Honest truth about flying Qantas Economy vs Premium Economy

Like most couples, my husband and I are fine with travelling solo, but flying together is just a bit nicer (and not just because I use him as a human pillow).

Recently, my husband was actually able to join me on a short work trip (to which I’d added a few days of personal holiday time). Only there was a slight problem.

Economy, where I had a seat booked, was now full.

Luckily however, he was able to stump up enough airline points for a return ticket... in premium economy.

That’s how we ended up on an A380, the QF87 and QF8 Sydney to Dallas flights, with me in economy and him swanking it upstairs in premium economy.

It’s one of Qantas′ longest flights at around 16 hours (slightly shorter on the outbound leg).

As reluctant as I was to admit it, this offered the perfect opportunity to compare the two classes.

Economy vs Premium Economy seats

We both managed to get extra legroom seats close to check-in time on the outbound, while I had a standard seat on return (more on that later).

However, they were not comparable.

While I could stretch my legs out, I was still limited by the bulkhead in front of me.

Meanwhile upstairs, at over six feet, hubby could fully stretch and more – with a foot rest to boot.

For those interested in numbers, the seat pitch in economy on the A380 is 81.3 centimetres and the recline is 15 centimetres.

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Premium has 96.5 centimetres worth of legroom and is 58 centimetres wide.

Premium also has a ‘shell’ design so you’re not bothering others by reclining the full 23 centimetres.

Despite my lucky extra legroom on the outward flight, since I had chosen a bulkhead seat, it did mean there was a chance a young family might be seated next to me.

And, dear reader, it happened.

A toddler was forced to perch on her mamma’s lap for the entire flight. She must have been under two, which is the cut-off for not having your own seat.

But honestly, it was a nightmare as the poor thing kept kicking me accidentally.

Meanwhile, up in premium my husband had no flailing kids and also got to sleep under a plush luxury blanket, which made mine look like an old rag.

Yet, on the return flight I landed every economy traveller’s dream. A whole row to myself.

It meant I was able to lay down and sleep for hours. Some airlines now charge extra for that experience.

This time, up in premium it was my husband who might have had a nicer seat, but he didn’t get any sleep.

Two screaming babies apparently meant nobody got much rest at all.

Economy vs Premium Economy entertainment and freebies

My husband got the full cinema experience with a bigger high-definition screen and noise-cancelling headphones.

I managed to watch a couple of films, but the sounds kept coming in and out of one earphone.

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My in-arm phone charger didn’t work on the outbound trip either, and I was worried about using it too much for music, as the use of portable chargers is now banned onboard.

Loo-wise, premium economy had Grown Alchemist toiletries in the bathroom while us simple economy passengers had the standard soap.

And while our amenities kits were similar, the premium one also had lip balm and socks, as well as the toothbrush, ear plugs, and eye mask found in mine.

Economy vs Premium Economy food and drinks

While my husband sipped fizz from a proper glass after boarding – his cabin boasted ‘premium’ drinks too – I had to wait to be handed a bottle of water after take off.

I did get a Coke Zero and a wine (with a paper cup) with my evening meal on both journeys, though.

And the ravioli dinner I had on the outbound flight was really tasty.

However, on the return after delivering my veggie meal (with a measly six slices of fruit) they never offered me a drink.

And the bread roll? I could have played ping pong with it.

The flight attendant also tapped me on the foot to wake me up for breakfast. I’d left my tray table down hoping they’d just leave the food there.

By comparison, on the outbound my husband told me he’d been offered a slightly warmed quiche on a proper plate mid-flight by a crew member, on the return neither of us were offered any snacks at all between the main two meal services.

Both classes did have a fridge of snacks at the back, which was filled at certain times.

I did see there was a list of snacks according to the info on my screen that I could order in economy on the return, such as a toastie, though.

But I didn’t end up trying it.

And the husband might have been in premium, but the drinks were not flowing there on the return journey either.

When he asked for a Coke after breakfast, he was told the trolley “had already been put away...”

He claims he was awake the entire time, and they didn’t even come by.

The verdict

It’s time to talk about price.

For a return flight, Sydney to Dallas in October, returning in November, the cost is $2499 in economy and more than double that at $6701 in premium economy (at the time of writing.)

Business class is over $16k.

Of course, premium economy is superior to economy for many reasons.

The amount the seat reclines – without bothering your rear neighbour – is probably the biggest perk.

However, as we found, comfort is not guaranteed.

As any traveller knows you can have good flights and bad flights whichever class you’re in.

Unsettled babies, how busy it is, and where you’re going can all have an impact.

We both found the service and food much better flying from Australia to the USA than vice versa in both classes, too.

Though was premium worth more than double the cost of economy?

If you have the money and want an alternative to business, yes.

If you’re usually an economy flier, I’ll leave it to you to decide if the extra cost is merited.

The writer travelled as a guest of Norwegian Cruise line; her husband paid for his flight.