AustriansB777-200 aircraft hold a total of 24 premium economy seats configured 2-4-2, while B767-300ERs contain 30 seats (expanded from 18) configured 2-2-2. If youre considering flying with British Airways, why not fly in comfort? You can book British Airways premium class seats by paying full price at the time of booking. Sign up and well send you Nerdy articles about the money topics that matter most to you along with other ways to help you get more from your money. Air New Zealand. Book with Avios: If you have enough Avios saved up, you can easily redeem your points to book a premium class seat. They recline by nine inches and have an expanded seat pitch of 40 inches. Our partners compensate us. So how do we make money? You also get your usual Marriott Bonvoy, Hyatt, Hilton, and other loyalty points and status benefits when you book with our concierge. Three toilets have been dedicated to the new cabin. A flight to New York from London Heathrow in Premium Economy with Virgin Atlantic in September 2021 will earn you 6,914 Virgin Flying Club Points. Ultimately, 125 ($163) felt like a small price to pay for a second checked bag, a wider, more comfortable seat, extra leg room, and better food. A big bonus traveling on British Airways in Premium Economy is getting Club World standard meals (with fewer choices) served on proper crockery with a real napkin. Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for: Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, No annual fee: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card, Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve, Luxury perks: The Platinum Card from American Express, Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, About the author: JT Genter is a freelance points, miles and credit card writer formerly of The Points Guy. Although perfectly adequate, I haven't found this meal to be particularly "delicious" falling short of what British Airways advertises. Following on from my comments about the price, you may wonder whether it is worth upgrading from Economy to Premium Economy at all! If you get the old, unrefurbished Premium Economy, youll be disappointed by the tatty presentation of the seats and the old-fashioned feel of the cabin. British Airways Premium Economy Vs Economy Image 12 of 15, Worth The Upgrade? If your bag exceeds the standard baggage allowance weighing 51 to 70 pounds (23 to 32 kg) then you will be subject to a fee of $100. And British Airways certainly delivers in this regard. Plus, you'll get a choice of wine to go with your dinner. It has taken many years, but finally premium economy is offered by the majority of long haul international airlines. Her goal is to encourage more people to experience the world around them. Megan Lee joined the travel rewards team at NerdWallet with over 12 years of SEO, writing and content development experience, primarily in international education and nonprofit work. Upholstered in navy padded fabric, the newer seat has a footrest, a headrest with wings and a 10.5-inch touchscreen that can be controlled by a personal handset. Legroom can vary significantly in economy class from one airline to another, and from one aircraft to another. A foam and microfibre mattress topper and 400-thread-count bedding. There is a single leaf meal tray for work and dining, individual reading lights, PC power and USB-A ports. On this count, Virgin Atlantic offers a more compelling product than British Airways. Smartly upholstered in charcoal grey with touches of burnt caramel, the seat reclines into a Z shape with a hammock to support your feet, while a thick pillow slots on to the fixed-wing headrest to cushion you as you sleep. World Traveller Plus Business Work or relax in style with lounge access, dedicated check-in and fully flat beds on long-haul. For this flight, while business class was full, Premium Economy only had nine people. British Airways World Traveller Plus passengers also get better amenities and additional perks like priority boarding. Have a look at the related articles at the bottom of this one for more on the history of premium economy, and the reasons there are so many different varieties. By using ba.com you agree to the use of cookies. Exclusively designed loungewear, amenity bag and slippers. It is an upgrade on the Zim Magic seat,with which Lufthansa launched its premium economy offering back in 2014. British Airways charges 40 online or 45 at the airport, giving a 5 discount if you book online before check in. But according to Skyscanner, it's still 65% less expensive than business class. Airline to Get the Massive New 787-10 Dreamliner Planes and You Need to See the Polaris Business Class Seats, How to Get Upgraded to First Class for Free, JetBlue Reviews: What to Know Before You Fly, 9 Best Frequent Flier Programs and How to Make the Most of Their Benefits, How to Decide If Paying for a Seat Upgrade Is Worth the Money, World's Worst Airlines for Customer Service 2015, 12 Mistakes to Avoid When Redeeming Airline Miles, According to an Expert, What Flying First Class Is Really Like and How to Decide If It's Worth It, What to Know Before Flying American Airlines, According to Passenger Reviews, What to Know Before Flying Delta Air Lines, According to Passenger Reviews, How to Find the Best Discount Business Class Flights. Premium economy will be like business class in the 90s - better seats with more pitch, width and recline; at least for most airlines (some sell standard economy with extra legroom as "premium". Love travel? I was! Qantas has a new premium economy seat on its B787s. The configuration is 2-3-2 (AC -DEF GJ). Her work has been featured by Orbitz and The Points Guy. Club Suites are available on select services in New York-JFK, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bangalore and Toronto flights. Features include up to 40 inches of seat pitch, 19.5 inches of seat width, eight inches of recline, and a 13.3-inch IFE screen. When flying through London-Heathrow Terminals 3 and 5, first class travelers can enjoy the Arrivals lounge upon landing. Offerings include aisle access from every seat, a door for added privacy, a 79-inch fully flat bed, personal outlets for charging your electronics, high-resolution screens and extra storage space. British Airways. Premium Economy: Baggage You get two hold suitcases when traveling in Premium Economy, which is a big bonus. Extra baggage allowance: British Airways premium economy typically allows two free checked bags at no additional cost. Once in the air, you get a hot towel before your food. Premium economy, particularly on an international level, is an entirely separate airline cabin with physically different seats in front of the economy cabin and generally has a curtain behind it, just like the gap between business and first class. Even if the price is your biggest factor when choosing between Economy and Premium Economy, Premium Economy can mean that you avoid wasting a day of your holiday, which may ultimately be worth more than the price difference. We will keep updating this, and also include more aircraft types where the seating differs significantly between aircraft types. You can take more with you, choose where you sit and board earlier. In World Traveller you can enjoy a starter, main and dessert, with a choice of hot, cold and alcoholic drinks. It fits between economy and business class, essentially offering an upgraded economy class experience. British Airways premium economy provides extra legroom, seat width, more recline, extra amenities, perks like priority boarding and extra mileage earnings compared to British Airways. Although this slightly reduces seat width, it means that you shouldn't need to battle your neighbor for control of the armrest. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. Even though the physical seats were ancient, at least the entertainment system had a decent selection of newer movies and TV series. Shorter flights under three hours might only cost an extra $30 over the standard economy fare each way. It is now on its B777 and B787 fleet. AA123456X), youre flying with one of our partners. That being said, if you have any sort of airline status (for example, you earn the lowest status tier on Delta, Silver Medallion, with 45,000 qualified miles and $6,000 of qualified flight spending), you might unlock upgrades that could get you into an economy plus or premium economy seat at no charge. COPYRIGHT 2014 - 2023 LUXURYTRAVELDIARY.COM REPRODUCTION WITHOUT CONSENT FORBIDDEN. Diverging from the cabin separation premium economy offers, economy plus is part of the main class cabin. All premium economy seats have a comfortable 96.5 cm (38 in) seat pitch with ample room to stretch out. Free Starbucks coffee is available, along with snacks and complimentary beverages including beer, wine, cocktails and spirits. She has been published in U.S. News & World Report, USA Today and elsewhere, and has spoken at conferences like that of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. On a recent trip from London to Toronto, I flew in both economy and premium economy on. Whilst 3 inches doesn't sound like a lot, on a long, transatlantic flight tall people will definitely benefit from that additional space. British Airways premium economy is found on all long-haul international aircraft. Report inappropriate content 1-10 of 13 replies Sorted by 1 2 TomC97 If youve decided you'd like to fly in a premium class on your next British Airways flight, you have a few options for completing your booking cash, Avios (points) or a combination of the two. Economy Basic fare doesn't include baggage allowance in the ticket, so passengers may have to pay extra if they want to check their belongings for the flight. The seat was a large stuffy semi-recliner, measuring 18.5 inches across, with a seat pitch of 38 inches. If an airline hasn't filled their premium seats ahead of time, they may be offering a discounted upgrade at check-in. Receive news on auctions & our most popular blog posts. Tall passengers rejoice: British. On flights within Scandinavia, Finland and Europe the seat comfort the seat is identical to the one in economy (called SAS Go), but to and from Asia, Canada and the US you get a wider seat (by one inch) and extra legroom. Compared with economy, British Airways premium economy gives you more space in all directions more seat width, more legroom and more recline. Premium economy fare is generally 65% less expensive than a business class fare. Interview: Iberias CCO on new premium economy seat. We have been following premium economy since it was first introduced. For meal choices, menus aren't provided to passengers. Below the in-flight entertainment screen, British Airways installed a storage tray. Reuters. Comparatively, some British Airways economy fares are "hand baggage only" and charge up to $175 each way for two checked bags. Flight review: Japan Airlines B777-300ER premium economy. British Airways Premium Economy Vs Economy Image 1 of 15, Worth The Upgrade? An adjustable headrest, lumbar support and recline, Soft cushion and blanket, with new herringbone design, Flight socks, eye mask, toothbrush and toothpaste on request, Priority boarding for families with infants and young children in pushchairs, to help get you settled onboard sooner, Children's TV, films, games and a parental lock for other channels, Special children's meals which we'll serve first so you can enjoy your own meal at your own pace. Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. Champagne is included, and meals are light and healthy with an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables. Tall passengers rejoice: British Airways premium economy gives you around 7 inches of additional legroom measuring 38 inches of pitch vs. just 31 inches of pitch in economy. After working as a tax accountant for a decade, JT turned his analytical skills to points, miles and credit cards. Soon, we took off and thus began my 6 hour 50-minute flight in the oldest Premium Economy seats I have ever taken. Baggage heavier than 70 pounds (32 kg) will not be accepted by British Airways. The decisions that come with flying can be fairly overwhelming: Do you want to book an economy ticket and bank on an upgrade, thanks to your frequent-flier status? The pitch is seven inches greater than in economy, while thewidth is an inch more. Food and drink in British Airways premium economy, Amenities and other perks of British Airways premium economy, British Airways premium economy, recapped, British Airways premium economy amenity kit, pillow and blanket, Other perks of British Airways premium economy. It's the amenities, too premium economy provides different meal offerings than the main class cabin, amenity kits, and priority boarding. British Airways Premium Economy Vs Economy Image 8 of 15, Worth The Upgrade? At the front of each armrest, a cup tray provides enough space for two glasses. Her work has been featured by Orbitz and The Points Guy. At boarding, World Traveller Plus seats are typically stocked with a small pillow, blanket and a plastic-wrapped package including noise-canceling headphones and an amenity kit. Premium Economy is in a cabin of 26 seats immediately behind the rear business class cabin. Singapore Airlines. For a cross-country flight (JFK to LAX, for example), you'll usually pay an additional $100 to $300 for an economy plus-type ticket on Delta or JetBlue. Legroom is 38 inches four inches more than regular economy while the seat is 10 per cent wider, at 19.3 inches. This is a better meal than is served in Economy. The soft skills are definitely lagging compared to Middle Eastern and Asian carriers. Where the gap from economy to premium is small, the bags alone can make an upgrade . Premium economy fits between coach and business class, both price-wise and in terms of placement on the aircraft. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. Economy vs. Travel + Leisure magazine may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. (Photo by Katie Genter/The Points Guy) Check-in, baggage and boarding. British Airways Premium Economy is a very average product, but it is still worth paying the extra if you can afford it. Premium Economy Seat Dimensions These seats usually start around $1300 and can cost up to $3000. Disclaimer: NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. Here is our round-up of the options, updated, so you can decide which is best for you. Flight review: ANA B777-300ER Premium Economy. Take your pick from the hundreds of latest films, television programmes, albums, audio books and games. Bid & win a luxury hotel stay or travel item for your next vacation. The Best Time to Book a Flight for Domestic, International, and Holiday Travel. British Airways currently has four travel class options: economy, premium economy, business and first class. However, Avios upgrade prices are set based on the Avios award price difference between the two cabins. Fly short-haul with Club Europe or to the rest of the world with Club World. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. Youll be presented with options to use some of your Avios points to reduce the cash price of your premium class flight. You will get standard seating with about 30 to 31 inches of legroom, though it varies by airline and aircraft. Bottom line All of this is a substantial upgrade from what British Airways offered prior to a recent cabin refresh. See the Chart Key. By using ba.com you agree to the use of cookies. Four travel experts compared what passengers can expect on a British Airways flight in all four classes - Economy, Premium Economy, Business and First. Passengers can take advantage of spacious black leather seats, noise-reducing headphones, USB ports and amenity kits. A seat in premium economy directly between the main and business class cabins is measurably more expensive than an economy ticket often double the price. Economy vs. In this review, we discuss whether its worth upgrading to Premium Economy. Theres also an exclusive flight service from New York-JFK to London, called. British Airways Premium Economy Vs Economy Image 15 of 15, Book with us for free upgrades & benefits at, British Airways Economy vs. 120 AED - Mumbai. British Airways Premium Economy Vs Economy Image 10 of 15, Worth The Upgrade? On the B777-300ER and B777-200ER aircraft it is in a 2-4-2 configuration, with a 2-3-2 configuration on the B787-10 and a 2-2-2 on the B767-300ER. Would you prefer to cut costs and opt for basic economy, even if that means compromising on what you can pack in a carry-on suitcase? . Benefits on the A330s (the only aircraft which has premium economy) include a separate cabin section with between 17 seats which recline to 120 degrees (9 inches) and offer up to 40 per cent more legroom (compared to economy); baggage allowance of up to two items weighing 23 kg, dedicated check-in desks and priority boarding; a night kit with blanket and pillow, and a 10.6 inch TV screen on the carriers A330s. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. Premium economy on the B777-300ER is in its own 2-4-2 cabin. I was on Cathay's website and under Travel Classes it only shows Premium Economy but when I went to bookings to check flight availability it gave two prices, one for Premium and one for Premium Flex. Whether or not you get meal service depends entirely on the airline and your exact flight. <p>Flying British Airways premium economy (World Traveler Plus) has been a long time goal of mine, and I've been scouring the interwebs for years trying to find a cost-effective opportunity to make it happen - which isn't easy on BA. Sign up for our free newsletter and get the latest news, insights, and money-saving tips. Premium Economy is found mostly on international flights and, compared to standard Economy, offers about 5-7 inches of extra legroom as well as additional amenities, which can include: 1-2 extra inches of seat width. While British Airways has added a whole new business class cabin to the 777 lineup, premium economy has only seen a seat change. Natasha is a freelance writer and frequent traveler. For flights to the USA, Virgin Atlantic's Premium Economy is worth the investment. In our previous article, we didnt detail the various types of Premium Economy that you can fly. The food was good, and I continued watching movies throughout the meal and then decided to recline my chair and take a short nap. Relaxing Environment. British Airways World Traveller Plus passengers board no later than Group 3 boarding. Most of British Airways' long-haul aircraft have a premium economy cabin, also known as World Traveller Plus. Economy has the highest number of rows and seats. The recline is crucial to get a nap and is much better in Premium Economy than in the Economy. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. I flew BA Premium Economy World Traveller Plus from Cape Town to London return recently and was lucky enough to get the new generation seats on both legs. The dessert was some cheese and cake. I again opted for water as my light refreshment before landing. Premium Economy passengers can take advantage of priority check-in and amenities like pillows, blankets and toiletries on the plane. Basic economy fares allow travelers to fly for less if they're willing to sacrifice some amenities. The biggest reason to upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy is to get sleep or rest if you fly on an overnight flight. Club Europe is available on flights headed to the U.K. and Europe, while Club World service is offered on all other business flights. Premium Economy seats are equipped with a full-length leg-rest, leather-padded footrests, a retractable armrest that can be adjusted and a headrest. So, if premium economy is the love child of business class and economy, where does that put economy plus? The upholstery was dark navy blue and straight out of the 90s. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. Likewise, American Airlines flyers earn up to four times more base AAdvantage miles when booking premium economy than economy. When evaluating offers, please review the financial institutions Terms and Conditions. If you dream of experiencing life beyond coach, think about upgrading your fare type to one of the following ticket tiers. The seat pitch is 38 inches. Meanwhile, economy boarding groups stretch to Group 9. Comparatively, the A350s and 777s offer a truly new product, which one would hope made their way to the 777-200ER as well. Fast track security available at London airports. Relax and enjoy the views or settle down to sleep with ergonomically designed seats, little extras and newly crafted comforts based on classic British design. To learn about travel classes on our partner airlines, please use the links below: American AirlinesFinnairIberia Japan Airlines Qatar China Southern. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. British Airways vs Virgin Atlantic Economy - The Insider's Notes. On international flights, premium economy is in a separate cabin, so the price differences are more drastic. Heres a look at what you will experience when flying first class on British Airways: Access to a private, spacious suite with a fully flat bed. Expect a larger inflight video screen and, hopefully, noise-canceling headphones. They do not even dare to show them on the website or mention these relics. Choose your perfect way to fly. When not traveling, Megan adventures around her Midwest home base where she likes to attend theme parties, ride her bike and cook Asian food. Soon, it was time for lunch, and we were given the menus, which you can see in the scroller above. Lufthansas seat is not in a separate cabin but, depending on aircraft, is up to an inch wider than in economy, with about four inches more room at the side thanks to a wide armrest and a centre console. Closed HKG Qantas lounge being refreshed and reopening? The result is that you can feel pretty grotty after an Economy flight when you get to your destination. (Paying double the price of an economy ticket for premium economy, especially when flying abroad, is fairly standard.). 260 AED - Sydney. The 12.1-inch touchscreen can be controlled via a handheld remote. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. On a recent trip from London to Toronto, I flew in both economy and premium economy on British Airways to see whether the upgrade was worth it. Simply click a column header (i.e. Although let's look at this in a different way. This means that the premium economy is what was launched in 2010, and originally branded as Classica Plus and then Premium Economy, which is what ITA calls it as well. Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card. The biggest shock for me was the seats! Both aircraft include 30 cm entertainment screens and spacious luggage compartments. Wider, comfier leather seats and a separate cabin are all plus points. Premium Economy: Baggage You get 2 hold suitcases when traveling in Premium Economy, which is a big bonus. But, the question remains: Are British Airways premium economy, business or first classes worth it? . For this flight, I was seated in seat 33K, which is the first row of Premium Economy. For many passengers, the main reason to book premium economy instead of economy is the larger seats.