Lufthansa has unveiled its new Premium Economy Class. Seats can be booked from May onwards and will be available from November 2014, initially on the Boeing 747-8. It will then be retrofitted on the rest of its long-haul fleet by summer 2015 and on all new deliveries.
“Our Premium Economy Class will create a completely new travel experience that combines affordability with greater comfort. The seats offer up to 50 per cent more room than Economy Class and will position us in a premium segment within the international competitive environment,” said Jens Bischof, the Member of the Lufthansa German Airlines Board in charge of Sales, Product and Marketing.
Following the introduction of its new full-flat Business Class, Lufthansa created a much wider gap between Economy and Business Class, meaning there is enough of a difference between the classes to justify the introduction of the the new premium economy cabin.
Ticket prices in the new Premium Economy Class will be closer to Economy Class than Business Class – a return flight across the North Atlantic or to Asia will cost an additional EUR 600 on average
For the extra money passengers get greater comfort and enhanced service.
Lufthansa Premium Economy seat
The new seats are up to 3cm wider than Economy Class. A centre console between seats means each passenger has their own armrest and about 10cm more room at the side. The back rest can be reclined further and the seat pitch is a significantly more spacious 38 inches, or 97 centimetres. As a result, passengers have around one-and-a-half times as much room as Economy Class.
Lufthansa Premium Economy cabin
All seats are no more than one seat away from the aisle.
Lufthansa Premium Economy services
As well as the new seat, passengers in Premium Economy will have a range of additional services, including:
- Double free baggage allowance: two bags per person, each weighing up to 23 kg
- A welcome drink, a water bottle at every seat and a high-quality amenity kit with many useful accessories providing additional refreshment
- The high quality meals are presented in menus and are served on china tableware
- An 11- or 12-inch touch screen monitor, a handset to control the in-flight entertainment and a generous range of magazines provide for even more entertainment
- Seats have a bottle holder, electrical socket and lots of storage space.
- Access to Lufthansa Business Lounges available (for a fee of EUR 25)