Best Premium Economy to Europe: Award Season (Part 2)

Best Experience, Best Fares, Lowest Mileage Cost—And Where the Free Upgrades Are

Last month we analyzed the best Premium Economy opportunities to Asia. This month we take the awards show to the continent with some decidedly non-European (or even U.S.) winners. And here they are (drumroll):

• Best PE experience: Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines.
• Lowest PE fares: Aeroflot, starting at $937 to Moscow and SAS starting at $1,027 to Copenhagen or Stockholm.
• Lowest mileage award rate: Virgin Atlantic, 35,000 miles round-trip to the UK.

So let’s take a short walk along the U.S./Canada-Europe routes. Last month we reviewed airlines to Asia with Premium Economy, all of which you’ll find here; and coming soon we’ll have a South Pacific report to ponder.

Let’s recap the show so far:

Premium Economy has an A-list (PE Elite) and a B-list (PE Lite).

The former refers to airlines that have created a separate cabin and an upgraded seat—among them, many international airlines and a line-up that now includes American and Delta—while the latter (United among them) are putting in wooden performances, having just put in a bit more legroom at the front of economy.

Mileage Award Cost Difference: Economy vs. PE

Flying to/from Europe allows you to take advantage of award-chart anomalies. Having the right credit cards, meaning those from Amex Rewards, Chase, Citi ThankYou, or Starwood, enables you to take advantage of those anomalies.

It means you can sometimes book a PE Elite award at or less than the cost of economy (that’s like a free upgrade) to Europe.

An Example: On New York-London, Virgin Atlantic charges as little as 35,000 miles for PE Elite (United charges 60,000 for economy). This is one of the lowest PE Elite awards to Europe from the U.S. (The second best is on British Airways, starting at 52,000 miles on NYC-London.) It costs even less if you use Starwood points: only 30,000 Starpoints—30,000 fewer miles for PE Elite than for economy (again, think free upgrade). In other words, if you earn miles/points via a Starwood card and book via Virgin Atlantic, as opposed to earning with a United credit card, you’re getting a free upgrade. (Standing ovation.)

The Best PE Elite Airlines to Europe

Here’s a rundown—the seat and the cost to use miles or cash.

Aeroflot
SEAT Available on B777 aircraft: 20 inches wide, 38-inch pitch, 123-degree recline, 10.6-inch monitor, footrest, headrest, amenity kit, and meals from the Business Class menu.	[caption id="attachment_40122" align="aligncenter" width="500"]Aeroflot Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST To Moscow: 90,000 miles. Business Class is 20,000 miles more.
CASH Fares to Moscow start at $937 from New York, compared to $2,517 in Business Class.

Air Canada
SEAT Varies by aircraft: 18 to 20 inches wide, 38-inch pitch, 7- to 8-inch recline, 10.4- to 11-inch touch-screen (8.9 inches on the A330-333), adjustable headrest, foot bar, amenity kit (international flights), and upgraded meal service.	[caption id="attachment_26049" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Air Canada Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST 75,000 to 90,000. Business Class is 25,000 to 35,000 miles more.
CASH Varies by route. Vancouver-London starts at US$1,736 versus US$5,455 in Business Class, and Toronto-Paris costs US$1,512 (Business Class is US$4,619). In short, PE is a decent value.

Air France (New Premium Economy Seat Offered on B787-9)
SEAT Based on the B787: 19 inches wide, 38-inch pitch, 130-degrees recline, 11-inch monitor, calf rest and footrest, headrest, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service (complimentary drinks, Ice cream, fresh products, mini sandwiches (self-service buffet), a box of sweet and savory snacks).	[caption id="attachment_40055" align="aligncenter" width="685"] Air France Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST To Paris: 100,000 miles. Business Class is 25,000 miles more.
CASH Fares start at $1,395 on NYC-Paris and $1,649 from Los Angeles, compared to $2,535 in Business Class from NYC and $3,360 from Los Angeles.

Air New Zealand
SEAT Only one route (LAX-LON), and it uses a B777-300: 19.3 inches wide (with a 5-inch wide armrest), 41-inch pitch, 9-inch recline, 11-inch touchscreen monitor, leg and foot rest, adjustable winged headrest, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service.	[caption id="attachment_16937" align="aligncenter" width="698"] Air New Zealand Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST The cost varies by value of paid ticket.
CASH Fares start at $1,620 on Los Angeles-London, compared to $4,078 in Business Class.

Alitalia
SEAT 19.2 inches wide, 37 to 38-inch pitch, 120-degree recline, 10.4 to 10.6-inch monitor, calf rest and footrest, headrest, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service.	[caption id="attachment_40050" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Alitalia Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST To Italy: 65,000 miles round-trip. Business Class is 15,000 more miles. (Valid till Dec. 31.)
CASH Fares on the New York-Rome route start at $1,438 and Miami-Rome starts at $1,435, compared to $2,653 in Business Class from NYC and $3,199 from Miami.

American
SEAT 19-inch seat width, 38-inch seat pitch, 6-inch recline, 15.6-inch touch-screen monitor, foot, leg and head rests, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service.	[caption id="attachment_34250" align="aligncenter" width="780"]American Airlines Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST While it offers a PE Elite seat, AA currently does not offer Premium Economy mileage awards.
CASH Varies by route: Miami-Paris PE fares start at $1,116 versus $2,527 in Business Class; Dallas-Frankfurt at $1,768 versus $3,958. PE is a good value. (For more on AA’s PE Elite routes and fares, go here.)

British Airways: BA is currently upgrading its Premium Economy product, so it offers two types of Premium Economy seats. The new cabin is available now on BA's following aircraft; A380, B787, B777-300ER. Still being refurbished are the B777-200 and B767. Seat data below is based on the new seat.
SEAT 18.5 inches wide, 38-inch pitch, 8-inch recline. 10.5-inch IFE monitor, lumbar support, head rest and foot rest, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service (lunch or dinner, a choice of two of the meals featured on the business class menu and complimentary bar).	[caption id="attachment_40046" align="aligncenter" width="500"] British Airways Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST To London varies by route and season: 52,000 to 80,000 from New York and 65,000 to 100,000 from Los Angeles. Business Class is 40,000 to 60,000 miles more.
CASH Fares to London start at $1,216 from New York and $1,341 from Los Angeles, compared to $3,575 in Business Class from NYC and $4,108 from LAX. In short, PE is a good value.

Delta
SEAT Will start offering Delta’s A350 on the Detroit-Amsterdam route March 31, 2018: 19-inch seat width, 38-inch pitch, 7-inch recline, 13.3-inch screen, foot, leg and head rests, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service.	[caption id="attachment_28851" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Delta Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST 110,000 miles; Business Class is 140,000 miles. (Delta does not publish a mileage chart, at time of publishing this was the lowest mileage rate we could find.)
CASH Lowest fares start at $1,649 on the Detroit-Amsterdam route, versus $2,919 in Business Class.

EL AL
SEAT 19.5 inches wide, 38-inch pitch, 8-inch recline, 13.3-inch monitor, calf rest and footrest, headrest, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service.	[caption id="attachment_40051" align="aligncenter" width="792"] EL AL Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST One route only, New York-Tel Aviv: 2,800 to 3,200 points. Business Class is 5,000 points.
CASH Fares start at $1,748 from New York, compared to $3,340 in Business Class.

Lot Polish
SEAT 19.5 inches wide, 38-inch pitch, 132 degree (6-inch) recline, 10.6-inch monitor, footrests, leg support and adjustable headrests, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service, access to LOT’s Business Lounge in Warsaw.	[caption id="attachment_16567" align="aligncenter" width="980"]Lot Polish Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST To Warsaw: 80,000 miles. Business Class is 25,000 miles more.
CASH Fares start at $2,112 on New York-Warsaw route, compared to $4,219 in Business Class.

Lufthansa
SEAT 19 inches wide, 38-inch pitch, 7-inch recline, 11 to 12-inch monitor, footrest, headrest, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service, Business Class lounge access for $35.	[caption id="attachment_16567" align="aligncenter" width="980"]Lufthansa Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST To Germany: 80,000 miles. Business Class is 25,000 miles more.
CASH Fares start at $1,304 on the NYC-Frankfurt route and $2,049 from Los Angeles, compared to $2,300 from NYC and $4,600 from LAX in Business Class.

OpenSkies
SEAT 20 inches wide, 47-inch pitch, 130-degree recline, personal iPad, calf rest and footrest, headrest, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service.	[caption id="attachment_16622" align="aligncenter" width="818"]OpenSkies Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST 80,000 miles. Business Class is 25,000 miles more.
CASH Fares start at $1,620 on Los Angeles-London, compared to $4,078 in Business Class.

Scandinavian Air
SEAT 18 inches wide, 38-inch pitch, 7-inch recline, 12-inch monitor, footrest, headrest, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service, use the Business Class check-in, SAS Business Lounges (SAS operated only) from the U.S. in Newark and Chicago.	[caption id="attachment_40049" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Scandinavian Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST 80,000 miles. Business Class is 20,000 miles more.
CASH Fares start at $1,027 on Newark-Stockholm/Copenhagen routes, and $1,223 Los Angeles-Stockholm, compared to $2,900 from New York and $3,194 from Los Angeles in Business Class.

Singapore
SEAT 19.5 inches wide, 38-inch pitch, 8-inch recline, 13.3-inch HD touchscreen monitor, calf rest and footrest, headrest, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service (book via ‘Book the Cook’).	[caption id="attachment_26614" align="aligncenter" width="809"]Singapore Airlines Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST Only two routes: New York-Frankfurt and Houston-Manchester are 90,000 miles (Business 130,000).
CASH Fares start at $1,273 on NYC-Frankfurt and $1,778 on Houston-Manchester, compared to $2,503 in Business Class from NYC and $3,858 from Houston. Your choice: Save up to $2,080 (54%) over Business Class or 40,000 (31% fewer) miles.

Virgin Atlantic
SEAT Up to 21 inches wide, 39-inch pitch, 16 degrees of recline, 11-inch monitor, footrest, headrest, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service.	[caption id="attachment_16997" align="aligncenter" width="287"]Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy[/caption]
MILEAGE AWARD COST To UK varies by route and season: 35,000 to 55,000 miles round-trip standard season; peak season is 20,000 miles more. Business Class is 95,000 to 135,000 miles.
CASH Fares to London start at $1,215 from New York and $1,116 from Los Angeles, compared to $3,501 in Business Class from NYC and $3,901 from LAX. In short, PE is a good value.