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BUSINESS Tuesday 24 sepTember 2019
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Liz Weston: Is premium economy airfare worth the money?

By LIZ WESTON Norwegian, however, of- amount above the airline's
Associated Press fers no free food other than economy fare — is substan-
As coach travel gets more small meals served in boxes tially more for Norwegian
cramped, airlines have to premium economy pas- than the other two carriers.
added "premium econo- sengers. The carrier also re- (For reference, business
my" sections that promise duced the weight limit for class fares on the same
more space and comfort free checked bags from route start at $3,033 for Vir-
— often at a substantially the industry standard of 23 gin Atlantic and $2,842 for
higher price. kilos (50 pounds) to just 20 Air New Zealand. Norwe-
Air carriers have discov- kilos (44 pounds), and puts gian doesn't have a busi-
ered many travelers are a weight limit on carry-ons ness class.)
willing to pay two or even (10 kilos, or 22 pounds). Its WHEN TO SPRING FOR PRE-
three times the prevailing check-in counters do a MIUM ECONOMY
economy fare to escape brisk business in charging The gap between econo-
the crowded confines of extra fees to those who my and premium economy
coach. The extra money is failed to read the fine print. fares tends to narrow as the
mostly profit for the airlines, SeatGuru can give you date of travel nears, airline
which is why so many now some idea of the space experts say. If you book a
offer this class of service. you can expect, and the ticket within three months
But what you get can vary airline's site usually details of departure, for example,
dramatically by airline. A what's included with your you may pay only a few
little buyer-beware knowl- fare. Don't rely too much hundred dollars more to
edge next time you plan on travel site reviews, since get premium economy,
a trip can help you avoid those may be out of date which could be a good
wasting your money on an and the airline's policies deal.
upgrade that isn't worth it. could have changed. Airlines may also give you
MORE SPACE, BUT NOT NEC- This April 2017, file photo provided by NerdWallet shows Liz ARE YOU PAYING MORE the opportunity to upgrade
ESSARILY MORE COMFORT Weston, a columnist for personal finance website NerdWallet. FOR LESS? — again, for a few hundred
Premium economy's big com. The airfare you pay doesn't bucks, and sometimes less
selling point is more space. Associated Press necessarily reflect what you — when you check in, if
The seats are an inch or two And not all the seats are mium economy are all over get. For an April trip from all the premium economy
wider on average than the equally comfortable. the map. Some, including Los Angeles to London, for seats haven't been sold.
typical coach seat, and Many reviewers dislike the premium economy pioneer example, Kayak shows a Paying the full price for pre-
the rows are farther apart, "fixed shell" design used by Virgin Atlantic, offer priority $1,698 premium economy mium economy can make
offering several more inch- Air France and Aeroflo t, check-in counters, cushy fare for Virgin Atlantic ver- sense in some circumstanc-
es of legroom. where the seat slides for- seats, amenity kits, plenty sus $1,747 charged by Nor- es. Enduring five or more
Most premium economy ward rather than reclining. of good-quality food and wegian. (Air New Zealand, hours in a cramped coach
seats recline, and many What premium economy expedited baggage han- winner of TripAdvisor's 2019 seat may be hard for older
have footrests. doesn't offer: lie-flat beds, dling. Others, such as dis- Travelers' Choice Awards or taller travelers.
How much space you ac- which are now the stan- count carrier Norwegian for best premium econo- A good premium economy
tually get depends on the dard for long-haul business Air, skimp on the extras, my, charges $1,612.) cabin also can enhance
airline. According to airline and first-class cabins. Then offering less to its premium The lowest economy fares special occasions, such as
seat review site SeatGuru, again, fares for those flights economy customers than for the same route: $638 a honeymoon, or a busi-
Japan Airlines offers about are typically thousands of other airlines provide in for Virgin Atlantic, $556 for ness trip where you need to
10 inches more leg space dollars more than you'd coach. Norwegian and $576 for Air arrive in fairly good shape.
than you typically find in pay for premium economy. For example: Free snacks New Zealand. You just need to do some
coach, while most other WHAT ABOUT THE EXTRAS? and meals are pretty Which means that the pre- research to make sure that
carriers offer just 5 or 6 inch- The amenities and custom- standard on international mium you would pay for what you get will be worth
es more. er service you get in pre- flights, even in economy. premium economy — the the additional money.q