United’s International Premium Economy CabinUnited
Chicago-based United Airlines has been teasing an international premium economy product for some time, but only recently has it officially revealed the launch date and price point for the product. Late last month, the airline finally revealed that it would launch the product on select international routes. On December 3rd, the fares officially went on sale.
United’s new premium economy cabins, branded as United Premium Plus, sit in a unique zone between traditional international economy and business class. Over the last decade, major air carriers have redefined the scope of international business class, adding more lie-flat seats and premium service to the cabins. In stride, that move has cut down on the need of international first class – but it has also widened the gap between economy and business class cabins.
That gap has been also exacerbated by the consistent reduction in quality to international economy cabins. In the last few years, many carriers have looked at increasing the density of economy cabins creating, in some cases, zones with ten-across seating and minimal legroom. Add on a litany of ancillary fees for checked bags and in-flight amenities plus the advent of basic economy fares – which often don’t allow for seat selection or overhead luggage storage – and many passengers have grown weary of the mainstream international economy experience.
Premium economy cabins have now been deployed to fill in the gap between economy and business. In addition to providing wider seats and generous leg room, United’s Premium Plus cabins come with free checked bags, priority boarding and an enhanced in-flight catering experience, alleviating many of the pain points that many see in economy cabins.
For that relief, too, passengers will pay. A cursory search for airfare between San Francisco and Auckland – a route in which Premium Plus will be offered as of March 30th – found that a round trip premium economy fare locked in at $3,219. For the same thirteen-hour flight, an economy fare costs $1,080 while lie-flat business class seats cost $7,615.
Award seats in Premium Plus, too, have been loaded, though the price tag may seem high to some frequent flyers. The blog Point me to the Plane ran a search for premium economy fares on United routes to Japan and found that while one-way economy fares cost 35,000 miles, Premium Plus cost 135,000. One way business class fares on those same routes cost 175,000 miles.
Still, for those looking to escape the doldrums of international economy fares, Premium Plus may provide a solution that’s not as expensive as a fully flat, international business class fare. The new cabin should be officially rolled out onto 21 of the airline’s international routes by the end of May, 2019. A full list of available routes and launch days is available on United’s media hub.