American vs Delta vs United: Premium Economy Value Rankings for 2025

How we scored (100 points total)

• Seat comfort & ergonomics (40%) – pitch, width, recline, leg/footrests, IFE/power.
• Soft product (25%) – meals, drinks, amenity kit, pre-order, service touches.
• Bags & priority (20%) – included checked bags, priority services.
• Consistency & coverage (15%) – how widely the cabin is offered across long-haul routes.

Sources are primarily airline pages (features, baggage allowances) plus current program pages. Specific aircraft vary—always check the seat map for your flight.

2025 Rankings (quick take)

1. Delta Premium Select — Best overall comfort & service
2. United Premium Plus — Best inclusions & availability
3. American Premium Economy — Solid seat; check route/amenities

Airline-by-airline breakdown

1) Delta Air Lines — Premium Select

Why it wins: Delta’s PE hard product consistently delivers up to ~38″ pitch, up to ~19″ width, deeper recline, plus leg/footrests, and a notably upgraded soft product (hot towel, welcome beverage, curated menus, premium snack baskets, and a branded amenity kit). Sky Priority speeds check-in/security/boarding and bag delivery. Delta Professional+1

Seat/amenities highlights

• Adjustable leg rest & footrest; larger screens; pre-order meals on many routes. Delta Airlines
• Sky Priority for check-in, security, and boarding. Delta Airlines

Bags & fees (typical)

• Standard checked bags carry a 50-lb limit; first/second bag fees apply on many itineraries—PE itself doesn’t universally include free bags on Delta (status/credit cards/route exceptions apply). Delta Airlines

Scorecard (est.) Seat 36/40 • Soft 22/25 • Bags/Priority 14/20 • Coverage 11/15 → 83/100

2) United — Premium Plus

Why it’s #2: Very competitive recliner seat with footrests and a strong inclusion set: two free checked bags and Premier Access (priority check-in, screening lanes where available, priority boarding). Coverage across 777/767/787 fleets makes it easy to find. United Airlines+1

Seat/amenities highlights

• Wider seat, extra legroom, footrest, power + USB, amenity kit, ~13″ IFE screens (varies by aircraft). United Airlines
• Semi-private mini-cabin on many long-hauls. United Airlines

Bags & priority (typical)

• Two checked bags included (50 lb each) with Premium Plus, plus Premier Access. United Airlines

Scorecard (est.) Seat 33/40 • Soft 19/25 • Bags/Priority 18/20 • Coverage 13/15 → 83/100
Tie-breaker: Delta edges United on seat/soft refinement; United edges Delta on guaranteed bag inclusion and broad availability—so pick based on which matters more to you.

3) American — Premium Economy

Why it’s #3: Comfortable recliner with more width/legroom than Main Cabin and a legit long-haul meal/amenity experience; AA has been expanding PE to select transcon and long-haul routes. Baggage inclusion is typically 2 checked bags in PE (always confirm for your market). American Airlines Newsroom+1

Seat/amenities highlights

• Wider seat with extra pitch; enhanced meals; amenity kit (e.g., Ostrichpillow lumbar, upgraded blanket cited on newer routes). American Airlines Newsroom
• PE offered on most AA long-haul widebodies; aircraft and details vary. American Airlines

Bags & priority (typical)

• AA documentation shows Premium Economy: 2 bags included on most long-hauls; always check your specific itinerary. American Airlines

Scorecard (est.) Seat 31/40 • Soft 18/25 • Bags/Priority 17/20 • Coverage 10/15 → 76/100

At-a-glance: What you actually get

• Bigger seat with leg/footrest: Delta and United both advertise leg/footrests and extra recline; American varies by aircraft but is competitive. American Airlines+3Delta Airlines+3Delta Professional+3
• Amenity kits + elevated meals: All three offer upgraded meals/amenity kits vs. economy; Delta leans hardest into the “premium touches” narrative (hot towel, curated menus). Delta Airlines
• Priority on the ground: Delta = Sky Priority; United = Premier Access; American = priority benefits on select routes. Delta Airlines+2United Airlines+2
• Checked bags included: United Premium Plus: 2 bags included; American Premium Economy: typically 2 bags (check route); Delta Premium Select: bag fees often apply unless exempt by route/status/card. United Airlines+2American Airlines+2

Practical picks by traveler type

• Best for baggage value: United Premium Plus (2 free checked bags + Premier Access). United Airlines
• Best for seat comfort/soft touches: Delta Premium Select (leg/footrest, deeper recline, consistent premium service). Delta Airlines+1
• Best if you’re AA-loyal (miles/credit card): American Premium Economy (solid PE; watch for PE on certain transcons and verify bag inclusion on your market). American Airlines Newsroom+1

Fine print that changes the math

• Baggage fees keep moving. U.S. majors raised checked-bag fees in 2024; policies can differ by origin/destination and ticket stock. Don’t assume yesterday’s fee applies today. AP News+1
• Dimensions vary by aircraft. Even within one airline, pitch/width and screen size differ across 767/777/787/Airbus fleets. Check the specific seat map before buying. United Airlines
• Program names are evolving. Delta is rolling out new booking “Travel Experiences” from Oct 1, 2025, which may affect how bundles/benefits display at checkout (PE cabin product remains, packaging may look different). Delta Airlines

Bottom line (2025)

• Choose Delta if your top priority is the seat and onboard polish.
• Choose United if you want two checked bags included and wide route coverage.
• Choose American if you’re already deep in AAdvantage or on a route where AA fields its latest PE soft product—just double-check baggage and priority perks for your exact itinerary.