Summary
- Premium Economy offers benefits such as upgraded seating, enhanced entertainment and lounge access.
- Airlines like Singapore, ANA and Atlas Air offer some of the largest premium cabins.
- The rise of premium economy is being driven by passengers wanting more space and better service on long-haul flights.
When traveling long-haul, many of us can only dream of what it feels like to sit at the front of the plane and sip champagne. However, there is a growing trend for regular passengers to invest in premium economy class on their next trip.
The experience varies depending on the airline. However, it sits between economy and business class and can typically cost around double (or just under) an economy class ticket.
Taiwan’s EVA Air was the first airline to introduce such a travel cabin, initially called Evergreen Class in 1991. The Evergreen name was soon dropped for Elite and then for the standard premium economy class. The Premium cabin, commonly referred to as “W” class due to its service code, is now widely recognized as having the standard of business class a few decades ago.
The travelers who often travel in premium economy class today are travelers from government and middle management companies that require their employees to travel; They are also conscious of their travel budget.
While inclusions vary by airline, the most common benefits for Premium Economy Class passengers include:
- Frequent flyers and full-fare economy class passengers have the option of an upgrade
- A separate cabin from regular economy class features wider seats and improved headrests. A footrest and dedicated cabin crew are also usually included
- Improved in-flight entertainment with larger seatback TVs and noise-cancelling headphones
- Airline lounge access
- Priority check-in and boarding
- Faster mileage accrual rate and better rebooking flexibility
- Exclusive amenity sets and hot towel service
- Welcome drinks, including champagne, and enhanced meals are usually served on ceramic dishes
- Increased baggage allowance
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Although not included in this list, Japan Airlines has 94 W-class seats. However, these are sold as domestic business class with a seat pitch of 38.1 inches and a width of 18.7 inches
Let’s say you’re planning your next trip abroad and want to book premium economy. According to ch-Aviation, you have the best chances with these airlines that offer the most seats per premium cabin.
1 Singapore Airlines
Airbus A350-900ULR
Six Singapore Airlines aircraft are equipped with 94 premium economy seats. These aircraft are designed for the airline’s ultra-long-haul flights, connecting Singapore with New York (Newark and John F. Kennedy Airport).
The airline connects Singapore with the Big Apple daily on these routes, which remain the longest direct flights in the world. These services make it easier to sit back and relax with calf and foot rests built into your seat, a raised dining area, and plenty of USB charging stations to keep all your devices fully charged.
2 All Nippon Airways
Airbus A380-800
This Star Alliance member offers 73 premium economy class seats on double-decker flights. The airline uses these aircraft to connect Japan and Hawaii and offers a spacious 38-inch seat, leg rest, 15.6-inch touch panel screen, 90-degree rotating tray table and six-way adjustable headrest.
3 Atlas Air
Boeing 747-400
Two of Atlas Air’s 747-400 HD aircraft feature a unique (but dated) premium economy class cabin. With 66 seats available, these are the third highest premium economy class seats onboard commercial aircraft. The premium economy cabin is located above and below aboard these queens of the skies.
These aircraft predominantly have an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) or “wet lease” contract with the US Air Force. A look at Flightradar24 shows where the aircraft has spent the last few days, showing N481MC recently flying from Riga, Latvia, to Ramstein, Germany, before landing in Savanna, Georgia.
4 Eva Air
Boeing 777-300ER
Taipei-based Eva Air has 12 Boeing 777-300ERs and 64 premium economy class seats on offer. It is one of three configurations the airline operates, with the other two benefiting from additional standard economy class seats.
State-of-the-art inflight entertainment offers passengers 11-inch LCD touchscreens, which can be enjoyed with noise-cancelling headphones. Duty Free shopping is available from your entertainment screen, so you can relax while browsing for your next purchase. With a seat length of 38 inches and a width of 19.5 inches, you can sit comfortably in your seat with more than enough legroom. With atmospheric lighting, you can choose whether to read, watch TV or sleep in flight.
5 TUI Airways
Boeing 787-9
TUI, the world’s largest tourism and airline charter company, operates six Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with 63 Premium Economy Class seats. Before passengers even board the aircraft, they have access to a number of enhanced features, including a 25 kg baggage allowance, priority baggage drop-off, fast-track security check, lounge access at selected airports in the UK, Ireland and Melbourne (MLB) and priority boarding.
The benefits remain in flight, including 38 inches of seat pitch, wider seats with footrests and adjustable headrests. As you browse the entertainment options in your seat, noise-cancelling headphones in the dedicated Premium Economy cabin will block out all noise, complete with a Rituals amenity kit, pillow and blanket.
The rise of premium economy is driven by a niche of travelers willing to pay more for a slight upgrade. Especially on long-haul flights, the value of more space to stretch out and better service, even if you’re not sitting in a fully lie-flat seat, shouldn’t be underestimated. For this reason, airlines around the world continue to offer premium economy cabins, which are very popular with passengers.
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