This post contains affiliate links. If you book something through these links I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read more about my disclosure and affiliate policy here.
…
I have been lucky enough to have flown business class a few times, though my regular travel budget usually keeps me in Economy. Sometimes, if it is a long flight or I need a more generous luggage allowance, I will treat myself to a Premium Economy seat though. Some are worth the extra money – looking at you, Vietnam Airlines – and sometimes they are not – looking at you, Lufthansa!
When I realized that Emirates offers its new(ish) premium Economy on my flight to Cape Town, I was keen to give it a try as it is said to be one of the best Premium Economies in the industry.
Is Emirates Premium Economy worth it? Read on to find out…
What is Premium Economy?
Premium Economy is the love child of Business Class and Economy. The concept was invented by Taiwanese airline EVA Air in the early 90s. Its mission is simple: more space and better amenities without a business class price tag.
What that means will vary quite a bit depending on the airline, as will the price difference. However, as a rule of thumb, you will get a bigger seat with a better recline in a more or less separate cabin towards the front of the plane, a greater luggage allowance, and better food.
Again, these are just averages I have come across during my research and during my flights in various Premium Economies (read my reviews for Finnair, Vietnam Airlines, and Lufthansa).
Emirates Premium Economy in detail
Emirates introduced its Premium Economy in 2021, and it was quickly hailed as the best in the sky. To be honest, I was skeptical. Not because I don’t like Emirates, but because I had seen quite a few subpar Premium Economies before and never thought they were worth the price difference. Little did I know that this was going to be a true game changer…
Emirates Premium Economy / Seats
Let’s get this out of the way: the Premium Economy cabin from Emirates is stunning. And I am usually not a creme leather kind of girl. However, there are only 3 rows in a 2-4-2 configuration, already giving you a sense of exclusivity and comfort. As far as I am concerned, the less people the better when flying.
You are also sitting right behind the Business Class, meaning you will get out a lot faster.
Seats are extremely wide and comfy – did I mention that they are creme leather? They are 19.5 inches wide and can recline a whole 8 inches. You also get a foot/leg rest, making the whole thing even more comfortable.
While the seat pitch is 40 inches, I still recommend you reserve a seat behind the bulkhead. This way, a reclining front passenger will never bother you. Another advantage: each seat has an armrest. This means the universal rule of – the middle seat gets both armrests – doesn’t apply, as you each get your own.
Obviously, you can adjust your headrest and get an oversized pillow as well as a cozy blanket made from recycled plastic bottles. While I wish the pillow was covered in proper fabric, it was still a lot nicer than the lumpy Economy counterparts. Plus, they are printed with leaves from the ghaf tree, the national tree of the UAE, that look like mantas – something this ocean lover enjoyed.
One big difference between Premium Economy vs Business Class Emirates: you won’t be able to lie flat. That said, if you have an overnight flight, I reckon the generous recline will give you a good option to rest. And if you catch a daytime flight like I did, the big seat makes sitting still a lot more enjoyable.
Flight delayed, cancelled, or denied boarding? In many cases, you can claim compensation from the airline, in addition to a measly airport meal or a seat that you already paid for.
Read all about AirHelp and how they can help you get compensation, and check below if you have a valid claim – absolutely free, of course!
Emirates Premium Economy / Food & Service
When it comes to food and the fight of Economy vs Premium Economy Emirates, the latter really shines. While some airlines will serve you the same meals with a slightly nicer presentation in Premium Economy, this was not the case here.
First of all, you are offered a pre-departure drink (get the mint lemonade!) and a proper pre-meal drink service. Yes, a flight attendant will come around, take your drink order, and serve you from a silver tray. If you like bubbles, I recommend you get a glass of Domaine Chandon Brut 2018, or two. It is delicious.
Depending on what type of meal you are being served, you will have the choice between 2 or 3 mains in addition to a starter and dessert. While all are served on one tray, you get a white tablecloth and napkin, proper china, and cutlery. There was even a real salt and pepper shaker!
To be fair, I am a weird person who generally likes airline food. Something about the little boxes, plates, and trays excites me – don’t ask me why. So I guess you can take my opinion with a grain of salt, but the food was amazing! Especially when you consider that I ordered the two big no-nos of airline food: eggs and fish/seafood. I ate salmon, prawns, and an omelette that were all delicious.
A special mention goes to the dessert – I think only Emirates would add gold leaf to their chocolate cake.
Crew frequently moves around if you need a refill or to bring you chocolates – no need to wander to the galley unless you want to stretch your legs.
Emirates Premium Economy / Amenities
- The in-flight entertainment system on Emirates is always pretty good. In Premium Economy, you get a nice 13.3-inch HD TV with proper headphones and can also use your own to connect via Bluetooth. Have I mentioned that I always watch Blue Planet when flying Emirates? I find David Attenborough’s voice so soothing…
- You can usually use Wi-Fi, which is even free when you are just using it for messaging.
- And of course, you also get a sustainable amenity kit at least on longer flights. It is very cute and filled with goodies for your flight, including some Aveda products.
- A big bonus that is not listed on their website (though I think it should): you get hot towels to refresh, not once but twice during your flight!
Emirates Premium Economy / Luggage Allowance
A big plus when you fly Premium Economy is usually a generous luggage allowance. How much this entails depends on where you fly to. On my recent flight from Cape Town to South Africa, I was allowed 2 x 50 lb for check-in luggage and 22 lb for hand luggage.
The same goes for many flights from the US, while you get an allowance of 77 lb for many connections from Europe to Asia.
Downsides of Emirates Premium Economy
At the airport, you have a few advantages when flying Premium Economy with Emirates. At Frankfurt Airport, there was no dedicated check-in line and no priority for security. You also don’t get lounge access (get yourself a Priority Pass to access a lounge!), and priority boarding will depend on the airport. In Dubai, all Economy passengers, including those in Premium Economy, were loaded on a bus, so there was no priority boarding when we got to the plane.
Obviously, those are minor things in the grand scheme, but if you are paying for a premium product, they matter.
And as always, you will need to connect in Dubai. I personally don’t mind, as the airport is great and Emirates has the Dubai Connect program, offering inexpensive stopovers. That said, unless Dubai is your final destination, you will always have a layover and never a direct flight.
Which routes offer Emirates Premium Economy?
Another downside: planes and routes that offer Premium seats are still somewhat limited. For now, it is only available on the A380 (new A350s and Boeing 777 are in the works though). Even if you’re flying a route that has a Premium Eco, you need to be careful to select the right connection. Otherwise, you might end up in Economy for one leg of your flight but pay the full Premium Economy price.
For now, you can book Emirates Premium Eco on select flights to and from Dubai. You will find plenty of connections in the Americas from most major airports like JFK, LAX, Chicago, Sao Paulo in Brazil, and Mexico City, as well as from Europe in London, Paris, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, and many more. Through Dubai, you can connect to major hubs in Asia like Singapore, Tokyo, Osaka, Mumbai, as well as cities in Australia, Africa, and the Middle East.
I was happy to read that new routes and more flights are added in 2026 to some of my favorite cities like Bangkok and Phuket.
How much is Emirates Premium Economy & is it worth it?
Last but not least, let’s talk about money. How much does it cost to fly Premium Economy with Emirates?
As a very vague rule of thumb, you usually have to pay twice as much as Economy and half as much as Business Class when flying Premium Economy. Sometimes it is only 50 % more or less, other times it is a 120 % more or less. As I said, this is just a rule of thumb and will depend on your route and when you book.
Book your Emirates Premium Economy flight here
A big advantage when booking Premium Economy is that you obviously get more miles, and you can change or cancel your flight at no extra cost. In addition, your seat selection is complimentary. You’d think that is a given when flying Premium Economy, alas, it is not – looking at you again, Lufthansa!
A clever option if you wanted to save some money: Emirates allows you to book a round trip in different cabin classes. Perfect if you want to arrive relaxed but don’t really care about the return flight, or need more luggage when flying home after a shopping spree in India.
So is Emirates Premium Economy worth it? I think it is. Yes, you are paying a premium, and if you are looking for the cheapest deals, this won’t be for you. But I think that you are truly getting a premium product that is worth its price. It has been a long time since I looked forward to a 9-hour flight home, and here I am – dreaming of golden chocolate cakes and the voice of David Attenborough already.
