Premium Economy

EveryWhere

Contessa wrote: »

I usually only fly economy but a couple of years ago flew Premium Economy from LHR to LAX return. It was with BA on an Airbus 380. More comfortable, wider seats (I was seated in a 2x2 configuration) with more legroom. The food was certainly not Economy fare-absolutely delicious and served on proper china, with real wine glasses. The A380 is a lovely plane.


But PE is about 2x price of Economy and Business Class double that. If I were flying to Australia I might consider it, though my inclination would be to spend the money on a longer stay (probably needed after an uncomfortable flight!)

I find it closer to 1x, 2x, 3x. Up to £2k for PE and perhaps around £2.7k for BC. This for February. I wouldn't pay £2k just for PE. I'd either go Economy and choose good seats or fly BC with the right airline.

Example;

Nick_C

Gloomendoom wrote: »

If going to Perth, you might want to consider spending the extra dosh on a Qantas non-stop flight instead.

Qantas fly to Perth using the 787 "Dreamliner". It takes 17 hours. The plane was designed for 2-4-2 seating. Most airlines (including Qantas) have 3-3-3 seating.

There is no way I would fly long haul economy in a 787 unless it was JAL.

I flew to Sydney in Economy on a Malaysian A380 with a 4 hour stopover in a lounge in KL.

If you are going Economy with a good airline it's bearable. Look at seat pitch and width, and timings. Look at reviews on airlinequality.com. Don't just go for the cheapest fare. Pay for a lounge when you stop over. Have a shower and relax between segments. My trip was overnight LHR to KL, a 4 hour stop, then overnight to Sydney. I got about 4 hours sleep on each flight, and arrived in Sydney at breakfastime on day 3. Stayed up all day, a little tired, but on local time with no key lag. Was much better than I expected it to be.

If you are considering business class, look at starting from an EU airport such as Dublin or Amsterdam. And if you can wait until after Xmas check out the sales. You can sometimes get business class for £1500 to £2000

tgon

Nick_C wrote: »

If you are considering business class, look at starting from an EU airport such as Dublin or Amsterdam. And if you can wait until after Xmas check out the sales. You can sometimes get business class for £1500 to £2000

Gosh, I never considered that. I live just a short hop from Schiphol from a local airport. Closer than driving to Manchester and certainty from Heathrow.

EveryWhere

Nick_C wrote: »

Qantas fly to Perth using the 787 "Dreamliner". It takes 17 hours. The plane was designed for 2-4-2 seating. Most airlines (including Qantas) have 3-3-3 seating.

There is no way I would fly long haul economy in a 787 unless it was JAL.

I flew to Sydney in Economy on a Malaysian A380 with a 4 hour stopover in a lounge in KL.

If you are going Economy with a good airline it's bearable. Look at seat pitch and width, and timings. Look at reviews on airlinequality.com. Don't just go for the cheapest fare. Pay for a lounge when you stop over. Have a shower and relax between segments. My trip was overnight LHR to KL, a 4 hour stop, then overnight to Sydney. I got about 4 hours sleep on each flight, and arrived in Sydney at breakfastime on day 3. Stayed up all day, a little tired, but on local time with no key lag. Was much better than I expected it to be.

If you are considering business class, look at starting from an EU airport such as Dublin or Amsterdam. And if you can wait until after Xmas check out the sales. You can sometimes get business class for £1500 to £2000

A couple of flaws in that plan. Fly from AMS and you risk flying on a less than optimal Chinese airline, since KLM/AF codeshare with some Chinese airlines.

Secondly, the lower prices may be off season prices, May/September and with the aforementioned Chinese airlines.
Whereas the OP is looking to travel in the period up until perhaps March, when the weather is at it's best and hopefully with an airline that does justice to BC.

I'm not sure as to which sales you refer, for when it comes to Business Class flights to MEL. Promotions can appear in November, in February... So I wouldn't wait until after Christmas. Keep your eyes open throughout.

The cheapest with a decent airline I've seen this year, was an open jaw combo with Etihad for around £1300 per person, based on two people travelling. Plus positioning flights, for flights up to Nov/early December.. Probably a bit too much hassle for the OP. That was released in February. Same flights currently around £2k.

So bargains can appear outside the time you suggest. Perhaps look to November for another tranche.

Nick_C

EveryWhere wrote: »

Fly from AMS and you risk flying on a less than optimal Chinese airline, since KLM/AF codeshare with some Chinese airlines.

No risk at all, provided you look at who is operating the flight.

But for a complete novice it is good advice to be aware that most airlines operate code shares, and the flight number on your ticket does not necessarily indicate the airline operating the flight.

EveryWhere wrote: »

So bargains can appear outside the time you suggest.

Of course they can.

I'm suggesting waiting, for possibly 15 weeks, as sales are likely to occur. There are no J class bargains right now to my knowledge. As op wants to fly in the next 6 months, I wouldn't wait any longer than that.

EveryWhere

Nick_C wrote: »

No risk at all, provided you look at who is operating the flight.

But for a complete novice it is good advice to be aware that most airlines operate code shares, and the flight number on your ticket does not necessarily indicate the airline operating the flight.



Of course they can.

I'm suggesting waiting, for possibly 15 weeks, as sales are likely to occur. There are no J class bargains right now to my knowledge. As op wants to fly in the next 6 months, I wouldn't wait any longer than that.

I understand what you are writing, but I am not aware of any Business Class sales to Melbourne in any January.
Possibly there may be a sale in February, but that will be too late for the OP., if they are hoping to travel within the next twenty six weeks. That covers up until the end of March.

So the OP needs to look from now on, if they want to travel within the next six months. Perhaps November will be optimal, dependent on sales.
Of course I could be wrong and there might be a super sale in January, for flights from then until March...but I doubt it.

EveryWhere

Whilst it entails a positioning flight to and an overnight in Oslo, here is an example of peak season BC for under £2k;





The Etihad product should be up to scratch.

Etihad Dreamliner BC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us5QElZHG34

richardw

Ex-eu is good if you have plenty of time to de-risk your journey.

Premium Economy is good if you are time poor and can sleep on planes.

If you are time rich pick economy and sleep at the transit hotel in Singapore.

EveryWhere

richardw wrote: »

Ex-eu is good if you have plenty of time to de-risk your journey.

Premium Economy is good if you are time poor and can sleep on planes.

If you are time rich pick economy and sleep at the transit hotel in Singapore.

Not sure this makes sense to me.

I'm guessing they are looking at PE, as they want a bit more comfort. So possibly not an issue of time for when it comes to Economy.

For when it comes to PE, I think it just is not good value, as compared to a good BC product. But if time poor, as you put it, is the middle ground for the OP. The most convenient.

Business Class offers so much more overall; lounges, in-flight experience, frequent flier miles etc, but if you want to keep the price down to PE levels, you might need to take an extra flight on the outbound section...at least currently.

So if the OP time poor, it would be PE. If time rich, BC.

Doshwaster

I was quite impressed with the Qantas Premium Economy which is more of a "business minus" product rather than on other airlines (including BA) where it is an "economy plus"