Economy vs premium economy

[Tumbleweed101]

I'm planning a trip to Yellowstone next summer. Two flights and potentially an 18hr trip with the layover.

Debating between economy and premium economy, it will take away from my holiday budget. I'm on my own so only for one person. Just wondering how much more comfort and if it's worth the extra or not.

Daft as it might sound - how big are you?
The seats are roomier and you generally get more space, but if you’re five foot nothing and built like a pipe cleaner you wouldn’t get the benefit. If you’re taller / broader it could really improve your trip.

I honestly don't think premium economy is worth the money. You get a bit more leg room, but you are much more likely to be stuck next to someone than carefully choosing a seat in economy and when by yourself you can often get a space next to you which gives you more leg room than premium

If you're on a tight budget and would reduce the quality of the rest of your trip, no. If money isn't a problem and you want to treat yourself, definitely yes. Especially for overnight flights home.
You can go there in economy and back in premium if you want.

They are nice chairs but I wouldn't use a tighter budget because America is so expensive

For me as someone who is very tall I hate economy and it’s well worth the extra money for the extra leg room. So i opt for extra leg rooM how ever i can get it. Like PP have said depends on your height and build / love of flying

I'm on the bigger side but fit ok in economy although not massively comfy. My main reason for considering it is the length of the journey. Its nice to have views from those who have done both.

Any ideas on how to book as a solo traveller to discourage someone in seat beside you? I'm aware it wouldn't work on à.full flight.

When are you traveling? If a peak season, beginning or start of holidays etc, I wouldn't assume there will be free seats in economy.
If flight is emptier, towards the back of the economy cabin, in one of the aisles on the middle block.
How much better it is in premium really depends on airline.
Also depends on route. For example, via NYC you'll only be in premium for 6/ 7 hours, buy via LA it's more like 11 or 12...
Can you give us more info?

Travel will be in June/early July. Probably looking at Virgin and think it's an airbus with 2-4-2 config in economy. The long part will be London to either salt lake city/denver/ dallas as connections to the shorter flight.

So approx 10hr flight for long stretch. 2hr second flight.

I don't notice much difference in terms of space. You're less likely to get families in premium though so it can be a bit quieter

Okay I've travelled in Economy, PE, Business and First many many times and my usual flights are ultra long haul.

UK to USA I would suggest economy depending on time of year. If your flight isn't busy then a row to yourself is as good as business and I've managed to do this many times. There are online tools to check how busy your flight is but you need to pay for them. If travelling peak season then you are unlikely to get a full row. Tactics for an empty seat, very difficult depending on how busy, book a window seat towards the back of the plane or an aisle seat in a middle 4 row where another person is sitting at the other end. No one wants the middle of the 4 so it will be last to go and the back of the plane fills up last
Also that way it is day time the whole way. If you are going to Yellowstone I'm guessing you have a 8 or so hour flight which is more than doable - watch movies, keep requesting gin and tonics. You probably won't want to sleep on that flight to keep your body clock on track

Premium Economy is the worst of the cabins IMO. People with fractious babies tend to book PE and it is always booked solid. I've been in a beautifully peaceful economy cabin that's barely half full and caught a glimpse of the PE cabin which was crammed with and utter chaos of babies and grey looking parents (I've also been in first and business and had to walk through PE to see a friend in Economy and everytime it's been shades of the same!). Seats are marginally better (wider with a foot rest) and food is so so. The one time I was in PE I booked with Airmiles as Business wasn't available back from SFO and I wish i hadn't bothered as the seat was so terrible I didn't sleep a wink and you have to climb over your seat mates legs. At least in economy if you don't sleep you become resigned to it, there's always a chance of a row to yourself and you aren't angry that you spent loads of money for a 'premium' experience that is often not.

My advice for US - economy out with tactical seat choice.
Business class back if you can stretch. If not... it's 8 hours of your life so I'd always go Economy again, load up the gin and crisps and watch movies.

How much is the difference between the two?

I'd probably do it cost dependent...

I vowed never to fly in economy again after the flight from hell with BA from Denver to Heathrow! If anyone had died in their seats on the overnight flight, the rude crew would not have noticed as after the main meal, they all disappeared for the rest of the flight, reappearing briefly just before we landed to throw a breakfast wrap and a bottle of water at us - not even a hot drink!

I now fly business class and save for it by only having one long haul type flight every two or three years - in fact I’ve not flown anywhere since Covid started so my holiday fund is growing nicely.

I really rate premium economy but have only done it on BA to the States

I have just done premium to the west coast US - outbound BA and return AA.
Wouldn't consider economy again for a flight over 7 hrs. So much more comfortable and just a more pleasant experience.
Don't agree with pp - there were no babies/children in PE on either flight. Prefer BA to AA.

Virgin themselves do not fly direct to those cities so you would need to use Delta instead. Ensure also you leave enough time to make the second flight so you will need around 3 hours.

I would go economy out and premium economy for the return leg.

I fly for work and haven't been on a plane that wasn't full since Covid. There are fewer flights and loads of people flying.

Fwiw I choose seats near the back in the hope that there might be free seats but there have been none so far!

So much depends on you and what you prefer. Last time I went to the States I flew economy out (day time flight) and premium economy back overnight and that suited me. I can't really sleep in an economy seat for boring physical health reasons, so needed the extra room to save my sanity and get a few hours nap

Thank you all for your thoughts and experiences. Really useful. I'm hoping to book flights over.weekend or early next week so given plenty to think on.

Not worth it at all.

It's normal for crew to retire to the galleys after the meal is served on an overnight flight. Half of them will sleep themselves. The others will have galley duty and will rarely walk the aisles so passengers can sleep. If you want anything you can press the call button or go to the galley and request drinks, water and often a small snack. I usually do the latter, they are more than happy to sort you out and are grateful for you coming to the galley as otherwise the whole plane starts ordering stuff and before you know it everyone is awake and demanding stuff as they are annoyed at having been woken by serving staff!

Breakfast I doubt was literally 'thrown at you'. Was it actually efficiently 'passed' to you?

Lack of hot drinks isnt on though. Sometimes turbulence causes issues for hot drinks and if the seatbelt sign was on for a while before landing they are often on a schedule that doesn't permit it.

You are looking at the busiest time for flying n the US so I doubt the seat next to you will be unoccupied. Our schools finish between the end of May and mid-June for summer break (depending on the location). By the end of June travel is in full swing here and there’s barely a flight that takes off of lands here with empty seats. Of course we also have two major holidays around the time you are thinking of also.

Salt Lake is my preferred transit out of the options you’ve mentioned. That would be a Delta flight from London, not Virgin. Avoid LAX like the plague. Denver is usually a shambles too in terms of they never seem to have enough staff and I’ve never taken a flight from Denver that wasn’t delayed.

We did press the call button to try to get some water to take essential medication. I ended up going to the galley to ask, was told they did not have any water and it was only when I explained why I needed it that I was given a tiny glass of orange juice.

I appreciate that on long flights some crew members have rest breaks but when my brother went to the galley, those still on duty sent him away empty handed as they were all tucking into warm croissants! I was sat at the back near the galley and could see how rude and abrupt they were to anyone who went into the galley area. I’m sure they could have provided some snacks for a child who had slept through the meal but all they offered was an orange!

And yes, breakfast was pretty much thrown at me, I was in the window seat and the wrap was lobbed across the other seats and I caught it before it fell on the floor - it was in cellophane but even so, they could have placed it properly on my tray.

I was not the only person who was put out by the crews attitude, I saw one lady ask for a blanket as she did not have one but she was refused as they had none left.

All in, it was a rather unpleasant experience and I was very surprised by this as I’d flown this route before with excellent service.

I like the leg rest in some premium cabins. That definitely makes a big difference to me. I’d not compromise my actual holiday for it though