In the coming weeks, Korean Air will be introducing a premium economy product for the first time. The carrier has now revealed details about its premium economy experience, including the seat, amenities, and more.
Continue reading: Details: Korean Air Adds Premium Economy, At Expense Of First Class
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
The colours honestly look drab and sterile. Why does it have to be just black and white, especially from a country full of colour?!
As long as Premium Economy is available on long haul flight, I feel Korean will fill the seats.
Just flew UA Premium Economy TATL, all 24 seats were full east bound and only 3 empty seats on return. Mostly a 40+ yr old crowd who have paid their dues sitting in economy all those years; now time to reward themselves. For the domestic legs, we sat Economy Plus (extra leg room).
I understand PAX get prissy about the wine and meat sauce as they sit further to the front of the plane, but it hit the spot....no complaints!
I know you mentioned potentially doing some premium economy long haul reviews now that you're flying with children. Would love to see those sometime soon!
DL has been feeding KE data on how well Delta Premium Select does for years. KE is not only receiving its own new orders but is taking over Asiana's orders and converting their own existing aircraft. Their fleet will be in transition for years.
Premium economy makes the most sense on the longest haul aircraft. ICN is growing more and more to be the best and largest connecting hub in Asia. Premium economy has to reflect the needs of all of of the DL-KE TPAC network and where they are starting w/ fleet conversions makes the most sense.
I recently did DOH to PHL on American premium and it was great for 14hrs trip.
The bigger news here is that economy gets much worse with the reconfiguration. The 3-3-3 layout with a good pitch is quite comfortable in economy. I flew it on Asiana as well and it such a difference to 3-4-3 with a tighter seat pitch - it almost felt like premium economy. I don't think it is a coincidence that the economy cabin gets worse since the competition with Asiana is gone. Of cause, a worse economy cabin will entice wealthier travelers to buy up to premium economy.
Philippine Airlines and ANA have 33" and 34" respectively in economy on their 777s which also 10ab, so I can see them maintaining 33" of pitch. Worse case scenario would be 32" which is industry standard which you'll find on someone like CX.
Premium economy will eventually take over business class as well. 40 yrs from now. Remember when passengers used to have seats that turned into beds and took up the space of 8 seats and airlines didn’t mane any money ?
Premium Economy is an overpriced overvalued with little extra benefits that is at best 20% more premium but cost insanely more.
That's why "it represents the future, and it’s incredibly lucrative for airlines."
People overpay too much for such a modest upgrade. Airlines love it.
"Obviously premium economy is largely targeted at premium leisure travelers,"
Or the cheap business travelers.
I remember a time when seats have doors and airlines made crazy money.
Premium Economy will take over because competition will make this lie flat and would cost almost as much as business class.
Business will need more amenities and would cost almost as much as First.
In 40 years, you'll end up with the same product with similar price just with a different name.
business class seats are aggressively discounted to win corporate discounts. PE seats take up far less real estate and do provide a level of comfort that is tolerable for many people on long flights; economy seats - even extra legroom economy - just don't recline enough and are too narrow. Most people can sleep w/o being fully reclined.
Premium economy is what business class was 30 years ago.
Korean was one of the few remaining 777 operators who still had 3-3-3 Y. Since the "standard" 777 (and 350) PE is 2-4-2, one wonders if the move to 3-4-3 Y is, in part, a reflection that 8 abreast PE looks weaker next to 9 abreast Y. Btw, I've never been in PE, but find the 787 more appealing in that it is 2-3-2.
TK took out their premium economy because it was such a great value and product that it cannibalized their business class. I remember seeing the cabin when I was working at JFK and it was very impressive, much better than the PE now on most planes. Everyone raved about it.
When it comes to first class, I feel like they’re holding off on upgrading the product and are removing seats for now because they can’t fully guarantee the first class experience on the ground. After all, they’re closing both current prestige class lounges and the first lounge in Incheon after the two new prestige lounges are completed, and renovating those ones as well. I think removing first class temporarily is honestly a pretty alright future proofing move from KE for now, considering their really lacking first class experience before.
Interesting to see if Korean’s seat width will be decreased from 18” to 17” like ANA when they introduce 2-4-2 abreast seating. This will surely leave JAL as the most generous economy seating of 33-34” x 18” of all airlines.
This makes sense I think because many people won't justify the cost of business or first if you have to pay cash but could justify premium economy over economy. Also, I wonder how many flights had first class empty or at least not full.
"but isn’t going all-in, and introducing it on all long haul planes"
The comma here made it quite confusing to read.