We are sitting at Frankfurt airport waiting for our Singapore Airline flight to NY. If anyone has any doubts spending the extra money for premium economy, or higher, i can tell you to spend it. Especially if it is not a Direct flight. Our trip home, which started Thursday morning at Zagreb airport, is almost complete. Our flight in Zagreb was delayed which caused us to miss our flight to NY in Frankfurt. We were sent to re-booking and when we arrived the line was at least 500 people deep. No exaggeration. It went on forever. The woman in front of us was going United to Dulles, behind us to O’Hare, etc. All the delays from the morning caused many a missed Plane. While on line waiting for our hotel voucher we received an e-mail from Lufthansa - you have been re-booked on Singapore for friday at 8:35 am. No one else around us recieved an e-mail, they had all booked economy. After about an hour in line, the singage changed to Hotel Vouchers Only. Rebooking would take place friday morning starting at 5:00 am. When we got to the counter for our voucher and showed them our e-mail, they printed out a receipt and told us we were Lucky to get something for Friday. My husband is positive it was because we were booked on premium economy. All the people we were talking to on line had to return the next morning. No one got re-booked. One woman booked through expedia and she was cursing herself out for that mistake. When we arrived at the airport at 5:00 am this morning the lines were already very, very long. But, since we were Premium Economy, we went on the same line as Bussinees class and sailed right through. Thank goodness we upgraded, and we will continue to do so when possible.
Posted by
Almost Heaven
2945 posts
There are definite advantages to premium economy, but it can be pricey and beyond many people's travel budget. In addition to your points, you also arrive more rested than being squished into basic economy.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
Lots of good things about flying in a better class. It's definitely better and I'm glad you found added benefits.
My biggest hang-up, with upgrading, is the flight is such a small percentage of the trip and I hate spending half of my total budget on just a flight. Especially when flying is the worst part of any vacation (something I try to sleep through) and flying in a better class only makes it marginally less uncomfortable.
I'm the guy who stays in hostels and won't pack more than Ryanair allows as a carry-on. I'm definitely not the average American traveler. Luxury has nearly no value for me in either transportation or lodging.