Delta is supposed to get their first 777-200LRs sometime next year. These aircraft are supposed to have the new Delta BusinessElite Suites. I suspect it's a pretty safe bet that these aircraft will be primarily used on "ultra-long-haul" flights (such as Atlanta-Shanghai, or Atlanta-Dubai) as opposed to ATL-DAB given that some of these flights might be more than 17 hours long, I'm wondering if it would make sense for Delta to introduce some type of "Premium Economy" product on the aircraft. SQ offers Executive Economy, VS offers Premium Economy, BA offers Premium Economy and TG offers both a Premium Economy and an "enhanced" (greater pitch) regular economy on their ultra-long-haul flights.

I'd like to see Delta offer a Premium Economy product with the following features:

• Seating: essentially be the equivalent to domestic First Class transcon (i.e., with inseat video and power) 757 seating (except in a 2-3-2 configuration)
• Meals and Beverages: Coach meals with first crack at meal choices and free alcohol.
• Lounge Access: No lounge access, but allow Premium Economy passengers to pay say, $25 or $50 for access to departures AND arrivals lounges.
• Premium Economy Fare Classes: The fare classes would be Y, or M.
• Upgrades: Medallions on fares other than Y or B would be offered an opportunity to "upgrade" to Premium Economy following the established domestic upgrade rules, HOWEVER, if an upgrade clears, the Medallion would have to pay somewhere between $100-$200 (remember, if they've paid for a Y or B fare, they're in PE anyway. The fee is to get a little more revenue from the Medallion of the $299 T fare.) Upgrades would clear all the way up to departure, and stand-by upgrades would be sold at the gate for $300 each way for M, H, Q, and K.

What do people think? Would you buy a Delta Premium Economy product? If so, would you buy cheap fares and play the upgrade lottery, or would you pay a higher fare to confirm Premium Economy?