Lufthansa, Air France, United, Emirates, Virgin Atlantic
A review of five airlines offering superior premium economy seats on transatlantic flights highlights Lufthansa's wide seats, Air France's upgraded
Premium economy is more popular than ever for transatlantic flights, leading airlines to differentiate their cabin products. Five carriers stand out with superior offerings in this competitive market.
Lufthansa's Wide A350 Seats
Lufthansa offers a notably wider premium economy seat on its Airbus A350-900 aircraft. While most airlines configure the A350 with eight seats per row in premium economy, Lufthansa uses a seven-abreast layout. This results in seats that are 19 inches wide, compared to a standard 18.5 inches, and eliminates all but one middle seat per row.
The airline's newest A350s feature the ZIMPrivacy PC-02 fixed shell seat, which increases the width to 19.5 inches. These seats also offer improved privacy, larger 4K screens, and USB-C charging. The same seat model is used on SWISS's A350s and Lufthansa's Boeing 787-9s, though the seats are narrower on the 787 due to its fuselage.
Air France's Enhanced Catering
Air France has recently upgraded its premium economy meal service, moving beyond simply plating economy meals more nicely. Meals are now planned by Michelin-starred French chef Frédéric Simonin and are served on upgraded dishes with metal cutlery. The carrier also offers a strong wine selection, serves champagne, and provides high-quality bedding and amenity kits.
The airline uses a mix of seat types across its widebody fleet, including the Safran Airgo FX fixed shell seat, the Collins Aerospace Icon fixed shell seat, and the Recaro PL3530 recliner seat. Pitch is a standard 38 inches, and the carrier does not install privacy wings on its seats.
United Airlines' Functional Premium Plus
United Airlines' Premium Plus seats, based on the Collins Aerospace MiQ model, are highlighted for their functionality. The seats on the carrier's latest Boeing 787-9s with the 'Raise Interior' feature a 16-inch 4K OLED display, Bluetooth capability, USB-C charging, and a wireless charging pad.
A full-height privacy divider and an integrated reading light are included, along with a dedicated water bottle holder under each armrest. United's new 787-9s are already operating from San Francisco to London-Heathrow and will begin San Francisco to Zurich service later in 2026.
Emirates' Spacious and Pricey Product
Emirates launched its premium economy cabin in 2022 and configures it with 40 inches of pitch, exceeding the industry standard of 38 inches. The seats also offer slightly more recline. On its Airbus A350 and A380 aircraft, the cabin is configured seven-abreast, providing seats that are 19.5 inches wide.
The product is praised for its catering, which features multi-course meals from a rotating menu with regional themes and a diverse complimentary wine selection. However, Simple Flying notes that Emirates "tends to price premium economy extremely high, charging among the highest fares of any airline for this cabin on average."
Virgin Atlantic's Top-Ranked Service
SkyTrax ranked Virgin Atlantic's premium economy as the best in the world in its 2025 World Airline Awards. The airline also won for having the world's best premium economy catering. Meals are consistently high-quality with large portions, accompanied by a thorough drinks selection.
The seat itself is not exceptional, using standard models like the Collins MiQ on newer aircraft with a 38-inch pitch. Virgin Atlantic configures its A330 and 787 cabins seven-abreast, while its A350 is eight-abreast. The carrier is renowned for delivering consistently attentive and engaging service, which significantly raise the experience. Virgin Atlantic plans to retrofit its Boeing 787-9s with new interiors starting in 2028.
