With a growing customer base seeking “business-lite” service without paying lie-flat business-class prices, the premium economy market is constantly growing and evolving. These seats are wider and have more legroom than standard economy class. Yet, space is not the only metric that defines success for airlines’ premium economy. The results for the Skytrax World’s Best Premium Economy Airlines 2025 category are notably not aligned with the legroom on offer, although airlines with spacious premium economy seats are well represented. Instead, differentiators such as dining, amenities, customer service, and the on-the-ground experience have significant sway. This is also the case with the sub-category “Best Economy Class Airline Seats 2025,” where leg, arm, and head rests, alongside the quality of the seat material and cushioning, have a substantial influence on the product’s comfort.

It is due to these differentiators that Skytrax hasn’t named the incredibly spacious Japan Airlines (JAL) seats as the industry’s most comfortable. This prize goes to Emirates, with two inches less pitch available. Read on to discover what makes Emirates’ premium economy so excellent and comfortable. The article then looks at Virgin Atlantic, an airline with even less spacious premium economy seats, but which is still well-regarded within the industry, particularly due to the superb catering available.

The Carrier With The Most Premium Economy Legroom

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If you are looking for space alone, JAL is probably for you. Its premium economy seats all offer a 42-inch (107 cm) seat pitch, which is the industry’s largest. You can usually expect 38 inches (96.5 cm) of pitch when you fly in premium economy. The seats are also wide at 19 to 19.5 inches (48.3–49.5 cm), with some variation depending on the aircraft on which you are aboard. You can find this product aboard the carrier’s Boeing 787s and 777s, with some older widebody jets not featuring premium economy. The layout is 2-4-2 for 777s and 2-3-2 for 787s.

On top of the impressive amount of space available, JAL premium economy seats also come with features that allow you to enjoy better privacy while flying. Each seat has a privacy divider so you don’t feel like you are in your neighbor’s peripheral vision. When reclining, the seats slide forward within a shell. That means you won’t feel like you are reclining into someone else’s personal space.

Plenty of other carriers rank highly in the Skytrax premium economy awards, with premium economy products that are very spacious. EVA Air offers a 42-inch (107 cm) pitch in its 2-3-2 layout on the 787-9. Cathay Pacific has a 40-inch (102 cm) pitch, 19.3 inches (49.0 cm) of width, and 15.6-inch (39.6 cm) 4K HDR screens. Finally, Air New Zealand’s premium economy pitch for its Boeing 777-300ERs is between 41 and 42 inches (104–107 cm).

Emirates Wins In Premium Economy Despite Lower Legroom Than JAL

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None of the carriers listed above ranks higher than Emirates in the Skytrax premium economy seat awards. JAL is second, Cathay Pacific is 6th, and Air New Zealand is 7th. Meanwhile, EVA Air does not rank within the top ten. However, these carriers offer equivalent or more space to Emirates. Its seat has a 40-inch pitch (102 cm), a 19.5-inch (49.5 cm) width, and an 8-inch (20.3 cm) recline, numbers that hide the seat’s quality and comfort . The premium economy seats are made of luxury cream-colored leather, each having adjustable head, foot, and leg rests. Lumbar support comes from a plush cushion for your lower back. The seat backs have a large and high-definition 13.3-inch entertainment screen.

The table below shows the top ten rankings for Skytrax’s premium economy, premium economy seats, and premium economy catering awards. They are similar but with notable differences:

Beyond the comfort of this experience, passengers will also enjoy supreme convenience. Charging ports are easily accessible, so you can keep your devices properly powered. Meanwhile, wide dining tables have plenty of room when it’s time to receive the leading dining service.

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Emirates’ On-Board Experience Goes Far Beyond The Seat

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Emirates ranks 3rd in Skytrax’s overall premium economy category and 4th for premium economy catering. It is clear that the premium economy product the carrier offers is more than just a seat. The catering is impressive. Passengers receive fine glassware and china for their food and drinks, a substantial upgrade from the plastic you can expect in economy class. The gourmet-style meals include regional and seasonal ingredients, ingeniously put together in ways that reflect the carrier’s global network. A superb selection of wines, beers, and spirits is also available. For these reasons, Emirates’ premium economy food is often compared with what is expected in business class.

The Instagram post embedded below shows some of what’s available when you fly on Emirates’ premium economy aboard the carrier’s Airbus A380s.

The fine dining and drinks, along with any other needs you have during your flight, are delivered by cabin crew working exclusively within the premium economy cabin. That produces a quieter and more exclusive environment, making it easy to relax and sleep during long-haul flying.

Where You Can Fly With Emirates Premium Economy

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Emirates officially launched its premium economy product in 2020, initially experimenting with select routes using A380s, A350s, and 777s. The carrier found the product was most popular for the longest routes, like Dubai to New York, London, and Sydney. It also learned that the class has a diverse customer base, including both leisure and business travelers.

Emirates now boasts this product on an impressive range of routes. The carrier lists the following as among its routes that offer premium economy. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. It is divided by continent, with North America and Asia well-served, while South America is a slight blind spot with just one destination on offer:

Recent years have seen substantial increases in the scale of Emirates’ premium economy offering. The carrier has been retrofitting its Boeing 777-300ER to include premium economy. In September 2025, the carrier announced the product would be available on all its flights to and from New York (JFK) by the end of 2025. The carrier said, “These additions will expand Emirates’ network of destinations offering Premium Economy on its fleet of A380s, 777s, and A350 aircraft to 68 global points by March 2026, underscoring the airline’s commitment to investing in the very best customer experience in the sky.”

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Virgin Atlantic: Another Fantastic Premium Economy Airline With Low Legroom

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The disparity between premium economy’s spaciousness and Skytrax’s ranking is also evident when examining Virgin Atlantic. This carrier offers just 38 inches (96.5 cm) of pitch, considered the industry standard for premium economy. The seat also has an impressive 8 inches (20.3 cm) of recline. Yet, it won the overall award, came 3rd in the seats subcategory, and won the premium economy catering award. A notable difference to JAL’s seat is that the seats are not self-contained in a shell, meaning that your personal space will shrink when the person in front reclines.

However, there is no denying the superb quality of these seats. They are upholstered in leather and offer customization on the same level as Emirates. They also have plenty of power outlets and USB ports, so there’s no need to worry about touching down with dead devices. Large tray tables are also a welcome addition, along with the soft mood lighting, generating a calming atmosphere onboard.

Simple Flying’s Pranjal Pande gave his thoughts in a trip report for a flight from Delhi to London aboard a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. 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.”