Premium economy class is often seen as a middle
ground between the affordability of economy class and the luxury of business class. It promises travellers an upgraded experience
with more comfort and space, without a crazy price tag. However, not all airlines succeed in delivering
this premium economy experience that lives up to the expectations. Today we'll explore our Six worst premium
economy airlines and reveal how these airlines have fallen short in 2023. At number one we have British Airways, which
unfortunately ranks low because of its old washed up looks. That having said, with the premium economy,
you will get a some extra leg space and a nice amenity kit with some noise cancelling
headphones. However, lounge access, alcoholic beverages
and Wi-Fi are not included in their premium economy class, which is a bit of a bummer. The seats comfort and staff service are all
decent on British Airways, but these two factors are fixed for each class, including economy
class, so we won’t be taking these factors into account. So, let’s start with the true reason why
British Airways is on this list. It’s just plainly outdated. No pun intended. From the interior seats to the in-flight entertainment,
it’s just not something worth paying for in 2023. A few planes still even feature the original
seats from the year 1999 when the company was first introduced. Most planes however are equipped with their
newer seats on retrofitted aircrafts, which are slightly more tolerable. With such longevity, the British Airways premium
economy soft product has been cut down to bare bones leaving only the most cost-effective
amenities. And please let’s not start on the awful
in-flight entertainment screens. The software on these small screens is outdated,
with response times taking several seconds after registering a touch on the touchscreen. So what’s our verdict? After some comparisons, British Airways’
Premium Economy class tends to be more expensive than the Premium Economy option on other airlines. Therefore, it might be more advantageous to
explore alternative airlines for an upgrade. Our opinion would be that, If it comes to
premium economy on British Airways, the value for your money just isn’t there enough. Let’s continue with Aeroflot Russian Airlines, Russia’s Aeroflot's premium economy is no
exception when it comes to bad premium economy class, Let's start with a brief note of context
here: Currently, Aeroflot's airline itself, is facing
challenges due to sanctions imposed by both the European Union and the United States. These sanctions have significantly impacted
their ability to procure Airbus and Boeing aircrafts, as well as essential aircraft parts,
resulting in reduced access to these critical resources and maintenance issues. It's essential to understand that these circumstances
are beyond their control, and there's limited action they can take in response to these
sanctions. Despite these challenges, Aeroflot continues
to operate, ignoring potential safety concerns. Because of this, Aeroflot suffers from an
aging fleet, and at the moment there is not much they can do about it. The aging aircrafts, affects the overall travel
experience, including the in-flight entertainment systems and the seats, which are outdated. They also not only lack comfort but also come
up short on amenities compared to what you'd expect in a standard economy seat. The alcohol selection is very limited, and
there's an unusually large premium economy cabin with 48 seats, which can affect the
overall experience negatively. Additionally, the headphones provided are
below average on quality, and the airline's website can be misleading, especially when
it suggests the possibility of lie-flat sleeping, which doesn't align with the reality of the
seating arrangement. Aeroflot's customer service, especially in
the past, was often criticized for being inconsistent and sometimes unfriendly. Passengers reported issues with communication,
delays, and lost baggage. This has significantly improved in recent
years. The airline is actively working on enhancing
its customer service standards and addressing past shortcomings. The food however is mediocre and you can expect
the same options as the economy class. Even without counting in the potential safety
hazards, All of these factors put Aeroflot in the category of our worst Premium Economy
options, emphasizing on the importance of researching and selecting your own Premium
Economy experience carefully to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable flight. Up next we have TUI. When considering an upgrade to Premium Economy
with TUI, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons. Although the premium economy seats aren’t
that bad, the food and drinks served on board as well as entertainment are. The only model on the TUI fleet that has an
entertainment option available is the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The rest of the TUI plane models completely
lack in entertainment options, even on long-haul flight. So, when booking, pay extra attention to this
little detail. That having said, there are some benefits
in booking premium economy, like priority check-in and boarding, selecting your preferred
seat, mood lighting and dimmable windows. You can also expect a larger seat of 36 to
38 inches compared to the regular 33 inch seat you get in Economy. You also get access to TUI premium club lounges,
but only at UK and Irish airports. Overall, we think that TUI's Premium Economy
class, while not necessarily bad, doesn't offer substantial advantages beyond the extra
seat space and the benefits of priority check-in and boarding are standard for most premium
economy offerings across multiple airlines. So, our advice is: If your primary motivation
for considering Premium Economy is to have more legroom, it's worth checking if you can
simply choose a seat with extra space. Additional legroom seats are typically cheaper
and can save you some bucks, while still offering priority check-in and boarding. Flying premium economy might become worth
it a bit more when traveling from UK or Irish airports, because of the additional lounge
access you'll get. This is a perk worth considering if you value
a quieter and more comfortable pre-flight experience. Moving on to China Southern Airlines China Southern Airline is China’s largest
airline, and with a 4-Star Airline score from the Skytrax awards, you would expect some
quality. Although the airline is decent with good staff
and comfortable seats, the premium economy seats are a huge disappointment. But before we start with the pain points,
there were a few benefits to this flight. The shell-style seating, which prevents passengers
in front from reclining into your space, was a positive feature. Additionally, the inclusion of slippers as
an amenity is a small luxury you rarely find even in many business class cabins. However, these highlights were overshadowed
by several shortcomings. The in-flight entertainment is horrible for
non-Chinese speaking customers and lacked diversity in options, especially for passengers
who do not speak Chinese. Additionally, the headphones provided are
low-quality. For instance, during a long-haul flight, one
of the main courses might be a tiny turkey sandwich, wrapped in plastic, and provided
without a tray or box. It's especially disappointing when you consider
the exceptional culinary experiences that China Southern Airlines could potentially
offer through their renowned Chinese Kitchen. The missed opportunity to showcase their culinary
expertise leaves passengers wanting for more. With some improvements, the airline could
elevate the dining experience significantly, matching the high expectations associated
with premium travel On the positive side, when we compared the
miles and the price of the flight, we found that this airline offers relatively affordable
fares in comparison to other carriers on this list. However, in our opinion, the upgrade to premium
economy simply doesn't provide enough value to justify the additional cost. Overall, this premium economy experience with
China Southern Airlines fell far short of expectations, with price being its primary
redeeming quality. While the airline boasts good staff and comfortable
seats, the premium economy seats left much to be desired, since these two factors are
also available with regular economy. The shell-style seating and complimentary
slippers were notable but overshadowed by significant drawbacks. Therefore, our advice would be to carefully
assess whether the premium economy upgrade justifies the additional cost. While the affordability may appeal to some,
it's essential to manage expectations regarding the overall premium experience with China
Southern Airlines. Let’s continue with Norwegian Airlines. When considering premium economy with Norwegian
Air, it's not necessarily the seat where it falls short. It's important to note that Norwegian Air
premium economy experience is characterized more by what it lacks than what it provides,
it’s like you are paying for premium economy without receiving any of the exclusive benefits. One notable absence is that the airline doesn't
quite elevate the in-flight dining experience as you might expect in a premium cabin. Unlike some other premium economy offerings,
you won't find a significant enhancement in food and beverage options when flying with
Norwegian. So, if gourmet meals and a diverse culinary
experience are high on your list, this airline may not fully satisfy your expectations. Another missing feature is the absence of
priority luggage service. This means that your checked bags won't enjoy
the advantage of being among the first to arrive at the baggage claim, which has become
the standard for most premium economy airlines nowadays. If you're keen on a swift and hassle-free
exit from the airport, this oversight could be frustrating. The third missing feature is the opportunity
to accumulate valuable frequent flyer miles, a significant drawback for travellers who
prioritize loyalty rewards. If you're someone who values building up miles
for future travel, Norwegian Air Shuttle might not align with your preferences. The last option that’s missing is that Norwegian
Air Shuttle doesn't provide passengers with an amenity kit filled with essential travel
items. This absence leaves travellers without those
convenient comfort and convenience items that can enhance the overall premium travel experience,
such as eye masks, earplugs, or toiletries. In summary, unless your primary concern when
flying is having extra space and a reclining seat, investing in premium economy with Norwegian
Air Shuttle may not be particularly worthwhile. The absence of these premium perks and amenities
might lead you to question the added value of this class, especially if you're seeking
a comprehensive and elevated premium travel experience that goes beyond merely comfortable
seating. The question you should be asking yourself
is, if it’s worth paying extra money, primarily for a larger seat with more space and recline
without any other benefits. It's essential to consider your priorities
and preferences when deciding whether Norwegian Air Shuttle's premium economy aligns with
your travel needs. Before we reveal our final pick for one of
the worst premium economy airline, let's take a moment to give a not so honourable mention
to an airline that didn’t make the cut, but still left us disappointed. It’s the United States based budget airline
Spirit Airlines. When it comes to premium economy, not all
airlines offer the same experience, and Spirit Airlines. version of it isn't great. Imagine sitting in a seat that's 18.5 inches
wide and you paid extra! It's pretty uncomfortable. For your reference, the average economy seats
on other airlines are usually the same width, about 17 to 18 inches wide. Premium economy is supposed to give you more
space, but Spirit Airlines doesn't do that. Adding to the discomfort, the seats don't
recline much, so you can't really relax. That's a letdown because premium economy should
be about comfort. And here's the kicker, Spirit Airlines' premium
economy seats can cost between 12 and 250 US dollars, yet aside from the exclusive seats
with more space than the regular ones, you will receive the exact same treatment as other
economy class passengers. In summary, Spirit Airlines premium economy
falls short in various aspects: narrow seats, limited recline, and it’s exclusiveness. It's important to note that Spirit Airlines
is a budget airline, which is why it wasn't included in the main list. While their premium economy may not meet the
standards of higher-end airlines, it's also relatively more affordable. When considering Spirit Airlines, it's crucial
to weigh the value for your money. You might pay less compared to premium offerings
on other airlines, but you can expect fewer perks in return. So our advice: if you're seeking a more comfortable
premium economy experience, exploring alternatives among non-budget carriers could be a better
option. Now, for our final selection among our worst
premium economy class airlines, where we considered the value for your money is Brussels Airlines. The premium economy class of Brussels Airlines
consists of a good and comfortable seat, but that’s also where it ends. The seats offer a generous seven-inch recline,
providing a level of comfort that is better than the average premium economy seat. However, Brussels Airlines doesn’t perform
that well when talking about the food and beverage service. The premium economy meals closely resemble
the offerings available in the economy class, with an appetizer being it’s main distinction. The food is very mediocre, repetitive and
could definitely use some refining. Access to the Belgium bar is not included
as it is in business class, but you can order a nice Belgian beer for free upon request. This is a nice additional perk of their premium
economy class that sets them apart from other airlines. The amenities and in-flight entertainment
offered on this flight are standard and align with expectations for a premium cabin experience. While they meet the baseline requirements,
there is certainly room for improvement. The in-flight entertainment could benefit
from a wider selection of options to enhance the passenger experience further. So, we have finally gone through our selections
for the worst airlines in 2023. It's important to note that these are our
picks based on specific criteria, and your own priorities and preferences may differ. Keep in mind that the list is not in any particular
order, and the airlines mentioned have their unique drawbacks. When considering an upgrade to premium economy,
it's crucial to do your own research and evaluate which aspects of the experience matter most
to you. Every traveller has different needs and expectations
when it comes to air travel, and what might be a deal-breaker for one person might not
be as significant for another. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure you have
a comfortable and enjoyable journey, whether in economy, premium economy, or any other
class. By staying informed and making well-informed
choices, you can enhance your travel experience and make the most of your time in the skies. If you enjoyed this video consider liking
and subscribing to help our channel grow. Safe travels!
