What Is Premium Economy and Is It Worth the Extra Cost?

Flying in business and first class is always a better experience than flying economy, but it comes at a much higher price point. Many people do not think it is worth the soaring price point, so they stick to miles and points to make the experience possible. 

This is where airlines came up with a niche market for those looking for a premium experience at a much lower price point, which is the fresh concept of premium economy class.

A Better Experience

Premium economy (PE from now on) excels in service a lot more than economy class. For example, most PE tickets offer these amenities and perks:

• Priority Check-In
• Priority Boarding
• Welcome Drink upon boarding
• Extra Luggage
• Priority Baggage
• More Miles/Points Accumulation

These PE seats also feature a much better physical seat. For example, here is a PE Delta seat (marketed as Delta Premium Select), compared to a standard Main Cabin seat.

While the differences might seem obvious, let me break it down for you:

• On widebody jets like the A350, PE cabins usually have a 2-4-2, 8-abreast layout, while the economy has a 3-3-3, 9-abreast layout. That means the seats in PE have more width.
• PE seats have more legroom. For Delta, the pitch is 38 inches for PE, while Comfort+ has 34 inches, and Main Cabin has 31-32 inches.
• PE seats recline much more than economy class.
• Some airlines, such as ANA, have footrests for each seat.
• Most airlines' PE seats have larger armrests.

So yes, Premium Economy is definitely a better experience than Economy in terms of comfort.

Booking Premium Economy

Of course, the above benefits come with a higher price. For example, this is a roundtrip LAX-JFK Delta flight booking screen. While Basic Economy costs only $292, Premium Select costs $1,157, almost four times more. Note that Delta One costs $3,297.

PE is, of course, bookable with miles/points, too. The same itinerary can be seen here sold with miles. Basic Economy costs 24,000 miles, while Premium Select costs 107,000 miles. Note that Delta One costs 315,000 miles, and all fees are the same in all classes at $12.

In conclusion, it can be said that while PE is definitely more expensive than economy class, it does serve as a reasonable buffer between economy and First/Business class.

How to Fly Premium Economy without Booking It

Still, $1,157 is not a small amount for most travelers, and those miles and points can be used elsewhere to be redeemed for a much better award ticket sweet spot. However, there is still a way you can fly Premium Economy without paying that much.

First, having a high tier in the carrier's frequent flying program (FFP). A higher elite status means better recognition, and agents sometimes upgrade elite passengers in economy or economy plus (better legroom) to PE if seats are available. Actually, if you are an AAdvantage elite member, you can apply for a systemwide upgrade to even snag seats in First Class.

Second, buy the highest economy fare. This includes tickets where longer legroom seats are sold as different classes. When long-haul aircraft operate shorter routes that usually don't sell PE, you will have a high chance of flying in PE if you buy the highest economy fare. For example, here is a seat map for an LAX-ATL Delta flight operated by an A350-900.

Also, here is the booking screen for the flight, DL515 departing at 8:00 AM.

While Premium Select is not for sale on this route, those buying Comfort+ tickets can be seen to be seated in the Premium Select cabin. With Basic Economy being $509 and Comfort+ being $907, it takes less than double the price to have a comfy sub-5-hour flight. 

This can be a much better deal than buying first-class tickets for this flight. While First Class passengers get access to a flatbed and the hip Delta One Suites, this is still a less-than-5-hour flight, and paying an additional $900 roundtrip just for a flatbed to use for 4 hours and 50 minutes doesn't seem like the best investment in the writer's opinion.

Bottom Line

While premium travel, such as Business Class and First Class, can break one's wallet, looking into Premium Economy seats may seem worth it. With the elevated recognition in service to actual comfort in travel, Premium Economy brings the best of two worlds into one, premium services at much lower prices.