However, which airlines offer the finest premium economy flights?
With time, numerous airlines have started to provide premium economy. On long-haul routes (and some in Asia on shorter regional routes), an increasing number of airlines have begun to offer it as a third or fourth cabin. It has proven to be an affordable method of obtaining additional room and comfort than the primary economy cabin. We’ll look at a few of the better selections today.
Why travel in premium economy?
In an effort to give economy passengers greater room and a better overall experience, the premium economy product was developed. It’s interesting to note that this was the same method used to introduce business class in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Early in the 1990s, Taiwanese airline EVA Air became the first to offer it, and a number of other airlines soon followed. Since US carriers entered the market later, they have chosen to concentrate on improved seating within the main cabin as opposed to a completely new cabin, which is now standard with many illustrious European and Asian airlines. And only Emirates provides such a service in the Middle East (Qatar Airways, for instance, has declared that it would rather concentrate on providing a good economy class service). For shorter regional flights with widebody aircraft, several Asian carriers now provide premium economy service (Simple Flying recently examined this on a Cathay Pacific flight).
Premium economy is clearly closer to economy class than business, with a similar-looking seat and marginally better food options (perhaps including some with alcohol). It can be more affordable than the most expensive seats, nonetheless, due to its competitive pricing. All things considered, it’s a great technique to increase your comfort throughout a lengthy flight.
The primary advantages include more roomy seating, better legroom, and a more cozy interior. In addition, there are other advantages including increased baggage allowance, excellent customer service, and advantages for land travel like early boarding and check-in. Increased earnings in miles and status credits above economy prices are frequently rewards for frequent travelers and mileage collectors.
We now take a look at some of the top long-haul premium economy options. This is just a sample; there are many more. There are still methods to differentiate even if many airlines offer extremely comparable seat sizes, widths, and pitches to those in economy class. This page’s seat information was obtained from seatguru.com.
Boeing Company
Japan Airlines triumphs in the competition for pure space. Seat pitch is 42 inches in all of its premium economy seats. Given that the average pitch for premium economy seats is about 38 inches, this is the biggest in the sector. Based on the type of aircraft, seat width ranges from 19 to 19.5 inches.
On its Boeing 777-200, 777-300, 787-8, and 787-9 aircraft, Japan Airlines offers premium economy, but not all of its 777s or other aircraft have this feature installed. Also take note that the Boeing 787 has a seat configuration that is preferable to the 777’s 2-4-2 configuration: 2-3-2. Across airlines, seat characteristics are largely uniform.
In premium economy class, you may anticipate a bigger screen, probably a bigger table, fixed armrests between seats, a kind of footrest, and respectable recline choices. Including a fold-out privacy partition between the seats is a lovely little touch by Japan Airlines. Additionally, the chairs have a great function that ensures the passenger behind will have extra room: they glide forward within a shell rather than reclining backward.
The airport business class lounge access is another way that Japan Airlines distinguishes its premium economy. Whether for the Japan Airlines lounge or a partner lounge, this is offered on every flight prior to takeoff.
Inflight New Zealand
For premium economy space, Air New Zealand is in second place. Its seats’ breadth ranges from 19 to 20 inches, and all of them have a 41 or 42-inch pitch. Using Boeing 777-200, 777-300, and 787-9 widebody aircraft, the airline provides premium economy service on all of its widebody flights and itineraries. On the Boeing 777 and Boeing 787, seats are arranged 2-4-2 and 2-3-2, respectively.
It only managed to place seventh overall in the Skytrax World Airline Awards for best premium economy class in 2022 despite having such roomy seating.
An avant-garde and distinctive premium economy seat was once available from Air New Zealand. They introduced the Spaceseat in 2010 as a bigger seat configured in a 2-2-2 layout, allowing even more space and privacy. However, the product has now been discontinued, and all aircraft have been updated with the new seats.
Currently innovating once more, new cabins for the Boeing 787-9 are scheduled to debut in 2024. The economy class will have the first lie-flat bunks ever. The national carrier of New Zealand has also shown a revamped premium economy package for their Dreamliners, promising greater room and improved privacy.
Hong Kong Airlines
The premium economy experience on Singapore Airlines is just as good as the airline’s renowned first-class accommodations. All Airbus A380s, some Boeing 777-300s, and certain Airbus A350 aircraft all have this class available. Each seat is 19 or 19.5 inches wide and 38 inches tall, which is fairly close to the average. In all planes, the seating is arranged 2-4-2.Furthermore, six rear seats on Singapore Airlines’ A350-900ULR (which lacks an economy class) are single premium economy seats with an additional storage bin at the side instead of the second seat.
Some of the top premium economy seats for lone passengers are found in these rows!This cabin is highly acclaimed and honored. Singapore Airlines was also named the best premium economy cabin for 2022 by the UK consumer magazine Which. The best premium economy class according to the 2022 Skytrax World Airline Awards was ranked second.
Emirates
In 2021, Emirates, the first of the major Middle Eastern airlines to provide this product, debuted its eagerly anticipated premium economy cabin. It’s only available on their Airbus A380 up front on the main deck and on a few itineraries right now, but it will eventually be available on more routes. There is a big, padded leg rest and up to 40 inches of legroom in the seats. With similar white leather and wood accents to business class, the cabin has a nice appearance. And it serves a first-rate lunch on authentic dinnerware along with some business-class beverage options.
UK Airways and Virgin Atlantic
Both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have built a strong premium economy offering that has grown in popularity on flights departing from the UK. On all widebody planes, both carriers now provide premium economy. The fourth first class cabin is still an extra step taken by British Airways on some aircraft.
In this cabin, both airlines offer seats that are identical in size and capacity. On all aircraft, they both provide a 38-inch pitch.
the three major airlines: United, American, and Delta
Following its introduction only a few years ago, all three of the major US airlines now provide premium economy. Although all three airlines offer a 38-inch seat pitch and a width of up to 19 inches in premium economy, none of them stand out for having a roomy cabin.The most complete and reliable offering in the US is provided by American Airlines.
As the first premium economy option to be made accessible on its complete long-haul fleet (by mid-2019), it set a precedent among the major US legacy airlines. Thoughts on it as a whole are not favorable. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are in tenth and eleventh place, respectively, in Skytrax’s rankings for the best 20 premium economy classes in 2022.
