The Biggest Debate in Airline Travel: Is Premium Economy Worth It?
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Time to read 5 min
As a self-proclaimed travel enthusiast (or “travel-holic” if you will), I've often found myself pondering the biggest question in airline travel: Is premium economy really worth the extra bucks? Recently, I had the opportunity to tackle this debate head-on during my trip from Johannesburg to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific. I flew economy class on the way there and premium economy on the way back. Here’s my take on it.
Table of Content
Section 1: My Economy Class Experience
"Economy class on a fully booked international flight is a bit like a game of human Tetris."
Boarding and Seating
Let’s just say, check-in & boarding was an exercise in patience. I quickly realised that economy class on a fully booked international flight (which they all seem to be these days) is a bit like a game of human Tetris. Here’s a photo of my legroom – basically, I was eating off my stomach, not my lap.
In-Flight Experience
Cathay Pacific's new planes do their best to make economy class bearable, but for a 6'2" guy like me, it was still extremely cramped within a constant fight for the middle armrest (yes we all do it!). The flight was nearly 13 hours long, and by hour 2, I was already dreaming of premium economy. The entertainment options were decent, but the overall sense of chaos and claustrophobia was hard to ignore. 13 hours with an 6-hour time difference and 30 minutes of sleep if I was lucky, meant I arrived in Hong Kong looking like an extra from The Walking Dead. Despite the discomfort, saving the money did give me a small sense of triumph. In the end we all arrive at the same time anyways!
Section 2: My Premium Economy Experience
"I managed around 6 hours of sleep in premium and while premium may be far from business, 6 hours is ALOT more than 30 minutes.
Boarding & Seating
The return leg was a different story. Upgrading to premium economy was like stepping into another world. Dedicated check-in lines and priority boarding? Yes, please. Premium economy seats are like comfortable loungers compared to the dining room chairs in economy. The extra legroom and wider seats made a significant difference. I actually felt human again. This is something that you might not realise when you walk pass premium. The seats are a HUGE difference.
In-Flight Experience
Being served first and having my tray cleared quickly was a revelation and while the little extras like a bigger TV screen and actual headphones were nice one can probably do away with the extra ‘perks’ of premium economy. Do you really need that airline toothbrush? Nonetheless the most underrated feature of Premium Economy was the sense of calm and order in the smaller premium economy cabin. So what about the sleep? I managed around 6 hours of sleep in premium and while premium may be far from business, 6 hours is ALOT more than 30 minutes.
Side Note - What does someone who owns a Suitcase company travel with?
For this trip I decided to try out the new Cellini Tri-Pak Two piece Set. The unique packing system, allowing for both top and middle openings, was a godsend in Hong Kong’s compact hotel rooms. It made packing and unpacking a breeze.
I also chose to separate my clothes into Cellini packing cubes, which together with the Tri-pak unique packing system turned my suitcase into a portable wardrobe. Making it super easy to stay organized during my stay at two different hotels.
Section 3: The Big Question: Is Premium Economy Worth It?
Price Difference and Value
Let's talk numbers. An economy class ticket when I was looking at this route cost R17,000, premium economy was R27,000, and business class would have set me back a whopping R70,000. That’s a significant jump, but after 13 hours in economy, the premium economy price didn’t seem so bad. The real question is whether the extra R10,000 for premium is worth it?
Things to consider:
Flight Duration
For long-haul flights over 8 hours, premium economy is worth considering. Anything shorter,especially under 6 hours, suck it up in economy!
Purpose of Travel
If it’s a long-haul flight for work and you need to be functional upon arrival or a short holiday that you need to start with a bang, premium economy is a good investment. No one wants to show up to a meeting looking like they’ve been through a wind tunnel.
Budget
Here's where points programs come in handy. I use a ABSA British Airways Credit Card, which gives me Avios miles for my spend. Using these, I redeemed 80K Avios points and paid only R5,000.00 for my return trip in taxes and other fees. However planning ahead is key. I booked late and as a result there was no reward availability in premium economy for the outgoing leg. Nonetheless, that was a pretty good deal eh?
So how can we bridge the price gap?Points Programs!
"Some might argue that you could use these points to get an even cheaper economy flight but I don’t think you can live life trying to race to the bottom."
Here's where points programs come in handy. I use a ABSA British Airways Credit Card, which gives me Avios miles for my spend. Using these, I redeemed 80K Avios points and paid only R5,000.00 for my return trip in taxes and other fees. However planning ahead is key. I booked late and as a result there was no reward availability in premium economy for the outgoing leg. Nonetheless, that was a pretty good deal eh?
Aside from the ABSA BA Credit Card, other options like Discovery Vitality and FNB’s eBucks can help bridge the price gap. These programs offer discounts and the ability to use points to pay for flights. For me its all about how I can use these discounts to reduce the R10,000 difference into something more manageable or even the same price, thereby making Premium a no brainer!
Some might argue that you could use these points to get an even cheaper economy flight but I don’t think you can live life trying to race to the bottom. For me, the journey is just as important as the destination. I’m willing to pay for an economy ticket anyway, so my aim is to bring the cost of premium economy as close to economy possible, thereby reducing the ‘is it worth the difference argument’. The difference between dreading a flight and actually enjoying it is huge. In economy, I can’t wait for the flight to be over so my holiday can start. In premium economy, my holiday starts at the airport.
So is Premium Economy Worth It?
"The journey is just as important as the destination, and when you fly premium economy, the holiday starts at the airport."
Cathay Pacific Website
For me, the answer is a resounding yes but only for long-haul flights. The increased comfort - even if you can’t lie flat - is massive and the more relaxed atmosphere made the extra cost worthwhile. Just look at my difference in sleep. By using reward programs, you can offset the difference and travel in style. Remember, the journey is just as important as the destination, and when you fly premium economy, the holiday starts at the airport.
Thanks for joining me on this travel adventure. Please share your own experiences with us at Wayfare Culture!
The Author: Rowan Levieux
Rowan is the passionate founder of Wayfare Culture, born out of an insatiable love for travel and a desire to merge style with practicality on the go. Wayfare Culture's products reflect a deep understanding of what it means to explore with confidence and ease.
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