Who actually pays for Premium Economy on a flight?

[MielMiguel]

I'm a seasoned traveler. Both for leisure (usually Economy) and for work (Business). As lots of people have noticed, flight prices this year are bonkers.

One other thing that has changed, is the price of Premium Economy cabins. Whilst previously they'd be say £150-300 more each way for a long haul flight, now they are easily over double the economy ticket.

Who actually would pay £2-3k in Premium Economy to Singapore or Bangkok, when Economy is £1k.

Before people say "I DO", I don't mean those who pay £150-300 more, or get them on sale, or use points to upgrade... I mean people who seriously think paying twice the price of an Economy ticket.

People who have medical conditions or disabilities. Things like arthritis for example. A more comfortable seat may be the difference between being able to sleep or being in severe pain.
DH took his mum home as it was her last wish and she was dying. We paid for business class so she could lie down.
Why does it bother you?

Premium economy wasn't that much more expensive back then though. Is your question more about the price increase?

It can still be dramatically cheaper than business class. If you are lucky enough to not suffer from physical implications from sitting in economy seats, you probably wouldn’t understand why people will pay.

We do, because we can afford it and it's more comfortable.

I booked PE for an upcoming 9 hour flight, it was around £500 one way v £300 Economy. Business was about 1800. I thought the extra was ok. (I do have arthritis too!). I don’t usually do PE though as agree, it really doesn’t give a lot more than E.

Well I've never known it to be just £150 more, it's always been significant. But I fly premium, through saving up my Tesco club points to buy Avios air miles. I'm really pushing it this year as we want to go to USA snd I'm 60,000 miles short, so I switched my credit card to a Virgin Atlantic one too!
But I could see why someone would pay too - at least for Virgin, I don't think it's worth it on BA. I mean people pay for business and it's a halfway seat isn't it?

I'm considering booking PE for an upcoming flight. I can't afford Business (4 x the base economy price) but could stretch to premium (2x) and having flown PE long haul before it really is so much nicer and more comfortable. A million times better than economy.

I’m 6ft 2 and my preference is always PE (after someone shouted at me in Economy on a long flight who tried to put their seat back but my knees wouldn’t let them). I can’t afford business but PE is do-able.

My employer allows us to expense premium economy if the flight is over a certain duration.

Aren't most premium economy seats just normal economy seats with a little extra legroom? I wouldn't dream of shelling out extra for that and not even getting a couple of inches extra elbow space, and as an average sized female I wouldn't call it more comfortable. Tbh I consider it another example to the pandering to male needs in every which aspect of life since they're the ones disproportionately likely to benefit.

But then again, maybe I'm wrong and there are airlines that actually offer a semi-luxury product in this range.. Personally if I was willing to pay 2K or 3K for a flight I'd play around looking for good deals in business class, possibly by flying out of a different European destination.

Going PE to the US this summer, because we can afford it and we think it’ll be a more enjoyable experience. Would not personally consider going long haul in economy!

Is there much difference? I flew long haul at Easter. I walked past the lovely business class seats (when I win the lottery, that's what I'm treating myself to) and premium economy to my own seat near the back.
Just walking past, the difference between PE and normal economy wasn't noticeable at all.

I think premium economy is becoming more common as the default travel policy for a lot of businesses with biz class being only for when it’s night flight and you’re expected to go straight from the plane to meetings. Whenever I’ve flown it transatlantic it’s what looks like mostly business travellers anyway and I know my old work, DH’s, lots of friends etc have this policy. Premium economy has come a long way, in terms of seat it’s basically business class from the 1990s! I might consider paying £1000 extra for it if it were ultra long haul to avoid the economy squish but I’m usually pretty good on finding deals and collect Amex points etc to go business.

Airline dependent obviously but I think you need to see the seat reclined to understand where the difference is. Upright they do look very similar but there’s usually a whole footrest section that comes out and they go a lot further back too.

We do. We can afford it so why wouldn't we want to be more comfortable? My DPs only fly business class now they're in their 70s. Again, they can afford it and it's a much more pleasant experience.

Depends on the airline, I do but normally do economy out and premium back, 9 hours flight, I'm tall, overnight return- easier to sleep. My 'holiday' is not always luxurious and restful!! and I'm normally back to work 24hrs after landing. I've even done economy out and upper class virgin on return. Wish I could do that all the time and I wouldn't fly upper class out- personally not worth it. I'm not rich I am on average salary but I like to treat myself when and if I can especially for comfort and ease. My motto is why make life hard if you don't have to.

We'd pay a fair bit more for PE as DH is 6'6" and the extra legroom makes a significant difference. Agree it's not worth it for the peanuts 😄

But for extra leg room you’d be much better off paying for exit row seats (if able bodied).

I definitely wouldn't pay, I'd rather spend the money on another holiday.

That’s not an option with kids. Also it can be really cold.

Emirates Premium Economy is new and I flew it this year. It’s WAY more comfortable than Economy and a real halfway house between that and Business Class. I thought it was worth the extra.

Well people who have health issues that make tiny economy seats really uncomfortable, or people with sensory issues that make the chaos n kids of economy hard to handle, or people who want to sleep (it’s deffo easier to sleep in PE, I know a few people who only book it for night flights), or just generally people who can afford it and want a bit of extra comfort.

I am not able-bodied and have incredibly long legs. I’m slightly taller than the average woman, but I’m also all leg. Trying to squeeze into an airline seat is very difficult. My knees are wedged in tight and my feet have no where to go.

I often wonder how the standard economy configuration is even legal because it just doesn’t work for many bodies.

trying to buy a sofa or comfy chair that my husband and I can agree on is also challenging. Anything I don’t end up with my knees in the air, his legs don’t touch the floor.

People that know they can charge it to expenses - it’s often just the right price to slip under the higher-sign off radar 😉

Only if you have a fairly fancy Xs account