Been able to fly front of plane the past several flights, but sitting in Economy Plus right now. It's pretty good! Something about the added leg space and maybe free drinks feel perfectly nice, good value proposition.
You? Economy Plus your wheelhouse, or at given costs you prefer steerage or business/first class?
You might want to indicate what airline. They all call their various seating classes something different, and even similar "classes" can be very different between them.
Agree that knowing which airline would be helpful. Don't know if your Economy Plus is the same as Premium Economy on some other lines, or just a step up from Basic. We prefer to fly Premium Economy for short haul and BC for long haul.
I always go for the bulkhead economy plus seats on flights to Europe.
Just like Jerry Seinfeld, we tried Premium Plus and can’t go back.
I’m now a firm convert to Premium Economy, which is what Air Canada calls it.
I can’t go back….you can’t make me…..
Saving up my $’s now for my next trip.
You might want to indicate what airline. They all call their various
seating classes something different, and even similar "classes" can be
very different between them.
Nah, thanks I'm good at a broader level of generalization.
Just like Jerry Seinfeld, we tried Premium Plus and can’t go back.
Unfamiliar, but would love to see :) thx
I flew Alaska Air up to Fairbanks from DFW on the 19th. Was in Premium Class to Seattle and regular economy class to Fairbanks. MUCH prefer the extra 4 inches in PC. It makes a big difference to me, I’m 5’9.5” and it gives you a lot more leg room. Plus the free drinks are nice though I only have one.
Flying from DFW to Europe on American, premium economy is a bigger seat AND extra legroom. That is even better. I do it when I’m feeling flush.
Lyndash I'm tall too, 6'3, felt so much more comfortable today than in a regular coach seat.
Interesting about a bigger wider seat in some eco plus - that's got to be helpful for sleeping!
I'm not sure this is true, but is service a little nicer in economy plus? Same flight attendants as coach, but it always feels to me like the farther forward. I'm sitting in the plane, the nicer they are in general. Maybe just some perception bias ....
Hank, we all hope we get Priority Boarding as well as better services!
(Another Key and Peele skit about boarding a plane…..)
I'm hooked on Econ +, by whatever name, for the transatlantic or trans-US flights. I'm 6'1" so the legroom really helps. It's not that much more expensive than regular economy, but thousands of dollars less than first or business. I tend to translate the fare into a per-hour rate, and I can justify to myself the added comfort of econ+ but not the luxury of the front of the plane. Just too many other ways to spend that money. On a shorter flight, like the round trip I just took to LA, plain economy is fine, preferably on the aisle.
Several years ago I lucked into an empty econ+ row on a BA flight from London to Seattle. Nice legroom, no neighbors, thought I'd gone to heaven. First class was full and I didn't envy those people.
It is tough to go back to steerage after premium economy, but yeah it can be a lot more expensive.
How about buying the third seat in a 3-5-3 aircraft configuration for two passengers? From my limited research it's cheaper than premium and so nice to have the three seats for the two of us.
For those of you who experience jet lag, well, premium economy went a LONG way toward alleviating that problem at least for us. We're in our 60s now.
That's an interesting option, Mike. My husband and I often book the window and aisle seats, hoping nobody wants the middle seat (and if it IS booked, the person is usually happy to trade for the aisle seat). That worked for us a number of times, but lately, all the flights we've been on have been chock full.
How does one go about purchasing an extra seat without a passenger name and documentation? I'd love to know how this works.
We started flying Economy Plus/Premium Economy a few years ago. The extra leg room and wider seats are nice. It costs more, but makes for a more comfortable flight.
BB, I'm only in the beginning stages of this for a trip to Naples in September of 2025, but I hope this helps:
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/buy-second-airplane-seat/
https://planelyalex.com/how-to-book-an-extra-seat-on-a-flight/
I was inspired by a colleague who purchased three seats in a 3-5-3 configuration for him and his wife. It was dramatically cheaper (in his case) than premium economy. If you pursue this I'd appreciate any feedback.
Thanks. Would appreciate the same if you manage it.
Hank, I think you do get a little nicer service when you are in E+, I don’t know if it’s because the airlines make a point of it because we pay more or when they push the drinks and food carts up to the front to begin service the flight attendants haven’t had to say the same spiel over a hundred times yet.
I should have added, as a carryon traveler, earlier boarding is a great perk to me, too.
Just for you, BB. Google Flights shows three economy seats from D.C. to Naples in September is $1800 with a 1:10 layover in CPH. The next cheapest flight is a whopping $2675 if the short CPH layover makes you nervous. I'm not sure what I would do in this situation. Pay an extra $800+ or risk that layover.
Premium economy for two is $4252 total for two. Yowzah! Big difference.
Lyndash, interesting point. I'd imagine it would be tougher to be nice after saying the same thing a hundred plus times. I just try to be as low maintenance for the crew as possible.
Wow! That IS a big difference.
Already have our flights purchased for our big trip next month, but I'll definitely keep this in mind for 2025.
Big Mike, I like your attitude toward travel. Low maintenance is good.
It's not that much more expensive than regular economy,
I have always found it prohibitively more expensive. It's not in the realm of possibility for me to be able to spend that much more money.
Each to their own, but I just checked a United flight to Budapest and back in June.
$1800 basic economy. really, really, really restrictive.
$1900 regular econonmy (you get to pick your seat so its a no-brainer for me)
$2500 premium economy. you get a 2" bigger seat (maybe) and you get two checked bags (i wont use one, so .... )
$4500 business class (seriously, Noooooo)
I can not see paying $600 extra for premium economy.
$600 could pay for:
an increase in the length of my trip by 3 to 5 days, or
4 to 5 half day guided tours, or
3 to 5 Michelin Star Dinners for two, or
20 to 30 Nice dinners for two, or
50 to 60 lunches for me, or
50 or 60 bottles of good Hungarian wine
300 local beers in a pub, or
1/2 to 2/3rds of the cost of the next flight to Europe (shoulder)
Mr. E, agreed at a minimum I'd pay to pick our seats.
The seat selection is the only thing that keeps me out of Basic. Other airline do let you pick, so it's an airline by airline decision.
I'm using the $600 for 3 additional days and 150 local beers.
My latest Eco Plus flight was Seattle to san Diego, $31 more. Not at all bad - about 10 bucks an hour for more leg room, earlier on quicker off, and free cocktails.
On domestic routes probably generally better value than between continents.
If I could get Basic Economy on United (not my first choice) to Budapest for $ 1,800 , I would not hesitate at all taking it, regardless where the layover is Frankfurt, Munich or even Linz.
Restrictions don't matter. At 6' and mid-70s Basic Economy is still no problem. Of course, that $ 1,800 flight, too good to be true, does not depart from SFO.
Ever since I read Hank and Dick’s comments about thinking about the extra charge as an hourly breakdown, I’m feeling better and better about springing for Premium Economy next flight. Thanks guys.
I've always been content with economy. It's served me well, I've always had good flights and I'm OK with ticket prices. However since my accident, United's economy or economy + don't work for me anymore, and I shop their Premium Plus. The service is nice and there's more room, but it's the bulkhead seat with the foot rests that swing out from under the seat that is a great relief.
It has been some time since I last flew Premium Economy on American Airlines to Europe from the west coast, USA. At that time although it was an added expense compared to Economy it was an expense I felt comfortable spending. My feeling was that the only advantage was the larger seat which reclined with a foot rest (although on one trip the footrest was broken) and the extra drinks. I did enjoy the extra space and it made the long overnight flight more comfortable.
However, I felt a little cheated due to the way AA advertises this class. If you read their description they make it sound like you will get better service. I did not experience that. The same flight attendants served the same meals as in Coach and they were not any more attentive ( I'm not sure but maybe there was an extra snack or meal?) There were a few other perks that did not impress me. Now that I am seeing these airfares to Europe increase quite a bit, it might sting a little for me to pony up the money for P.E.( although I want the extra room to be comfortable). Walking back through coach and seeing people squeezed together like sardines gave me anxiety.
I always remember this from the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
“Jean: The whole thing is actually tremendously exciting. Not just getting on the plane, but getting on the plane and turning left.”
Of course, Premium Economy still isn’t turning left but maybe, one day……
With me being 5’10 and my wife at 5’11”, we both need at least 32” pitch seats if we are going to come off a 3+ hour flight without limping. If I can determine beforehand that the cabin economy seats are 32” I stay with basic. If not, I generally am happy paying an extra $200 or so each way to be able to walk,
Wish it were that cheap. On the RT United Europe flight I am tracking for September Basic Economy = $1300, Regular Econony = $1500, fully refundable Economy $1700, and Premium Economy $3400.
I am a tad more than 6 foot. I survive in an asile seat just fine. 50% of the flights I have a center seat to stretch into and 25% of the time I have 3 seats to stretch out and sleep on.
Such a fun topic. While I love having the extra legroom of Premium Economy, it all depends on the cost and who I am traveling with. If premium economy isn’t outrageously expensive, then I take that. If I am traveling with my husband, then we absolutely need to get at least Premium Economy and many times business class.
Blockquote How does one go about purchasing an extra seat without a passenger name and documentation? I'd love to know how this works.
You call the airline and tell them what you want to do and they help you do it. You cannot do it online but I know people have done this quite often
As for premium select/ premium economy- All I can say is avoid the Delta product. The seats are marginally wider and yeah, there’s a foot rest but the truth is when the person in front of you reclines you discover that what they did was they shove those seats in the same amount of space they have given their comfort seats, and the increased reclined means that person is sitting in your lap. As for the upgraded service Delta promises, my friend, the flight attendant who flies a lot of international because she’s my age, says it’s catered approximately 30% of the time the rest the time it is catered as coach - that’s the service it gets.
I usually travel alone, so this isnt going to work for 90% of you. But I get an asile seat in the center section of seats. The row i choose is one that already has the opposite asile seat reserved. That nasty center seat will be the last one to sell and two thirds of the time it remains empty. Then a few days prior to the flight I check the seats again and adjust if necessary. Often I get lucky and find an entire row empty. I change my seat to that row then if it doesnt book, I stretch out across all three seats and sleep.
Lufthansa will sell you this option on long flights. For a fee, if there are three seats in a row they will move you to it and give you a cushion to go across the seats. But its for 11 hour flights and longer. I guess West Coast to Europe? https://onemileatatime.com/news/lufthansa-economy-beds/
I flew to Europe four times last year for work. Not once was there an empty center seat on the plane. I’m just saying your odds are not great based on what I see.
My last trip was about 4 months ago. I slept in 3 sears. But it is the luck of the draw.
Carol very helpful info thanks!
I've had the good fortune to fly in first as well as business class with some degree of regularity. Honestly, the added hoopla that accompanies a superior seat is somewhat absurd, but it is certainly a more enjoyable travel experience.
As a passenger with beau coup flyer miles, my MO has always been to buy the cheapest seat and upgrade as much as possible. Generally, I go for exit aisle seats.
Now that I travel less, I am burning off the miles I racked up so now I am a travelling tightwad. Whatever costs me the fewest miles is the seat that I pick. Here's the thing. A flight to Europe is at best a 7 hour flight. It's (IMHO) a virtual hop, skip and a jump. I can sit in Economy at the very back of the bus next to the toilets with a no recline seat for that long without any "real" problem other than some obvious discomfort. In my opinion, paying double or more for an extra 2 inches of space is pretty silly and just a nice way to line the airlines pockets.
If we are talking about a flight that is over 10 hours in the air, then I might consider the additional cost.
One further point. The prissy food and warmed up walnuts served towards the front of the bus accompanied by an off-label Bordeaux are not worth several thousand dollars. Not even if it is accompanied by a tiny wedge of Stilton.
