South Pacific: Best Premium Economy Seats & Deals

Best Experience, Best Fares, Lowest Mileage Cost.

Last month we analyzed the best Premium Economy opportunities to Europe, and in the October issue FCF did Asia. This month we take our awards show to the South Pacific. And here they are (drumroll):

• Best PE experience: Air New Zealand and Qantas.
• Lowest PE fares: American, starting at $1,596 on Los Angeles-Sydney and Los Angeles-Auckland starting at $1,603.

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 as well as American and Delta—while the latter (United among them) are offering nothing more than a bit more legroom at the front of the economy cabin.

The Best PE Elite Airlines to South Pacific

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

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.
MILEAGE AWARD COST 135,000. Business Class is 25,000 miles more.
CASH Varies by route. Vancouver-Sydney starts at US$1,850 versus US$5,344 in Business Class, and Vancouver-Brisbane costs US$1,851 (Business Class is US$4,952).

Air New Zealand
SEAT 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.
MILEAGE AWARD COST Varies by cost of ticket.
CASH Fares start at $1,794 on Los Angeles-Auckland, versus $4,078 in Business Class, and on San Francisco-Sydney (connecting in Auckland) at $2,149, compared to $4,904 in Business Class.

American
SEAT 19 inches wide, 38-inch pitch, 6-inch recline, 15.6-inch touch-screen monitor, foot, leg and head rests, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service.
MILEAGE AWARD COST While it offers a PE Elite seat, AA currently does not offer Premium Economy mileage awards.
CASH Varies by route: Los Angeles-Auckland (service ends in March) fares start at $1,603 versus $5,717 in Business Class; LAX-Sydney at $1,596 versus $4,895.

Qantas (New Premium Economy Seat Offered on B787-9)
SEAT 22.8 inches wide, 38-inch pitch, 9.5-inch recline. 13.3-inch monitor, leg and foot rest, headrest with integrated pillow, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service. (First U.S. route to get the new seat is Los Angeles-Melbourne starting Dec. 15 on QF96 and QF95 flights.)
MILEAGE AWARD COST Cost varies by route, as mileage program is based on flight distance. Los Angeles-Melbourne is 144,000 points in PE, and 192,000 points in Business Class.
CASH Fares start at $2,246 on Los Angeles-Melbourne route, compared to $5,084 in Business Class.

Virgin Australia
SEAT 19.5 inches wide, 41-inch pitch, 9-inch recline. 10.6-inch monitor, leg and foot rest, headrest, amenity kit, and upgraded meal service (Champagne cocktail and canapés served before take-off, and self-serve pantry with beverages and light refreshments).
MILEAGE AWARD COST No U.S. mileage program offered.
CASH Fares start at $2,196 on Los Angeles-Sydney, compared to $4,895 in Business Class, and on LAX-Melbourne start at $2,194 compared to $4,882 in Business Class.