Lance&Jen Posted March 9, 2023 #1 Share Posted March 9, 2023 We paid for an upgrade to "Premium Economy" for flights on our air inclusive Oceania cruise. What do the Premium Economy seats look like on international flights? Are they just extra leg room? Or are they larger seats with a foot rest and perhaps included cocktails? Is one bag each included? We are trying to figure out if choosing the premium economy upgrade was worth it. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted March 9, 2023 #2 Share Posted March 9, 2023 On our AC flight from LHR they were larger seats in the PE section of the plane with meals & drinks etc I think there was a free checked bag it was 2019 so long ago Depends on the airline I guess & the configuration of the plane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted March 9, 2023 #3 Share Posted March 9, 2023 1 minute ago, Lance&Jen said: We paid for an upgrade to "Premium Economy" for flights on our air inclusive Oceania cruise. What do the Premium Economy seats look like on international flights? Are they just extra leg room? Or are they larger seats with a foot rest and perhaps included cocktails? Is one bag each included? We are trying to figure out if choosing the premium economy upgrade was worth it. Thank you. Depends on the airline and the aircraft. The terminology can be tricky too. Premium Economy or Premium Plus or Whatever, it can range from extra legroom only to a somewhat larger/non-lay flat seat with a better meal and free booze. Add to that, the probability that, if you have a US domestic leg in your itinerary, the “Premium Economy” will be only for the long haul intercontinental flight. Whatever the seat types are, if you’re doing a 12-15 hr long haul (we just did SFO-SYD 15 hrs +), anything but “lay flats” (e.g., United Polaris) is asking for a very uncomfortable experience. Even shorter long hauls to Europe from California (we often do SFO-FRA then local connects) scream out for lay flat seats. And, if you do opt for bizclass, do not use O air. Their bizclass quotes look good until you realize you don’t get credit for the coach tix purchased in the “with air” cruise fare required to get that bizclass quote. You end up paying for two tix per person! In addition, if you want specific non-stops on a preferred carrier, you’ll also be looking at possible deviation fees and fare differentials - particularly on non-contract airlines. My advice: take the air credit and DIY. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tranquility Base Posted March 9, 2023 #4 Share Posted March 9, 2023 41 minutes ago, Lance&Jen said: We are trying to figure out if choosing the premium economy upgrade was worth it. Thank you. Have a read of the 2022 Skytrax World Airlines Awards. They list their best PE, as well as a separate category their best PE seats. Then head to seatguru and also your airline website, select aircraft type AND model, and compare to what you have selected. This should give you some basic idea as to your selected flight adds up compared to what else may be out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DENIE Posted March 10, 2023 #5 Share Posted March 10, 2023 Another vote for SeatGuru.com. They have all the airlines and all models flown, with all of the various configurations. They also have color coded seats based on traveler feedback - red means "avoid", yellow means "caution/be careful", and green means a good location. They provide all seat descriptions, measurements, etc for all locations. They do not provide the airline benefits; for that you have to check the respective airline site. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidz_rn Posted March 10, 2023 #6 Share Posted March 10, 2023 "Premium Economy" gets the award for Oxymoron of the Week 😆 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted March 10, 2023 #7 Share Posted March 10, 2023 You will not know the flight details until after final payment so it is hard to check the airline you will be on Maybe look at DIY or pay the deviation fee & select the carrier AFAIK they usually use European carriers like KLM /LH /AF/BA so the PE seating is not like the US carriers JMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curmudgeon98 Posted March 10, 2023 #8 Share Posted March 10, 2023 SeatGuru used to be a great site. It doesn't seem to have been updated in several years, though, and has some pretty stale data. Another similar site which is more current is aerolopa.com Premium economy for international seems to have largely settled into slightly wider seats and better food in addition to more recline and legroom. Many airlines also have and sell economy seats with more legroom, but I haven't seem them dubbed PE lately. Flight legs within the US or Europe would likely be in standard economy. You should have at least one checked bag per person baggage allowance regardless of the ticket. Do be aware that some international airlines are a stricter on size/weight for carry-ons than domestic US. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osandomir Posted March 10, 2023 #9 Share Posted March 10, 2023 3 hours ago, curmudgeon98 said: SeatGuru used to be a great site. It doesn't seem to have been updated in several years, though, and has some pretty stale data. Another similar site which is more current is aerolopa.com Thank you. The site looks great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DrKoob Posted March 10, 2023 #10 Share Posted March 10, 2023 Having flown every. class there is from SEA to all over the world, the best example of what Premium Economy is on a long haul is that your seat will/should (on most carriers) look like a First Class seat on a domestic flight. You know, the ones you walk by when you are headed to the back of the plane. The biggest ripoff in flying is buying Business class within Europe. In so many cases, European airlines will fly you in a wonderful lie-flat seat for your transatlantic flight and then when you fly a short flight beyond your crossing, you are in a regular economy three-in-a-row economy seat with the middle seat blocked off. It's not at all like US First Class. It's a pretty big shock when you are expecting something great and wind up with the same legroom as you get in the back of the plane in the USA with a blocked off middle seat that has a table over the seat so it can't be used...even by you to lie down (if no one was in the third seat). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrHemlock Posted March 10, 2023 #11 Share Posted March 10, 2023 Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flatbush Flyer Posted March 10, 2023 #12 Share Posted March 10, 2023 2 hours ago, DrKoob said: Having flown every. class there is from SEA to all over the world, the best example of what Premium Economy is on a long haul is that your seat will/should (on most carriers) look like a First Class seat on a domestic flight. You know, the ones you walk by when you are headed to the back of the plane. The biggest ripoff in flying is buying Business class within Europe. In so many cases, European airlines will fly you in a wonderful lie-flat seat for your transatlantic flight and then when you fly a short flight beyond your crossing, you are in a regular economy three-in-a-row economy seat with the middle seat blocked off. It's not at all like US First Class. It's a pretty big shock when you are expecting something great and wind up with the same legroom as you get in the back of the plane in the USA with a blocked off middle seat that has a table over the seat so it can't be used...even by you to lie down (if no one was in the third seat). The blocked middle seat is a usual practice of Lufthansa. However, we can usually live with those short internal Europe “non-United bizclass” connections because you still get lounge access and Lufthansa often has flash sales on those segments. However, I’ve found that it’s better to call United to book those combos since their online pricing may not always reflect the Lufthansa flash sale on the connecting flights. That has saved us “beaucoup bucks” on more than one occasion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob brown Posted March 11, 2023 #13 Share Posted March 11, 2023 On 3/9/2023 at 7:59 PM, Flatbush Flyer said: My advice: take the air credit and DIY. If you “DIY”, be sure to have good travel insurance in case your flight(s) are delayed, causing you to miss the cruise, or vice-versa… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted March 11, 2023 #14 Share Posted March 11, 2023 5 hours ago, bob brown said: If you “DIY”, be sure to have good travel insurance in case your flight(s) are delayed, causing you to miss the cruise, or vice-versa… You should have good travel insurance anyway There is no guarantee if using O air that your flights will not be delayed O cannot get you on a flight with no seats available should you miss the connection etc... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ak1004 Posted March 11, 2023 #15 Share Posted March 11, 2023 Premium economy upgrade with O is usually an excellent deal. Business - not so much. Each time we asked a quote for business it was significantly more expensive than the market prices. With the current crazy prices, not everyone can afford business, but premium economy still offers significant improvement compared to economy. Well worth the extra $400-500. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepherd really Posted March 11, 2023 #16 Share Posted March 11, 2023 1 hour ago, ak1004 said: Premium economy upgrade with O is usually an excellent deal. Business - not so much. Each time we asked a quote for business it was significantly more expensive than the market prices. With the current crazy prices, not everyone can afford business, but premium economy still offers significant improvement compared to economy. Well worth the extra $400-500. Agreed, and now that O doesn't charge for a variation to fly in three days before and after the cruise it makes using their air arrangements much more attractive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ak1004 Posted March 11, 2023 #17 Share Posted March 11, 2023 I just checked few random itineraries to Europe, and they show $499 for premium economy upgrade. Is it per direction or total? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted March 11, 2023 #18 Share Posted March 11, 2023 4 minutes ago, ak1004 said: I just checked few random itineraries to Europe, and they show $499 for premium economy upgrade. Is it per direction or total? per direction usually only on the over water portion Like YYZ to AMS but not on AMS to FCO portion just an example Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ak1004 Posted March 11, 2023 #19 Share Posted March 11, 2023 1 minute ago, LHT28 said: per direction usually only on the over water portion Like YYZ to AMS but not on AMS to FCO portion just an example Yes, I understand it's only for TA flights.. but $499 per direction makes it really not attractive. I remember it used to be $199-249.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted March 11, 2023 #20 Share Posted March 11, 2023 29 minutes ago, ak1004 said: Yes, I understand it's only for TA flights.. but $499 per direction makes it really not attractive. I remember it used to be $199-249.. YUP But then booking your own PE these days is bad also You are between a rock & a hard place flying now😃 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ak1004 Posted March 11, 2023 #21 Share Posted March 11, 2023 1 minute ago, LHT28 said: YUP But then booking your own PE these days is bad also You are between a rock & a hard place flying now😃 Very true. We usually book with Aeroplan points, but I really feel for people who have to pay cash. Business to Europe is over $5-6k CAD those days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted March 11, 2023 #22 Share Posted March 11, 2023 1 minute ago, ak1004 said: Very true. We usually book with Aeroplan points, but I really feel for people who have to pay cash. Business to Europe is over $5-6k CAD those days. I barely have enough points for a bottle of wine LOL Yes I priced out BIZ for a Europe cruise I could do a Caribbean cruise for 2 for the price of seats 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepherd really Posted March 11, 2023 #23 Share Posted March 11, 2023 51 minutes ago, ak1004 said: Yes, I understand it's only for TA flights.. but $499 per direction makes it really not attractive. I remember it used to be $199-249.. They run specials on select sailings, the $199 is per direction when they are included as a special option. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSuzQ Posted March 11, 2023 #24 Share Posted March 11, 2023 On 3/9/2023 at 10:18 PM, LHT28 said: You will not know the flight details until after final payment so it is hard to check the airline you will be on Maybe look at DIY or pay the deviation fee & select the carrier AFAIK they usually use European carriers like KLM /LH /AF/BA so the PE seating is not like the US carriers JMO New to Oceania with a related question. In others’ experiences, has waiting for flight details until after final payment gotten in the way of getting seat assignments next to your travel partner? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iamthesea Posted March 11, 2023 #25 Share Posted March 11, 2023 Flying PE on Delta to AMS. As mentioned, the seat is like the old Business Class seat with thicker cushion, foot rest, and a leg lift. The T.V. screens are larger. The tray comes out of the arm rest. The food is suppose to be upgraded from the regular economy, but I have read negatives about the food. Free drinks, as well! We get two free checked bags per person, and one free carry-on per person, plus one personal bag per person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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