Singapore, Delta, Qantas are tops for premium economy cabins
Twenty years after international airlines such as UK-based Virgin Atlantic and Taiwan’s EVA Air introduced the premium economy concept, the section between coach and business class still represents fewer than 4 percent of seats in the sky, according to a recent Travelport/Carlson Wagonlit study.
Meanwhile, US carriers have been far more concerned with basic economy — “economy minus” to some — than its premium counterpart. But for fliers who want roomier seats, better meals, larger entertainment screens, and more personalized service without an extravagant price tag, the options are starting to grow.
In the last year, American Airlines, Inc. and Delta Air Lines, Inc. both rolled out premium economy on international flights while United Airlines has started installing new “Premium Plus” seats aboard a handful of its long-haul jets. Like most premium economy tickets, they tend to cost two to three times as much as coach and half the price of business class.
Why the sudden uptick? Longer flight routes, such as Singapore Airlines Ltd.’s new flight from its namesake hub to Newark, are making comfort as important as affordability; for that 19-hour flight, the airline decided to nix coach service entirely, including only premium economy and business class seats.
Wherever you fall on that spectrum, here is a ranking of cabins that most warrant the upgrade from coach, based on such factors as seat size, amenities, availability, and price. Consider it your handbook to flight survival, both for the hectic holiday season and beyond. Fares cited in this story were the lowest available from January-March 2019.
1. Singapore Airlines – Though Singapore Airlines’ elegant first-class suites and spacious business class seats get much of the attention, the airline’s premium economy is an industry benchmark as well.
Why it’s better than coach: Aboard the airline’s A350s, A380s and some B777-300ERs, seats offer six inches of additional legroom, an impressive nine inches of recline, and such upscale touches as leather upholstery and extendable footrests. There’s also a service called “Book the Cook” that lets passengers pre-order meals designed by a coterie of celebrity chef partners, and noisecanceling headphones let you tune out while watching movies on a 13.30-inch HD touchscreen.
Price difference: On flagship routes, expect markups of 60 percent to 150 percent. That’s roughly $550 more between Singapore and San Francisco ($893 in coach and $1,448 in premium), or an additional $1400 between Singapore and London.
2. Delta – Along with new businessclass suites with closing doors, Delta introduced a similarly souped-up Premium Select section last year. You can find it on A350s and select B777-200s and B757-200s.
Why it’s better than coach: Aboard the A350, having one fewer seat per row than economy allows for eight inches more legroom and seven inches of recline. You’ll also get an additional inch of entertainment screen space; adjustable footrests, legrests, and headrests; and several personal stowage spaces. Partnerships with LSTN (for headphones), TUMI (for amenity kits), and Alessi (for serve ware) also add a luxurious touch.
Price difference: Fares fluctuate dramatically, depending on the route. Tickets from Detroit to Shanghai started at $1,047 in economy and $2,103 in premium economy, while those from Atlanta to Seoul cost $1,648 in economy and $2,119 in premium economy.
3. Qantas – The Australian carrier’s latest and most comfortable premium economy seats, by industrial designer David Caon, debuted last year on the fleet’s B787 Dreamliners.
Why it’s better than coach: These cabins offer two to three additional inches of legroom, three of recline, and seven to eight of pitch when compared to the back of the plane. They have innovative calf rests engineered to offer better ergonomic support than Qantas’s previous premium economy seats; the new ones offer complimentary adjustable headrests fitted with specially designed pillows. Pull-out shelves for your phone or tablet are a nice extra, as are the dedicated check-in counters at the airport and the self-serve bar for mid-flight snacks, should you feel hungry after a multicourse meal.
Price difference: Every minute counts on flights that can last over 17 hours, so passengers might not mind paying nearly three times as much for a ticket from Los Angeles to Melbourne or Perth to London. (These routes have been running $2,534 and $3,085, respectively.)
4. Cathay Pacific – One of the bestdesigned premium economy cabins has rolled out on Cathay Pacific’s A350s, while its B777-300ERs are currently being updated with ergonomic leg rests and additional leg room.
Why it’s better than coach: Six-way adjustable headrests and padded, extendable leg rests mean you’ll always find a comfortable sleep position. These seats are also extra roomy, with dimensions of 20 inches wide and 40 inches of pitch. A small but delightful touch: Aisle-side armrests lower completely so passengers can swivel, rather than get up, to let their neighbors stroll out of the row. Welcome drinks, priority check-in, and generous baggage allowances are icing on the cake.
Price difference: Those additional touches can double the price of a roundtrip ticket from San Francisco to Hong Kong ($1,273, vs $665 in economy) and add even more to the cost of a flight from Hong Kong to Sydney ($1,414, vs $560 in coach). (Bloomberg)