Austrian Airlines Latest Convert to Premium Economy Class

The airlines’ premium economy category continues to expand, with Austrian Airlines announcing it has started refitting its fleet of 11 Boeing 767s to accommodate the new service class.

Seats for the class, which officially debuts March 6, have already gone on sale, the carrier said. 

That will bring Austrian’s product offerings into line with its parent airline, Lufthansa, which itself came late to the game just two years ago, far behind its main European rivals, such as British Airways, Air France and Virgin Atlantic.  

The news means that airlines have realized that to compete on lucrative long-haul routes they need to offer something that allows coach fliers to “treat themselves to a little more service and comfort,” said Austrian Airlines CCO Andreas Otto.  

Austrian’s premium economy, Otto said, is “designed to appeal to passengers who want to experience a higher level of service and comfort…..as well as price-conscious companies that want their employees to travel with more comfort on business trips.”

While the name itself is a bit of an oxymoron, this service class on some airlines can seem a lot more “premium” than economy, especially since coach is getting less comfortable, as airlines stuff more seats into the back of their planes.

And industry research indicates that passengers are willing to pay for the privilege:  around $300 to $400 more for a premium economy seat above what it would cost to fly in standard coach on a typical roundtrip transatlantic booking.

Main features of the Austrian product include: 38-inchs of legroom; a footrest and separate central armrest with fold-out table and separate cocktail table; a 12-inch video screen with remote control for the in-flight entertainment system; a welcome drink and two checked bags without charge.

U.S. options
Meanwhile, while some U.S. airlines have hesitated to add an extra class of service, the product is popular enough with customers to convince the major network lines to come aboard. 

American Airlines recently said that 63 of its international aircraft – mainly 777s and 787s — will have premium economy seats by the end of year, with another 14 getting the service by next April. 

Delta’s “premium select” class will be available on select international flights later this year.

And United reportedly is considering a true premium economy (one that’s cordoned off from the rest of coach), versus the current Economy Plus iteration.