Best Premium Economy Airline
See which carrier nails the finer details to turn a long-haul journey into a joy ride.
As a way of dealing with the stresses of long-haul travel, premium economy flies under the radar. Extra legroom, priority check-in and the finer touches of an elevated dining experience can be attained without going for the extra price tag of business class. When it comes down to the difference between a cramped journey in cattle class and a good night’s sleep, it turns out there are a few details that make all the difference.
But as with business class fares, not all premium economy cabins are created equally. Emirates has recently rolled out new seats on their A380s that pay particular attention to the underrated service, with the stylish spaces putting comfort and relaxation top of mind. Rising to the challenge, however, is Air New Zealand, who continue to innovate and offer a taste of Aotearoa from up above. Meanwhile, Qantas has long impressed with their business class offerings, and hope to keep up the attention to detail in their premium economy section.
Travel + Luxury’s writers and contributors have researched, reviewed and compared leading airlines to compile a comprehensive guide to answer the ultimate question: which airline does premium economy best?
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Emirates
Premium Economy on Emirates A380
Pre-flight experience: Premium economy tickets don’t grant any special treatment when it comes to lounge access, but entry can be purchased, and if you’re a loyal Emirates flyer with Gold or Platinum-tier Skywards membership you can get in to a number of lounges worldwide for free. In Dubai, lounge access is free for Silver Skywards members too, and even if you have to pay the $230 to get in it could be well worth it on a long haul. The Moet and Chandon Lounge offers Champagne tastings, while the Timeless Spa boasts massages and facials to take the stress out of flying.
Baggage allowance: As many bags as you like with a total weight of 35kg.
Seat: Emirates’ new premium economy seats are a clear step up from the base offering, upholstered with cream leather and accented with a polished wood panel finish. The seats are wider than in economy and better spaced, allowing you to recline further, while a cushioned leg rest and adjustable headrest make sleep much easier.
Entertainment and amenities: Emirates’ entertainment system remains the same regardless of where you’re sitting, but premium economy boasts larger 34cm high-definition screens. Skywards members can use messaging apps through the onboard Wi-Fi for free, while anyone can purchase full internet access for the whole flight from around $30. Amenities in Premium don’t differ from the packs handed out in Economy, with a toothbrush and toothpaste, socks and an eye mask made from recycled materials.
Menu: While the airline puts the effort into making sure the Premium Economy menu is a step up from Economy, a bulk of this is done through the way the food is presented. Served on Royal Doulton china, with drinks in glasses rather than plastic cups. It’s a small change, but it elevates the experience. A wider selection of drinks includes a peek at Emirates’ expertly curated wine list, which is a choice between a Chandon Sparkling 2016, a Côte-du-Rhône Villages Les Cassagnes La Nerthe 2020 and a Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2014.
Price: Sydney to Dubai from $4100 return.
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Qantas
Premium economy on Qantas A380.
Pre-flight experience: Premium Economy customers get access to a dedicated priority check-in counter and priority boarding.
Baggage allowance: A total of 40kg, or two pieces of 32kg on flights to or from North and South America.
Seat: Wider seats in a smaller, secluded cabin gives an elevated experience. Arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration, the comfy seats are much more conducive to rest than economy. Our reviewer Francesca Wallace said, “the seat reclined to an impressive range and had a sizeable footrest. For someone pushing six feet, this was a welcome relief.”
Entertainment and amenities: Premium economy ticket holders have access to the business class bathrooms on board, a detail Wallace says “let you feel a world away from cattle class”. Amenities come courtesy of Napoleon Perdis and include an eye mask, dental kit and socks, though unfortunately not Qantas’ famous cotton pyjamas. On the entertainment front, there are noise cancelling headphones, powerpoints and USB ports, and a large touchscreen showing off big-name movies and TV shows.
Menu: Served on stylish tableware designed by Australian industrial designer David Caon, Qantas have made efforts to elevate the economy class food, though it does not reach the heights of their Neil Perry-curated menu in business class. One welcome touch is a glass of Australian sparkling wine before takeoff.
Price: Sydney to Los Angeles from $5118 return.
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Air New Zealand
Premium Economy on Air New Zealand 777-300ER.
Pre-flight experience: Premium Economy passengers are given access to priority check-in and boarding.
Baggage allowance: Two pieces of checked baggage at 23kg each.
Seat: Larger, more comfortable seats in the small premium economy section are arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration. They have a pitch of 104-106cm, compared to 78-83cm in Economy. A 22cm recline is nearly twice that of economy, coupled with a cushioned leg rest to make getting to sleep easier.
Entertainment and amenities: Air New Zealand boasts over 1700 hours of content on its in-flight entertainment, accessed through a 28cm touch screen. Seats come with USB ports for charging your own devices. Inside the amenity kit is an eye mask, pen, toothbrush and toothpaste, socks and Ashley & Co lip balm.
Menu: The menu delivers on the variety missing in economy. After starting off with an entree of smoked salmon and napa cabbage slaw, dinner options include slow cooked beef, wood-roasted chicken and Alaskan cod, served alongside wholemeal rolls and garlic bread. It all comes accompanied by New Zealand’s acclaimed wines, making mealtimes a highlight of the experience.
Price: Sydney to Los Angeles from $4515 return.
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Singapore Airlines
Premium Economy on Singapore Airlines 777-300ER
Pre-flight experience: Singapore Airlines’ premium economy customers can enjoy priority check-in and boarding, plus priority baggage handling to get your luggage out first.
Baggage allowance: 35kg checked baggage total weight.
Seat: The small, 28-seat premium economy section is arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, so it can get squishy in the middle, but thankfully the seats are large enough to leave plenty of space. Leather upholstery, large pillows, cushioned calf rests and a deeper recline than in Economy make for a comfortable journey that justifies the upgrade.
Entertainment and amenities: Built into the seat are two USB ports, a powerpoint and an adjustable reading light. There is a 34cm HD screen that comes with noise cancelling headphones and 1800 “entertainment options”: a range of movies from Hollywood and around the world, TV shows, music and a few live TV channels. The amenity kit is made available on request, with socks and a dental kit, plus lip balm which is not available for Economy passengers. Guests can also request earplugs, eyeshades, a face mask and disinfectant wipes.
Menu: The food on offer has only slight upgrades from that of economy. As well as the standard choice between vegetable korma, lemon chicken or beef stew, Premium passengers can enjoy an extra appetiser of chicken and couscous, and a nicer ice cream dessert. Similarly, the only thing setting the premium economy drinks apart is the addition of a Champagne on top of the selection of wines, beer, spirits and, of course, a Singapore Sling cocktail.
Price: Sydney to Singapore from $2394 return.
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Philippine Airlines
Premium Economy on Philippine Airlines A330.
Pre-flight experience: Priority check-in is available, but lounge access remains in the domain of business class and top-tier members of the airline’s Mabuhay Miles loyalty program. As the program is not part of an alliance, amassing enough points is difficult to do. Unfortunately for our reviewer, travel reporter Elle Halliwell, this meant an extended wait at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which she says is “one of the worst airports I’ve been to”.
“Central Cafe is one of only two seated dining options within the terminal, and the only one that serves alcohol (limited to Heineken beer),” she says. “It has a limited menu of sandwiches, pasta and salads, but most customers opt for microwaved Cup Noodle bowls.”
“If you’re anticipating spending a lengthy stint in transit on your travels, I strongly advise securing lounge access or choosing another carrier that offers a stopover at a different airport.”
Baggage allowance: Total checked baggage weight of 35kg.
Seat: Arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, the fabric-upholstered seats are a generous 50cm wide, with a 97cm pitch, and recline back 20cm. Wide armrests put enough space between you and the person next to you, and also fold out into a small table.
Entertainment and amenities: The amenity kit is simple, containing an eye mask, socks and a dental kit. Entertainment is available on the 34cm touchscreen, but the offerings are modest compared to other carriers, with roughly 300 hours of content including recent Hollywood blockbusters. Wi-Fi is available for purchase for around $38 for the whole flight, while messaging apps and 30 minutes of full usage come free. According to Halliwell, though, “despite following the instructional video I am unable to log on”.
Menu: Philippine Airlines boasts that guests can “start your trip with refreshing drinks”, though this turns out to be a choice of water, orange or apple juice. Lunch is a choice between two simple offerings: chicken with rice or beef with pasta. Sides include a tasty prawn, carrot and noodle salad, with a coffee cake for dessert. The drink options are fairly limited, with a Wolf Blass Chardonnay and a Preignes le Vieux Cabernet Sauvignon the only two wines.
Price: Sydney to Manila from $2100 return.
Read the full review: Philippine Airlines Premium Economy Reviewed
Reviews by Elle Halliwell and Francesca Wallace.