Is Premium Economy Worth the Extra Cost?
Premium economy seats may offer travelers more comfort on longer flights; however, not all airlines describe them in the same manner, making comparison shopping challenging.
Some airlines consider Main Cabin Extra or Economy Plus an economical premium option on longer international flights, while some consider it business class light.
Extra Legroom
If a good night’s rest and ample legroom are of paramount importance to you, premium economy tickets may be well worth their additional cost. While amenities available for this upgraded cabin class vary across airlines, making it difficult to compare them and determine which option best meets your needs.
Some airlines provide upgraded seats at the front of their economy cabin – which they refer to as Main Cabin Extra or Economy Plus seats – offering travelers with longer legs more legroom. Upgrades such as this may be provided free for airline elite status members or can be paid for when booking depending on which carrier.
Other airlines provide an actual premium economy product that stands apart from regular economy seating in a less-trafficked cabin, typically offering extra legroom of 5-7 inches, wider seats and deeper recline. They may also provide upgraded food and beverage service, an amenity kit and priority airport/onboard services – typically on long-haul flights aboard wide-body aircraft.
Differing products and their differences can be confusing, particularly as many airlines do not use the term premium economy when referring to upgrade sections. To determine your best option when booking long-haul flights, pay careful attention when reading through cabin descriptions when purchasing tickets.
United Airlines refers to their upgraded cabin as “Economy Plus,” while British Airways calls their product World Traveller Plus. Both airlines offer this upgrade on select routes on A330s with up to 40 percent more legroom than standard economy seats, plus priority boarding, an amenity kit, larger 10.6 inch IFE screens, priority check-in desks and dedicated check-in desks for these customers. Other airlines such as Delta offer similar upgrades called Comfort+ that feature early boarding privileges and dedicated overhead bin space at no additional charge.
Extra Comfort
Premium economy draws its main appeal from additional legroom, though wider seats or increased recline may also feature. Airlines typically provide priority boarding as well as upgraded food and beverages – some even provide plated meals, amenity kits or noise-canceling headsets to upgrade passengers!
Though these amenities might not make a noticeable difference on shorter flights, they should certainly be given careful thought for longer ones. Extra space and comfort may help travelers arrive relaxed rather than sore and exhausted–especially on overnight or international journeys.
Upgrades vary based on individual travel habits and needs; premium economy might not be worth it for travelers who prioritize family time over sleep during flights; however, if flying long haul to Hawaii or another long destination such as Asia may prove worthwhile with its additional legroom and amenities.
Be wary when comparing various airline offers that feature phrases such as “prices starting at” or “starting at $8.” These could indicate very different costs; therefore it is vital that you understand exactly what you’re getting before purchasing your ticket.
Hawaiian’s ExtraComfort seat doesn’t represent true premium economy – rather, it adds additional legroom in a regular economy 2-4-2 seating configuration with personalized USB power outlets, early boarding, and priority baggage claim compared to its competition like Delta Premium Select or United Plus seating. But it still makes for a comfortable travel experience on board the plane!
Hawaiian offers complimentary snacks and beverages to all passengers in economy class, such as a pesto chicken sandwich, Hawaiian Sweet Maui Onion potato chips, and chocolate-covered macadamia nuts as part of its inflight entertainment offerings. Extra Comfort passengers also have the ability to preorder one Book the Cook dish up to 24 hours prior to flying while viewing full inflight entertainment offerings on their personalized tablet device prior to boarding; those sitting in economy can only choose their meal options on board the aircraft.
Extra Space
As economy class cabins have tightened and amenities decreased, premium economy has emerged as an in-between option, offering more legroom, seat width, recline and earned miles – as well as upgraded meals if applicable – for longer haul flights. Premium economy offers travelers an ideal way to relax before embarking on their next adventure!
Premium economy seats tend to be wider and offer greater recline. Most provide adjustable leg rests and may include footrests; many airlines also provide amenity kits, larger entertainment screens, noise-cancelling headsets and enhanced meal service (often on china dishes with glassware).
While some airlines provide dedicated premium economy cabins, others include premium economy seating product as part of their business class offering. When making this choice, be sure to carefully read each airline’s description as benefits may differ significantly from one airline to another.
LATAM Chile’s Airbus A320 fleet offers Executive Economy seats that offer more legroom and a vacant middle seat, while other airlines may provide premium economy as a paid upgrade or complimentary benefit for frequent flyers. When booking, it is crucial that flight itinerary details are reviewed closely as this allows an airline to communicate more fully about benefits associated with premium economy upgrades.
Air New Zealand provides its premium economy product Spaceseat on its Boeing 787 and 777-200 fleets in either 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 configuration. Seats measure 44-47 centimetres wide, offering passengers bulkhead or window seating options and offering priority check-in and boarding, lounge access on some routes, free drinks and amenity kits as well as upgraded meal service.
Other airlines only provide premium economy on certain flights. United offers this class on certain long-haul routes; seats in this dedicated cabin feature more legroom and an improved inflight entertainment system, making for a comfortable flight experience. In addition, United also provides a variant called Elite Plus on some short regional flights – these seats have additional recline and footrest features but do not contain a vacant middle seat.
Extra Amenities
Airlines have recently introduced new Premium Economy offerings, providing additional amenities and improved seating compared to regular economy seats. But as exact details vary depending on which airline offers them, passengers must first understand exactly what their payment covers before determining whether upgrading to Premium Economy is worth their while.
Premium economy seats may feature wider and deeper seat pitches than economy seats, in addition to comfort features like built-in footrests, lumbar support and larger IFE screens. They may also be located in a separate cabin that’s quieter and less hectic than the main economy cabin, with many premium economy passengers enjoying additional perks such as priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling services.
Amenity kits are often found in premium economy seats, including items like pillows, blankets and ear plugs as well as travel-sized toiletries such as shampoo and conditioner. Some airlines provide premium economy passengers with upgraded dining services including plated meals served on more elegant plates than their economy class counterparts and upgraded beverage services (with some even offering pre-flight dinner booking options). American Airlines for instance provides premium economy passengers the same menu options available to business class flyers plus an assortment of wines on eligible routes.
While these amenities and comfort features are certainly appreciated, it is essential to remember that even the best premium economy experience pales in comparison to what can be expected in business or first class. In these classes you can typically expect lie-flat seats – some airlines even offering full bedroom suites on long haul flights! – in addition to top-shelf booze and gourmet meals along with ample luggage space.
Premium economy tickets offer an upgrade over coach seats while remaining more comfortable, though their exact value depends on personal travel preferences and personal comfort levels. They don’t provide lie-flat beds on international flights but still make for a far more pleasant experience than sitting cramped coach for 10 or more hours! It all comes down to personal taste – how you travel depends heavily on it all.