United Airlines recently announced the launch of their Premium Economy cabin. Premium Economy seats are currently available in a few aircraft and are currently sold as Economy Plus seats. You can now book Premium Economy seats for flights from March 30, 2019, onwards.

Premium Economy will be available on United’s flagship Boeing 777-300ER.

It will also be available on select Boeing 777-200ER aircraft which features the new Polaris Business class cabin.

The new Boeing 787-10 aircraft also features a Premium Economy cabin.

What does United Airlines Premium Economy offer?

It is sort of a standard Premium Economy seat. You get all the standard features: increased leg space, more seat width, enhanced meal service, bigger IFE, adjustable headrest and footrest. United Airlines will also offer a Saks Fifth avenue blanket and a pillow for Premium Economy passengers. Apart from this passengers will also receive a noise reducing headphone. The Premium Economy seats also feature individual power and USB outlets.

What is the pricing like in terms of cash and miles?

United Airlines currently operates a Boeing 777-300ER on Newark to Mumbai route. The 77W features a total of 24 Premium Economy seats spread across 3 rows in a 2-4-2 configuration.

Premium Economy is bookable for INR 1.43 lakhs (USD 2039) roundtrip from Mumbai to Newark. It includes 2 checked in bags (23kg each). You can also buy a pass to the United Club lounge at Newark for approximately INR 2500 (USD 35).

You can even snag a Premium Economy seat for 150k miles + USD 37.73 in fees.

The good thing is as an economy passenger you can upgrade to either United Premium Economy or directly to Polaris Business class using your Global Premier Upgrade. Some carriers don’t allow passengers to directly upgrade to Business class from Economy if there is a Premium Economy cabin.

Bottomline

United Airlines is the last of the three legacy American carriers to introduce a Premium Economy cabin. A good thing for long-haul passengers as it sort of bridges the gap between Economy and Business class. This is a first on India-USA nonstop route since the only other carrier Air India doesn’t offer one. Now let’s see if they introduce the new Polaris Business class and Premium Economy cabin on New Delhi to Newark route also.

Will you be trying out the United Airlines new Premium Economy cabin anytime soon?