Premium economy used to be a rare offering. These days loads of airlines are ditching first class cabins and retrofitting their fleets with premium economy. But is it worth the cash? If you’re looking for extra comfort, fancier meals and a better shot at sleep, premium economy is a great option – particularly on long haul flights. Here are the best premium economy seats for international travel.
The flying kangaroo offers premium economy on A380s and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. With a wide chair, generous recline and re-engineered footrest accommodating longer legs, the seat is optimised to catch some zees. The ergonomically designed headrest can also be fitted with a specially designed pillow.
Comfy seat, check. Great entertainment, check. Impeccable service, check. Singapore Airlines came in second for Best Premium Economy in 2023 according to Skytrax. Passengers can ‘Book the Cook’ for an elevated meal and choose their main course 24 hours before they fly. Though the leg room isn’t as spacious as other airlines, the wide seat, great meal and service make up for it.
Emirates was late to offering premium economy but it more than made up for lost time recently taking out Skytrax’s Best Premium Economy Class Airline Seats for 2023. Walking into the cabin, you could easily mistake it for business class. From the quilted cream leather seats, walnut wood cocktail tables and a meal served on fine china, this is one of the best in the skies.
Got a stack of Qantas points but can’t use them with the airline? Check out Cathay Pacific. Due to China’s hard zero-Covid policy, the airline was slow to restart international flights after Covid. Though it’s an older product, premium economy on Cathay hits the sweet spot between being affordable and comfortable. Aside from a nice menu in the skies and amenity kit, the biggest perk is a whopping 46kg baggage limit across two bags. By comparison, Qantas has 40kg.
Japan Airlines’ Premium Economy Class cabins contain a seat pitch of 42 inches – the most generous legroom in its class. Thanks to clever Japanese design, the seat in front also doesn’t encroach into your space, creating even more distance between you and fellow passengers. You’ll also gain complimentary business class lounge access before you board, faultless Japanese hospitality and a carefully crafted meal.
With a comfortable seat pitch of 41 inches, you can open your laptop with plenty of space on Air New Zealand. Even if the person in front of you has their seat down, you can tap away comfortably. The meals are a big departure from economy with a delicious menu and a wide selection of premium Kiwi wines to top it off. Don’t worry if you’re not feeling so productive. With a large and zippy screen boasting 1,700 hours of TV shows, movies and games, there’s more than enough to keep you entertained.
