How to Score a Free Upgrade on American to Hawaii Plus a Low-Cost United Option for Transcon Flights.
Dorothy Lambert’s friend Gwynneth is always bragging about how thrifty she is. “Oh, you don’t have your own herb garden?” or, “You don’t unplug your appliances at night to save money on electricity leakage?!”
“No, Gwynneth, I don’t,” says Dorothy, “but I am flying in Premium Economy to Hawaii for less than what I’d pay to fly in coach. Oh, and by the way, that’s TRUE Premium Economy too, the same as they have on international flights.”
That sure stops Gwynneth in her tracks. So how does Dorothy do it? Lean in a little closer, we have good news regarding Premium Economy.
Quick Philosophical Sidetrack
FCF is for the FREE or LOW-COST UPGRADE. If this were an election, we’d have it embroidered on the front of our baseball cap.
We live to deliver you ways to move up a cabin without paying: A) anything more (or even paying less), or B) not a lot more. Economy class is the pits and we never want to be there. But, while we’re generally all about Business and First Class, there are certain times when it just makes sense to consider Premium Economy:
- On a family vacation. (Do the kids really need to fly up front?)
- When you want to give your employees a perk.
- Business travelers: When sleep is secondary to working on your laptop or when company travel policy or client’s budget forbids Business Class.
Which brings us to American Airlines.
Premium Economy on American Airlines
AA is leading the way among U.S. airlines in rolling out an international Premium Economy product. It launched its new PE seats on its first 787-9 in October 2016, and the airline began a PE retrofit program for its other long-haul aircraft in 2017.
American only sells Premium Economy tickets with an international Premium Economy seat on three domestic routes: from Dallas to Hawaii (Honolulu, Kona, and Maui), with fares starting at around $1,100+ round-trip from Dallas.
That’s pretty good considering it’s about 16+ hours of flying round-trip, and coach (main cabin) starts at $888–so Premium Economy upgrades come out to be only $15 more per-flight hour. Business Class ranges from $2,000 to $2,500.
Not flying from Dallas, and need to make a connection anyway? Consider a routing via Dallas.
So Where Does the Free Upgrade Bit Happen?
Let’s look specifically at Dallas to Honolulu. The lowest Premium coach fare is $1,128, versus Economy at $888, a difference of $120 one-way.
But if you add American’s Main Cabin Extra for $210 round-trip (up to 6 inches extra legroom, priority boarding, and complimentary beer and wine) to the coach fare, the price goes to $1,098, not including a checked bag or food (which can add another $80 round-trip), bringing the total to about $1,178. So you’re still in a coach seat but you’re paying $50 more than Premium Economy. So booking the PE seat is officially a No-Brainer.
Which brings us to United Airlines. It’s not as amazingly lucrative, but still very enticing, when all else fails.
DOMESTIC Premium Economy on United
United is currently rolling out its international Premium Economy product, Premium Plus, across its long-haul fleet and has started selling PE as of October on some transcontinental routes, including Los Angeles and San Francisco to Newark.
Like American, United also only sells Premium Economy tickets on domestic flights with an international Premium Economy seat, in this case the transcon routes. These PE fares start at $815 round-trip. Compare this to United’s Business Class fares, which start at $1,200 to $1,300, and their economy seats, which range from $270 to $400.
Upgrading to PE on United
Let’s look at Los Angeles to Newark. The lowest round-trip PE fare is $815, and coach runs $267 round-trip. When you add United’s “Bundle Offer 1” to the coach ticket (bundle offers, which vary by flight, route, and date of travel, are displayed after you select your flights in “Review trip itinerary”), you get extra amenities. When you also purchase “Economy Plus” (extra legroom and seating closer to the front) and a checked bag round-trip, the price comes to $537, not including meals, which can add another $20 round-trip. All of that brings the total to about $557. So, in this case, the difference between coach with some extras and PE is only $129 each way.
Premium Economy on Delta: Forget about it. Delta is not offering its international PE product, Premium Select, on any domestic routes.