Premium Economy (is it worth it?)

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Premium Economy

Is it worth upgrading from Economy to Premium Economy?

Find out information on Premium Economy and whether purchasing a Premium ticket over and Economy ticket is worth it. Use our comparison table below to see how the two classes compare for all the major airlines!

WHAT IS PREMIUM ECONOMY?

blue airline seat icon

Because comfort is such as big priority for many travellers, some airlines offer Premium Economy as a separate seating class to Economy, usually with a greater service and space. Not all airlines offer Premium Economy - it is usually found on international flights. Airlines are increasingly offering Premium Economy, but the question is, is the increased fare worth the upgrade?

The difference between Economy and Premium Economy

The difference between Premium Economy and Economy will vary between airlines, and is likely to also depend on the type of aircraft you are flying on. In many cases, Premium Economy will be separated from Economy with a curtain to increase privacy. You can also expect wider seats and a few extra inches of recline, as well as extra amenities and facilities including complimentary snacks/meals/drinks, power, and a larger personal entertainment screen.

Top Tip: Is extra space a priority to you? Check out our guide to learn more about seat width and pitch and the best airlines for personal space in Economy: Airlines with the Biggest Seats in Economy and Premium Economy.

Is it worth paying for Premium Economy?

Premium Economy definitely offers a better flying experience. The upgrade can be quite a bit more expensive, so is it worth paying for the increased cost? There’s no denying that premium economy is a better flying experience compared to the economy, so the question is, how much are you willing to pay for that privilege? As stated above, there can be some good value, but it can also be quite expensive. It depends on your priorities; many people value the extra room, especially on transatlantic or long-haul flights. Premium class seats will typically have 5-7 extra inches of legroom and width. If the difference is just 15-20%, it might be worth upgrading.

Additional facilities often include adjustable headrests and leg-rests, larger personal TV screens and power ports for laptop or digital devices. Passengers can also usually look forward to a premium food service and complimentary alcoholic drinks.

Airline Comparison

Take a look at our table below to see how Economy compares with Premium Economy on some of the most popular airlines:

AIRLINE NAME SEAT PITCH SEAT WIDTH
Aegean Airlines
Economy: 30 inches

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: 17-18 inches

Premium Economy: not available

Adria Airways
Economy: -

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: 16+ inches

Premium Economy: not available

Aer Lingus
Economy: 31-32 inches

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: 17 inches

Premium Economy: not available

Aeroflot
Economy: -

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: 17+ inches

Premium Economy: not available

Air Astana
Economy: 30-32 inches

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: 18 inches

Premium Economy: not available

Air Canada
Economy: 29-34 inches

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: 17-20 inches

Premium Economy: not available

Air China
Economy: -

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: 32 inches

Premium Economy: not available

Air France
Economy: 29-32 inches

Premium Economy: 38 inches


Economy: 17-18 inches

Premium Economy: 19 inches

Air New Zealand
Economy: 30-34 inches

Premium Economy: 41-42 inches


Economy: 17 inches

Premium Economy: 18.5-10 inches

All Nippon Airways
Economy: 34 inches

Premium Economy: 38 inches


Economy: -

Premium Economy: 19.3 inches

Austrian
Economy: 30 inches

Premium Economy: 33-35 inches


Economy: 17-18 inches

Premium Economy: 19 inche

American Airlines
Economy: 31-40

Premium Economy: 16-18 inches


Economy: 16.5-18.5

Premium Economy: 17.1 - 19 inches

Avianca
Economy: text

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: text

Premium Economy: not available

British Airways
Economy: 30-38 inches

Premium Economy: 38 inches


Economy: 16-19 inches

Premium Economy: 18.5 inches

Delta Airlines
Economy: 30-35 inches

Premium Economy: 38 inches


Economy: 16.5-18.5 inches

Premium Economy: 18.5-19 inches

Emirates
Economy: 32-34 inches

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: 18 inches

Premium Economy: not available

Ethiad
Economy: 32 inches

Premium Economy: Economy upgrades but no Premium Class


Economy: 17-19 inches

Premium Economy: not available

Gulf Air
Economy: 32 inches

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: 17.5

Premium Economy: not available

Oman Air
Economy: 31-34 inches

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: 18 inches

Premium Economy: not available

Philippine Airlines
Economy: 30-33 inches

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: 16 inches

Premium Economy: not available

Singapore Airlines
Economy: 32-34 inches

Premium Economy: 38 inches


Economy: 17.5-19 inches

Premium Economy: 19-19.5 inches

Turkish Airlines
Economy: 30-31 inches

Premium Economy: not available


Economy: 16-17.8 inches

Premium Economy: not available

United Airlines
Economy: 30-38 inches

Premium Economy: 38 inches


Economy: 16-19 inches

Premium Economy: 19 inches

Which airlines offer Premium Economy?

AIRLINE NAME COUNTRY NAME FOR PREMIUM ECONOMY
Aerolineas Argentinas Argentina Club Economy
Aeroflot Russia Comfort Class
Aeroméxico Mexico Aeromexico Plus
Air Austral France Classe Comfort
Air Canada Canada Premium Economy
Air Caraïbes France/Caribbean La Classe Caraïbes
Air China China Premium Economy
Air France France Premium Economy
Air Transat Canada Club Class
Air New Zealand New Zealand Premium Economy
Air Senegal Senegal Premium Economy
AirAsia Malaysia Hot Seat
AirAsia X Malaysia Hot Seat
Alitalia Italy Classica Plus
All Nippon Airways Japan Premium Economy
Allegiant Air USA Legroom Plus
American Airlines USA Main Cabin Extra
Asiana Airlines China Economy Smartium
Austrian Airlines Austria Premium Economy
Avianca Colombia Economy Plus
British Airways UK World Traveller Plus
Brussels Airlines Belgium Economy Privilege
Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Premium Economy
China Airlines China Premium Economy
China Southern Airlines China Premium Economy
Condor Germany Condor Premium Economy
Delta Air Lines USA Delta Comfort+
Edelweiss Air Switzerland Economy Plus
El Al Israel Economy Plus
EVA Air Taiwan Elite Class
Finnair Finland Economy Comfort
Frontier Airlines USA Stretch
Hawaiian Airlines USA Extra Comfort
Iberia Spain Premium Economy
Icelandair Iceland Economy Comfort
Japan Airlines Japan Premium Economy
JetBlue Airways USA Even More Space
KLM Netherlands Europe Select
LAN Airlines Chile Premium Economy
LOT Polish Airlines Poland Premium Club
Lufthansa Germany Premium Economy
Mahan Air Iran Premium Economy
Malaysia Airlines Malaysia Economy Plus
Norwegian Norway Premium Economy
Oman Air Oman Premium Class
Pakistan International Airlines Pakistan Economy Plus+
Philippine Airlines The Philippines Premium Fiesta Class
Qantas Australia Premium Economy
SAS Scandinavian Airlines Denmark/Norway/Sweden SAS Plus
Scoot Singapore Super/Stretch Seats
Singapore Airlines Singapore Premium Economy
Spicejet India Premium Economy
Sunwing Airlines Canada Elite Plus
TAM Airlines Brazil Space Plus
Thai Airways Thailand Premium Economy
Ukraine International Airlines Ukraine Premium Economy
United Airlines USA Economy Plus
Vietnam Airlines Vietnam Economy Deluxe
Virgin America USA Main Cabin Select
Virgin Atlantic USA Premium Economy
Virgin Australia Australia Premium Economy
Vistara India Premium Economy
WestJet Canada Economy Plus
Alternative Airlines
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