17 Premium Economy Seats Worth the Upgrade

Once you complete your priority boarding, you’ll be offered a welcome drink of sparkling wine or juice in real glassware. Meals are also served on ceramic tableware. Other amenities include over-ear-headphones for your in-flight entertainment, plus a plusher blanket, pillow, and toiletry kit than those offered in coach. Two free checked bags round out the benefits in this comfortable fare class.

Japan Airlines

Although Japan Airlines has long offered a stellar premium economy product, the newest version of the cabin that’s rolling out on the carrier’s Airbus A350-1000 planes is on a different level. The 24 seats arranged in a 2-4-2 layout have hardshell seat backs so reclining passengers don’t steal away your elbow room. There are also divider walls between seats for extra privacy, and business-class features like motorized recline and legrest functions that operate at the push of a button. The seat specifications are impressive, too: Legrests rise to a comfy 90 degrees, and when that feature isn’t in use, a pitch of 42 inches means there’s plenty of room to stretch out. You’ll also find a massive, 16-inch 4K monitor for in-flight entertainment, an AC power outlet, USB type A and C charging ports.

At the airport, premium economy passengers can expect priority check-in at a counter dedicated to the cabin, priority baggage handling, and access to the airline’s Sakura lounges within Japan. The A350-1000 planes currently operate on the airline’s New York to Tokyo Haneda route, and they’ll also be added to JAL’s Dallas to Tokyo and London to Tokyo routes in the near future.

The Air New Zealand premium economy seats offer 50% more recline than regular economy.

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand

Passengers on all of Air New Zealand’s long-haul routes operated by its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and 777 jets have the option of upgrading to its premium economy cabin. You’ll ease through the airport with premium check-in and a luggage allotment of two checked bags. Inside the separated premium economy cabin, where 28 seats are arranged in a 2-3-2 layout, expect seat features like a legrest, extendable footrest, and 50% more recline than regular economy for a total of nine inches. Seat pitch measures a roomy 41 inches. Come meal time, you’ll have an upgraded menu to choose from, with dishes like slow-roasted lamb or New Zealand hāpuka fish accompanied by a selection of award-winning New Zealand wines. What’s more: Premium economy passengers will soon have access to a lie-flat sleeping option when the airline launches its much-anticipated SkyNest product later this year. The product will offer six flat sleeping bunks that can be booked by economy and premium economy fliers for increments of four hours.

EVA Air

As the airline that’s credited with inventing premium economy class back in the 90s, EVA Air’s version of the fare class is well-worth the splurge. Today, the Taiwan-based airline’s cabin is available on the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER planes. The airline focuses the upgrades where it matters: making the seats more comfortable than regular economy. Rows in the separate cabin are configured in a 2-4-2 layout. Each seat offers a roomy 38 inches of pitch, a whopping 121 degrees of seat recline, and 19.5 inches of seat width. Small, thoughtful touches like slippers, noise-canceling headphones, plus AC and USB power ports, provide an extra dose of comfort. Starting later in 2024, EVA Air will begin adding premium economy to more of its planes, updating its Boeing 787-9 jets to offer the cabin class.

The international premium economy seats on Delta feature a “bubbles and bites” service after take-off.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Premium Select

Delta’s version of international premium economy—Premium Select—underwent an extensive overhaul in 2022. The result: an even plusher cabin with more comfortable seats, cozier bedding, and food and beverage perks. The latter point may be what passengers are most charmed by. After take-off, Premium Select fliers are now offered a “bubbles and bites” service, with complimentary sparkling wine or sparkling water and savory snacks, like mixed nuts. Other business-class-level touches, like printed menus and an oshibori towel, make meal service an event worth savoring. Seats offer 38 inches of pitch, 19 inches of width, and seven inches of recline—each dimension several inches larger than regular economy. Other upgrades include two free checked bags, noise-canceling headphones, and a plush memory foam pillow.

This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.