Over the years, we’ve seen premium economy become an increasingly popular cabin on long haul flights. That’s logical, as economy cabins keep getting tighter, while business class cabins keep getting more spacious, so people want an option between the two.
Up until now, Star Alliance member TAP Air Portugal hasn’t offered premium economy on long haul flights. That will be changing in 2026, though not necessarily in the way that you’d expect…
In this post:
TAP plans unconventional premium economy product
As of the summer of 2026, TAP Air Portugal will introduce premium economy on long haul flights, and it’ll be available on both Airbus A330 and Airbus A321LR aircraft. However, if I’m understanding this announcement correctly, the airline won’t actually be reconfiguring planes in any way.
The airline promotes how it will offer 12 seats at the front of economy with an adjacent empty seat, which “ensures a quieter, more private environment for a truly relaxed journey.” So it sounds like TAP won’t actually introduce a true premium economy hard product, and that this will simply take up the first two rows of economy on the A330, and the first three rows of economy on the A321LR.
The soft product will be more in line with what you’d expect from premium economy, though:
- At the airport, premium economy will offer premium check-in, priority baggage, fast track security, and priority boarding
- Onboard, premium economy will offer a premium main meal with two hot dish options, meal pre-selection up to 24 hours before departure, amenity kits, premium pillows, and enhanced headphones
- In terms of rewards and flexibility, premium economy will offer bonus miles, and flexible rebooking and refund conditions
My take on TAP’s unique approach to premium economy
I’m a fan of airlines giving customers more choice in terms of the type of experience they can have, so I’d consider this to be a positive development.
That being said, I can’t help but think that the airline may have a hard time managing expectations with this new concept. When people book premium economy, they generally expect a completely different seat, more in line with what you’d expect in domestic first class within the United States (admittedly there are some exceptions, like Condor branding its extra legroom economy section as premium economy). If you book a premium economy flight on TAP and don’t do your research, you could be very disappointed.
At the same time, there’s no denying that this is an efficient way to introduce premium economy. With the delays that exist nowadays with sourcing new seats, plus the amount of time it can take to reconfigure cabins, that’s potentially a huge undertaking. With the approach TAP is taking, the airline can essentially “switch on” premium economy overnight, and there’s something to be said for that.
Bottom line
As of the summer of 2026, TAP Air Portugal will introduce premium economy on long haul flights. However, the airline won’t actually be introducing different seats, but instead, will simply rebrand the front rows of economy, and block adjacent seats.
On the plus side, the soft product will be fully in line with what you expect from premium economy, with everything from an improved meal service, to amenity kits. This is definitely an unconventional approach for the airline to take, but it sure is efficient.
What do you make of TAP’s premium economy plans?
This sounds fantastic to me. The main reason why I refuse to travel in economy on longhaul is being too close to a stranger for 10+ hours. Most premium economy seats don't solve that since they may be fancy but there's no real separation from the seat next to you. This is much much better. If they price it right, it will be a great alternative to business on other airlines.
Idiotic.
People don't book Premium Economy for a shorter check-in line or a meal on porcelain. They book it for a bigger seat, greater recline, much better legroom, and a distinct onboard experience. This is just a tight coach seat with an empty middle - and you'll probably be fighting with your seatmate over use of said middle.
It's a very Portuguese way of solving this problem. Gussy up a dull product for free,...
Idiotic.
People don't book Premium Economy for a shorter check-in line or a meal on porcelain. They book it for a bigger seat, greater recline, much better legroom, and a distinct onboard experience. This is just a tight coach seat with an empty middle - and you'll probably be fighting with your seatmate over use of said middle.
It's a very Portuguese way of solving this problem. Gussy up a dull product for free, slap a premium price tag on it, and pretend you've gone upscale.
I would pay for less recline and I actively seek such airlines, lol. Unless it's actual flat seat, I find reclined position extremely uncomfortable so all "greater recline" does is having a seat in front of me smashed into my personal space.
At 120 kg I fit into a normal economy seat just fine. Having a good separation from my seatmate is far more important and this product delivers it.
Honestly, I wish more airlines would offer this. And isle seat with an empty neighbor seat is all I need for a comfortable day flight. I'd also love if the US airlines offered that on domestic flights, as F is sold out way too often and not available for connection on transatlantic PE fares.
In fact, I self-downgraded myself from full PE to Y with an empty neighbor seat earlier this year, after talking to the crew of course.
The only point of my buying a higher fare or seat is that I can sleep better and perhaps not emerge from a flight with a back ache. Paying double the fare for a $10-better meal or getting to board first is pretty stupid.
Fine for the airline, let them try. But this is nothing I would ever pay for (European business class similarly, unless it's part of an award ticket on a long-haul).
You can speak for yourself, but I find sleeping with an empty middle (especially if it's my traveling companion in the other seat, but even if not) way better. So this does deliver real value, although of course I wouldn't pay *that much* for it.
Isn't that a more honest way to market the awful European Business product?
Dror?
TK also recently sent a survey about Premium Economy.