Is upgrading to Air Canada premium economy worth it on a 9hr night flight?

[HollywentLightly]

My mum is flying from Vancouver later in the week on Air Canada. I was thinking of upgrading her to premium economy as a surprise. Anyone any experience of if it's worth it? It's a night flight so she will likely be asleep/napping for at least part of it and doesn't particularly need a bigger seat/space. Flight schedule is approx 9 hours.

Which airline?

Read the title of the thread!!!

🤪🤪😂

Yes, I’d upgrade if I could! It’s a long flight…

Personally I think it’s more worth it for a night flight than a day one if she can recline better and have a chance of some actual sleep.

You can look online and see what the menu offering is. If she doesn't need the extra space, there's probably not that much point - the normal seats aren't too bad for leg room, and she'd doze either way I guess. They turn all the lights off and it's quiet. Premium economy has bigger seats and probably nicer food (I've only walked past them...!). But you can see the menu online first. You can also see all the movies etc available on each flight in advance, and I don't think that's any different between the two. Vancouver airport is quite nice, so even if there is a lounge available, I'm not sure that would add a lot to the experience. I think the biggest difference is the leg room and space, and then the food (actually I'm only assuming premium food is better than normal economy, but it might only be proper business class where it is different!).

I would say definitely worth it for a night flight - we upgraded to premium economy on our return from Calgary with Air Canada a few years ago, and it really made a difference.

For all that your Mum doesn’t ‘need’ the extra space, it’s always nice to have some extra elbow room, especially if you’re seated with strangers, and the extra leg room meant that we were able to recline without being concerned with people behind, and equally not feel hemmed in when those in front put their seats back.

The food was a bit nicer in PE than in economy, but not enough to warrant booking it just for that, although it was nice to have proper cutlery!

We’re planning another visit in a couple of years and are factoring in the cost of PE for the overnight return flight into our holiday budget, although I wouldn’t do it for a daytime flight. Being able to sleep easier on the overnight and move around just a little more was SO worth the extra for us.

Thanks all..I'll put in a bid and see where it goes. My 16 yo niece is travelling with her so I'll be upgrading her too if it works out. Anything for her Snapchat 😂