Summary

• Most major airlines have added a premium economy cabin, offering wider seats & extra benefits.
• No-frills airlines like Ryanair do not have premium economy due to their low-cost business model.
• Some airlines like Qatar Airways believe their economy class is already on par with other airlines' premium economy.

If you only ever fly economy like me, you can easily understand how having a slightly wider seat, more recline, and added legroom can make a big difference. While it may not be a lie-flat bed like you have in business class, a comfier seat can make all the difference on a long-haul flight.

Over the past 22 years, most major airlines have added a premium economy class cabin to their aircraft, which has been a big hit with passengers. However, some airlines have opted not to offer premium economy, so we will look at their reasons for not following the trend in this article.

Ever since airline passengers can remember, nearly all major airlines have had first class, business class, and economy class seats. This is not the case anymore as almost all airlines are getting rid of first class for more business class seats and adding another class called "premium economy."

Besides having wider seats and more legroom on most airlines, premium economy passengers get upgrades like an extra baggage allowance, better meals, and amenities like upscale toiletry products and noise-canceling headphones.

EVA Air introduced premium economy in 1992

After the delivery of its first Boeing 747-400 in December 1992, Taiwan's EVA Air introduced a new cabin with wider seats and increased legroom. Calling it "premium economy," the new class of cabin debuted on EVA Air flights between Taipei-Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in the United States. A year later, the premium economy was so successful that EVA Air offered premium economy seats on all long-haul flights to the United States and Europe.

After debuting with EVA Air, other airlines began offering premium economy

The concept did not go unnoticed by other airlines, with the United Kingdom's Virgin Atlantic offering a premium economy cabin only months after EVA Air did it. Where you will not find premium economy seats is on low-cost carriers. Also called no-frills, budget, or discount airlines, their business model sells inexpensive tickets and makes revenue on add-ons such as luggage, reserved seating, priority boarding, and all food and drinks.

Today, the third-largest airline in the world by passenger numbers is the Irish budget airline Ryanair, which, in 2022, carried nearly 169 million. Based on its business model, it is easy to understand why Ryanair and other no-frills airlines like Southwest, easyJet, and Wizz do not have premium economy seats.

Aer Lingus does not have a premium economy

Unlike Ryanair, you would think that Ireland's national flag carrier, Aer Lingus, would offer a premium class cabin on its long-haul flights, but it doesn't. The International Airlines Group (IAG)-owned full-service airline has not followed the trend and instead prefers to offer passengers two cabin classes, business and economy.

To understand why, you must examine how IAG operates British Airways and Iberia, which offer premium economy seats on long-haul flights. The British and Spanish national flag carriers complement each other perfectly, serving global destinations from their hubs in London and Madrid.

Both British Airways and Iberia consider themselves to be upscale airlines that are interested in corporate and premium leisure market passengers. As far as they are concerned, economy class is just a way of filling an aircraft. Aer Lingus, however, takes a different approach by going after economy passengers who might otherwise fly with Air France-KLM or Lufthansa by offering less expensive economy class fares. Aer Lingus business class fares are also lower than those of other competing airlines, so IAG thinks a premium economy class is redundant.

Why Qatar Airways does not offer premium economy

One of the best premium economy offerings in the industry is on Emirates Airbus A380 aircraft. The perks of flying Emirates premium economy start before you board the plane with an extra baggage allowance and a separate check-in desk. Passengers flying Emirates premium economy have a business class-looking cabin and are served a business class style three-course menu on Royal Doulton dinnerware.

Despite the popularity of Emirates premium economy, competing, Gulf carrier Qatar Airways believes that its regular economy class offering is just as good as Emirates premium economy. When speaking with Simple Flying back in 2021, former Qatar Airways Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said:

"I'm not going for premium economy. Qatar Airways provides passage at reasonable prices to my passengers, giving them equal, or even higher, comfort than the premium economy."

Qatar Airways also got rid of first class when it introduced its popular Qsuites in business class, believing they offered an experience equal to or better than most airlines' first class offerings.

Korean Air will introduce premium economy seats on long-haul flights

The latest convert to premium economy appears to be South Korean national flag carrier Korean Air, as it launches its new prestigious business class suites. Previously, it was believed that premium economy class seats would be on the airline's new Boeing 787-10s, but that no longer appears to be the case. Premium economy class seats will likely be introduced on the airline's older Boeing 777-300ERs when the new business class seats are fitted later this year.

Is it worth paying the extra money for premium economy?

Depending on the price difference, while flying premium economy is not as good as business class, it is considerably less expensive. From airline to airline, premium economy varies, with some airlines just offering more legroom while others have bigger seats, more amenities, and better food options.

Recently, a friend of mine moved to Portugal from Florida and wanted to check two large suitcases. Flying economy class with TAP Portugal only allows you to check one piece of luggage. However, if you fly premium economy, you get two pieces of checked baggage are included in the price. After calculating how much it would cost to pay for the extra suitcase, he soon realized that it would be as much as, possibly more than, flying a premium economy.

The advantages of flying premium economy are:

• Premium economy seats have more legroom as the rows are spaced further apart.
• You get a wider seat, usually 19.5 inches, rather than 18 inches.
• Premium economy seats have more pitch, making sleeping on long flights easier.
• Premium economy seats are often configured in a 2-4-2 rather than a 3-3-3 layout.
• Some airlines have a separate premium economy check-in desk, which helps speed up the process.
• With premium economy, you often get a larger baggage allowance.
• Some airlines offer better meal options in premium economy.
• Some airlines offer priority boarding for premium economy passengers.