Delta Embraer 175 First Class vs Comfort Plus: Which Is Worth It?

Upgrading on a short regional flight sounds like a luxury, but is Delta Embraer 175 first class really worth the extra cost? We flew Delta’s E175 from Washington DCA to Boston in Comfort Plus and came home in First Class, so we got to compare both cabins seat by seat. You’ll see the seats we picked, how boarding and snacks compared, and which of the two upgrades we’d book again. Plus, we’ll share the one premium seat we always avoid on regional jets.

👉 If you’re still deciding which airline loyalty program to focus on, read our guide: How to Choose the Best Airline Alliance and Why It Matters

Delta Embraer 175 First Class vs Comfort Plus: Seat Map and Cabin Layout

Both of our flights were on an Embraer 175 operated by Republic Airways for Delta Connection. We’re so used to flying CRJs on regional routes that we assumed this would be one, too. So, I was excited to try out the E175.

The Delta E175 has 76 seats, with 12 in First, 20 in Comfort Plus, and 44 in the Main Cabin. First has rows 1 to 4 in a 1-2 layout, so there’s a single seat on the A side, which is great for solo travelers, and a pair of seats on the C and D side. Comfort Plus starts at row 5, and both Comfort Plus and the Main Cabin have a 2-2 seating configuration.

Here’s how the seats compare:

First: 36-inch pitch, 20-inch width, and 5 inches of recline
Comfort Plus: 34-inch pitch, 18.3-inch width, and 3 inches of recline
Main Cabin: 30- to 31-inch pitch, 18.3-inch width, and 3 inches of recline

We recommend always checking the cabin layout on a site like SeatMaps before selecting your seat. The biggest jump in legroom on the E175 is from the Main Cabin to Comfort Plus, with 3 to 4 extra inches of pitch, and our favorite seats, 5C and 5D practically have unlimited legroom (more on that below). First adds 2 more inches of pitch and a wider seat, but is it worth the price on a short flight?

Best Seats on the Delta Embraer 175

On any regional jet, whether it’s an Embraer or CRJ, we try to book the first economy row on the C and D side. On this E175, that’s 5C and 5D in Comfort Plus. You get a soft bulkhead or no bulkhead in front of you instead of a hard wall, so the legroom is basically unlimited and you can put your personal items under the First Class seat in front of you. Those seats weren’t available when we booked, so we chose 6A and 6B on the way to Boston, which was the second row in economy Comfort Plus.

Seat Tip: We’re not fans of the A/B side bulkhead seats on these regional jets (5A and 5B on this Delta flight). Since First Class has only a single seat on the A side, 5B ends up hanging out in the aisle with nothing in front of it. Some people might love that extra space, but we’re not fans of lingering in the aisle.

For the return flight in Delta’s First Class, we sat in 2C and 2D on the two-seat side. We recommend that couples book a C and D pair in First Class and solo travelers book a single A seat.

I’m claustrophobic, so sitting near the front of a small plane helps me a lot. If that’s not a concern for you, you’d be fine in any seat on this plane for a flight this short.

Delta Embraer 175 Comfort Plus Review

We were so surprised at how spacious Comfort Plus felt! It was roomier and more comfortable than our last few regional flights on American Airlines’ CRJ. The tray table was a normal size despite the small plane, and my laptop fit on it with no trouble.

The seats are leather with Comfort Plus headrest covers, and there’s a power outlet under the seats. We both had plenty of room for a small daypack under the seat in front of us and our larger backpacks in the overhead. We also enjoyed the free Wi-Fi, though we didn’t use it for anything major on such a short flight.

Service was fantastic. The flight attendants came through with snack bags and offered a complimentary glass of wine, so we each had one.

Takeaway: Comfort Plus on the E175 gave us noticeably more space than the Main Cabin seats or our recent CRJ flights.

Seat Upgrade Cost: 2,700 miles each to select our Comfort Plus seats.

Delta Embraer 175 First Class Review

Even though this was a short flight with limited service, it was noticeably elevated. Bottled water was already at our seats when we boarded, and the flight attendant offered our choice of a pre-departure beverage. We both went with a glass of white wine, of course. The snacks were fancier than the Comfort Plus snack bags, and the crew was warm and attentive the whole way home. I didn’t take photos of the snacks, but trust us, they were nicer! We even went for a second round.

The seats are noticeably wider in First Class, with a big armrest between the C and D pair. There’s no meal service on a flight this short, though. So that means a slightly bigger seat, pre-departure beverage, better snacks, and earlier boarding are the main differences from Comfort Plus.

Seat Upgrade Cost: 11,000 miles each to select our First Class seats.

👉 For a domestic First Class comparison on a larger plane, read our review of American’s A319 from DCA to Fort Lauderdale: Is American Airlines First Class Worth It for a Domestic Short Haul?

Delta Embraer 175 Boarding and Overhead Bin Space

We boarded in Zone 3 with Comfort Plus and Zone 1 with First. Both got us on the plane with no problem finding overhead bin space. The bins on the E175 are small, so we packed our backpacks light for these flights. If you bring a full-size carry-on, check the baggage rules for your fare class. Unless you have Delta status or credit card perks, a checked bag will cost $45 in economy, even if you select Comfort Plus. But you get two free checked bags in First Class.

Lounge Access for Delta Domestic First Class at DCA and Boston

Delta’s Domestic First Class and Comfort Plus fares don’t include Delta Sky Club access. You can get into the Sky Club when you fly Delta if you have The Platinum Card from American Express, but we don’t have that card.

At DCA, we used the Capital One Lounge with our Capital One Venture X cards. In Boston, the Priority Pass lounge was too far from our gate, so we went to the Chase Sapphire Lounge instead with our Chase Sapphire Reserve card. It’s a beautiful lounge, and we were happy to have a place to enjoy before the flight home.

What We Paid for Delta Embraer 175 First Class and Comfort Plus

Our round-trip fare from DCA to Boston was $187 each, then we used SkyMiles for the seat upgrades:

Comfort Plus, DCA to Boston: 2,700 miles each
First Class, Boston to DCA: 11,000 miles each

That brought our total to $187 plus 13,700 miles per person, or $374 and 27,400 miles for the two of us. Normally we wouldn’t spend 11,000 miles on a one-way upgrade for a short flight. But we rarely get to fly Delta, so it made sense to try First Class for this trip and write about it.

👉 Before you spend miles on seat upgrades, read our guide: How to Calculate Points and Miles Value Correctly

Is Delta Embraer 175 First Class Worth It?

Theo and I came away with the same impression. Comfort Plus is absolutely the upgrade we’d book again, and First Class isn’t worth it on a flight this short. At 2,700 miles each, Comfort Plus gave us more legroom than we expected, a tray table that fit my laptop, and the same complimentary wine. First Class cost 11,000 miles each for a wider seat, a pre-departure drink, nicer snacks, and Zone 1 boarding. We have flown small regional jets up to 3.5 hours, and that’s more worth it.

Book Delta Embraer 175 First Class If: You have extra SkyMiles you don’t have plans to use, you want the single A seat as a solo traveler, you’re checking a full-size bag or two and want the free baggage, or you really want Zone 1 boarding. It may also be worth it when the regional jet is used for a longer route.

Skip Delta Embraer 175 First Class If: You’re traveling as a couple on a short flight, because you will have a 2-2 seating configuration in economy with no extra seatmate anyway. You’d rather save the miles to put toward a longer flight.

👉 Read our full guide on upgrading to business class: How to Score Business Class Seats Without Paying Full Fare

Delta Embraer 175 First Class vs Comfort Plus at a Glance

	Comfort Plus	First
Our seats	6A and 6B, DCA to Boston	2C and 2D, Boston to DCA
Layout	2-2	1-2
Pitch	34 inches	36 inches
Width	18.3 inches	20 inches
Boarding	Zone 3	Zone 1
Drinks	Complimentary glass of wine	Pre-departure drink of your choice
Snacks	Snack bags	Upgraded snack bags
Lounge access	Not included	Not included
Our upgrade cost	2,700 miles each	11,000 miles each
Would we book it again?	Yes	Only with spare miles or for a longer flight

Delta Embraer 175 FAQ

Does Delta Embraer 175 first class include lounge access?

No. Domestic First fares on Delta don’t include Sky Club access. You can access the lounges when flying Delta with the Platinum Card from American Express, or use a credit card for lounges like the Capital One Lounge at DCA, the Chase Sapphire Lounge in Boston, or Priority Pass access.

What are the best seats on the Delta Embraer 175?

We like 5C and 5D, the first Comfort Plus row behind the two-seat side of First Class, because the soft bulkhead gives you basically unlimited legroom. In First Class, a C and D pair works well for couples, and a single A seat works well for solo travelers. We avoid 5B because it hangs out in the aisle with nothing in front of it.

How much legroom does Delta Comfort Plus have on the Embraer 175?

Comfort Plus on the E175 has a 34-inch pitch, compared to 30 to 31 inches in the Main Cabin and 36 inches in First Class. It felt more spacious than our recent CRJ flights on American, and my laptop fit well on the tray table.

Do you get food in Delta first class on short domestic flights?

On our flight from Boston to DCA, First had a pre-departure drink and upgraded snacks (like Sun Chips and premium potato chips) but no meal. Comfort Plus had snack bags, like biscoff cookies and pretzels, and a complimentary beverage.

Is Delta Comfort Plus worth it on the Embraer 175?

We think so. It cost us 2,700 miles each (for one way) on top of a $187 round-trip fare, and the extra legroom and earlier boarding made the short flight more comfortable for both of us. We would definitely do this again, but would probably skip the extra expense for Delta Embraer 175 First Class on this short of a flight.