Premium Economy has emerged as a popular travel class in the airline industry, bridging the gap between business and economy classes. Although its roots can be traced back to the early 1990s with airlines like EVA Air, it has gained significant traction in recent years. Today, most major airlines offer this class on select flights, providing travelers with enhanced comfort and amenities. The rise in premium leisure travel, particularly for long-haul flights in the United States, has made Premium Economy an essential offering. While US airlines have long provided an upgraded economy experience with extra legroom, American Airlines took it a step further in 2016 by introducing a true Premium Economy cabin on its Boeing 787s. Following American’s lead, Delta and United have also incorporated Premium Economy into nearly all their widebody aircraft.
All three major US carriers—American, Delta, and United—now feature Premium Economy on most long-haul routes. American Airlines offers this class on its Boeing 777s and 787s, and it will soon be available on the new Airbus A321XLRs. Delta provides Premium Economy on its Airbus A330s, most A350s, and Boeing 767s, while United includes it on its Boeing 767s, most 777s, and all 787s. However, Delta’s small fleet of Airbus A350-900s, previously owned by LATAM, is currently being reconfigured to include Premium Economy. United’s Premium Economy is available on all widebody aircraft except for a few Boeing 777-200s and 777-200ERs, which are primarily used for high-demand domestic routes. Both American and United plan to offer Premium Economy on their Airbus A321XLRs, and Delta will include it on their transcontinental A321neos.
American Airlines has chosen the Collins Aerospace MiQ seat for most of its widebody aircraft in Premium Economy, a popular recliner model also used in short-haul first or business class. However, the new Boeing 787-9s will feature the Recaro R5 seat, which offers a larger screen, adjustable foot and legrests, and privacy wings. On other aircraft, only the front row seats come with legrests. This thoughtful design ensures a comfortable and enjoyable experience for travelers seeking a middle ground between economy and business class. #PremiumEconomy #AirTravel #TravelComfort #AviationNews
Originally reported by Simple Flying Read More
