Premium Economy Information Thread
 

Thought it would be helpful to have information on the various premium economy options in one place.

Information to add

airline
name of premium economy
a/c type
plain economy also exists on same a/c?
seat improvements over economy (pitch, width, recline)
food & drink improvements over economy
IFE improvements over economy
baggage allowance
on the ground (check in, lounge access, priority boarding)
enhanced mileage earning?
how to get it?


Airlines with premium economy
Links to the relevant posts below.

Air NZ and November 2008 Air NZ update
Air Transat
BMI (update in post #23)
British Airways
China Eastern
China Southern
EVA
Garuda
Japan Airlines
Qantas
SAS
Singapore
Thai
United
Virgin America
Virgin Atlantic



Thanks to everyone who has contributed ^ Updated to post #46

Singapore

No longer available as A345 a/c were converted to all business class.

Name for premium economy
Executive economy.

Aircraft type
A345

Plain economy also exists on same a/c?
No

Seat improvements over economy (pitch, width, recline)
Extra 3 inches of pitch (37"), extra 1.5 inches of width (18.5")

Food & drink improvements over economy
N/a - plain economy not offered on A345.

IFE improvements over economy
Same Wisemen 3000 AVOD (which is great BTW) but with a few extra channels.

Baggage allowance
Same as plain economy.

On the ground (check in, lounge access, priority boarding)
Nothing extra, except special check-in counters for SQ20 & SQ22 at SIN.

Enhanced mileage earning?
No.

How to get it?
Look for A345 flight and book economy (either paid or award).

add EVA to the list of premium economy class airlines... not sure what the diff is except more legroom + an AVOD that is not included in economy.

Air NZ

Name for premium economy
Pacific premium economy.

Aircraft type
747 and 777

Plain economy also exists on same a/c?
Yes

Seat improvements over economy (pitch, width, recline)
Extra xx inches of pitch, up to 2 extra inches of width, improved recline and legrest.

Food & drink improvements over economy
Yes - same as business class.

IFE improvements over economy
None - same AVOD

Baggage allowance
Business class checked and cabin baggage allowance.

On the ground (check in, lounge access, priority boarding)
Premium check-in.

Enhanced mileage earning?
Yes, at least on NZ Airpoints and some partner FFPs (but not on other partner FFPs).

Other
In seat power supply.

How to get it?
Pay higher fare (lots above discounted economy fare but not so much above highest economy fares), or upgrade using Air NZ Airpoints airbucks or status upgrade voucher (NB some flights eg LHR-AKL vv are treated as 2 segments).


Note, see also update November 2008 for information on premium economy seating on trans-Tasman flights, and space+ seating on 767, A320 and 737 aircraft.

Also add Garuda Indonesia to the list.

Premium Economy is offered on all B747-400 services, 2+2 seating on upper-deck @42" pitch, 2+2 seating lower deck (between doors 1 and 2, pax seating on left side of a/c, galley occupies entire right hand side), also at 42" pitch.

All seats have leg-rest and video screens (6 channel, although sometimes only one or two offered).

(Note: this is essentially 'old business class' seating, prior to when airlines upgrades to 50" pitch as standard.)

Upgraded meal service (served on china).

Not sure about additional baggage.

Regards

WG

Duplicate post

British Airways

Name for premium economy
World Traveler Plus

Aircraft type
B747-400 (both configurations)
B777-200
B767-300 (fleet gradually being fitted with Traveler Plus seats ("dusking") as well as "new" Club World flat seats)

Plain economy also exists on same a/c?
Yes, on all aircraft.

Seat improvements over economy (pitch, width, recline)
38" of pitch provides noticable difference compared to 31" in World Traveler (long-haul economy class). Seat width is extra 1" compared to economy at 18.5" with immovable armrests. Noticably (although slight) greater recline. Footrest forms part of the seat.

Food & drink improvements over economy
Not signifigant. Same food and beverage service as economy class, but WT+ passengers get served first and drinks are poured into real glasses. No welcome or take-off drink provided.

IFE improvements over economy
- Smaller and more intimate cabin with only five rows in the B747 and B777 (2x4x2 accross), and only four rows in the B767 (2x2x2 accross). Compare this to 3x4x3 in the B747 and B777, and 2x3x2 in the B767 in economy class.
- More comfortable seats with more space designed by Recaro, includes footrests.
- IFE system same as economy class except there is access to games beyond the standard 18 channels (not AVOD anywhere on aircraft).
- Generally a quiter and more relaxing cabin, with no access by regular economy passengers permitted.
- Laptop power points/Empower (adaptor required).
- All paid fair classes (W,T) are upgradable to Club World, generally considered the best use of miles on BA when combined with a relatively cheap Traveler Plus fare (that will earn points and miles).

Baggage allowance
Hold luggage: same as economy class
Cabin luggage: two pieces weighing no more than 12kg/26lbs (compared to one piece in economy at 6kg/13lbs)

On the ground (check in, lounge access, priority boarding)
Nothing extra at homebases of LGW and LHR. Curiously, there are sometimes dedicated Traveler Plus desks at stations elsewhere (i.e. SFO, LAX) that sometimes also double as check-in desks for passengers who checked-in online and only need to drop off hold luggage.

Enhanced mileage earning?
Extra tier points (earned towards status): 75 instead of 60.
25% bonus on actual miles flown.

Website
British Airways WT+ Info
Picture of World Traveler Plus cabin aboard B747-400
Picture of twin seats by window aboard B747-400

Great idea thread, Kiwi ^

But a suggestion - I'd also like to see an added category for "How do you get there?"

Of course one way is "pay more!" but is it a separate fare class? automatic if you buy full Y? complemetary for top tier elites? Do Alliance partners have access? Etc...

Thanks

-R

May I suggest that the "Seat improvements..." section also include comparison of pitch etc. to Business Class. This would help in judging how much of the gulf between Economy and Business is bridged by the Premium Economy seating.

EVA

Name for premium economy
Evergreen Deluxe.

Aircraft type
747 (and 777 when they arrive)

Plain economy also exists on same a/c?
Yes

Seat improvements over economy (pitch, width, recline)
38 inches of pitch

Food & drink improvements over economy
?

IFE improvements over economy
?

Baggage allowance
?

On the ground (check in, lounge access, priority boarding)
?

Enhanced mileage earning?
Yes 25% extra miles on EVA's own program

How to get it?
?

bmi

name of premium economy
The incredibly inventive 'premium economy' (formerly known as 'the new economy').

a/c type
A330

plain economy also exists on same a/c?
Yup.

seat improvements over economy (pitch, width, recline)
38" pitch vs 32".

food & drink improvements over economy
Dedicated service, so it's faster, but the content remains the same.

IFE improvements over economy
Nope.

baggage allowance
As economy for checked. Extra piece and 10kgs on carry-ons (not BOM).

on the ground (check in, lounge access, priority boarding)
As economy.

enhanced mileage earning?
Yes. 1.5x full economy.

I think you're wrong about the lack of extra width (unless bigger armrests/aisles make up the entire difference between 10-abrest and 8-abrest).

Also, aside from the seat itself, everything else is pretty much the same as regular economy.

pitch 37" vs 34" on the 772-ER.
width 18.5" vs 17"
recline 8" vs ?


For the US non-stops SQ20 & 22 ex-SIN, they have their own check-in area at Changi. Currently located at row 11, I think it'll moved once the terminal renovation is completed.

Can anyone fill in the missing info? VS, UA, etc

United
 

United

Name for premium economy
Economy Plus, a.k.a. E+

Aircraft type
UA: 777, 767, 757, 747, 737, A320, A319
UAX: CRJ 700 (1 out of three versions), EMB 170,

Plain economy also exists on same a/c?
Yes

Seat improvements over economy (pitch, width, recline)
Extra 3-5 inches of pitch (34"), but same seat as in Economy

Food & drink improvements over economy
None

IFE improvements over economy
None

Baggage allowance
Same as plain economy.

On the ground (check in, lounge access, priority boarding)
Nothing extra

Enhanced mileage earning?
No.

How to get into it
At least one of the following:
- At least Silver Member of any Star Alliance airline
- Full fare economy ticket (Y/B)
- Buying upgrade at check-in
- Buying E+ - pass
- Asking nicely at check-in (does not always work ;) )


Please let me know if I missed something.

David