Is a premium economy ticket ever worth it?
When it comes to air travel not all economy seats were created equal. Over the last few years a number of airlines have offered passengers a “premium economy” option.
As the name implies, premium economy offers passengers a level of service that is a step up from normal economy class, but with fewer features than you’d expect if you were seated in business. And, as you probably would imagine, you have to pay more.
But is it worth the additional expense? We’re going to take a look at what you can expect from the premium economy service, so you can figure out if it’s worth your while.
What can I expect from premium economy flights?
Premium economy class offers a range of features that differentiate it from standard economy, but it’s important to understand that these features vary from airline to airline.
- Expect to pay more – As with most things in life, if you want an upgrade it’s going to cost you. Premium economy is sold at a different fare class and can set you back anywhere from 10 to 85 per cent more than standard economy tickets.
- You may be seated in a separate cabin – Generally, you will find premium economy seats behind business class and a few rows in front of the standard economy cabin. Sometimes the classes are separated by a wall, partition or curtain.
- Your seat will be more comfortable – This is one of the key selling points for premium economy, particularly on long haul flights. Premium economy seats have more legroom than standard economy, allow you to recline further and offer passengers more elbow space. It’s also not uncommon for premium economy seats to have lumbar support, a footrest and an adjustable headrest as well.
- Other features you might find – Other features offered as part of the premium economy service include priority boarding, more frequent flyer miles, better food, upgraded amenity kits and a bigger TV screen than standard economy.
In the end of the day it comes down to a matter of personal preference.
If the luxuries described above sound like they’re worth the additional cost then there’s no reason not to upgrade to premium economy, but if you’re happy enough with the standard level of service there’s no real urgent need to do so.
SeatGuru provides a useful online comparison tool if you’re still on the fence.
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