Airlines Boost Premium Economy on Long-Distance Flights

Premium economy options are on the rise this year, with Lufthansa, Hawaiian, and, rumor has it, even Singapore Air considering expanded offerings. All this could make long-distance flying a lot more bearable for those on a budget.

The game changer is Lufthansa’s move to turn 10 percent of its long-distance capacity into premium economy, with the comfier seats going on sale next month for flights beginning in December. All the airline’s widebody planes will have the seats by mid-2015 for overseas flights. With around 20 to 50 of these premium seats on each of Lufthansa’s 100-plus long-distance aircraft, that means thousands of new chances to escape coach class hell.

But what exactly is premium economy? At a minimum it’s an oxymoron, a sort of in-between class that lets fliers pay just a bit more for more legroom and a few extra perks. That’s the plain vanilla version offered by many airlines, including most U.S. majors. Some airlines, however, especially the really long-distance champs, give you more—a lot more, making it closer to business class but with fares of more than 60 percent off that class. Check out Seat Guru’s comparison chart for details on what each airline provides. Around 24 international carriers now offer premium economy, more than doubling the number in the past few years, according to planemaker Airbus.

Lufthansa’s long-haul Premium Economy, set to debut on the 747-800 jet, is targeted to meet higher expectations, with 38-inch pitch and three inches more width than basic economy class. The personal seat-back entertainment screen are 12 inches wide, and there’s a larger armrest separating seats. Plus, there are those smaller touches that matter: You can check a second bag free and meals will be served on porcelain—and wine in real glasses. You can even enter Lufthansa’s posh business class and welcome lounges for a nominal fee. The seats themselves were just unveiled at a major airline interiors show in Hamburg.

Hawaiian Airlines is rolling out premium economy on its Airbus A330s with 36-inch seat pitch, five more than in standard economy. “Extra Comfort” comes with other perks, like a complimentary in-flight TV package, power outlets, and a pillow and blanket (on all North American flights). The airline is now flying some real long-haul routes—between Honolulu and New York, Beijing, and Sydney—so that’ll be a welcome addition for frugal fliers.

So where to find the best premium economy spots? Seat Guru’s helpful chart is a good place to start. Some of the more notable seats I’ve tried: Air New Zealand’s “Spaceseat,” which actually gave me a sound night’s sleep on a flight from Los Angeles to Auckland.

What are your favorite economy seats?

Airlines Boost Premium Economy on Long-Distance Flights