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Premium economy is often seen as an acceptable compromise between the comfort of business class and the affordability of economy. Today, many people can afford more than economy, but at the same time, flying has lost the shine it had in the Jet Age. The Jet Age was a time when flying was something mostly reserved for the well-to-do, and people would be expected to dress up for the occasion. Now it is something everyone does.
Business class is sometimes seen as a frivolous waste of money; this sentiment has played a large role in collapsing the global first class service. In recent years, premium economy has been booming, and airlines are refitting their aircraft with it. But how much does it cost compared with economy class? This article will focus on international flights, as these seating classes are more relevant for international and longer-haul routes.
Average Premium Economy Price Vs. Economy
The typical cost difference between economy and premium economy fares is complicated, as it varies between airlines, routes, seasons, and various other factors. Looking at the United States writ large, premium economy fares typically cost around 30% to 100% more than standard economy fares for long-haul international flights. Premium economy can cost almost double the price, and in rare cases, more than double.
When considering the price of premium economy relative to economy, it is also important to keep in mind that there are often different types of economy. For example, Virgin Atlantic has Economy Light, Economy Classic, and Economy Delight, but only one type of premium economy. On a flight from Heathrow to JFK for January, Virgin Atlantic has Economy Light priced at $731, Economy Class at $879, and Economy Delight at $983 one way.
Meanwhile, premium economy on that flight is priced at $1,263. This means that Virgin Atlantic’s premium economy class is 73% more expensive than its basic economy offering, 44% the price of its standard economy fare, and 28.5% more expensive than its Economy Delight. It’s also worth noting that the relative cost difference between economy and premium economy can change significantly with Virgin Atlantic from time to time.
Typical Fares Between London & New York
Looking at the popular New York to London routes, a return economy class fare will typically cost around $500 to $1,200, with the average hovering around $800 depending on airline, season, etc. On the same route, premium economy typically ranges in the low thousands of dollars. A Delta Air Lines premium economy fare on this route should cost around $1,500.
It is important to remember that fares can change dramatically with sales and other pricing strategies. For example, in October 2025, Virgin Atlantic offered one-way flights from London Heathrow to New York-JFK for around $970. British Airways was pricing its premium economy seats on the same day and route for $3,500. Perhaps surprisingly, basic economy fares were similarly priced by both airlines on those flights.
|
Virgin Atlantic class |
Fare cost (sample London to Heathrow) |
Premium cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Economy Light |
$731 |
73% |
|
Economy Classic |
$879 |
44% |
|
Economy Delight |
$983 |
29% |
|
Premium Economy |
$1,263 |
n/a |
Changing the date, Virgin Atlantic’s premium economy fares rose to similar prices as British Airways at around $3,500. As of the time of writing, Delta Air Lines is offering one-way fares from New York-JFK to London Heathrow in mid-January at $284 for Economy Light, $409 for Economy Delight, and $1,153 for premium economy. Separately, its Delta One seats are a dramatic increase at $10,243. For the same day, British Airways’ economy flights are priced $284-$497 depending on sub-fare, while premium starts at $1,564.
Here’s How Much More Spacious Premium Economy Is Compared To Economy Class
Premium Economy delivers 5–8 more inches of legroom, wider seats, and deeper recline—offering a calmer, more comfortable upgrade from standard Economy
What To Expect In Premium Economy
Every airline has its own standard of premium economy, so here we will consider Delta. Delta says of its Premium Select, “our newest cabin designed to help you arrive in some of the most exciting places relaxed and ready to explore. Look forward to a reimagined, elevated dining experience, Go to footer note, thoughtful amenities and spacious seats to make your journey unforgettable.” Passengers get noise-cancelling headphones and a 13.3-inch in-flight entertainment screen.
On its new Airbus A350s, Delta Air Lines’ Premium Select is Collins MiQ premium economy seats configured in a 2-4-2 configuration. They come with 4-way adjustable headrests and a retractable leg/foot rest. The seats are 18.5 inches wide, and the row pitch is 38 inches. Premium passengers enjoy elevated dining with a menu made exclusively for Premium Select, and the airline has the option to preorder the meal up to 24 hours before the flight.
Delta has two levels of Premium Select: Classic and Extra. Both have the benefits of boarding priority Zone 2, flight changes, and seat selection before flights. They also get accelerated check-in, security, and baggage service. Premium passengers are typically permitted to check in two free bags of up to 50 lbs (23kg) each. Premium Select passengers follow the same 50 lbs rule as economy class passengers, while Delta One passengers can have baggage weighing up to 70 lbs.
Upgrading From Economy To Premium Economy
It is often possible for passengers to upgrade their fares to premium economy after booking the economy fare. Airline systems typically automatically check which flights qualify for an upgrade. With Lufthansa, upgrading to premium economy must be done at least 24 hours before the start of the journey. It is possible from 360 days before departure. Also, with Lufthansa, upgrades are only possible for all passengers traveling under one booking through its website.
Those who would like to purchase upgrades for just some of the passengers need to contact a Lufthansa Service Center. Upgrades are not possible after passengers have booked in. Sometimes there are specifics that impact the availability of upgrades. For example, Lufthansa prohibits upgrades on journeys for which additional services have already been booked, which prohibit an upgrade, such as taking a pet into the aircraft cabin. With Delta, its algorithm decides when to offer upgrades. The system will not offer discounted upgrades if it assesses that it will sell the fares at full price.
On another note, low-cost Norse Airlines CEO Tore Larsen has said its premium economy seats are not really premium economy class, but rather more like business class. He said that they are marketed as premium economy for tax reasons. If one were to consider Norse’s premium seats to be an answer for business class, then these offer very cheap trans-Atlantic business class seats.
Some Airlines Offer Discounted Upgrades And Bidding Options
Sometimes it can be a bargain to book economy class seats and then look for discounted premium economy offerings. Some passengers have reported saving hundreds of dollars in booking months out and then taking offers. This can save around half of the price difference between economy and premium economy. It should also be noted that it is possible to book premium economy seats with points.
Another possibility is to bid for an upgrade. Some airlines have a feature that enables passengers to place a bid for an upgrade starting from a set minimum bid. In the United States, Hawaiian Airlines is noted for having a formal bidding program called “Bid Up” that allows passengers to place their bids for seat upgrades. These premium upgrades are often granted at a fraction of the original cost and are typically only allowed on select routes, and are per passenger per segment.
Example international airlines that allow bidding include Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, ANA, Copa Airlines, Icelandair, LATAM, Qantas, and others. The US’ three largest international carriers, Delta, United, and American, do not have bid-up systems and prefer to focus on fully paid upgrades or complimentary elite upgrades. Some airlines may prioritize upgrade offers for loyal customers.
American Vs. Delta Vs. United: Which Carrier Has The Best Premium Economy?
These three airlines offer the most prominent premium economy offerings in the domestic aviation market.
Premium Economy Is A Big Hit With Passengers
Naturally, booking a lower-class fare with the intent to upgrade it later on carries some risk. There will be no option to upgrade the fare if the airline sells all of its premium economy seats. Tips for getting cheaper premium economy fares are often contradictory. For example, booking early can be a strategy, but then airlines frequently offer significant discounts as the time draws closer. But this also carries a risk as the fares could rise instead of fall.
Premium economy seats are typically much cheaper than the next step up, aka business class, but they are also significantly more comfortable than economy seats. Some airlines previously had reservations about premium economy, but no more for many. Emirates has been a latecomer to premium economy, and Emirates CEO Tim Clark has repeatedly said it has been a massive success for the airline. He has described the demand as “shocking” and “overwhelmingly positive.”
With that success, the rapid rollout of Premium Economy became a priority for Emirates. For airlines, the growth of demand for premium economy represents opportunities for revenue generation and fleet modernization. For passengers, it is often seen as a sweet spot between business and economy. Many passengers are willing to fork out 50% or 100% more for a more comfortable ride, but not the massive 20 or so times more that business class can cost.
