In short, premium economy is almost never worth paying the additional money for. Of all the flying I do, you will almost never see me in premium economy. However, premium economy seats are potentially the highest margin airfares for airlines, and there is a reason why so many airlines are placing that small premium economy cabin between those ever cramped economy seats and expensive business class offerings.
With so many more websites offering air miles and credit card tips to upgrade to business and first, it is clear that availability to upgrade your seat is becoming relatively more limited. Enter: Premium Economy. Often as little as 4 rows of seats that are certainly not a middle ground between economy and business class, these seats are often just a small upgrade from economy and very often nearly double the price of economy seats.
Premium Economy (also known as World Traveller Plus) on British Always.
British Airways
Why Do Airlines Love Premium Economy?
Because it means that business class upgrades now come as a two cabin upgrade from economy, meaning you either have to spend a lot more points, or fork out more cash on those premium economy seats.
Are passengers really that bothered about a slightly better reheated meal in the sky? I’m certainly not, and I would suggest you either grin and bear economy, or find a bargain business class fare to start with.
So often I am asked if premium economy is worth it, and granted, there are some very good products out there such as Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines, but for the most part, a slightly more reclined seat, footrest, and ‘3 course meal’, do not justify what is at least a 25% premium on the price of an economy tickets. On longer flights the premium price for the so-called premium seats often come with a price tag of double, or more!
Passengers are likely to get just an extra inch or two of seat width versus economy and just a little extra recline as well. Airlines will advertise the potential of priority boarding, and extra baggage, but are these menial extras really worth the cost to you? Personally, I would strongly recommend against premium economy unless the price is marginally more than standard economy.
The cabin is a buffer for many airlines ensuring fewer economy to business class upgrades, and until prices become more reasonable in a premium economy cabin, it’s a hard pass from me.
