if you fly JFK to Paris, Air France-Premium class...

https://thepointsguy.com/airline/air-france-premium-economy-europe/

Given the additional pitch and recline I would expect it would be better markedly than economy. A lot depends on how well you sleep on an airplane, but should be easier to do so.

For me, more than most airlines, this comes down entirely to which make/model Air France plane you're on. So many of their older planes use what are to me the horribly uncomfortable fixed shell seats. Google will provide plenty of information on these abominations. They are fine for daytime. Sleeping, nope, not comfortable at all. AF is finally going to retrofit their older Premium cabins with 'normal' seats, but that will take awhile.

If the seats are similar to premium economy on United, KLM, American or British Air…the answer is NO for me.

So much depends on you and how you can sleep or can’t sleep on an airplane. Premium class will be better but you still may not be able to sleep. There are so variables. I don’t think my dh has ever slept on a plane and he has flown all over the world. I sometimes have twilight sleep but never a real deep sleep. We don’t want to use sleeping pills but many passengers do that.
If you can sleep on a plane every class up will be better for you to get some sleep.

Neither my DH or I have ever been able to sleep on a plane. I don't think flying a premium class would make any difference. As said above, everyone's different. Yes, we experience some initial wooziness but make a beeline for coffee and then spend the rest of the day exploring outside (NO museums or tours, and we do not nap). Early to bed.

Can you sleep in a chair? Premium economy is a wider seat with more pitch, but it is still a seat.

"Premium" what exactly? There are multiple "premium" options on many airlines and many planes, and they vary from just-coach-with-free-drinks, to a tiny bit more legroom, to noticeably bigger seats but still recliners, to bigger seats that convert to lay-flat beds, to single (and double) beds. The costs for these things follow the pattern you would expect.

For me, things marketed as "Premium Economy" (a wee bit more legroom, maybe nicer food, free drinks) aren't different enough from plain vanilla coach to get excited about (don't get me wrong - I'm sure they're an improvement over the not-so-premium economy on the same plane, especially after a few hours trying to get comfortable). But I'm not gonna be able to sleep on one, and getting a solid night's sleep is what makes all the difference (at least to me, YMMV).

I spent the first 30 years of my life trying to sleep in coach seats, and never got a moment's restful sleep - even if I had been absolutely exhausted, sleep-deprived, and unhappily awake for 2 or 3 days. My body just could not "let go" of consciousness and slip into sleep. If I was in something that was moving - a jet, a car, a ship, a train - I was awake (and miserable) the whole time.

Then I discovered Business Class (first time was on a 15 hour flight to Australia). That changed my life. In a lay-flat business class bed, sleep came easily, and blissfully. I arrived feeling good (in fact great) rather than sick and a complete wreck for 48 hours. I'll tough it out for daytime flights - coming back from Iceland next year, I'll probably be sitting up straight - at least it's not a very long flight), but for overnights, I've crossed my last ocean in a sit-up-straight coach seat. Lay-flat is what I need on the way over to Europe or Asia (or deep into South America).

I’m lucky enough to fly business quite often

No, I don’t wake up, refreshed and relaxed. But I’m in better shape than I am when I sit in coach, but it’s not the most restful sleep - even in the very front of the plane.

For this trip instead of flying business, I did buy premium economy on Delta, which is not a great product but not horrible. I also booked a day room for €60 at Charles de Gaulle and went and took a shower and a hour long nap. for me that makes all the difference in the world and I can then go until about 10 PM that night without any problem and I’m pretty much on local time. I know everyone says not to sleep at all, but that I’ve discovered one hour turned out to be productive for me.

I know everyone says not to sleep at all, but that I’ve discovered one hour turned out to be productive for me.

I take a nap, too, flying from the US to Europe overnight. Does wonders for me, helps me adjust to the time change on arrival day, lessens jet lag on the following days.

Shortening jet lag with an arrival day nap makes a big difference in the enjoyment of my trips because I like to be gone for 2 to 3 weeks max, not for months at a time. On occasions where I have experienced jet lag that has lasted nearly a week, literally about the time I feel "normal" I am packing my bags to return home. Any edge I can get I take.

And like a few others have mentioned, I fly business class now, will never go back to coach. Comfort is paramount, and the ability to grab some much needed sleep is essential to my 6'4" "senior" body.

I fly AF Premium Economy to the US, Business to Europe. The Premium Economy is like a domestic first-class seat, maybe a little more pitch and widerf than the domestic first class in the AF planes I've taken.

The one "problem" with the NY-Paris flight is that it's short. That tailwind pushes you along. It may say 7 hours, but that includes taxiing, take-off, ascent, descent, landing, taxiing, and even an hour less if you have a strong wind. So count on 4-5 hours max. If you want to get any sleep, get a window seat, bring your best eye mask and neck pillow, put in your noise canceling headphones, and tell the crew not to wake you for dinner or breakfast. They were hyping the food recently, but it's not all that great in PE.

I always nap when I get to Europe. Always have and always will.

David in Seattle...Air France now calls their premium economy product just 'Premium' in order to "highlight the singular experience it promises." Gotta love marketing departments.

https://wwws.airfrance.us/information/prepare/voyager-en-premium

I haven't flown PE on Air France, but I have on EVA Air, to and from Taiwan. I was surprised at how much difference it made for me. With the extra width and pitch, and particularly, with the footrest, I was able to get far more comfortable than I can in an economy seat, and I slept quite a lot both ways. My husband had a similar experience. From now on, in flights more than ~5 1/2 hours, it will be PE for me. (I can't bring myself to spring for Business, as the cost of that would pay for a whole other trip for me.)

The other comparison is, can you sleep in the passenger seat of a car on a long driving trip in a relative upright position? However, the noise factor and altitude will affect you on an airplane.

The direct answer to your question is no, even though I have flown business class I am not refreshed because I have trouble sleeping soundly until it is a real bedtime. My issue is body time. When my plane lands in Europe it is only 1:00am (body time) for me. 1:00am is not that extremely late for me to be awake back home normally. So, I am not that tired when landing, plus you are geared up to get out of the airport and moving on to your next stop.

Because I know a sleep crash is coming up, I get into my hotel asap and take a strict 2 hour nap, shower, fresh clothes and pretend its a new day. I get out and move around, but don't over exert walking. I stay away from caffeine, alcohol and as much carbs as possible until about 6:30pm and then I eat a rich carb dinner like pasta. I go back to my hotel and plan the next day. By 9:00-10:00pm local time I am out and sleep no later than 8:00am. I adapt quickly to local meal times and have never felt jet lag on any following days. However, each person's body adapts differently.

I have tried without the 2 hour nap, but I just get too exhausted and I always feel the effects on the following days.