Is it worth upgrading to premium economy on Lufthansa?
In many ways, Lufthansa's Premium Economy is an upgrade over economy, but in several others—notably the airport experience from check-in through boarding, and the onboard experience outside of meals and seating—it's a standard economy product.
Upgrading to premium economy or business class usually makes the most sense on the longest flights. You won't generally find too much of a price difference based on the length of your flight. That means you'll get the biggest bang for your buck on long flights to Europe, Asia and South America.
More space, more free baggage, more service – long-haul flights in Premium Economy Class offer plenty of comforts. Consequently, you'll enjoy a relaxed flight to your destination and will be able to head off for some sightseeing or start your meeting as soon as you arrive.
lufthansa lounge access premium economy
There is no premium economy Lufthansa lounge access included in your ticket but you can buy time at the lounge at Frankfurt airport at a premium.
Lufthansa uses the same pre-boarding groups that you usually see on most airlines and then offers priority boarding to several groups of premium cabin passengers, Miles & More elite members, and Star Alliance elite members.
The cheapest way to get a business or first-class ticket is to buy an economy ticket then buy an upgrade. You can either do this immediately after booking or look for last-minute upgrades as your travel date approaches. The price for premium cabin fares decreases as you get closer to departure.
Is the price worth it? From my experiences, I consider premium economy to be worth around 50% more than the cost of regular economy on the same airline.
Premium economy's big selling point is more space. The seats are an inch or two wider on average than the typical coach seat, and the rows are farther apart, offering several more inches of legroom. Most premium economy seats recline, and many have footrests. How much space you actually get depends on the airline.
It is more expensive than economy seats but considerably less expensive than luxury first class. Lufthansa's business class offers upgraded meals, extra legroom and seat width, a wide range of entertainment options, Wi-Fi, noise-canceling headphones, and lay-flat seats for comfortable sleeping on long flights.
Virgin Atlantic wins award for the World's Best Premium Economy Class, with Singapore Airlines in second place and Qantas in third position.
What is considered a long haul flight on Lufthansa?
Any flight longer than seven hours is considered a “long-haul” flight.
Unlike economy plus and preferred seats that just offer additional legroom, premium economy seats on long-haul flights feature dimensions similar to the recliners familiar to domestic first-class passengers. At 19 to 20 inches wide, these seats offer enough space to truly have an impact on sleep.
There are about 32 premium economy class seats in Lufthansa's Boeing 747-400. Overall, there are 4 rows in a 2-4-2 configuration. I like Lufthansa premium economy a lot, not least because of the seat. The are numerous reasons for that.
Lufthansa Premium Economy seats
This type of footrest is not a standard for other Premium Economy seats. You will find it only at emergency rows seats (again positive for booking these seats :-)). Other seats in Lufthansa Premium Economy also have footrests but it's a part of the seat at the front.
Emirates wins award as the World's Best Economy Class with Qatar Airways in second place and Singapore Airlines in third position. Scroll down to see all of the economy class airline category ratings.
Premium economy trumps 'regular' economy in many ways, but one aspect commonly missing from the equation is airport lounge access – a perk typically reserved for business class passengers instead.
The preferred seating zones are the seats in the front rows of the Economy Class cabin. Their number varies by aircraft type and cabin configuration.
If luxury and extra legroom is really important to you, book it in advance. However, if you're perfectly willing to fly economy class, and willing to roll the dice, a last-minute upgrade can be the cheapest option. You may even get lucky and score a free upgrade.
But premium economy, if done well, offers more than just a few extra inches of leg room. Think of the ideal premium economy as a kind of “business class lite” option, with better meals, fancier cocktails, roomier seats, and upgraded amenities such as dedicated check-in and access to more storage space.
Premium economy fits between coach and business class, both price-wise and in terms of placement on the aircraft. A seat in premium economy — directly between the main and business class cabins — is measurably more expensive than an economy ticket — often double the price.
Which airline has the widest seats in economy class?
- Southwest Airlines: 17.5 inches.
- Jet Blue and Silver Airways: 18 inches.
- Delta, Breeze, and Hawaiian Airlines: 17.6 inches.
- Alaska, American, and United Airlines: 17 inches.
Premium Economy Class Means Priority
Move to the front of the line with priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling. Plus, you'll be afforded a higher baggage allowance: 2 free checked bags.
- Start with the airline. ...
- Take a good travel pillow. ...
- Elevate your legs. ...
- Move seats. ...
- Go DIY gourmet with duty-free treats. ...
- Invest in good headphones or earplugs. ...
- Choose your seats wisely before you board. ...
- Bring a good sleeping mask.
- Access lufthansa.com.
- Retrieve your current booking by logging in or entering your booking code. ...
- On the My bookings page, there will be an automatic check to see if your flight is eligible for an upgrade offer. ...
- Submit your offer.
- Fill in payment details.
Usually, the closer it is to departure, the cheaper the upgrade discounts will get. That said, you have to find a balance somewhere in-between, because the closer it is to departure, the less likely it is that you'll be offered an upgrade.
What is Business Class? Business Class is the next step above Premium Economy. Similar services but taken next level plus: flatbed seating, fully dedicated cabin, access to airport lounges, dedicated check-in and faster security lines.