Cathay Pacific introduces premium economy to flights

YOU'LL pay a little more, but the extra space that comes with a premium-economy ticket can make your trip quite comfortable, writes Sarah Nicholson.

Premium economy with Cathay Pacific offer more leg room, and greater seat tilt.

ARE you sick of flying cattle class, but don't have the funds to secure a seat at the pointy end of the plane?

There is another option. A gaggle of international airlines flying to and from Australia offer a premium-economy cabin that promises a little more luxury without the hefty price tag of a business-class ticket.

SeatGuru - the website that helps travellers find the best place to sit on commercial flights - describes premium economy as "a separate class of seating and service that differs from standard economy". It says that while premium economy offers "additional amenities", the biggest advantage is the 12-18cm of extra leg room.

Qantas, British Airways, Air New Zealand, Virgin, Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines offer a premium alternative from airports around Australia.

With Cathay Pacific, the experience starts before the flight, with extra luggage allowances, dedicated check-in counters and priority boarding.

On the aircraft - A330s, 747s and 777s - the cabin is limited to 26-34 seats, to make the journey feel a little more exclusive, and the leg room stretches to 96cm, rather than the 81cm in economy.

Each seat reclines 20cm - economy seats tilt 15cm, business-class pods become a flat bed - and has a footrest that settles into three positions, a headrest with four stops, a large table, in-seat power outlets, and a 30cm television.

Those lucky ducks sitting in the premium area get the same noise-cancelling headphones and pillows that are distributed in business class, an amenities kit, bottled water, more choice at mealtime, and extra snack options during the journey.

I was fortunate to occupy a seat in Cathay's premium-economy cabin during a recent jaunt from Melbourne to Hong Kong and while the food didn't look any better than what was served in the back end of the plane, I did appreciate the extra space during the nine-hour hop.

There were two seats beside each window and three spots between the wide-body plane's two aisles, meaning those not sitting by a walkway were only one seat from freedom when they needed to stand.

My berth was wide enough to wiggle around and tuck my legs.

With 96cm of pitch - that's the way airlines determine leg room, measuring the distance between the same mark on two seats - there was enough room to cross my legs.

The other big advantage, especially after hitting the shops in Hong Kong, was 25kg of luggage. And while I didn't take advantage of the special boarding call, I did appreciate the abundant overhead-locker space when I scrambled on with the last few passengers.

But extra space comes at a cost. While premium economy isn't as expensive as business class, it will set you back more than a place behind the curtain.

SeatGuru says the cost of a premium-economy fare depends on when travellers make a reservation, with those booking well in advance paying an extra 85 per cent on an economy seat and those who wait until the last-minute window often lucky enough to spend just 10 per cent more.

But a premium-economy ticket will cost 65 per cent less than a business-class ride.

For me, the extra space is worth every cent, and I have already booked a premium-economy seat with Cathay Pacific for my Christmas break in Vietnam.

The writer was a guest of Cathay Pacific.

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