British Airways is a very popular airline. There are several in-flight categories to choose from including Economy and Premium Economy. Many travellers on a budget consider Economy, or World Traveller Class, an excellent choice. Premium Economy is also referred to as World Traveller Plus. This class is one category below Business flights. But is it worth paying more to travel on Premium Economy? Economy
has the highest number of rows and seats. Premium Economy usually has just four or five rows. It makes the cabin area more spacious with a much quieter atmosphere. Passengers in Economy have limited space while those in Premium have approximately 5 inches (12.5 centimetres) more leg room. You also gain slightly more space between the seats allowing you to read or work more comfortably. Comfortable seats are always beneficial, particularly on long-haul flights. Premium Economy
seats generally offer more relaxation. They are slightly wider and include improved rests for the head and feet. The seat also has an incline of 38 inches (96.5 centimetres) compared to 31 inches (78.7 centimetres). The Premium seat offers a more relaxed position, allowing you to rest or sleep more comfortably. The pillow and blanket supplied with the Premium seat are generally superior in quality. The meals in both classes are very similar. A three-course evening meal
usually offers the same choices for appetisers and desserts. A typical starter is asparagus with boiled eggs. Dessert is usually cake or biscuits with cheese. One difference between the two categories is the main course. Premium Economy offers a small choice of dishes from the Business class menu. These might include roast beef and seasonal vegetables or lasagne. Meal presentation is noticeably different. In Economy, meals are served in their original containers. Premium meals are served on
porcelain. Tea, coffee and wine are available in both categories. On Demand programmes are usually available in both Economy and Premium classes. You can access the same pre-recorded news items, films and television series. The flat screen monitors in Premium Economy are up to 60% larger. Headphones or earbuds in Premium Economy are often of a higher quality. In both classes you can take two bags weighing twenty-three kilograms
each plus a cabin bag. You can only access the lounges of British Airways if you’re a member of the Executive Club. Alternative lounges are accessible if you purchase a Priority Pass. And if you’re a Premium passenger, you have priority boarding. Economy and Premium Economy classes on British Airways are both fairly similar. However, travelling Premium Economy offers more space. The meals have a superior presentation and menu choices. But Premium Economy passengers
usually gain the most benefit from the seats. They are ergonomically designed, supportive and comfortably padded. They help you relax and sleep during the flight. Post navigationPremium economy aims to bridge the gap between economy class and business class, and it can be an affordable way to ensure you have a more comfortable journey. If you've never flow premium economy before and are wondering what the differences will be and if it's worth the extra cash and/or points or miles, here are the differences between British Airways (called World Traveller Plus or WTP) and Virgin Atlantic (called Premium), just as an example. It is worth noting that it is most definitely "premium economy" and not "business light" -- all airlines' premium economy experience will be much closer to economy class than business class. Don't expect a seat that goes fully flat or gourmet cuisine and Champagne -- it's much more like economy class with a few more bells and whistles. Here are some TPG reviews of premium economy on both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic:
Check-in, baggage and boardingVirgin Atlantic provides priority check-in for Premium passengers, while British Airways does not for its World Traveller Plus (WTP) passengers. On both airlines, you can expect greater checked luggage allowance in premium economy -- two checked bags with a maximum weight of 50 lbs. each, instead of the standard one bag of 50 lbs. With Virgin, your baggage will also be tagged as priority, so it should be delivered faster than standard economy bags. Both airlines offer priority boarding to premium economy passengers, so you have a little extra time to settle in before the flight leaves the gate. Be aware that all economy passengers will board by walking through the premium economy cabin first, so if you do decide to use the priority boarding and board nice and early, hundreds of passengers will be trampling down the aisle to get past you to reach the economy cabin. Lounge accessNeither British Airways nor Virgin Atlantic offers lounge access to economy or premium economy passengers unless they have the required elite status. The seat and cabinPerhaps the most noticeable difference between economy and premium economy will be in your seat itself. You can expect a slightly wider seat with one or two fewer seats per row compared with economy, around four to five more inches of legroom and the seat will recline noticeably further. It is still very much an upright seat though -- it doesn't go anywhere close to angled flat. Virgin Atlantic allows Premium passengers to select their seat for free at any time, while British Airways does not unless you have Executive Club or Oneworld elite status. The premium economy cabin will be smaller than the economy cabins -- depending on the airline and aircraft type it may just be four or five rows of premium economy versus dozens of rows of regular economy. This will make the cabin feel more intimate, quiet and exclusive.
Sign up for our daily newsletter Virgin Atlantic A350 Premium Economy. (Photo by Emily McNutt/The Points Guy)British Airways refurbished Boeing 777 WTP. (Photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy)AmenitiesYou'll usually be provided with a small pillow blanket and cheap headphones in regular economy class. You'll receive the same in premium economy although they will be slightly bigger and better quality. You will receive a small, basic amenity kit in premium economy with Virgin and British Airways, which you can expect to contain the following: British Airways WTP. (Photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy)Virgin Atlantic A340 Premium. (Photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy)In-flight entertainmentThe seat-back screen in premium economy will generally be slightly bigger than a standard economy seat, though the content available (the number and type of movies, TV shows and games) will be exactly the same as in economy. Related: The airlines’ moneymaker: Premium economy Virgin A350 Premium. (Photo by Emily McNutt/The Points Guy)Food and drinksThis is the area I have consistently been most disappointed by in premium economy. The easiest way to explain the food is that it is standard economy food served in slightly better containers. British Airways promises its World Traveller Plus passengers that they can expect a main course "from the Club World kitchen," meaning the same as business-class passengers receive. Don't get too excited. The cut of meat may be marginally better than those down the "back of the bus" receive, but while British Airways recently dramatically improved the presentation of its Club World meals by plating them individually rather than just reheating them in the container they were loaded in, unfortunately, BA did not extend this service improvement to WTP passengers. So while this is what an actual main meal in Club World looks like: British Airways Club World. (Photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy)Here is what the "main from the Club World kitchen" in WTP actually looks like: British Airways B777 World Traveller Plus. (Photo by Ben Smithson /The Points Guy)While here is the meal served to regular economy passengers on British Airways: British Airways A350 WorldTraveller. (Photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy)Other than the plates used, there's not a huge difference between economy and premium economy. Over at Virgin Atlantic, it's not much different. Here's a Virgin Premium meal: And here's a Virgin economy meal: Virgin A350 Economy. (Photo by Jean Arnas/The Points Guy)Similar food, just served differently. Beverages wise, it is slightly better. On both airlines, you'll be served a welcome glass of prosecco, water or juice during the boarding process that you certainly won't receive in economy. Singapore Airlines actually has Champagne during the meal service for premium economy, but with BA and Virgin, the beverages are mostly the same as in economy. ServiceYou will usually have dedicated crew for your small premium economy cabin. If not, they will at least serve your cabin before making their way back to the economy cabin. This means you'll get your meal faster and the service may be slightly more personalized, though don't expect to be addressed by your name at each interaction like you might in business or first class. British Airways A350 Premium Economy. ( Photo by Ben Smithson/The Points Guy)Virgin Atlantic 747 Premium. (Photo by Daniel Ross/The Points Guy)Mileage earningYou'll earn more points or miles for a cash premium economy fare than the equivalent in economy. Virgin awards 100% of miles flown for the cheapest premium fares, while only awarding 50% miles flown for discount economy. On British Airways, you'll also earn 100% on a discount WTP cash fare, versus as little as only 25% on a discounted World Traveller economy fare. The same applies for your Tier Points if you're chasing elite status -- you'll receive more in premium economy than economy. Bottom lineI've flown both economy and premium economy on the likes of British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Norwegian and Singapore Airlines. In my experience, premium economy is slightly better than economy, but not by much. It is unlikely one person would have an amazing experience in premium economy and another person have a terrible experience in economy on the same plane at the same time. For me, the slightly wider seat, more legroom and recline are the best benefits. I'm consistently disappointed with the food as it is so close to standard economy class food, just slightly better presented. Business class is where you'll notice the real differences. If you can splurge for premium economy over economy, then it's a slightly more comfortable ride, though set your expectations closer to economy than business class. Which is better premium economy or economy?Skyscanner also reports that premium economy offers, on average, five to seven inches more legroom than economy, typically with "wider seats and more space to recline." It isn't just the seats and overall space that's more, well, premium than an economy ticket.
How comfortable are premium economy seats on British Airways?Compared with economy, British Airways premium economy gives you more space in all directions — more seat width, more legroom and more recline. Tall passengers rejoice: British Airways premium economy gives you around 7 inches of additional legroom — measuring 38 inches of pitch vs. just 31 inches of pitch in economy.
Is premium economy worth it over economy?Premium economy's big selling point is more space. The seats are an inch or two wider on average than the typical coach seat, and the rows are farther apart, offering several more inches of legroom. Most premium economy seats recline, and many have footrests. How much space you actually get depends on the airline.
Are drinks free on BA premium economy?Complimentary bar
When you fly Premium Economy with British Airways, you'll have a free bar service offering hot drinks, juices, wine, spirits and water.
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Difference between economy and premium economy british airways
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