Premium economy is a cabin class which has long confused travellers. It straddles a line between economy standard and the higher classes such as first or business, which gives you some but not all of the benefits. In this article we will dissect the difference between premium and standard economy, and why you might want to upgrade.
Premium economy is an upgraded cabin class which you can book with some airlines. The benefits provided will change from airline to airline, but will generally follow the same trend:
Better seats - Premium economy seating will often have more legroom, wider seats, and a better reclining angle for sleeping.
Food & drink - Premium economy passengers have access to chef-inspired meals, complimentary drinks, and enhanced menus.
Improved in-flight entertainment - Some airlines offer better in-flight entertainment to passengers who book premium economy such as larger monitors, noise-reducing headphones, video touchscreen handsets and on-demand entertainment such as movies, TV shows, and music.
Priority Boarding - Premium economy passengers are welcomed on board in comfort without the hassle of queueing and waiting for their group to be called.
Many airlines around the world offer premium economy, such as the following:
Air Canada - Air Canada has an 'International Economy' option with a complimentary beverage service, better seating and extra amenities.
Air France - Air France offers 'Seat Plus' which includes guaranteed extra legroom, priority boarding and improved facilities.
Lufthansa - Lufthansa offers premium economy seats, which allow their passengers priority boarding, extra baggage and in-flight extras like drinks and entertainment.
Emirates - Emirates is classy, no matter the cabin class you fly in, but its premium economy seats offer better legroom, extra baggage, and priority boarding.
All Nippon Airways - All Nippon Airways offers a better menu to its premium economy passengers, as well as a complementary kit of amenities and improved services.
Premium economy costs on average 30% more than your standard ticket, however, this is subject to change based on the airline offering the service. This makes premium economy the perfect option for people who want a touch of luxury without committing to the high price of business class. Premium economy is the ultimate compromise, giving you the best of a relaxing, luxury flight while not breaking the bank.
Worried about the extra cost? This is where Alternative Airlines can help. We offer a wide range of ways to pay which allow you to split the cost of your flights, as well as any upgrades or extras you want on top of your flights, such as premium economy seats. We offer all the big names in flexible payments, all around the world. Some of our favourites are Klarna (available in the USA and selected European countries), Affirm (available in Canada, the UK and USA) and Afterpay (available in the UK, Canada, the USA, New Zealand and Australia).
Enter the destinations you'd like to visit, dates you'd like to travel on, and the number of passengers flying with you into the Alternative Airlines search form and click 'Search Flights.' You can also select the currency you want, including Crypto, to give you accurate final pricing throughout the booking journey.
You'll see the hundreds of different airlines flying to your chosen destination. Filter the search so that it only shows only the ones you want. Then select the flight that best suits your needs.
You will then be prompted to choose your ticket class, you can choose between standard economy, business, first class and of course, premium economy. If there's anything else you want to add, such as additional baggage, cancellation protection, flying with a pet, etc., you can do so now by scrolling to passenger details and clicking your desired additions.
Once you checkout, you'll see the many different payment methods available, including paying immediately in full using a bank card, Crypto or you can Buy Now Pay Later. The BNPLs that you see will depend on your country of residence.
After you've chosen your payment plan, you're all done! You'll find your e-ticket waiting for you in your email inbox.
Book your premium economy flights today and spread the cost over a period that suits you. Only available through Alternative Airlines.
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Standard economy is the average flight experience and generally the cheapest option provided by most major airlines. Premium economy is a budget luxury ticket class, where you get some extra benefits over economy such as extra legroom and complimentary drinks, without breaking the bank for business or first class tickets.
Premium economy is a lower-tier ticket class compared to business class. Premium economy does have some of the benefits you might expect from business class, such as an enhanced menu, priority boarding and more, however, there are a few major differences.
Alternative Airlines is the best place to book your flights. We make it quick and easy to find the right flights for you and check out with your preferred payment method. We also have a wide array of services allowing you to reserve your preferred seats, book extra baggage, protect your booking, and much more.
We have a whole dedicated blog where you can read all about which airlines have the best economy class service.
