Premium economy refers to an upgraded class of travel on many airlines. However, it is not available on all airlines. It is available on Air Canada, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. You can find out more about these services from the companies themselves. There are several advantages to travelling in premium economy.
Air Canada
If you’re traveling on a budget, you might want to consider upgrading to Air Canada’s premium economy class. This cabin offers priority baggage service and more space. It also offers additional perks like curated wine lists, in-seat power, and in-flight meals served on real glassware.
Air Canada’s Premium Economy cabin is ideal for business travelers. You’ll have more legroom and comfort and enjoy better food and drink. You’ll also receive a pillow and amenity kit. You’ll get priority boarding compared to Economy, and two hold suitcases are complimentary. Premium economy passengers also get priority check-in and priority boarding.
While Premium Economy flights don’t usually come with free upgrades, you can upgrade your flight if you have the right air miles. In addition to free upgrades, Air Canada Aeroplan members can enjoy major discounts on premium economy flights. Depending on your status, you can even upgrade to Business Class using eUpgrade credits.
In addition to the food, Air Canada’s premium economy offers more and better services. You can enjoy priority check-in, priority baggage handling, and lie-flat pod-style seats. Premium amenities like Molton Brown skincare products are also included. Moreover, your meals will be served on real china, glassware, and silverware.
Premium economy seats are also more spacious, with wider pitch and recline. Additionally, they feature footrests behind the bulkhead. The seats in this cabin also come with an 11-inch personal touch-screen TV with 600 hours of content. You’ll also have access to in-seat power and USB port.
United Airlines
United Airlines’s new Premium Plus cabin is a step up from its economy class. Seats in the new Premium Plus cabin are wider and offer more legroom, elbow room, and comfort. The seats are 38 inches in pitch and are 48 centimetres wide, compared to 31 inches in economy class. They also have USB charging ports and power outlets. Premium Plus fares also come with Premier Access, which offers priority check-in and early boarding. Other benefits include access to United Club lounges, complimentary alcoholic beverages, and access to premium dining.
United’s Premium Economy offers excellent in-flight entertainment and spacious leather seats. The seats are 2-inches wider than Economy class seats and feature reclining backrests. Some flights also feature pre-arrival dining, so passengers can get their meals early. Additionally, the airline offers complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. The airline has a number of dining options in its Premium Economy class, including chicken katsu, Portobello Mushroom ravioli, and a dessert.
United Airlines recently announced that it is expanding its Premium Plus cabin on international flights. Previously, Premium Plus was available only on long-haul flights. Now, it will also be available on transcontinental flights, selected domestic flights, and selected international flights using Boeing 787-10 aircraft. The upgraded seats will have extra legroom and other amenities, including Saks Fifth Avenue blankets, upgraded amenities kits, and extra power outlets.
American Airlines
American Airlines recently released a new award booking tool that includes Premium Economy award redemptions. This new tool, compared to the old one, offers customers the ability to see how many miles it will cost to fly in premium economy, using AAdvantage miles. The chart is simple, but provides important information. It shows what it will cost to fly in premium economy and how many miles it will cost to upgrade from standard economy to premium economy.
American Airlines has decided to expand its Premium Economy service on some of its Boeing aircraft. This new offering offers more spacious seats and extra amenities. It is less expensive than business class, and passengers can enjoy the benefits of priority check-in and boarding. In-flight entertainment is another perk. While the new American Airlines Premium Economy service is not currently available on all routes, it is available on certain Boeing aircraft that are scheduled for retirement in the near future.
American Airlines Premium Economy seats offer more legroom than standard economy seats, with eight seats across. Although not as large as business class seats, these seats feature wider arm rests and footrests. The seats also have 38-inch pitch and USB power adaptors.
Virgin Atlantic
Premium economy is a way to upgrade your coach flight with extra features and amenities. With up to eight inches of recline and two settings for the footrest, the premium economy seat on Virgin Atlantic is significantly more comfortable than standard economy seating. The airline charges a premium of $250 for this service, but the price is not excessive given the upgraded amenities and service.
If you are flying on a budget, but would like to enjoy the same restaurant-like experience as premium travelers, Virgin Atlantic premium economy is the way to go. This service costs approximately half the price of business class, and the seats are significantly larger and more comfortable. Virgin Atlantic premium economy flights offer a choice of three meal options and a welcome cocktail. The flight also includes a free newspaper. Those who require extra legroom can purchase a special seat in advance for an additional fee.
Premium economy passengers can select their seats up to 331 days before departure. They can choose to be on the aisle or window side of the aircraft, and have access to priority boarding. The seats are larger than standard Economy seats, with a pitch of 38 inches and a seat width of 18 to 21 inches. The seats are equipped with footrests and headrests for maximum comfort. Premium economy passengers also get to enjoy unlimited snacks throughout the flight.
Premium economy on Virgin Atlantic is similar to the premium seats found on domestic narrowbody aircraft around the world. Its seating is more spacious than the standard economy class, and features an 8-inch recline. Guests can also choose to sleep in their seats when desired. Other advantages of premium economy include an on-board bar, extra legroom options, and an amenity kit.
Cathay Pacific
When we were flying to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific, we opted to pay an extra fee for Premium Economy. The price is just a little more than a regular coach fare, but it’s a huge discount compared to Business Class. However, there are some downsides to the experience. The crew is often overworked and unable to deliver a great service.
In addition to additional legroom and extra room, premium economy class passengers enjoy more personalized service and priority boarding. There is also more entertainment available for the premium economy passengers. Their seats recline, have extra legroom, and feature a table, which allows passengers to work comfortably. Plus, their luggage allowance is generous.
Amenity kits are provided to premium economy passengers, but they aren’t as fancy as those found in business class. Fortunately, the toiletries aren’t that bad. Cathay’s toiletries contain nice smelling creams and bottles of soap. While they’re certainly not as luxurious as business class amenities, they’re acceptable and won’t break your travel budget.
Premium economy passengers also benefit from adjustable headrests. These headrests slide up and inward so that you can rest your head comfortably. This feature is particularly useful if you’re planning to sleep on the flight. Plus, there is plenty of storage space behind the headrest that can accommodate an iPad or a travel wallet.
Virgin America
If you’re looking for an excellent way to travel on a budget, consider upgrading to Virgin America’s premium economy class. These seats offer more legroom and comfort. They also offer a dedicated check-in desk, which helps you get on your flight faster. Premium travelers also get special amenities and amenity kits that come with the flight.
Among the amenities that you’ll receive with a Virgin America premium economy booking are a free checked bag, free soft drinks and movies. The premium economy cabin also has free wifi and in-seat power. If you’re not sure about the amenities available in the premium economy cabin, contact customer service or the support team for more information.
The company also offers pre-ordering for meals and drinks before your flight and during the taxi and takeoff. However, this feature won’t be available when flight crew is standing in the aisle. As of April 2018, Virgin America had 30 destinations, including 27 domestic flights and three international flights. It also operated a route between Las Vegas and New York JFK. After the company went out of business in 2020, the rest of its fleet will be transferred to Alaska Airlines.
The seats in the Virgin America premium economy cabin are more spacious and comfortable than those in the standard economy class. They also have an 8-inch recline and two footrest settings. The seat’s cradle-style design provides much more comfort than a standard economy seat.
