of the 777 is just the latest in a long list of planes being sent to the boneyard across the world. With a full recovery not predicted for a few years, carriers are streamlining their fleets and saying goodbye to the gas-guzzling jets of yesteryear. In Delta’s case, the airline has so far retired the Boeing 737-700, McDonnell Douglas MD-88 and the MD-90.

Aviation enthusiasts like me (case in point: check out my Instagram page) will mourn the fact that many Airbus A380s and Boeing 747s — two of the world’s largest passenger planes — are getting scrapped. Just this week, British Airways retired its final two Queens of the Sky. BA was previously the world’s largest operator of the 747. Going forward, it’ll have none, leaving just a handful of airlines still flying the 747.

While long-time fans and enthusiasts will miss the flying the 777 in Delta’s livery, the carrier already has a swanky modern replacement, the Airbus A350. Going forward, the A350 will be DL’s flagship aircraft. The A350 burns 21% less fuel per seat than the 777s they’re replacing.

Plus, these are some of the newest widebodies to enter the airline’s fleet. The cabins are outfitted with the latest Delta One Suites, Premium Select, Comfort+ and standard coach seating.

It’s not all sad news; the A350 is actually opening up a new market for Delta: Cape Town.

Related: Delta to serve all 777 routes with A350s, and add Cape Town

Though the A350 can replace almost every ultra-long-haul 777 route, the Atlanta to Johannesburg frequency requires a modification. Going forward, the airline’s South Africa service will follow a new circular routing that goes: Atlanta-Johannesburg-Cape Town-Atlanta.

The stop will allow for refueling at sea level before beginning the 8,130-mile trek back to the U.S. And it adds a new dot to Delta’s route map.

So while Delta’s 777 retirement is sure to disappoint some flyers, it ushers in a new era for the carrier’s fleet — one focused on more modern, fuel-efficient aircraft.

Featured photo by Alberto Riva/The Points Guy

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Delta Premium Select 777 Seat Map

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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

We are just about 1 month away from the inaugural Delta A350 flight from Detroit to Japan. While many are excited about the new Delta One Suite seats, a.k.a. A Delta One seat with a plastic door, I am stoked about the new Premium Select (PS) seats since they are the first real new seat from Delta in a very long time.

To that end we have the issue of the “best” seat in the PS “cabin” even though it apparently is lacking a curtain divider like Delta One and the rest of the jet. To me the leg room in the bulkhead row looks amazing. Even with the footrest extended, the window passenger should be able to get past.

This does not seem to be the case in the rest of the cabin. Now I know just getting up and down is not the only thing that determines a great seat so let’s speculate from all the photos.

Delta Premium Economy Review

First off, with bulkhead, you have no storage in front of you. Then again, with these new slim line seats, you don’t have a great deal using the seat back pocket in front of you either. I do like the clever place to put your phone or tablet to charge or rest vs. just the seat back.

Next up we do have the fact that the bulkhead will have the IFE in a swing up arm in the seat so these, while yielding more leg room, may give up some seat width to accommodate the entertainment system.

Delta Premium Select 777-200

All the seats seem to have arm rest fold out tables. I love these style of tables when they are new. The downside is after a few years they start to sag and you have to get creative with things to keep them at attention.

Another thing I can not wait to test is the last or back row. Sometimes in a premium seat row this is the best choice as you can recline all the way and not bother anyone. Heck sometimes the FAs don’t even ask you to sit up at landing or takeoff and I like that. But other times (think 737-900ER) the back row against the bulkhead has restricted recline!

I am out and back on the A350. I could have selected the 1st row on both flights but went with only one way as I want to test out both seats. I hope also to try the last row if there is no one in it or at least chat with whoever is in it. Maybe they will be a sport and trade for a bit to see.

What do you think. Are you as excited about the new PS seat as I am? What do you think will be the “best” seat on the new jet? – René

Delta A350 Premium Economy