Each year, Skytrax collects a vast number of votes for its World Airline Awards. A subcategory of the award for premium economy products is the Best Premium Economy Class Airline Seats 2025. It is given to the carrier with the most spacious and comfortable premium economy seat.

This list details the five top-ranking carriers according to their premium economy seats: Delta Air Lines, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Japan Airlines, and Emirates. This ranking is notably different from the overall World’s Best Premium Economy Class Airlines 2025 award. That award’s top five are, 5th through 1st, EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Japan Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic. The article includes the seat dimensions, pitch, and width you can expect, along with the product’s additional features and the aircraft on which you can find it.

Delta Air Lines

18.5 inches of width

Delta has named its premium economy product ‘Premium Select’. Passengers can enjoy 38 inches of pitch, a recline of seven inches, and a width of 18.5 inches when flying aboard a Delta A350-900. The layout on this widebody is 2-4-2 for Premium Select. This width increases to 19.5 inches aboard the Boeing 767-400ER.

The Premium Select product is usually offered for international routes, but it is also available for services between New York JFK and Los Angeles International. You can also find Premium Select aboard almost all the carriers’ widebody aircraft. The main exception is some of its Boeing 767-300ERs, as Premium Select is not available on examples of this aircraft configured with a larger business class cabin.

Delta also performs well across other aspects of the Premium Select product, which has led to its 11th place overall in the World’s Best Premium Economy Airlines 2025 ranking. Perks include great amenity kits, pre-order dining options, and premium pre-flight services.

Singapore Airlines

19.5 inches of width

Aboard Singapore Airlines’ 777s, there are 28 Safran Z535 seats to choose from in premium economy. These seats have a pitch of 38 inches and a width of 19.5 inches. The recline available is eight inches. The seats also give you access to a sizable 13.3-inch touchscreen in-flight entertainment screen.

Things are a touch more cramped aboard Singapore’s A350-900s, excluding its -900ULRs. These 24 premium economy seats are also Safran Z535 recliners, but they have 38 inches of pitch and 19 inches of width. The inflight entertainment system is the same size as the one on the carrier’s 777s. In both cases, you will also get noise-canceling headphones. Premium economy is also available on the carrier’s A380s.

Singapore Airlines almost didn’t have a premium economy cabin. It felt its standard economy product was sufficient, and that premium passengers could choose from its business and first class cabins. Eventually, CEO Goh Choon Phong decided that the product was necessary following market feedback. To complement the comfortable, roomy seats, premium economy passengers can also enjoy a recently revamped menu featuring “over 200 new appetizers, main courses, and desserts.”

However, Singapore Airlines’ premium economy can still improve. The Points Guy wrote in his flight review of the carrier’s premium economy product: “Singapore’s premium economy has some room for improvement. The lack of dedicated crew and lavatories makes this more of an ‘economy plus’ experience rather than ‘business lite.” The lack of proper glassware and pre-departure beverages was disappointing.”

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Virgin Atlantic

21 inches of width

Virgin Atlantic’s premium economy is available aboard its Airbus A330-300s and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. You can enjoy a much wider seat than the 17-inch seat in standard economy. The airline offers 21 inches (53.3 cm) of width and 38 inches (96.5 cm) of pitch, making the seat compatible with larger and taller passengers.

The width is slightly lower aboard the carrier’s new Airbus A350-1000s at 18.5 inches. This jet has a 2-4-2 layout for premium economy compared with 2-3-2 aboard the carriers’ 787-9s and A330-300s. That means the A350-1000s also have twice as many middle seats per row.

The three widebody jets with premium economy fly to a great array of destinations on the US’s East and West Coasts. You can fly from these cities to popular destinations in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. On board, the meal service offers a taste of business class luxury. You can enjoy an upgraded service, including a welcome glass of sparkling wine. Passengers can also use the provided amenity kit and a self-service snack area. The strength of the entire product is clear, as Virgin Atlantic won the World’s Best Premium Economy Class Airlines 2025 award.

Simple Flying had the opportunity to fly aboard Virgin Atlantic’s A350 premium economy in a flight review titled “Not The Winner”. Pranjal Pande reveals the variation in premium economy experiences aboard different Virgin Atlantic aircraft: “Overall, the premium economy on the A350-1000 is a competitive product, still giving British Airways a run for its money. However, if you have a choice, always pick the Boeing 787-9 in premium economy with Virgin Atlantic, which remains one of the best in the game.” In Pranjal’s review of Virgin Atlantic’s Dreamliner premium economy, he wrote: “Virgin Atlantic offers a compelling premium economy product on its Dreamliner. The seats are a major step up from economy and allow for uninterrupted sleep, while the service standards were those seen in Upper Class, especially with meal service.”

Japan Airlines

18.5 – 19.5 inches of seat width

Ranked second by Skytrax according to premium economy seats is Japan’s flag carrier. Japan Airlines calls its premium economy product Sky Wider. On these seats, you can experience a pitch of 33 to 34 inches and a width of 18.5 to 19.5 inches. The product is available on Japan Airlines’ Boeing 787-8, 787-9, 777-300ER, and 767-300ER.

Japan Airlines‘ Sky Wider seats go beyond just being spacious. They also have a three-step adjustable footrest to help you get comfortable. Another unique feature is the central divider, which gives you far more privacy than you usually get in premium economy. Like all the best premium economy services, you can also make use of a great amenity kit.

Japan Airlines has also put thought into making its on the ground experience stand out. Premium economy passengers have access to the Sakura Lounge at selected airports. This combination of factors led Japan Airlines to win Skytrax’s premium economy award in 2024 and come second in 2025.

International Traveller has published a flight review for Japan Airlines’ premium economy. They wrote: “Lounge access is a big perk, particularly if you have some time to kill before your flight. And for anyone who just can’t bear the marginal comforts of economy but also can’t manage the steep leap to a business class fare, premium economy is a choice that has real value.”

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Emirates

19.5 inches of width

At the top of Skytrax’s premium economy rankings is Emirates. This carrier offers seats with 19.5-inch (49.3 cm) width on its Airbus A380s. There is also plenty of room to stretch out with 40 inches (101.6 cm) of seat pitch. Eight degrees of recline also elevates the flying experience, making it easier to get comfortable on long-haul journeys. The seat also features a calf rest, adjustable headrest, and leg support cushions, so you can customize your seating experience.

Emirates officially introduced its premium economy product in 2020. You can experience it on flights from Dubai to a wide range of destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas. Examples include Auckland, Houston, Kuwait City, Mumbai, London Heathrow Airport, New York John F. Kennedy, and Tokyo Narita. 2025 saw strong expansion across destinations, including Newark, Athens, Miami and Bogotá. Emirates has clearly put a great deal of thought into the aesthetic experience for premium economy passengers. The cabin has soft lighting with calming color schemes. The wood-grain finishes are also a classy touch.

In October 2025, Emirates expanded its premium economy product to include every Airbus A380 flight from Dubai to New York, ensuring consistent levels of premium services. Business and first classes are also available. Pennyblog took a trip aboard A380 premium economy on an Emirates flight from Dubai to Osaka. They wrote: “The cabin crew was quick to offer welcome drinks of water or juice, served in proper glassware, as well as hot towels and menu cards. The load on this night was very light, so everyone had the opportunity to spread out over two seats, which made the journey even more comfortable.” The reviewer was also impressed by the overall quality of food and drink available aboard the premium economy.