Premium economy
A middle cabin between economy and business: wider seat, better meal, its own rows — and a distinct crew position at some airlines.
Definition
Premium economy is a separate cabin on long-haul aircraft with a wider, deeper-reclining seat, an upgraded meal service and its own small block of rows between business and economy. It sells at a premium over economy but well below business, and it has spread across full-service carriers over the past decade. Booking code W is the usual shorthand.
What it means for you
Whether premium economy is its own crew position depends on the airline: some staff it from the economy team with a modified service, others treat it as a stepping stone with its own service training and grade. Either way it is a good place to show you can run a more attentive service without the full business-class choreography, which is exactly what promotion panels look for.
In practice
On a British Airways 777 the World Traveller Plus cabin sits between Club World and World Traveller; the crew member rostered there runs a smaller, more attentive service with a different meal loading from the cabin behind.
Related terms
3 terms- Economy classAircraft & cabinThe largest and cheapest cabin on the aircraft, worked at the highest passengers-per-crew ratio and the fastest service pace.
- Business classAircraft & cabinThe premium long-haul cabin with lie-flat seats and plated dining, worked at a low passenger ratio by crew who have earned the position.
- Cabin classAircraft & cabinThe service tiers a cabin is split into — economy, premium economy, business, first — each with its own seat, service and crew ratio.