In August, Alitalia, a Delta SkyTeam alliance partner, unveils Classica Plus on its daily A330 from New York (JFK) and Miami to Milan. The seats, arranged 2-3-2, are 20.1 inches wide, with 38 inches of pitch and 120-degree recline, have laptop power, and a 10.6-inch LCD with noise-cancelling headphones. Premium Economy perks include a dedicated check-in counter and a Business Class amenity kit. (Meal service is economy class.)
Air Canada (Star Alliance) has recycled some old Executive Class (refurbished North American Business Class) seats into “Comfort Plus,” which will be offered on B767-300s flying from Montreal and Toronto to Athens, Barcelona, and Dublin between Jun. 3 and Oct. 18. The seats, in a 2-2-2 configuration, are 23.5 inches wide (equal to many airlines’ Business Class seats), with 38 inches of pitch and a 110-degree recline. The rest of the cabin service is economy class.
Cost and Booking Procedure
Alitalia: The booking codes are A and P, and the lowest fare (A) usually requires a 21-day advance purchase. Sample fare comparison: A Premium Economy New York- Milan fare is about $1,549 (plus taxes), for travel in mid- September. That’s about $1,000 more than a discounted economy fare, but $1,624 less than the lowest 50-day-advance Business Class fare.
Air Canada: Comfort Plus can be booked only after purchase of an economy ticket, for an additional CAD $249, one-way, by calling Air Canada’s reservation line at (888) 247-2262.