More and more international flights now offer premium economy as well as economy class tickets. While this is undoubtedly an upgrade, it’s nowhere near the cost or comfort of business and first class. In this article, I’ll explain what premium economy is, what the differences are to economy, and whether it’s worth paying extra for.
What is premium economy?
Premium economy class sits between economy and business class, both in terms of where you’ll find it on the plane and what it costs for a ticket. What’s offered depends on the airline, the route and how long you’re in the air. Flying from Europe, you’ll typically only find premium economy on long-haul international flights. In the US, you’ll also find it available on many domestic flights.
It’s a great option for those who want a step up from economy but who can’t quite justify the price of a business class ticket. While it doesn’t offer the latter’s lie-flat seats and premium amenities, it is undoubtedly more comfortable than the cramped conditions of economy.
Some of the benefits you can expect in premium economy:
- More comfortable seats – seats are typically wider, recline further, and offer between 97 cm and 107 cm (38 and 42 inches) of legroom, often with adjustable headrests and footrests.
- Better service – the quality of food and drink is far improved, with premium drinks and sometimes a separate menu. With fewer passengers per flight attendant, service is better too.
- Quality amenities – expect some kind of amenity kit to make your flight more comfortable. Entertainment systems feature larger screens, overhead earphones and bigger tables for eating and working.
- Nicer cabin – usually separated from economy by a divider, cabins are a bit more spacious and quieter
- Priority services – expect priority baggage handling, check in and boarding.
What is economy class?
Of all the cabin classes, economy is the most basic and most affordable. It’s the go-to for travellers on a budget or who prefer to spend their money on hotels and experiences.
The economy class experience differs wildly from airline to airline. Budget airlines like Ryanair and Easyjet offer bare bones experiences with extra fees for almost everything. On the other hand, airlines like British Airways offer much more (including free carry-on bag), but are often a little pricier.
You’ll always have to pay for extras like checked baggage, in-flight food and drink, and entertainment when you’re traveling in economy.
Here’s what to expect in economy class:
- Smaller seats – designed to fit the most possible passengers in a cabin, seats are narrower and less padded. They offer less legroom too – typically around 74 cm to 81 cm (29 to 32 inches). On short-haul flights, economy seats often don’t recline at all.
- Limited service – you’ll get fewer options for food and drinks, and may have to pay for them. Typically you’ll only be able to buy snacks on short-haul flights but will get a basic meal and drinks included on long-haul.
- Basic (or no) amenities – You’ll typically get no amenities in short-haul economy. Long-haul will usually have an entertainment system but terrible earphones, so bring your own!
- Crowded cabins – with more people and more seats packed in, economy cabins are often cramped, noisy and dirty.
- Extra fees – expect to pay more for any added extras, from choosing a seat to bringing checked or carry-on bags (with some exceptions).
That being said, every airline differs, so it’s worth checking which offer the most comfortable seats as standard. Some airlines, like British Airways, will include complimentary perks depending on the route and length of the flight. As a general rule, you’ll get more thrown-in on long-haul flights than short-haul.
What is economy plus?
Just when you’ve wrapped your head economy and premium economy, airlines throw yet another class into the mix. Economy plus sits between economy and premium economy, creating a new tier that adds a little more comfort at a more affordable price.
Unlike premium economy, which is generally separated from economy, economy plus is still part of the main cabin. The big difference is a better seat with more legroom, located at the front of the cabin. You might also have more flexibility when it comes to making changes to your ticket.
Economy plus is a limited offering compared to economy and premium economy. The main airline to offer it is United Airlines, where it’s generally available on all flights. Other airlines like Delta, Virgin Atlantic and Singapore Airlines all offer some version of it.
What’s the difference between economy, economy plus and premium economy?
The core differences between the three economy offerings are similar across most airlines, but the details can vary a lot. Here are the main differences for international long-haul routes.
Average international flight prices: economy vs. premium economy.
Based on KAYAK data, here are the average prices for economy and premium economy international flights. Due to limited search volume, domestic UK data isn’t available.
Cheapest and most expensive months by cabin class.
Disclaimer: These insights are based on searches made on KAYAK.co.uk and associated brands between 1 January and 24 July 2025, for travel dates between 1 January and 31 December 2025.
What does premium economy look like on different airlines?
Not all airline classes are born equal, so don’t assume what gets you premium economy treatment with one will be the same as any other. Of the many airlines that offer a premium economy class, here are a few examples of what to expect.
American Airlines
Premium economy on American Airlines comes with a variety of perks compared to an economy ticket. On the ground, you’ll benefit from priority check-in, while up in the air you can expect wider seats with extendable footrests and headrests, and more legroom, as well as “chef-inspired” food, whatever that exactly means.
There are larger screens for watching free on-demand entertainment, and you’ll also get complimentary onboard Wi-Fi, as well as charging stations and USB ports.
British Airways
The UK’s flag carrier airline, British Airways calls its premium economy World Traveller Plus. As with all premium economy offerings, expect more space and better amenities and service in a dedicated cabin.
Seats are typically configured as a 2-4-2 rather than 3-4-3 meaning they’re wider and roomier. Seat pitch is around 97 cm and recline up to 20cm. Adjustable foot and head rests, a decent pillow and quilt add to the comfort.
Meals are three-course with a glass of sparkling wine directly after takeoff and complimentary bar the entire flight. Entertainment systems come with bigger screens, dedicated noise-cancelling headphones and in-seat chargers.
You’ll typically also get two checked bags up to 23kg each included, alongside a carry-on and personal item. World Traveller Plus passengers also get dedicated check-in desks and priority boarding.
Delta
Delta’s premium economy class is known as ‘premium select’ and currently only operates on international flights. Expect a wider seat with more recline, and adjustable headrests and footrests to allow you to stretch out properly.
You’ll get a three-course meal served with stainless steel utensils, as well as better in-flight entertainment and a dedicated flight attendant.
United
An economy premium fare on United will get you a larger, more comfortable seat with better legroom in a dedicated cabin away from economy. Alongside, two free checked bags and premier access, with dedicated check-in and security lines at certain airports.
Seats in this class also come with larger screens and noise-reducing headphones for watching in-flight entertainment, as well as upgraded meal options.
Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic’s premium class offers wide leather seats, typically 97 cm legroom, 18 cm recline, and adjustable foot and head rests for a more comfortable flight. Expect priority check-in and boarding and double the luggage allowance of economy.
Onboard you’ll be welcomed with a glass of champagne and self-service snacks and drinks area. You can order meals from the premium menu in advance and they’ll be served on proper plates with real cutlery. Bigger entertainment screens and better headphones take care of entertainment alongside charging ports that actually work.
Can you get an upgrade from economy to premium economy?
Although airlines would always prefer passengers pay for upgrades, there are sometimes premium economy seats available at a discount at the gate. These are usually allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s always worth checking in to see what’s available as soon as you get to your gate.
As for free upgrades, these are usually awarded to those with the highest airline member status. The higher your status (and number of points), the more likely you are to get that upgrade. Popular loyalty programmes include:
- American Airlines AAdvantage
- British Airways Executive Club
- Delta SkyMiles
- United MileagePlus
If you haven’t already, make sure you’ve signed up for the relevant reward schemes for the airlines you fly with most.
Premium economy FAQs
Naturally, the price difference depends on which route and airline you’re flying with, but typically you can expect to pay anything up to 160% more for a premium economy ticket than economy. However, these figures will vary depending on things like how far in advance you book and how full the flight is. Use KAYAK’s Flight Search tool to find the best deals.
Premium economy is a separate class with wider seats, more legroom, better meals and extra amenities like larger entertainment screens and priority boarding. Economy plus goes by a range of different names but usually just offers more legroom and sometimes priority boarding.
It doesn’t include the full set of perks that comes with premium economy and isn’t available on many airlines. Where it is available, it’s also cheaper than premium economy.
No. In the UK you won’t find it on any domestic and very few short haul international flights. Most major international carriers offer it on long-haul flights, but not all have a dedicated cabin.
Availability depends on the airline, but around the UK and Europe, typically not. Many airlines will offer an upgrade from economy on short-haul flights, but these are usually called business class even if their offering looks a lot more like premium class!
While there’s no doubt that premium economy offers a more, well, ‘premium’ flying experience than economy, the question is how much you’re willing to pay for it. It’s important to consider everything when deciding which airline class to book.
If you’re very tall or suffer in cramped spaces, that extra legroom could prove invaluable. If you’re travelling for a special occasion like a honeymoon, those little luxury touches could be worth the cost. Or if you’re flying for work but your company won’t cover business class fares, premium economy could work as a more affordable alternative.
Typically, the price difference between economy and premium economy is still significant, and deciding whether it represents good value is your choice.
