Premium economy seats

[kinkacruiser]

I have flown economy Syd-Papeete and it wasn't too bad comfort wise, as I could move to a vacant few seats for a lie down. For those who have travelled premium ecomony how does it fare as a mid-range seat re price and added comfort. I haven't t looked at prices yet, but have a long haul flight Syd or Bne - San Francisco next year.
Thanks

 

[Skyring]

I payed for Y return SYD-SFO in October and was pleasantly surprised that my seat mapped into PE both ways. Must be the WP talking, I guess.

I actually walked past my seat - 35A - in SYD and into the Y cabin before I realised the row numbers were too high and turned back.

Two by two on the window sides. About as wide as J, but nowhere near the legroom. A lot more room than Y, and every centimetre is precious. I won't say I was comfortable on the overnight flights, but I managed to grab some sleep without drugs.

I had a row to myself on the flight over, and it was very pleasant to have uninterrupted aisle access - and room to stow my extra kit. But even with a companion on the flight back it was no chore.

The meal (and drink) service was regular Y, but I wasn't paying anything extra, so I didn't mind. I believe that if you book and pay for PE you get better food. Something in between Y and J.

In fact, I was paying less than regular Y - the fares were on special and I saved a few hundred dollars off the rack rate.

I don't know if I'd actually pay for PE. A lot more comfortable than Y, but I still couldn't get anywhere near the recline I need for easy restful sleep. J or even F for that.

 

[drewbles]

Having flown all 4 classes on QF, I'd say Y+ is actually pretty damn good. I get a better nights sleep on a Y+ seat than I do on a skybed (I'm 6'4" and unless I have row 16 upper deck, forget it - I'm just too tall to lie flat with the pitch they provide).

My main complaint about Y+ is if you're travelling without a companion and have someone sitting next to you. When everyone is asleep/resting, and seats are reclined, the available space to anyone seated on a window or middle seat to get out is pretty restricted. The hard-shell seat design makes it difficult to shuffle past quietly too.

The Y+ product on QF (hard - seat product) is IMHO, far ahead of the BA offering also. If I had the cash, i'd happily fly it rather than QF Y. It's a far far more comfortable way to go. I've never paid for my Y+ seats, rather have been bumped to them several times (including the great cabin re-allocation of 2009/10).