Is premium economy really worth it?

[Deactivated] on 23/02/2016 - 12:39

Hi ozbargainers

Long story short, i am looking to book a flight for 3 people to Toronto, Canada in the period of
late December 2016 to early January 2017.

The cheapest flights for premium economy i could find was $3500~ via Air Canada
Given the substantial price difference of almost 50-60% more than your average economy ticket,
Is it really worth it in the end? Legroom is somewhat important for me as it is a long 20+ hour flight.

What differs premium economy from economy? I have heard it mainly comes down to:
1. 30-50% more Leg Room, some airlines use of reclining seats?
2. Slightly better food

However i have read there is usually no priority check-ins, no extra luggage allowance and so forth.

I look forward to hearing your opinions and thank you all in advance for your insight!

Travel

Comments

  • samfisher5986 on 23/02/2016 - 12:42
    +1

    I'm going to say most of the time no its not worth it.

    But its really going to depend on how comfortable you are in regular economy and the airline you are on as to what you really get out of premium economy.

    You could always get an exit row for the extra leg room.

    • TNTomer on 23/02/2016 - 18:29
      +2

      Some airlines (United for example) charge the premium economy rate for exit row seat and front row seats because they have the same benefit as the premium economy section.
      Personally it depends on the airline and plane, I am a tall guy 6f4 but I found the United Dreamliner flight to have more than enough leg room in normal economy class. No idea what I would have been paying extra for if I went to premium economy.

  • samfisher5986 on 23/02/2016 - 12:42

    double post

  • the-mal on 23/02/2016 - 12:50
    +1

    Depends how much you love/need leg room. I'm not tall and I don't care about being somewhat squished so to me it's money is prefer to spend once I'm off the plane.

    If you're tall though or get very aggravated with cramped flying, I could see it definitely being worth it.

  • twadds on 23/02/2016 - 13:06
    +5

    It's only one day of your life, I'd rather be slightly less comfortable and have another $1700 to spend on your trip.

  • SteveBuscemi on 23/02/2016 - 13:38
    +2

    IMO it's not worth paying for Premium Economy, unless you're on an airline where it's a stepping stone/requirement for a Business upgrade.

    If you're really worried about flight time I'd do the ~13h SYD->YVR direct on Economy, spend a few days in Vancouver/BC, then go the rest of the way to YYZ.

    Then again, I've also had a completely empty AC33 flight and had an entire row of seats to myself.

  • lupiter on 23/02/2016 - 13:48
    +1

    Rather than going for Premium Economy generally, look around at what the Economy seats are actually like. Only get Premium if you're not going to fit into the best Economy seats. Budget airline "Premium" seats are often the same as a nicer airline's "Economy" seats.

  • NancyCat on 23/02/2016 - 13:49
    +4

    For me, it's a definite NO.

    I was offered to be 'upgraded' to premium for a small price few years ago (I think it was a couple hundred dollars). It was for Melb-HKG-Melb on Cathay Pacific. I was 33 weeks pregnant at the time, so I thought why not, and took the offer.

    For me, the ONLY good thing about Premium Economy is, it is a lot quieter, compare to the the back of the plane. Far less people walking around/opening overhead lockers during the flight. Food, probably better, but I'm not too fussy about airline food, they did give me a bottle of water before the plane took off (WOW!) And I'm only 5 foot 4, quite slim (even when I was 33 weeks pregnant!), so leg room has never been a problem.

    I thought the upgrade was a total waste of money. When I arrived in HK, I asked to be 'downgraded' back to economy for my return flight and have half of my money back. But they refused (of course).

    I think if Premium Economy offers extra baggage allowance and/or a separate check-in counter/boarding queue I would give it a go again.

  • Donaldhump on 23/02/2016 - 13:51
    +2

    cheaper to goto the doctor and get sleeping pills.
    knock urself out, and wake up when u land.

    if its 1700 per person, ie 5100 for 3, id rather cop the sh*tty flight, and get blind / goto sport etc when in canada.

  • Donaldhump on 23/02/2016 - 13:52
    +10

    i paid extra for emergency seats to america, only to find out the seat was right next to the dunny. I essentially paid 800 bucks for my wife and I to be cained in the face by peoples farts.

    • KB2 on 23/02/2016 - 14:24
      +1

      From BNE-LA, I sat 2m in front of the toilet with the nappy change table. Holy moley that was a long flight!

      • jelko on 23/02/2016 - 17:54
        +4

        Disgusting - I feel for you. These seats should be reserved for parents with the grotty babies shitting themselves every 2 hours.

      • Donaldhump on 24/02/2016 - 12:32
        +1

        to be honest an aeroplane is just a giant fart cabin

    • SirFlibbled on 23/02/2016 - 16:15

      On the Air Asia flights, I purposefully choose the exit row near the toilets. There's a nice enclave area which you can stand up and have a stretch without getting in other people's way and there's a box thingy in the door which makes a nice foot rest. The downside is I'm also tall so the curvature of the wall on the plane is a little constricting.

    • lainey13 on 24/02/2016 - 11:05
      +1

      Seatguru is your friend!

  • bobbified on 23/02/2016 - 14:17
    +6

    Look at it this way….

    Say there's a 10 hour flight in that costs $800 for Economy and $1800 for Premium Economy (typical ratio for the prices I've seen). You're paying an extra $100/hour to sit in Premium Economy.

    Or if you look at it in reverse, if you had a Premium Economy seat and someone offered you $100/hour to sit in an Economy seat for the duration of the flight, would you take up their offer?

    That hourly rate between Economy and Business is much much more.. something like.. $4-500/hour, easily.

    For me personally, the only time I've been on PE or Business is through free upgrades or upgrades on points. It's so much more satisfying to spend that extra money on my holiday.

    It's a different story if the partner insists - then I look at it as "paying up to avoid hearing the whinging for the whole trip!"

  • datafellows on 23/02/2016 - 14:34

    If I fly alone I might go for it if I cannot find aisle seat, but if I fly with family or friends I don't mind sitting in economy. And premium economy only offers you longer leg room, the guy next to you is still very close to you.

    Perhaps some airlines offers you wider seats and then it might be worth it, but if it is 50% more then it is still waste of money.

    Why not buy an exit row seat? That should be cheaper.

  • Randxyz123 on 23/02/2016 - 15:40

    Probably not worth it.

    Spend the saved money on a extra night away or at a better hotel.

    I'm 193cm tall and prefer to have a extra night or 2 away and deal with Economy. I usually try and book a exit row which helps a bit.

  • golfer dad on 24/02/2016 - 09:29
    +1

    I've had a free flight to HK via Cathy Pacific premium economy. Whilst there is more legroom, when the seat in front of you is reclined, it still eats into your personal space, especially during meal times or if you want to work on a laptop. As others have mentioned, as there is no priority check-in or extra pecks, I wouldn't pay 50% more than an economy seat (more like 100% more if you get discounted economy fare) unless you really need/want the extra legroom. Only worth it on long flights such as your trip but if you are a good sleeper and watch a few movies, you would only appreciate the extra space for 50% of the flight. An exit seat would be an even better option as you can fully stretch your legs and free with most airlines.

    • samfisher5986 on 24/02/2016 - 12:20
      -2

      And if its anything like my singapore airlines flight…

      There are regular meals/snacks and if you have your seat down you will be asked to put the seat back up every single meal.

      If I can't have my seat permanently down then why am I paying extra…

  • Xizor on 24/02/2016 - 13:29

    For a big price different i would not do it… if its just between here and asia, then maybe worth it. I flew Scootbiz which is kinda premium economy and it made the flight MUCH more tolerable (Im 6'1 tall and am an irritable flyer, legs get sore, cannot sleep etc). But we're talking like $400 each way which is not a huge deal… when we're talking thousands… even i couldnt justify it. Just get the best affordable seat (study seatguru, check what plane it is etc) you can and…. brace yourself for the misery!

  • Member 0230 on 26/02/2016 - 17:52

    Skyscanner lists 5 worth looking at: Singapore, Lufthansa, Qantas, Cathay, ANA.

    Depending on airline, some of the benefits are: priority check-in and boarding, HD monitors, free or small fee to access the business lounge, private cabin, and of course more comfortable seats.

    5 premium economy classes that are worth paying for

  • Foxtail on 27/02/2016 - 12:34

    Better off with bulkhead seats away from loo and galley if possible.

    But if you have some Freq, flyer points book Y (economy) and try for upgrade to PE .

    Of course you could use purchased AA miles instead (as i have many times) and maybe go in J (Bus. Class).

    http://www.pointhacks.com.au

    current award chart miles required each way to end match then it increases

    http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/redeemMiles/all-partner-ch…

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