TRAVEL

Five myths about premium economy

Everett Potter
Special for USA TODAY

If the sight of your fellow passengers relaxing in premium economy has you filled with envy as you squeeze into your tiny seat, you’re not alone. It seems like every airline has reconfigured their aircraft to provide a few rows of seats that offer just that much more legroom and space, not to mention additional revenue. But is it worth the price? Here are five myths about premium economy class to ponder before you decide to upgrade on your next flight.

1. Premium economy is pretty much the same on every airline.

“That couldn't be further from the truth,” says Zach Honig, editor-in-chief of the The Points Guy. “Just as with business class and even regular coach, the seats and product vary significantly from one airline to the next.”

While you can find premium economy or coach on domestic flights, it’s typically found on international carriers on long-haul flights. Priced somewhere between economy class and business class, perks can include anywhere from 5 to 7 inches of extra legroom, a slightly wider seat and slightly more seat recline. Headrests are usually adjustable and some carriers even feature leg rests. Other amenities can include larger personal TV screens, power ports and a better level of food. But frankly, nothing is standardized in this class of service.

“Premium economy is not created equal, says Johnny DiScala, founder of the website Johnny Jet. “Booking a premium economy seat on a U.S. airline is completely different than one on an Asian or European carrier. If you have a choice and want to be comfortable and have great service, don’t book an American carrier.”

Honig agrees, pointing out that “Air New Zealand's ‘Spaceseat’ rivals some business-class products. On the other hand, JAL's regular economy seats are so good that they're almost as appealing as what you'll find in premium economy on some airlines.”

2. You get a meal and free drinks with a premium economy seat.

Not on most domestic flights that offer a semblance of international service. Delta’s Comfort +, which is offered on some domestic flights, gives you slightly more space and a chance to board early, with dedicated overhead bin space. But when it comes to meals, you’ll get a few more bags of free peanuts than they offer in coach and the opportunity to purchase pre-packed in-flight meals before economy-class passengers do. That’s it. Internationally, it’s a different matter.

“Some airlines offer economy meals with an additional course while others give you a meal that's similar to what you could expect to find in a lower-end business-class cabin,” says Honig of The Points Guy. “Singapore Airlines takes this a step further with its ‘Book the Cook’ program, which lets you pre-select a meal before your flight.”

DiScala of Johnny Jet cautions that while you do get meal service on most international airlines, you should “always double-check to confirm.”

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3. There are others perks, like free Wi-Fi.

You might find fluffier pillows and larger blankets, but add-ons like in-flight Wi-Fi usually come along with an additional charge. It all depends on the airline, says DiScala of Johnny Jet, who adds, “Some do, so always ask. I made the mistake of buying Wi-Fi on my SAS flight in June and I later learned that premium passengers get it for free.”

Gary Leff of ViewFromTheWing.com says that Wi-Fi aside, travelers should look for “other perks, like priority check-in, baggage allowance and priority boarding.”

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4. You get a lot more space.

A “lot more space” is very relative. Don’t expect a huge seat, just one that’s somewhat larger than those found in economy on the same aircraft. Planes vary greatly in configuration and every carrier is different when it comes to outfitting their space. Honig of The Points Guy says that “You can expect to find roughly as much space as you'll get in the domestic first-class cabin on a U.S. airline, or in JetBlue's 'Even More Space' section. It's definitely more than you'll have in coach.”

Leff of ViewFromTheWing.com is in agreement, saying that “Think of long-haul premium economy — when you cross an ocean — as being like domestic first class; you get a bigger seat and some more legroom, and you may also get a better meal.”

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5. Premium economy is always worth the money.

“Just as with business class, it's worth checking the price of premium economy,” says Leff of ViewfromtheWing.com. “The increment may not be very high. This past weekend, I wrote about premium economy on Virgin Atlantic being cheaper than coach. But it may also be much more expensive. Airfares vary dramatically, and that's as true for premium economy as it is for coach.”

For Honig of The Points Guy, the formula for buying a premium economy seat is fairly simple. “If you find a premium economy seat for the price of regular coach, I'd definitely pull the trigger," he says. “But if you'll be spending twice as much as an economy fare on the same flight, you might want to consider buying business class or sucking it up in the regular economy cabin instead.”

Leff singles out what he calls “one of the best deals going” and says to buy a premium economy ticket on Singapore Airlines “and then use Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles to upgrade. U.S. credit card programs from American Express, Chase and Citi all let you transfer points to Singapore. Availability is very good, and if a saver business class upgrade isn't available, they let you spend additional miles for a standard upgrade.”

In the end, it all comes down to money and how much you happen to think it’s worth to pay more. DiScala notes that some airlines charge far too much for these seats as a matter of course, so it’s imperative to price them out. That said, there are “some airlines that will let you bid on premium economy seats and I always throw my hat into that ring.”