Premium economy

Premium Economy is a travel class offered on some airlines, taking one of two forms:

* a simple upgrade to the Economy class provided as a free upgrade to premium members of frequent flyer program and passengers flying full-fare economy, normally as a section of the economy/coach cabin, which generally provides more legroom (36-38" seat pitch) by removing a few rows of seats, along with some form of leg rest, possibly enhanced In-flight entertainment and dedicated cabin crew
* a more comprehensive upgrade, in return for higher fare, which will normally be in the form of a separate cabin section, combining the enhanced legroom of the simple upgrade with better seats (often with fewer seats per row, to improve shoulder/elbow room), at–seat laptop power, in-seat telephone, possibly a lounge service, priority boarding, improved entertainment features, improved meals and drinks and more luggage allowance.

Some airlines may designate an entire economy class as premium, such as United p.s. on its trans-continental Boeing 757-200 premium service aircraft.

Typically customers who choose to fly Premium Economy will be single travellers who want to have a quieter, more enjoyable journey, couples on honeymoons and families who want to make the journey more pleasant: particularly for daytime sectors these travellers don't want to pay for a fully flat bed, just a more relaxed environment.Fact|date=December 2007 Premium Economy tickets also normally earn more mileage in an airline's frequent flyer program, attracting a bonus between Economy and Business.Fact|date=December 2007

Class of service codes used by airlines vary—for example, Virgin Atlantic denotes Premium Economy as W. [ [http://www.virginatlantic.com/en/us/corporateandtrade/backstage/travellingwithus/ourcabinspe.jsp Virgin Atlantic - Our cabins] ]

Airlines offering this service include:

*Air France: Alizé (Economy Plus Class), Premium Economy recently announced to be offered in their long haul fleet (except for their B747-400).
*Air Mauritius: Club Mauritius
*Air New Zealand: Pacific Premium Economy
*All Nippon Airways: Premium Economy
*BMI: Premium Economy
*British Airways: World Traveller Plus
*EVA Air: Elite Class
*Japan Airlines: Premium Economy (Only International 777 fleet serving London, Frankfurt and Paris to/from Tokyo Narita) [ [http://www.jal.co.jp/en/inflight/inter/premium_y/information.html JAL International Flights - Premium Economy Class (In-flight Service) ] ]
*KLM: Europe Select (Only on Inter-Europe itineraries)
*Midwest Airlines: Signature Service (717's are all-Signature Service until late summer of 2008 when it will join the MD-80 with having both Signature and Saver Service)
*Pakistan International Airlines - "Economy Plus+"
*Qantas: Premium Economy (Starting from April 2008 from Sydney, May 2008 from Melbourne and October 2008 for services to the USA)Fact|date=April 2008
*SAS Scandinavian Airlines: Economy Extra
*Singapore Airlines: Executive Economy used to run on non-stop flights from Singapore to Newark and Los Angeles. This was discontinued in favor of all-Business Class flights. [cite press release | url = http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-04-2008/0004767056&EDATE=# | title = Singapore Airlines to Launch First All-Business Class Flights From USA to Asia | publisher = Singapore Airlines]
*Thai Airways International: Premium Economy (To be Discontinued with elimination of A340-500)
*United Airlines - Economy Plus
*Vietnam Airlines: Deluxe Economy
*Virgin America: Main Cabin Select
*Virgin Atlantic: Premium Economy
*Virgin Blue: Premium Economy
*Spirit Airlines: Spirit Plus

References