Premium Economy..is it worth it?

[Banana72]

Anybody here uses Premium Economy/Economy Deluxe at all when traveling? I haven't used it at all for the last few years. My body can still handle the JKT-TPE or JKT-NRT, but usually the 2nd leg (Asia-North America) is getting pretty tough on my back. Is it really worth it? I normally use either Eva, Cathay when traveling back to the US.

I always look for different ways to minimize my inconvenience when travel to the US. In the past I've always flown either into SFO/LAX/SEA and then get a domestic flight to PDX but next year I might try landing in SEA, crash at my friend's house and then take the Amtrak the next day to PDX.

 

[jstar]

Many variables, Banana. E.g. how tall are you, how full is the flight, which airline, ....

I got upgraded on an Air France flight to Premium Economy and it was a huge difference, a bit like Business Class was 15 years ago but even better with cocoons. But on KLM I was not happy at all in its Economy Comfort, some more leg space but still cheap seats without good support, in the same layout. And in the back of the plane I could have slept on empty 3-seat rows. In fact then it's better to pay something extra for the emergency exit row. (With the chance of having cribs and crying babies on the wall in the center next to you.)

Sometimes I take Business Class now on Turkish Airlines or Qatar Airways. Esp. the latter is very good but it costs me three to four times the Economy class.

 

[Banana72]

Assuming flight about 90% full. I'm not that tall...a little less than 5'9" (174 cm?). Have lost a bit of weight and normally if I don't wear my jacket, I can sit semi comfortably in an economy seat. however, If I have to pay about 3-4 times economy class, I might just try to endure that 11 hours....

I did try Ana Airways' economy this year. I thought it was okay, but maybe I just happened to have an overly cautious pilot, I got delayed both coming from and to the US and missed my connecting domestic in the process. Maybe I'll go back to Eva/Cathay or maybe Korean Airlines next time. Nice thing was my plane was pretty empty going to the US I had three empty seats next to me and also an empty seat behind me too that was really nice.

I guess Economy is not too bad if the plane is not full (especially if you have nobody next to you) and maybe pick a seat has no seats behind it so you can just recline without disturbing the passenger behind you. I misread a diagram on the airplane's website when doing reservation before. It was a mid row seat at the back of the plane, that actually was back against the lavatory's wall or something so the seat couldn't recline, boy that was a long flight!

 

[vocalneal]

I've only used it on EVA Air no problem with them.

 

[lifelongexpat]

I've flown premium economy on Virgin Atlantic from London to Accra and it made a fair difference.

 

[steveandpenny]

We fly eva or Singapore to sfo. They have a nonstop from Calif to Singapore 5 days a week. I've got a bad back and smoke so I kind of like a short layover flight from the states just so I can walk some and grab a cig. The seats are a little better on swing over eva but they are close. If you can afford the upgrade to premium it's worth it especially if you have to hit the ground running.

 

[Jaime C]

Seat size and classes vary greatly between airlines and even different airplanes.

As a big sized Bule, I fly business class or first on most long haul trips. I’m fine with Air Asia in coach for short and mid length trips, although the new Air Asia slim line seats are horribly uncomfortable.

For true Premium Economy, I’d recommend flying an Asian or Middle Eastern airline. Some US airlines list their seats as Premium Economy, but only have a few extra inches of leg room.

I really recommend at least a 19 inch width seat, and 38 inch pitch (space between rows).

Cathay Pacific has 19.3-20 inch seat widths, and 38-40 inch pitch. EVA has 19.5 inch width and 38 inch pitch. Singapore has 19-19.5 inch widths and 38 inch pitch.

You can often find deals on Premium Economy, just verify that all legs are actually in that cabin. Sometimes they sneak an all economy leg in, or if you’re lucky a business class leg.

I use airline frequent flyer miles, or find good deals on flights, usually. Given the plethora of credit card signups in the US, it’s not too hard to build up some miles.

Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines are the two I use most frequently. You don’t even have to fly with them, but use the miles for their partner airlines. Japan Air and Cathay are the two I fly the most. Korean and Singapore Air on occasion, too.

I flew last year on American Airlines to Dallas from Narita in coach, and it was horrible. The first flight on Japan airlines from Jakarta was great. The seat was almost the same as Premium Economy!

 

[dafluff]

To North America, China Airlines has (used to have?) very decently priced Premium Economy. Worth it if you are a normal sized human, just for the extra leg room.

Although if travelling with small kids I prefer economy seats as the middle hand rests can fold up and the kids can snuggle up to you (and you an steal some of their space).

 

[Bad_azz]

Dafluff, the hand rests on all economy flights I have used can be put up too, useful for when sat in a row of empty seats & desiring a snooze.

I tend to aim for the back seats, as I find the whole reclining seats thing a waste of time, inconveniences the person behind & the one in front is a pain in the bum if back too- especially if trying to eat.
The back row halves the irritants for me- as I have no one behind me kicking my seat, often where the empty seats are too as no one wants to sit at the back close to the toilets- I never found it particularly smelly though- but very handy for the use of said toilets. Also, often handy for the galley, and I usually wander about & chat with the crew. This chit chat has netted me some nice lil upgrades inflight.

If the plane isn't full up and you have been friendly and courteous to the crew & there are empty seats in the "upgrade" areas, they are much less likely to be jobsworth about you sitting in them. Especially if you politely ask if they mind or not.

I won't give away any more of my lil secrets

 

[Jaime C]

Oh, there are definitely some airplanes that coach seats don’t have the arm rest go all the way up. I recall either an Air France or KLM flight like that, the arm rests only went up 80% of the way. Pretty annoying. Was probably a 747 or L1011.

Hopefully nothing you’ll run into these days. Obviously, most bulkhead seats in economy also have fixed armrests.

 

[Jaime C]

Here’s a link to Seat Guru’s info on Premium Economy on different airlines.

https://www.seatguru.com/charts/premium_economy.php