Premium Economy vs Economy Flights
To upgrade or not to upgrade, that is the question: whether it is nobler to suffer the indignity of cramped legroom or to save money on that once yearly flight? It’s a bit of a tough call.
Everybody has been stuck on a long distance flight and silently cursed the fact that the seat in front is so close it is getting onto intimate terms with both of your knees. In economy seats there is always the feeling, persistent and nagging, that if you could just shift that little bit to the right, or maybe the left, and if you could possibly have another pillow (and perhaps a bit more space to move your legs) you might just be able to get comfortable.
With the rise and rise in demand for a better product and the increasing passenger dissatisfaction with the space an economy seat offers, many airlines now cater for the booming “semi-luxury” market offering premium economy seats on long haul flights.
But before we hail premium economy as a lifesaver of disaffected flyers everywhere, it makes sense to find out more about what exactly premium economy is.
What’s the deal?
So is premium economy just a marketing cliché thrown about by airlines to increase passenger numbers or does it really offer some of the benchmarks you would associate with business class at a more reasonable price?
The idea behind this concept is to allow a greater number of travellers to travel in relative comfort without being charged a tremendous amount of money. However, different airlines have different attitudes towards comfort and value.
In terms of what you would expect to pay, if you book far in advance a premium economy ticket is likely to cost as much as 85% more than a standard economy seat. Although, if you book a flight closer to your departure date, it should cost should only rise by a more realistic 35%. Last minute deals can be found which can even put the cost of a premium economy seat as low as 10-15% more than that of standard economy, so if you’re booking late it could be worth your while finding out if these seats are still available.
As a general rule you should expect at least 1-2 added inches of seat width as well as an additional 2-3 extra inches of recline capacity on your seat. Added services and amenities might include premium food menus, larger personal TV screens and more support for your head, arms and feet.
Ultimately though premium economy boils down to the amount of personal space available to the flyer as well as the size of the seat.
Which airlines then offer the most space?
Virgin Atlantic leads the way in the premium economy market with a seat width of 21 inches on both its Boeing 747 and Airbus 334 planes. Next up is the economy airline bmi which also offers a seat width of 21 inches but on fewer routes and only on its Airbus 330 planes. Qantas Airways has a seat width of 19.5 inches on both its Airbus 380 and Boeing 747. And British Airways has a fairly modest premium economy seat width of 18.5 inches on its long haul flights.
In terms of the distance between separate seats (known as ‘seat pitch’), which is a good indication of the amount of available legroom you will enjoy, bmi leads the way with 49 inches of space. Thai Airways offers 42 inches while British Airways, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand offer 38 inches. Air France offers the least pitch of all the major carriers with just 34 inches of space.
Verdict
In the final analysis the decision to upgrade to premium economy class is one that rests entirely on the flyer’s needs and expectations. On especially long routes such as Johannesburg-Sydney or London-Auckland, the extra legroom and improved service can make the flight easier to handle. Fastidious travellers who enjoy comfort, as well as those who have trouble sleeping on planes, may well appreciate having an option that offers a greater degree of comfort at a reasonable price. With many airlines offering better food and entertainment options in premium economy an upgrade can go a long way to ensuring that you arrive relaxed and refreshed at your destination.
Two of the best premium economy packages are run by Virgin Atlantic and bmi. In addition to their generous seat pitches, they both offer extra perks such as priority baggage claims, special in-flight menus, hassle-free check in and superior in-flight entertainment.
