It is interesting when the class between economy and business enters the too expensive category. Premium economy is usually not so different to economy that it would justify a huge price increase.
I am used to the price of premium economy to be something in the region of around half as much again as economy class. This would mean a €900 return economy fare would see the same airline offering premium economy for about €1,350.
What Exactly Do You Get?
Most airlines premium economy offer wider seats with more recline as well as more pitch which results in increased leg room. All of this improves passenger comfort. The decreased passenger count is touted as possibly giving better service but this is unlikely as the economy class cabin crew also work premium economy.
The trend is to offer one part of one meal from the business class cabin. Above are examples from Cathay Pacific and British Airways, where the main dish is from the class above. Sometimes the pillows are bigger and sometimes the blankets better but that is the end of the usual differences.
So Just What Is Too Expensive?
My earlier example is what I expect to pay on a flight from Dublin to Sydney via London and Hong Kong. It is pricing I have paid in the past and at that level it is okay. I would pay up to about €1,600 for the same reason I would not pay more than €1,100 for economy.
Searching various dates between now and April 2018, the price being charged for premium economy is regularly just over €2,200 with economy being €1,100. I think double the price for premium economy is far too expensive.
How About This For Comparison?
Further illustrating the point is the fact that Qatar Airways recently had a sale where business class flights from Stockholm to Auckland were €1,950. While the cities are different, the flight times are quite similar. Granted, it is a sale fare, but it shows just how expensive the premium economy fares above actually are.
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- I’m certainly nuts about this!
Business class on any airline is a substantial upgrade over both premium economy and economy class. The main reason for this is the fact you have lie flat seats. In addition, you get a better crew to passenger ratio, much better food and drink plus various other soft product enhancements from amenity kits to pyjamas.
What About Other Airlines?
Air New Zealand spring to mind as they had an amazing looking premium economy class though that is now being changed to conform with everyone else. Economy from London to Auckland is as low as £850 in November with premium economy at a crazy £2,500 plus!
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- Air New Zealand’s Premium Economy Spaceseat – on the way out
More reasonable is their Sydney to Auckland pricing on a one way flight which is $285 in economy and $393 in premium economy. That would make me pay the extra with little thought.
Overall Thoughts
People are paying these expensive amounts for premium economy flights, otherwise the airlines would not put them on sale at these prices. For me, the huge amounts being asked for do not provide enough value compared to what you receive on board. One and a half times the price of economy on the same day is appropriate – more is not.
As with anything you need to shop smart when buying flights and of course some may be happy to pay whatever is asked in order to get more space. Each to their own! Always do your research before making a purchase. I hope you have found this useful and if you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.
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Featured image via British Airways, Spaceseat image via Air New Zealand.
I flew from Birmingham UK to Newark New York with American Airlines in premium economy at an extra cost of £120 and the food leg room and entertainment was a big difference to economy which i had to use on the return
I would absolutely pay £120 for an upgrade on a transatlantic – that is an excellent price. Well done paying that one, worth every penny, I’d say! Thanks for the comment!
He paid for an extra leg room seat, that’s all. American has no PE yet. It’s coming soon though!
Good point, you are correct – I should have caught that myself! Thanks for pointing that out!
You didn’t fly in Premium Economy. You flew in a Main Cabin Extra seat, which simply provides more leg room. The food and entertainment are identical to regular economy. You just get up to 5 inches more of leg room.
American Airlines hasn’t launched any Premium Economy flights yet and when they do, it won’t be to Birmingham.
Very true, those seats do have more leg room. Interesting that people perceive it to be Premium Economy though! It will be great when AA do introduce a proper Premium Economy. Thanks for the comment!
I disagree with other posters. I think PE is a worthwhile product but of course it is reliant on price. Virgin PE is a great product. I’ve used it a few times. I’m 6’1 and my partner is 6’6. We don’t fit in economy for mid/long haul and that’s that. Virgin PE does give priority boarding and separate check in. You need to have status with BA in order to get them to the same content as VS. I think Singapore and Cathay are overly expensive in PE but ultimately if you need the space…I don’t need a flat seat… Read more »
I completely agree with you. When I fly to and from Australia, I’d much rather spend my 24 hours in Premium Economy than in Economy. You make a good point, it’s especially pertinent for people who are tall – you actually need the extra leg room.
Interesting to know Virgin provide priority boarding and separate check-in – they’re really good added value items that people really appreciate. No-one really needs a flat seat for a day flight when it comes down to it, it’s only night flights where that comes into its own. Thanks for the comment!
Premium Economy I recently paid nearly $8000 for a Premium Economy seat on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to London. This was over double the cost of Economy. I was extremely disappointed and thought it a waste of money. The seat was only slightly more comfortable than Economy. The leg rest didn’t rise high enough to really rest one’s legs. The meals were no better than I have had on the numerous occasions I have travelled Economy. The toilet facilities were no better either. So what did I get for my money? A glass of sparkling wine, a linen table… Read more »
It’s funny that you say that because Qantas is considered to have one of the best quality Premium Economy class cabins in the world. I’ve flown with them and it is certainly the best one I have experienced. The meals are actually supposed to all be better than Economy on Qantas.
I think the price you paid was scandalous because you can usually get Business Class for around $8,000 for Melbourne to London on Qantas. Unless you paid that amount for two people?
Indeed, a shame you didn’t love it. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Paid £1150 for BA premium economy return to Mumbai and got zilch. Only served Economy class food because the higher quality ran out. No other privileges except somewhat superior seating. Queued with everyone else to board and of course no lounge access, so used Priority pass only to discover lounge in Heathrow Terminal 5 over full and unavailable and in Mumbai a real slum, worse than public areas! The Economy class fare was under £500! Rip off and stopped flying BA.
Well, as I mentioned, the higher quality is only one dish on one tray for one meal. You are correct, there is no priority boarding or lounge access but that is never part of the premium economy product. The lounges aren’t a BA issue if you’re using Priority Pass – you should feed back to them on that one. Sorry you had such a bad experience! Thanks for reading and thanks for the comment!
Don’t say “never”! Norwegian offers lounges with its Premium Economy flights. They also provide priority boarding and extended baggage.
In fact, PE is more than worth its value on Low Cost airlines like Norwegian, Thomson and others.
That’s a good point, even the Jetstar Premium Economy is a massive upgrade over economy without a hideous price. These airlines could end up being very disruptive to the status quo once they begin to scale.
Also keep in mind that many full service carriers offer just 14-20 PE seats per wide post aircraft, keeping supply low and prices high, while low cost carriers, treating PE as their only premium product, outfit their planes with 28 and more PE seats, making them cheaper and easier to get.
Yes, in actual fact some airlines (notably BA) have far more Business Class seats so the Premium Economy cabin can feel more exclusive than Business.
Certainly on Qantas it is. Far more J seats.
They know where the money is 🙂