Premium economy can be a preferred option for short-haul or frequent travel, offering added comfort to standard economy instead of the high costs of business class to Johannesburg from UK. Post pandemic, there is a boom in the demand of premium economy flights; even more than the business class to Adelaide.
If you haven’t yet experienced premium economy class, you may be wondering what makes it different from economy. Today, premium economy includes extra inches of seat recline, larger screens, better meals and beverages than economy class and a dedicated check-in. Premium economy’s price is closer to economy. A business class to Delhi from UK would have little more facilities. “In 2019 average prices for a premium economy ticket were a whopping 430 percent more expensive than economy. In 2021, premium economy average ticket prices cost almost 290 percent more than economy tickets, whereas in 2020 they were 365 percent more expensive,” Expedia's data say.
Premium Economy services offered by some airlines are-
Emirates provides amenity kit with an eye mask, disposable socks, toothbrush, earplugs and a handy pack of stickers to indicate if you’d rather sleep than be woken up for meals.
In Singapore Airlines, there’s a large 13-inch high-definition screen with thousands of TV and movie titles to choose from with a noise-cancelling headset offered on-board. They serve delicious meals; the portions are closer to economy size but a higher quality menu. Instead of paper menus, travellers can either pick on the airline’s menu or via the Wi-Fi system.
In Qantas there’s a welcome sparkling wine, cocktail or juice upon boarding and amenity kit filled with essentials.
Japan Airlines provide slippers, a pillow, Sony noise-cancelling headphones and an amenity kit. You’ll also get complimentary lounge access, prior to boarding.Next time, when you book flights; book premium economy for the comforts of business class to Canada(nearly) in the price of economy (nearly).