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How’s this for your next flight: drinking wine out of glassware, enjoying a three-course meal and spreading out in a nearly 20-inch-wide seat. Turns out, that’s what you can get in economy on Emirates Airlines—sort of.
Emirates is refurbishing 81 Boeing 777s as part of its $5 billion retrofit program to give a “taste of luxury travel” with new design details and the addition of 24 Premium Economy seats—all of which you can currently find on flights out of Chicago, Boston, Dallas-Forth Worth, Seattle, Miami to Bogota and Newark to Athens.
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In a world where airplane seat sizes are shrinking and a checked bag costs half a Benjamin, air travel has become increasingly difficult and uncomfortable for those of us who can’t travel in first or business class. But Emirates raises the bar sky-high without the luxury price tag in Premium Economy. Last week, I was invited to fly the Newark to Athens route in Premium Economy, which initially launched in February, and found that this “taste of luxury” is enough to make a difference. So before you book your next long-haul flight, let me tell you what the experience was like first-hand.
Quick boarding and upgraded amenities
Newark’s Terminal B was extremely busy on Wednesday night, so when I heard the airline attendant call Premium Economy seats to board—right after they called for the first and business class—I was delighted. Typically, I am one of the very last to board a flight and the chance to settle in before the mad rush for the cabin was gratifying.
Immediately upon stepping into the hull, I noticed a massive difference in the feel of the aircraft. It was like entering a room rather than a cave-like airplane, with wood grain details and a high ceiling dotted with LED stars and atmospheric blue light. The flight crew in their smart uniforms were quick to welcome me and explain all the offerings that come with my Premium Economy seat—a welcome drink (juice or water), a three-course dinner with wine (or another alcoholic drink), breakfast a few hours before landing, as well as hot, lemon-scented towels and explained how to recline. My seat also had a pillow and blanket waiting for me. Soon after that, I opened my amenity bag made from recycled materials that came with a toothbrush and toothpaste, an eye mask, grippy socks and earplugs. I was ready for takeoff.
The complimentary amenities were nice enough, but I was more happy with the amount of room I had to stretch out. When I sit for long periods of time, my right knee aches (depending on the theater, sitting for Broadway shows can be uncomfortable). In this seat, I had enough space to stretch out and even cross my legs without touching the seat in front of me and didn’t feel like I was sausage in a casing, which I’ve found to be the case even in business class on another airline.
Emirates aimed to make Premium Economy as comfortable as possible by providing each traveler a 19.5-inch-wide seat with a pitch of up to 40 inches, a recline of 8 inches as well as a calf and a foot rest, getting rid of the need to bring one of those controversial foot hammocks. The headrest can be adjusted six different ways, though I’d still recommend bringing your own travel pillow to support your neck. I was able to sleep somewhat comfortably for about four hours of my nearly 10-hour trip thanks to these adjustments but it does not lay flat like a Business or First Class seat can, so hedge your expectations—it’s still airplane sleep.
It’s also worth mentioning that Premium Economy’s checked baggage allowance is two pieces of luggage—up to 50 pounds each! For once, I didn’t worry about having to take something out of my heavy bag.
The best food in the sky
As always, Emirates pleases my palate when it comes to its regionally-inspired, chef-curated, halal meals. Each class has a different menu and Premium Economy’s was the best I’ve had 43,100 feet in the air. Premium Economy offered three wines: Domain Chadon Brut 2018, Riesling Kiedrich August Kessler 2023 and Chateau Fombrauge 2012. Dinner included a Cobb salad to start and an entree: seared cod filet or butter chicken. Dessert was an eggless toffee apple pecan crisp with salted caramel sauce. I chose the Brut and the butter chicken, which was a winning pairing. I loved it. The toffee apple pecan crisp was a delight. Breakfast, several hours later, was seasonal fruit, yogurt and granola as well as a California omelette. All of it was served on Royal Doulton China tableware with stainless steel cutlery. Plastic waste be damned!
On top of it all, as a treat before landing, the crew brought by a small dish of “luxury chocolates,” which hit the spot, especially the chocolate and ginger-spiced sweet.
Seamless access to Greece and its islands
Emirates has daily service to Athens—a direct flight that takes nine hours and 10 minutes. I left on a Wednesday night and by the next afternoon, I was checking into a hotel with a view of the Acropolis with a long weekend ahead of me, including a night in Santorini. To make it easier to island hop, there’s also a deal with Aegean Airlines to seamlessly get you to the Cyclades. You no longer need to grab your suitcase at baggage claim, drop your bag and go back through security. Both airlines now forward luggage to the other when you’re heading to or from the islands.
While in Athens, I took a private tour of The Acropolis Museum, the Pantheon and other structures on the Acropolis, walked through the area’s gorgeous Anafiotika neighborhood and shopped Plaka, Athens’ historic shopping district where I bought sandals and souvenirs for my family.
Sunday, I took Aegean Airlines to Santorini, where I stayed and dined at Perivolas, one of the island’s most incredible cave hotels, cooked a fantastic homemade tomato-based, multi-course lunch with flowing wine on a local farm, Anydro, and saw ancient ruins in Akrotiri.
Throughout this trip, I found that traveling and experiencing Greece does not necessarily mean a difficult and uncomfortable journey or maxing out your credit card anymore. While prices depend on demand, the market and a lot of other factors, currently for May, a seat in Premium Economy starts at $2,400 and grows in price through the summer, which is the high tourist season for Greece. When it comes to these long-haul flights, I’d rather shell out a little more to be comfortable these days (cue the TikTok meme: “I’m just not meant for an uncomfortable life anymore”) but I’m not ready to spring for Business or First, so Emirates’ Premium Economy checks all my boxes.