Premium economy class has grown immensely in popularity over the last couple of decades, becoming a key cabin for the majority of global full-service airlines. The cabin class fulfills demand for an elevated travel experience without the high costs of flying in business or first class, with Premium Economy fares usually priced at around double that of an economy ticket.

While you may not get the level of luxury and bespoke service available in business or first, premium economy offers a wide range of perks – including more comfortable seats, better meals and priority status – that can make it worth the extra money. If we explore whether premium economy is worth it, there are several aspects of the experience to dive into.

What To Expect In Premium Economy

Much like any cabin class, the quality of the premium economy experience varies according to airline, aircraft type and route. For example, you can generally expect a better product with a world-class airline like Emirates on a long-haul route than you’d get with a regional airline. Starting with the airport experience, premium economy passengers get access to expedited check-in and priority boarding, which can sometimes extend to fast-track security lanes too. However, unlike most business and first class fares, premium economy usually does not come with lounge access.

Onboard the flight, the main perks of premium economy are the seat and service. Seats have more legroom, with most premium economy cabins offering a seat pitch of around 38″ compared to 30-31″ in economy, which is over 20% more legroom. This is also true of seat width and recline, leading to a much-improved sense of comfort and ability to fall asleep. There can also be other trimmings to the premium economy experience depending on your airline, such as enhanced meals and drinks, larger in-flight entertainment (IFE) screens and amenity kits.

Premium economy essentially fills a niche between economy and business by offering the best of both worlds. And this is a niche that has proven to be in high demand, with many airlines now banking heavily on filling out their fleets with more premium capacity.

How Much More Does Premium Economy Cost?

As per consumer publication Which?, the price of a premium economy fare is typically twice that of an economy fare, but this varies widely across airlines and their routes. On the lower end, passengers can pay as little as 30% extra to bump themselves up to premium economy, but at the higher end, fares can soar to 300-400% of an economy ticket.

Let’s check out a few fares on Skyscanner and see what kind of prices we get (all fares are for September 15th, 2025).

As we can see, the price disparity varies greatly between airlines, with the Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines examples costing a fair bit more than double. On the contrary, flying with Emirates between Dubai and Los Angeles will cost just 65% more for its award-winning premium economy product, not bad for a 16-hour flight.

Comparing Premium Economy With Economy

So, how much of a step-up is premium economy compared to the typical economy experience? Let’s take Lufthansa and its Airbus A350-900 as an example. This aircraft’s premium economy cabin consists of three rows in a 2-3-2 configuration (the economy cabin is 3-3-3), and the seats offer more than 20% extra legroom, as well as more generous width and recline.

As we can see, there are a few other upgrades to the seat, including a screen that is 30% larger as well as a footrest for added comfort. Premium economy will usually have enhanced seat amenities too, such as higher quality pillows, blankets and headphones. Sticking with the Lufthansa comparison, its meal service – which entails an upgraded menu and range of beverages – is plated up on fine china to bring it closer to the business class experience.

So Is Premium Economy Worth It?

If you can find a reasonable deal and your chosen airline has a good premium economy product, then it is probably worth it if you have the extra cash to spare. For most people, premium economy is primarily about the seat, particularly on long-haul flights. The extra legroom, width and recline can make a huge difference compared to an economy seat, as do the added touches like the footrest and larger IFE screen.

Paying cash isn’t the only way of flying premium economy either. Many will purchase an economy ticket and then use frequent flier miles to upgrade, while some airlines have a bidding option that is usually cheaper than paying for the ticket outright. Elite status holders may also be eligible for complimentary upgrades, although this is highly dependent on cabin availability.

If an airline is charging up to 3x the price of an economy ticket, you may have second thoughts about its value; but considering that the average premium economy cabin costs around double compared to economy, the overall experience is usually worth it.

Which Airlines Have The Best Premium Economy?

At the latest SKYTRAX World Airline Awards, Virgin Atlantic was awarded the top spot for ‘World’s Best Premium Economy Class Airline’, beating out 2024 winner Japan Airlines and Emirates. The British carrier also placed first in the category for ‘Best Premium Economy Class Onboard Catering’, while Emirates won the ‘Best Premium Economy Class Seat’ category.

Other airlines with top-rated premium economy products include Singapore Airlines and EVA Air – both of which made the global top five list – and the likes of British Airways, Delta Air Lines and Qantas. Taiwan’s EVA Air was the pioneer of premium economy class with the introduction of its ‘Evergreen Class’ in the early 1990s.

There are a handful of leading airlines that don’t offer any kind of premium economy product, most notably Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines. In the case of Qatar Airlines, the carrier (recently named World’s Best Airline by SKYTRAX for two years running) has said its economy product is already exceptional so there is no need for a premium economy cabin, while Turkish Airlines did away with its premium economy cabin in 2016.

Should You Fly Business Class Instead?

If you’re going to pay a premium on your flight, can the price of a business class fare be justified rather than flying premium economy? As with the jump from economy to premium economy, you’re typically looking at paying double to fly in business class instead of premium economy. Comparing this to the price of an economy seat, business class fares are usually 5x the cost.

What are the added benefits to flying in business rather than premium economy? In terms of the onboard experience, many top airlines have enhanced their business products in recent years, including the growing trend of offering fully enclosed suites. As standard, you will usually get a lie-flat bed (flying internationally, at least) and direct aisle access:

One of the key differentiators is complimentary lounge access, so it’s a premium travel experience as soon as you get to the airport. The level of personalized service is also noticeable and there is a much higher crew-to-passenger ratio. Most travelers would agree that the gap from premium economy to business is wider than from economy to premium economy.