The quality of economy class experiences can
vary a lot depending on the airline you choose to fly with. So, today we’ll go through the top five
airlines for economy class travel in 2024. Let's get started with number 5 Air New Zealand. Air New Zealand offers one of the most underrated
economy class experiences. Surprisingly, in 2023, Air New Zealand didn't
even rank among the top 20 economy class airlines in the Skytrax awards, something we definitely
disagree with. Their Economy is modern and stylish, with
welcoming pink lighting. Their regular economy seats have a seat pitch
of 32 inch and a seating width of 17.2 inches and are configured in 3-4-3 formation, which
is actually very average for an economy class cabin. But it’s not the seating dimensions that
you should be paying attention to. The seats offer excellent support and cushioning
and it’s the seats' depth that truly stands out, It feels like you’re actually sitting
"in" the seat rather than just "on" it. Furthermore, Air New Zealand is so great is
because they stand out from a lot of other airlines. Take the Special Sky Couch seats for example. You can book these seats for an upgraded price
and flip up these leg rests to turn it into a full on cushioned matrass to get some quality
sleep throughout the journey. Just a heads up, if you are taller than 6
feet, you might struggle to fully stretch out. It’s an ideal option for solo travel or
when traveling with children. Each seat boasts a 10.6-inch personal touchscreen
for on-demand movies. What's remarkable is that you are able to
start watching entertainment right from when you board the plane until it lands, so no
need to wait for takeoff. The seats all come with plug sockets, so that
gives you the ability to charge devices throughout the flight. Now, let’s move on to the food. Meals are served in plastic containers instead
of the usual foil trays, and even the plastic cutlery resembled real silverware. Generally economy class cabin food isn’t
great, but the Economy meals on Air New Zealand are surprisingly tasty. Meal options include mains like the chicken
korma curry with basmati rice and garden peas or tomato chicken with pasta and green beans
and desserts include options like honeycomb ice cream. Another great feature on which Air New Zealand
stands out, is the ability to view the dinner menu on the seatback TV screen. Additionally, passengers can order on-demand
snacks from their seats between meals, adding to the comfort and convenience of the experience. You can simply request a cup of tea and a
biscuit without having to use a call button or go to the galley, which is really unique. The service provided by the staff is impeccable. They are friendly, talkative, and always have
a smile. During the long-haul flight, you’ll receive
the usual amenities of a headset, blanket, and pillow from Air New Zealand. Nothing special here, but what is extraordinary
is the free wifi offered on Air New Zealand, a feature rarely available for free on other
economy class airlines. Overall, Air New Zealand stands out as a top
choice for passengers looking for quality and convenience in economy class and definitely
deserves to be ranked higher on global rankings. At the fourth place of the list is All Nippon
Airways. In All Nippon Airways economy class, the seating
layout consists of a 3-3-3 configuration. Each passenger gets 17 inches of seat width
and 34 inches of legroom pitch, making it reasonably comfortable, since the seating
pitch is above the industry standard. Every seat has a headrest and an elastic footrest. While the footrest design isn’t the best,
it could serve the purpose for individuals with long legs. When reclined, the seatback leans back about
three inches, and the seat pan also moves forward slightly, allowing for a bit more
reclining angle, although it comes with slightly reduced knee space. Upon reaching your seat, you’ll find a pillow,
blanket, and a set of plastic headphones waiting for you. While the headphones provided aren’t great,
they are a significant improvement compared to the disposable earbuds often provided by
other airlines nowadays. The pillow is a bit thin, and the blanket,
although long enough, is not very wide. The seat themselves are reasonably cushioned
and come with a personal entertainment system offering on-demand audio and video entertainment Meal options in All Nippon Airways economy
class often include a regional curry dish paired with natural yeast bread, salmon or
hamburger steak. Additionally, passengers are offered snacks,
wine, Japanese sake, and soft drinks during the flight. Before departure from Japan, passengers can
opt for paid in-flight meal service, details of which can be found on All Nippon Airways’
website. The meal quality is quite decent, but nothing
extraordinary. A nice touch is that the meals served often
have a Japanese touch to them combined with a Western dining style, such as relatively
small main dishes, that come with multiple side dishes. The sides include options like edamame, cold
soba noodles, potato salad, corn salad, and a bread roll. Wi-Fi is available for a fee of $19, while
complimentary in-flight entertainment such as movies, music, and TV shows is provided. However, the selection of Western entertainment
is quite limited, with only around 20 new Hollywood movies in the "new release" category. Most other options are from the Japanese or
foreign cinema films category. There are USB outlets and universal electrical
outlets available at each seat, which is also a nice addition. The windows, controlled electronically, are
30 percent larger than traditional ones and have replaced the plastic window shades. The bathrooms are more spacious and come with
washlets, offering a warm water bidet function. The aircraft's lower cabin pressurization
system helps passengers absorb more oxygen, leaving them feeling more refreshed upon landing. All Nippon Airways has a solid reputation
for providing good customer service, which extends to their in-flight service, earning
them positive reviews from passengers. In 2024 they have proved that they haven’t
fallen short in this department as well. Overall, All Nippon Airways economy class
is great. Although the entertainment system is lacking,
the seat comfort, meals and service make up for it. Let’s continue with number 3, Cathay Pacific: Cathay Pacific's economy seats are among the
widest in the industry and are designed with adjustable headrests. The seating pitch on most aircraft is 32 to
33 inches and the seat width is about 18 inches, which are both above average statistics for
the economy class cabin. For extra legroom, you can opt for upgraded
seats, but it comes at an additional costs. In terms of food and drink, Cathay Pacific's
economy class offers interesting options, such as their special Betsy beer, crafted
specifically for enjoyment at high altitudes. Passengers on long-haul flights receive complimentary
wine and beverages along with a meal option. The airline offers three choices of mains
in economy class, which is quite impressive. The options often consists of a meat, seafood
and vegetarian option. The meals are quite good comparing it to other
economy class airlines. Cathay Pacific definitely deserves credit
for providing printed menus and offering a choice of three meals during the first service. In the world of economy travel, this level
of service is often considered "luxurious." For instance, meal options include shredded
pork and preserved vegetables with steamed jasmine rice or Hong Kong-style beef curry
with broccoli and steamed jasmine rice. Additionally, an amenity kit was provided,
containing essentials like an eyeshade, socks, toothbrush, and toothpaste, which is also
rarely seen in economy class airlines these days. The inflight entertainment is one of the things
Cathay Pacific excels in, they offer the largest entertainment library in Asia Pacific, and
have been awarded the 2023 Skytrax World’s Best Inflight Entertainment award. The best thing is that Cathay Pacific regularly
updates their entertainment library every single month. You name it, from Hollywood new releases,
Asian cinema classics, HBO Max and Disney+ Original titles, they have it. Wi-Fi is available against a fee, Passengers
can check their flight status to confirm Wi-Fi availability and costs for around $20 for
a full flight. Summing up, Cathay Pacific's economy class
experience it isn’t as great as it used to be, especially when you compare it to the
other two airlines we’ll discuss next. But it’s definitely still a great airline
and a solid choice for economy class travel. At the second place of this list is EVA Air In EVA's economy class, the seating layout
is either 3-3-3 or 3-4-3, depending on the aircraft you are flying with. The seating provides a fairly comfortable
experience, with seating pitch at 33 inches and a seat width of 17 inches. Passengers receive a small pillow, blanket,
and earbuds. The seats have adjustable headrests and a
decent recline, making it fairly easy to get comfortable in your seat. Their newer Dreamliner aircraft are quieter
and have cleaner air, which makes you feel less tired because of the higher oxygen levels
in the cabin. The bathrooms on EVA AIR are located away
from the food areas and are stocked with hand lotion and foaming soap to keep your hands
from drying out, it’s nice to see they care about hygiene. The larger bathrooms in Economy also had flowers
and even offered baby changing areas. The flight attendants make sure to keep the
bathrooms clean and refreshed during the flight. The meals served in Economy Class were well-balanced
and relatively healthy considering they were airplane meals. For dinner options on EVA Air, you can choose
between fish with noodles or teriyaki chicken with rice. Each meal comes with a side salad, a warm
bun, a plate of fresh fruit slices, and a dessert cake. Airplane food is considered mediocre by a
lot of people, but EVA Air’s economy meals are truly delicious. Beverage options include various sodas, non-carbonated
drinks, as well as wine or beer. The cabin crew demonstrates exceptional respect
towards all passengers throughout the journey, irrespective of their seating arrangement. In economy class, both the physical comforts
and service provided by EVA Air are excellent. On EVA Air's Boeing 777-300ER, the Economy
seats feature 11.1-inch touch-screen displays, providing a good selection of the latest Hollywood
movies for entertainment. The Dreamliner's Economy Class offers 12-inch
HD touchscreens with USB charging capabilities. While EVA's in-flight entertainment doesn't
offer an extensive library of movies and TV shows, their high-resolution touchscreens
feature a selection of recent popular content from both Eastern and Western cultures. Additionally, there are shared power outlets
at the seats for extra convenience. While EVA Air is great overall it doesn’t
truly shine in one aspect except the meal service, but regarding that their prices are
extra competitive compared to other airlines, the overall value is definitely worthwhile. Lastly, taking the number one spot is Japan
Airlines Traveling in Japan Airlines' economy class
offers an exceptional journey due to meticulous attention to every detail of the cabin experience. From their acclaimed seats to the thoughtfully
crafted menus, even the most discerning travelers will be impressed. Let's delve into the seating. In 2023, Skytrax awarded Japan Airlines the
titles of the World's Best Economy Class and Best Economy Class Airline Seat, because this
is where Japan Airlines truly excels. The seats boast a width of 19 inches, a seating
pitch of 33 inches, and a generous recline of 4.5 inches, surpassing the industry standards
which usually measures approximately 17 inches for seat width and around 30 inches for seat
pitch. However, it's not solely the additional legroom
that contributes to a peaceful journey. The space between armrests can be up to 19
inches, offering more room for passengers to relax compared to the industry average. Notable seat extras include a water bottle
holder, a convenient accessories pouch, and AC power outlets available for all seats. Each seat is equipped with an adjustable headrest,
enhancing comfort for sleep. The economy-class section comprises six impeccably
maintained bathrooms, fully stocked with dental kit, an impressive offering for economy class
which is rarely seen nowadays. Passengers can eagerly anticipate their inflight
meals as Japan Airlines sets itself apart from the competition by offering collaboratively-designed
dishes created by leading Japanese restaurants and brands. Teaming up with RED U-35—the largest culinary
competition for young chefs in Japan—six top finalists have crafted enticing menus
rooted in Japan's iconic food culture. The meal consists of a main dish, three side
dishes, and an optional soup, all served on a single tray. Options like chicken and rice, soba noodles
in soy sauce, bok choy with peanut sauce, and miso soup are offered within the class. The quantity and quality of the food exceeds
the usual standards for economy class. Additionally, Japan Airlines combines the
Japanese and Western menu options in one meal, which is great to see. If you want to drink alcohol on the flight,
Japan Airlines has its own special wine called Double 'O'. They made it with the help of a famous French
wine expert named Paul Sapin. This wine comes in red and white types and
tastes great. They also have a lot of different beers, wines,
and spirits from Japan and other countries. So, it's easy to find a drink you like while
you're on the plane. Furthermore, travelers have access to an extensive
selection of hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages, including juices, soft drinks, and tea and
coffee. In-flight entertainment is another standout
feature of Japan Airlines' service. Equipped with 10.6-inch touch-panel monitors
at every seat, the MAGIC inflight entertainment system offers a wide range of the latest blockbuster
movies, videos, TV series, music, ebooks, and games. Whether indulging in acclaimed Hollywood or
Japanese films or immersing yourself in a travel documentary for inspiration, the entertainment
options cater to diverse tastes. Additionally, English-speaking presenters
guide passengers through various engaging audio genres, spanning from the latest pop
music to timeless classics. The entertainment selection keep you engaged,
since the 10.6-inch touchscreen is highly responsive and boasted 60 movies and 39 TV
shows. However, JAL should include more TV shows
and movies in our opinion. Also make sure to bring your own headphones
because the ones provided at the seat are of low quality. Wi-Fi is accessible during this flight at
a reasonable price of $18.80 for 24 hours. The internet speeds are satisfactory for keeping
in touch with work back home. For a quick nap, the small pillow and soft
blanket provided are better than average. If you prefer to catch up on work, staying
connected is hassle-free with the onboard internet available for international flights. Simply log in to the convenient Wi-Fi using
your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to browse the web, check emails, and perform other tasks. All passengers holding economy tickets for
international flights are permitted two checked bags weighing up to approximately 50 pounds
(23 kilograms) each. For economy domestic travelers, one bag weighing
approximately 44 pounds (20 kilograms) can be checked for free. Improving the economy flight experience is
hard for any airline, but Japan Airlines really succeeded in this front. Don’t forget to like and subscribe and until
next time.
