ba world traveller plus compared to virgin premium economy

Virgin Premium Economy vs BA World Traveller Plus – And The Winner Is

• Latest Posts

• Virgin Atlantic vs Air France: Which is Better? - August 21, 2023
• Virgin Red vs Virgin Atlantic: What’s Changed? - August 20, 2023
• Does Southwest Have First Class? Business Select Explained - August 18, 2023

If you’ve decided to upgrade the flight for your next trip to the premium economy class you may be wondering whether Virgin’s Premium Economy or BA’s World Traveller Plus is better. In this article, I will share with you my experiences with both airline’s premium economy offerings. Both Virgin and British Airways offer good benefits for choosing their premium economy service.

Virgin Premium Economy seats (up to 21 inches) are a couple of inches wider than BAs World Traveller Plus (18.5inch).  Virgin staff welcome you on board with a glass of champagne which isn’t available on BA. Virgin also won the Skytrax World’s Best Premium Economy award. These, and our own experiences, are the reasons our winner is Virgin Atlantic – there are though considerations that I will explain.

Which Seats Are Most Comfortable – Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy or British Airways World Traveller Plus?

In truth, there isn’t much in it. Both seats are very comfortable for even a long-haul 10-hour flight (which I have flown on both airlines). Virgin Atlantic do advertise their Premium Economy seats as being the widest in the industry. I would agree with them. Sitting in the economy I often find both armrests are pushed into my sides for the entire flight. I’m 6ft and of average build.

On British Airways flights you can definitely tell you have an upgraded seat. More space in front of you and around you, but the Virgin Premium Economy seats really do feel that extra bit special. I haven’t quite worked out why. Perhaps the upholstery, perhaps the quality of the fabrics and padding – or maybe the luxurious purple color scheme telling you you’re flying Virgin.

British Airways have certainly been on a modernizing rampage. They have undergone many revamps in a bid to out-rival their competition, and they are definitely stepping up their offering. Although I would most certainly fly in British Airways World Traveller Plus and enjoy their service, for me I would say the seats are more comfortable on Virgin Atlantic in Premium Economy than on British Airways

Winner: Virgin Atlantic

Do Y ou Get More Leg Room on BA World Traveller Plus or Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy?

Leg room is so important on flights. Especially for those tall people (like myself) among us. Sizing up the leg room and my personal space is one of the first things I look for when taking my seat. Fortunately, both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways do quite well here in their Premium Economy offerings. Both airlines offer the exact same 38-inch pitch. Pitch size is a little more confusing than simple leg room (which airlines shy away from highlighting) but essentially this pitch size will give you around 3 inches to 4 inches of extra leg space.

I know this doesn’t sound like much, but it makes a difference.

Having flown both airlines Premium Economy offerings I would say they do offer the same amount of leg room as each other (as they advertise). The additional pitch space and leg room also mean if the person in front of you decides to recline their seat, they’re not invading as much into your personal space as if they did in Standard Economy.

Even someone like myself who is 6 feet tall really notices a benefit.

Winner: A Draw

Is the food better on virgin premium economy or ba world traveller plus.

I am not a food critic and nor do I confess to be. I like flying, I enjoy eating and I like my travel to be as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. If that comes with a nice meal – well to me that’s an added bonus. Having sampled the culinary delights on both Virgin and British Airways I wouldn’t say there is a clear winner here.

Equally, no meals have really stood out either. I do like the Virgin welcome touch of a glass of champagne or fresh orange juice for Premium Economy passengers as you take your seat. This isn’t offered on British Airways – although they do offer a welcome drink once the plane takes off. I think both airlines provide choices and if booked in advance you can request special dietary requirement meals on both airlines.

I would have to score both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic in equal measure on this topic.

Can You Beat the Airport Queues in Premium Economy with Virgin Atlantic or British Airways?

One of the advantages of an upgraded ticket is queue skipping. Although we British love to queue, we don’t necessarily enjoy it. Being greeted to a very long snake-like queue for check-in or bag drop after a long journey to the airport is something no-one needs to see. Considering for every flight there are only around 60-80 passengers flying in Premium Economy you would really have to time it badly to have any type of queue waiting for you at the dedicated Premium Economy check-in desk.

Both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways offer a dedicated Premium Economy check-in desk (or in BA’s case a World Traveller Plus check-in desk) helping you skip the long queues. Unfortunately, a Premium Economy ticket doesn’t grant you VIP speedy access through security though. Security fast-track is reserved for Business Class and First Class passengers only I’m afraid.

This is the same for both airlines. Both airlines offer the exact same queue skipping benefits, so again I would have to score both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways a draw here.

Can I Board the Plane Faster in Premium Economy with British Airways or Virgin Atlantic?

On both BA and Virgin Atlantic, you will board based on your cabin class. British Airways have four cabin classes on a long haul, compared to Virgin Atlantic’s three cabin classes. On a British Airway’s flight, passengers in First Class will board first, then Club World followed by World Traveller Plus, and then World Traveller passengers.

On Virgin Atlantic, passengers in Upper Class will board first followed by Premium Economy and then Standard Economy passengers. With two cabin classes above you when flying World Traveller Plus on BA, compared to just one cabin class on Virgin Atlantic, you may feel you board the plane slightly faster when flying with Virgin.

The additional cabin on BA, First Class, can create a bit of a divide between where your class sits you in priority order. It can at times feel both airlines focus attention on their top two classes – which for BA is First and Club World (Business Class) whereas on Virgin Atlantic this is Upper Class (Business Class) and Premium Economy.

Virgin Atlantic narrowly pip British Airways to the post on this one.

Can I Earn More Air miles or Points with British Airways World Traveller Plus or Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy?

Let’s take a look. A flight to New York from London Heathrow in Premium Economy with Virgin Atlantic in September 2021 will earn you 6,914 Virgin Flying Club Points . The same flight to New York from London Heathrow in World Traveller Plus with British Airways will earn you 6,916 BA Avios Points Very, very close. Although let’s look at this in a different way. This same flight would cost 35,000 Virgin Flying Club points but would cost you 52,000 BA Avios Points on British Airways!.

The British Airways Avios points are now not as rewarding as they first seemed. Your Virgin Atlantic flight would earn you 20% of the Flying Club Points needed for a similar flight, whereas BA are only offering 13.3% of the Avios Points needed for a similar flight.

No contest here!

And The Winner Is….

Virgin atlantic.

Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy service takes the top spot here. The overall experience is a little more pleasant on Virgin’s service. I certainly wouldn’t rule out British Airways World Traveller Plus by any means. They offer a solid service and provide the benefits those – wishing to move out of Standard Economy but not wanting to pay the extremities of Business Class fares – are looking for.

If you want to try out the Premium Economy experience without the hefty increase in price, it is definitely worth looking at booking an Economy flight one way and Premium Economy seat the offer. Different airport taxes and fees can be high, so it is worth looking at both options to see which offers the better price. Using Virgin Atlantic and the New York trip in September as an example – these are the costs of flying Standard Economy one way and Premium Economy the other:

• £727.52 – Flying Premium Economy from London, and flying Economy from New York
• £1,580.52 – Flying Economy from London, and flying Premium Economy from New York

It will cost more than double to fly inbound in Premium Economy than it would fly outbound for this particular trip.

It really is worth spending some time researching different combinations to get the best possible deal for your trip.

Hopefully, this helps you make the decision for your next Premium Economy flight!

About The Author

The Points Insider Team

Leave a comment cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

World Traveller Plus

Welcome to World Traveller Plus, our premium economy cabin. With fewer rows, the cabin is quieter, more spacious, and more exclusive than World Traveller.

A premium experience

• A separate, smaller cabin with wider seats and more legroom
• Two delicious meals and complimentary bar service
• A personal entertainment system with noise-cancelling headphones
• A stylish amenity kit made from recycled plastic bottles
• Access to in-seat power
• More free baggage allowance
• Priority boarding

Upgraded seat and amenities

The seats on our premium economy flights are wider, with greater recline, lumbar support, a head and foot rest, plus extra leg room to stretch out. Each seat also has its own power supply, so you can use your devices on board. A few of our aircraft might need you to bring your own adaptor if they aren’t sold on board.

Our stylish quilt and cushion adds an extra layer of comfort when it’s time to rest, and we’ll give you a special amenity kit designed with sustainability in mind. The bag is made using material from recycled plastic bottles and includes all the essentials. Relax with lip balm, an eye mask, a pen, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste, with earplugs also available on request.

Delightful dining experience

In World Traveller Plus you can enjoy a glass of sparkling wine after take-off and a starter, main and dessert with our dining service. During your flight we'll deliver snacks, hot, cold and alcoholic drinks to your seat.

In-flight entertainment

Stay connected to the world below or relax and leave it all behind in our World Traveller Plus cabin. You can lose yourself for hours in a blockbuster film or gripping series thanks to our huge on-demand entertainment library.

• A personal flat screen and noise-cancelling headphones
• High-speed Wi-Fi on most aircraft
• Access to Paramount+ with hundreds of the latest films and shows, as well as music, audio books and games

Treat yourself to the airport lounge

Sit back and relax before your flight with Lounge Pass, your key to non-British Airways airport lounges across the globe, no matter what airline you are flying with or cabin you are travelling in. Enjoy light refreshments such as alcohol and food, Wi-Fi and a selection of newspapers and magazines while you wait to board, plus Executive Club Members can collect 5 Avios per £1/€1/$1 spent.

Double baggage allowance

Baggage allowances.

World Traveller Plus’ generous baggage allowance means you can pack more for your trip. Bring both a cabin bag and laptop or handbag on board, as well as up to two bags in the hold.

Some routes and tickets come with an even greater allowance, and extra bags can be added for a fee.

Doorstep baggage pick-up & check-in

AirPortr can collect your baggage from your doorstep, securely transport it to the airport, and check it in for your flight for you. This means that you can travel to the airport luggage-free and head straight to security when you arrive. This service is only available for flights departing from Heathrow, Gatwick, Geneva, Zurich and Vienna.

Aircraft variations

Wherever and whenever you fly World Traveller Plus you can expect the same top quality food, drink and premium service by our attentive crew. A few of the cabin design elements may vary by aircraft.

Review of British Airways Premium Economy

British Airways was one of the first airlines to introduce a Premium Economy cabin on its long-haul aircraft - branded as World Traveller Plus . As such, many of its cabins are showing their age, but still serve their purpose well by offering extra space, better meals and more personalised service. The airline is retrofitting these cabins and upgrading the hard product, but this will take time, so in the interim be prepared for a mix of old and new.

The United Kingdom’s largest airline takes pride in offering reliable and friendly service while carrying the British flag to far corners of the globe.

British Airways is a founding member of the oneworld alliance, which means fliers can earn and redeem Avios points on its many partners. Conversely, members of other alliance member airlines can earn and redeem their miles with British Airways.

Airport experience

All British Airways flights pass through London with primary hubs at London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports (and a smaller operation at London City). London airports are known for stringent and sometimes overzealous security procedures, which can be frustrating for passengers adding extra time to the journey. Unfriendly airport security agents are enough to convince some travellers to fly another airline when booking international travel.

World Traveller Plus passengers can access individual check-in desks and a greater baggage allowance – two bags for the hold plus a cabin bag and laptop bag onboard. They do not enjoy lounge access once airside, though. Still, top oneworld elite status cardholders can use the lounges on eligible international itineraries no matter what cabin they are flying. These lounges include open bars offering cocktails, soft drinks, wine, and beer, service desks for assistance with tickets, a wide selection of magazines and newspapers, workstations with computers and free Wi-Fi, and buffets with warm and cold food selections.

Priority boarding is part of the Premium Economy experience.

Cabin & Seat

British Airways fly a combination of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with World Traveller Plus available on each long-haul aircraft. The Airbus A380 World Traveller Plus cabin is found on the Upper Deck behind the Club World cabin in a 2-4-2 configuration over nine rows, while the Airbus A350 has seven rows in a 2-4-2 configuration. The Boeing 777 fleet varies between three and six rows in a 2-4-2 design, while the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft differs between four and six rows and is always in a 2-3-2 configuration.

Even the original iteration of the Premium Economy seat has plenty of space. It varies depending on the plane, but expect a wider seat – typically 18.5 inches (47 centimetres), more leg room with a pitch of 38 inches (97 centimetres), including a foot and leg rest, lumbar support, a recline of around 8 inches (20 centimetres), a small side table and headrest with adjustable wings for better resting positions. Unfortunately, many seats have equipment for the entertainment system that impedes your legroom, which makes it challenging to store carry-on bags or wiggle your feet around during the flight.

World Traveller Plus occupies a more intimate cabin of no more than nine rows with a dedicated lavatory and curtains separating it from economy and Business Class. There are middle seats, which are worth avoiding unless travelling with a companion.

Bulkhead rows prevent someone from reclining their seat into your space, but it does mean that carry-on luggage must be stowed overhead for takeoff and landing. These seats also have television monitors that fold out from the armrest, and they cannot be used on the ground or during takeoff and landing for safety reasons. Four bassinet points are available on the front cabin bulkhead, with another two at the rear of the Airbus A380s.

Not all tickets are eligible for advance seat selection, although those purchasing flexible fares and travellers with oneworld alliance elite status can choose a seat for free in advance. Others must wait until check-in to assign a seat.

Waiting at each seat on boarding is a thick pillow and wrapped blanket, and power and USB  and power outlets are available for each passenger. 

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes images, videos, and seat maps for most airlines and aircraft Search results also include details such as seat pitch, width and recline. This way, you can see the seat and cabin configuration of the flight in which you are interested before making your choice .

British Airways offers a lovely inflight service on fine china and metal cutlery. World Traveller Plus passengers are served some of the same entrees as those seated in Business Class, representing a significant upgrade from economy meal service.

Delivered on a single tray with real drink glasses (instead of plastic), most flights have two meals, including a hot meal after takeoff.

They include a salad and appetiser plus warm bread. Two main course dishes are protein or vegetarian, and the plated dessert offers a sweet finish. Flight attendants can provide snacks and drinks between meals, and passengers can visit a snacking station for self-service.

Before landing, a second meal is served depending on the time of day, which can consist of a hot or cold dish based on the length of the flight.

More than a dozen special meals are available for Premium Economy passengers, including Halal, Kosher and vegetarian options.

After takeoff, flight attendants offer glasses of sparkling wine before rolling out the beverage carts with a variety of complimentary drinks including beer, wine (two white and two red options) and cocktails. Coffee from London’s Union Coffee and an array of Twinings teas round off the menu.

Before the main meal, an aperitif service comes with mixed nuts and a choice of beverage.

Flight attendants are friendly, but have a lot of passengers to serve compared to Business Class. Expect the typical British-reserved service delivery you might find in a hotel or restaurant in the United Kingdom. Many passengers find that the crew adapts to the conversation and informality level of each person throughout the flight. Show them that you like to chat, and they will chat. Show British formality, and they will return the respect.

On flights where a foreign language is spoken at the destination, expect that someone on the crew will be ready to converse in that native tongue. British Airways also has overseas-based cabin crew on many flights; Indian flights, for example, often have crew based in India, which helps with cultural service details.

Entertainment

The seatback screen is adjustable so that if the person in front of you reclines, you can tilt it for better viewing. Noise-reducing headsets complement the solid selection of  entertainment programming , including the latest Hollywood movies, television programs, box sets, a global music collection, audiobooks and games. Screens respond to the touch but can also be adjusted via remote control.

Wi-Fi is available on most of British Airways' long-haul fleet, with  prices available  for hourly service or sometimes for a package to cover the flight. A cheaper offering that covers messaging or texting is also an excellent option for staying connected with loved ones.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on Wi-Fi and inflight entertainment .

Amenities & Facilities

Small amenity kits feature essential products – eye mask, ear plugs, toothpaste and toothbrush, lip balm, flight socks and pen, and a wrapped blanket and pillow are a fluffier upgrade to what is available in the economy cabin. Credit to the airline for making the small stylish amenities bag from recycled plastic.

On long-haul flights, families with infants can pre-reserve a bassinet to use. Children can also enjoy everything from cartoon and youth-themed shows to special toys and gifts to keep them busy.

Short & Medium Haul

British Airways’ short and medium-haul flights do not sell Premium Economy seating, but if the aircraft is flying a shorter route, these are excellent seats worth paying extra to enjoy the extra space that they afford. Most of the long-haul amenities (like hot meals, free drinks and noise-reducing headphones) are not available though. Buy-on-board service in economy class is standard on shorter European flights, which means the only benefit of paying for this seat on those flights is the extra space.

Sustainability

The airline is investing in the most fuel-efficient planes and focuses on reducing emissions both inflight and on the ground. Recycling programs in its lounges and inflight are another eco-friendly measure.

British Airways aims for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and the carrier invests in  carbon-neutral projects  in many of the destinations it serves. On its flights, it has switched to bamboo alternatives instead of plastic stirrers, reduced plastic use for amenity kits and headsets, and serves water bottles made from recycled materials. The airline sends less than one per cent of non-catering waste to landfills. BA's new uniforms are made from more than 90 per cent sustainable fabrics from recycled polyester and only use manufacturers of the 'Better Cotton' initiative. The old uniforms will be donated to charities, recycled into children's toys or contributed to the airline's museum.

The airline also collects loose change from passengers on its long-haul flights to support the non-profit organisation Flying Start. It supports less-fortunate children around the world. British Airways is also the first airline to build a waste-to-fuel plant converting everyday consumer waste to sustainable fuel.

A partnership with the Born Free Foundation has the airline advocating against the captivity of wild animals. British Airways Holidays helps to create a safe sanctuary space for rescued wild animals.

The flight search on BusinessClass.com includes information on CO2 emissions for each flight. Our quality algorithms also give a higher score to flights operated by the most modern and environmentally friendly aircraft.

What We Love

• Footrests and adjustable headrests to make it easier to sleep
• Business class-quality meals serving British products
• A nice selection of mid-flight snacks as well as an open bar throughout the flight

Read the BusinessClass.com review of British Airways Club World Read the BusinessClass.com review of British Airways First Class

BusinessClass.com searches hundreds of travel sites at once to help you find the best premium travel offers for both flights and the finest hotels.

Is Premium Economy British Airways worth it?

What is the difference between british airways economy and premium economy, does premium economy on british airways get lounge access, does british airways premium economy have good legroom, what is premium economy called on british airways, what do british airways premium economy seats look like, how to upgrade from premium economy to business class on british airways, how much is it to upgrade to premium economy on british airways, what is the benefit of premium economy on british airways, which seats are premium economy on british airways.

BA World Traveller Plus – Is This Premium Economy Worth It?

The British Airways premium economy class service known as BA World Traveller Plus provides more space and comfort than the regular economy class service. But is it worth the extra money? Let’s take a closer look. You’ll see that, on balance, I would still pay for this service even though it has declined.

I’m rarely a business air traveller so most of my flights are holiday flights. These are short haul into Europe or long haul to the Caribbean. As I don’t fly often enough, and with the impact of travel restrictions during the pandemic of 2020/2021, my formerly Silver BA Executive Club membership has been downgraded to Bronze due to the fact that I haven’t collected enough tier points.

In another post, I’ve compared BA to Virgin but in this one, I’m going to explain how things have declined in BA’s premium economy service. These impressions are based on the experience of flying from London Heathrow to Barbados and back. Other flights, particularly the longer flights to South Africa, Asia, or the west coast of America may be different.

What do you get with BA World Traveller Plus?

The BA website tells us that upgrading to World Traveller Plus is “exciting”. Well, perhaps I’m a little jaded but my recent experiences have left me thoroughly underwhelmed.

The Premium Economy cabin is in front of Economy and behind Business Class. You certainly do get a wider seat, greater seat pitch, a foot rest, and extra leg room. There’s a cushion for that all important lumbar support on a long flight, and blanket for the night flight home.

There is a greater baggage allowance and priority boarding for World Traveller Plus, after First, Business, and families with young children and those who require extra support. 

The BA website tells you that you can expect two “delicious” meals. This was not the case in my experience. There is a complimentary bar service though you may have a wait a while to get served.

The noise reducing headphones supplied with each seat are an improvement from those of a few years ago. This is probably the only thing that has improved in a British Airways Premium Economy seat. I used to fly with a pair of Bose noise cancelling headphones but I won’t bother to take them any more if I’m flying BA World Traveller Plus.

The entertainment system is good. It contains a wide selection of the latest films, TV, music, audio books , and games, so there’s enough there to keep most people occupied for most flights.

You’re also supposed to receive an amenity kit but I don’t recall seeing any, and there were no separate toilets for World Traveller Plus passengers on our flight aboard a Boeing 777. The only option were those behind the curtain separating Economy from Premium Economy.

London Heathrow LHR to New York JFK

What did you use to get with ba world traveller plus.

If my memory serves me correctly then these things have been withdrawn:

• No glass of sparkling wine is offered after boarding and before take off
• No cheese and biscuits are offered with the main meal
• No extra drink offered after the main meal
• No brandy or cream liqueur is offered after the main meal
• No additional sweets or ice creams
• Sub-standard low-quality second meal (afternoon tea on the way out, breakfast on the way back)

Understandably, British Airways has had to find ways to save money after the impact of travel restrictions during the Covid pandemic. Across an airline, these cost-cutting measures would make a huge difference, but for the passengers paying higher prices each year the downgrade in terms of perks is very noticeable and weakens their loyalty to the airline.

British Airways Cabin Crew

It can’t be easy, being a flight attendant . Long hours, low pay, stress, jet lag, the threat of redundancy in a volatile industry, and all for looking after what are sometimes obnoxious and often demanding passengers.

On the other hand, without the passengers there would be no job. We rely on each other, and the fact is that, from a passenger’s point of view, a smiling and cheerful flight attendant can make a big impact on the flight experience, and therefore on the prospects of repeat custom. A surly and unfriendly face in the uniform can do the exact opposite.

I’ve experienced both demeanors while travelling with British Airways. I’ve seen courteous, professional, and cheerful flight attendants doing their utmost make the journey enjoyable. On the other hand I’ve seen crew with faces that would turn milk sour. Everyone has their bad days but it gets to the point at which you dislike the passengers and don’t look forward to work anymore then you’re in the wrong job.

BA World Traveller Plus with a baby

Passengers travelling with infants are allocated the first row of seats in the World Traveller Plus cabin. This is behind the bulkhead separating the cabin from the Business Class cabin. The seats have a pull-down table in front of them onto which the infant’s cot can be strapped. For those not wanting to sit near any parents with their babies, the best seats are those a few rows back, but not in the back row of the small cabin.

What is BA World Traveller Plus?

British Airways World Traveller Plus is the premium economy class cabin offered by British Airways. It is a step up from the standard economy class and provides passengers with additional benefits and features designed to enhance their flying experience.

Passengers travelling in British Airways World Traveller Plus enjoy wider seats with more legroom and additional recline, providing greater comfort and relaxation. The cabin is generally located closer to the front of the aircraft than standard economy, allowing for faster boarding and disembarkation.

World Traveller Plus passengers also receive a range of other benefits, including priority check-in and boarding, increased baggage allowance, noise-cancelling headphones, and an upgraded dining experience with a choice of complimentary meals, drinks, and snacks.

Does BA World Traveller Plus get lounge access?

No, there is no free lounge access with a World Traveller Plus ticket. You’ll need to be a BA Executive Club Silver cardholder or higher.

Does BA World Traveller Plus get priority check-in?

There is a separate desk for World Traveller Plus but I’ve rarely found it to make any significant difference. If you’ve already checked in online and printed your boarding pass then there’s little more to do than have these checked and drop your bags.

How does BA World Traveller Plus compare with VA Premium Economy?

In terms of seat comfort and space, both cabins offer wider seats with extra legroom and increased recline compared to standard economy. However, Virgin Atlantic’s Premium Economy cabin generally provides a bit more legroom and seat width than British Airways World Traveller Plus.

Both airlines offer similar benefits such as priority check-in, boarding and baggage handling, upgraded dining options, amenity kits, and in-flight entertainment systems.

One of the main differences between the two cabins is the type of seat that is offered. British Airways World Traveller Plus features a fixed shell seat, which provides a high level of privacy and comfort, while Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy features a recliner seat with a footrest. The recliner seat is a good option for passengers who want to stretch out and relax, while the fixed shell seat is ideal for those who want more privacy and a more business-class like experience.

How much extra is World Traveller Plus?

Ticket prices vary greatly according to demand, day of the week, time of day, and seasonal holidays. The three snapshots shown below for ticket prices for flights from Heathrow to New York in the Spring of 2023 illustrate these variations.

They also show how there is no fixed percentage for the upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy. So the answer to the question, “How much extra is World Traveller Plus?” is “It depends when you fly. You can pay a small percentage higher than the Economy ticket but it could also be nearly double.”

You can also upgrade to a British Airways World Traveller Plus seat using your Avios points. This particularly useful for the solo traveller who might be flexible about the date of travel.

Is BA World Traveller Plus worth it?

On balance, I would still buy a BA premium economy seat, particularly for long haul flights, but that’s because I’m fairly tall and I like the few extras that remain. Air travel should be stress free and enjoyable and I’ll take advantage of those things I can afford to meet that goal. More room in a smaller cabin on a longer trip is a plus.

Despite the cutbacks the majority of the benefits remain; priority check in, priority boarding, more room, etc. I like to board earlier, settle into the bigger seat with extra leg room, and hope that maybe this time the food and service will be better. But it often feels like the triumph of hope over experience.

British Airways in the media

“…we need to hark back to the days when BA planes drew gasps of admiration from our French neighbours, as hilariously depicted in one of the “Fly The Flag” commercials from the Eighties, rather than offering competition to Ryanair. If you want to sell Britain abroad it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that a successful flapship airline is an invaluable asset.” Mariella Frostrup, The Daily Telegraph , November 2017

AIRLINE: British Airways. I have Stockholm syndrome—the worse they treat me, the more devoted I become! Mariella Frostrup, Air Mail , July 2022

Similar Posts

Exploring The Boeing Honeywell Uninterruptible Autopilot System

Could an uninterruptible autopilot system save lives in the event of air crew incapacitation or terrorism? Would this remote access technology save the day, or does it open the door to new dangers in the skies? For example, consider such a system have saved flight 4U925 which was deliberately crashed into the Alps in March…

How to Pack for Air Travel. The right luggage and the best packing tips.

How to pack for air travel depends on you, your destination, the journey, and what you’re going to be doing there. The key to a smooth journey lies in careful preparation, and that’s certainly never more true than when travelling by air. Preparation, planning, and packing for a long trip away will prevent frustration on…

The Best Travel Blanket Is The One You Chose From These Suggestions

The blankets provided by airlines vary greatly in their quality and comfort, so the best travel blanket is your own. It is one you’ve chosen (or been given) because you know what the blanket is made of and where it has been laundered.  A good quality blanket is a portable piece of luxury, and a…

13 Tips For Flying Stress-Free & Relaxed

Air travel can be stressful but it needn’t be if you plan and prepare in advance. Read through these tips for flying and see how you can reduce the stress

Favourite Airline Brand Logos: Aesthetically Appealing and Memorable

The airline industry is a fiercely competitive and constantly evolving sector, with each airline vying for attention and loyalty. A key aspect of a brand’s visual identity is its logo, which serves as a symbol of the airline’s values and mission. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the most…

Explained: BA Hand Luggage Allowance and Checked Baggage Sizes

As with all airlines, the BA hand luggage allowance is set according to the aircraft, the route, and other factors.  Airline size restrictions for baggage vary from one carrier to another due to several factors that influence their policies. These factors can include the aircraft’s design, operational considerations, safety regulations, and competitive positioning So, in…

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

• Auction Bids
• Auction Watchlist

Travel news, tips, reviews & videos of luxury hotels to help plan your vacation.

Bid & win a luxury hotel stay or travel item for your next vacation.

• Accessories
• Accommodation
• Experiences

Book a room with us for complimentary upgrades & VIP benefits like breakfast for two at your favorite luxury hotel.

• Find Out More

Recents Clear

British Airways Economy Vs World Traveller Plus: Is It Worth Paying To Upgrade?

popular post today

When flying British Airways, is it worth paying to upgrade to World Traveller Plus, the BA Premium Economy seats from Economy seats on long-haul flights?

1. Economy vs. Premium Economy: Price

If the price is your biggest factor when making the decision on which class to fly in, you should probably choose to fly Economy. After all, the entire plane will get to its destination, whichever class you are sitting in.

Having said that, particularly for overnight flights, being stuffed in a sardine-tin, with little space to move and next-to-no recline, means that sleep is difficult. Certainly, when I have flown in Economy, I find, if I do manage to nod off, the fact that my head then drops to one side because of the lack of seat recline means that I almost always wake myself up.

The result is that you can feel pretty grotty after an Economy flight when you get to your destination. This means that you are potentially ruining the first day of your trip because you have not spent the extra on upgrading your flight.

So even if the price IS your biggest factor, Premium Economy can mean that you avoid wasting a day of your holiday, which may ultimately be worth more than the price difference.

For a better deal on Business Class flights or luxury hotels, contact our luxury travel concierge for a free quote. We offer free upgrades, free breakfasts, and free perks at hotels including Four Seasons, Park Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, InterContinental and more.

2. Economy vs. Premium Economy: Seat Selection

While competitors like Virgin enable you to select your Premium Economy seat for free, this is a feature that British Airways reserves for its Gold and Silver tier members only. The situation is similar if you fly in Business Class. If you are not a Gold or Silver tier member, you can only select your Business Class seat 24 hours before departure. Gold and Silver tiers can select before “normal” Blue passengers, even if the standard member is paying a full Business Class fare, which means that normal infrequent flyers can often be left with seats apart from their family or partner. A nightmare on a long-haul flight.

If you book with a competitor like Virgin, you can book your seat in advance, which means you can sit where you want in the cabin (within reason), and crucially, you can sit with your family or partner.

3. Economy vs. Premium Economy: Check-in

There is not a dedicated British Airways Premium Economy check-in, so you have to check-in with all the Economy passengers.

4. Economy vs. Premium Economy: Baggage

You get 2 hold suitcases when traveling in Premium Economy, which is a big bonus.

5. Economy vs. Premium Economy: Lounges

When flying in Premium Economy, you do not get access to any British Airways lounges, but if you are flying out of London Heathrow, you can use your Priority Pass or pay to access to the Aspire Lounge In Heathrow Terminal 5 or the Aspire Lounge in Terminal 3 . There is no advantage to flying Premium Economy in this respect.

6. Economy vs. Premium Economy: Boarding

Virgin offers priority boarding all over the world for Premium Economy passengers. By comparison, BA only offers priority boarding out of Heathrow. So yes, this is an advantage when you fly out of the UK, but not when you fly from any other airport.

7. Economy vs. Premium Economy: Seat Dimensions

When you book British Airways Premium Economy, check the specific aircraft you will be flying on as BA offers two versions of their World Traveller Plus product.

The old Premium Economy seats look tired and worn with a poor in-flight entertainment system and can be found on some Boeing 767 and 777-200 aircraft.

The British Airways Premium Economy seats are on their Airbus A380, Boeing 787/777-300ER, and retrofitted Boeing 767/777-200 aircraft and offer increased recline, personal in-seat power, and a 60% larger IFE monitor.

Taking the Boeing 777-200s as an example, the dedicated Premium Economy cabin has 40 recliner seats in a 2-4-2 layout. Dimensions are 18.5 inches in width and 38 inches in pitch. That’s an upgrade over the Economy seats with 17.5 inches of width and 31 inches in pitch. Still, neither Economy nor Premium Economy offers a leg rest, so if this is a deal-breaker, choose another airline.

This does not look good when compared with one of their main competitors, Virgin’s Premium Economy, which has seat dimensions are 18-21 inches seat width, 38 inches legroom. In comparison, Virgin’s Economy offers a “generous” width of up to 17 inches, with seat pitch or legroom of up to 31 inches, almost identical to BA.

So purely on seat dimensions, Virgin’s Premium Economy gives you much more room than Premium Economy or “World Traveller Plus” on BA, even though Virgin’s Premium Economy seat pitch is particularly average.

For me, the extra elbow room in the Premium Economy seats enables me to work more comfortably on my laptop, making the width worth paying for and making Virgin Premium Economy a better choice than BA’s Premium Economy when flying out of Heathrow or Gatwick. Equally, BA’s Premium Economy wins over Economy when directly compared as I can type better in Premium!

8. Economy vs. Premium Economy: Seat Recline

While Virgin’s Premium Economy seat seats have 7-8 inches of recline vs. Virgin’s Economy and Economy Delight recline of 4-6 inches, it is much harder to work out the seat recline on British Airways without getting out your tape measure onboard.

The Premium Economy seats recline more than the Economy seats, so for seat recline, Premium Economy wins. BA’s Premium Economy gives you more room to recline your seat, which will make it easier to sleep as your head is less likely to drop to one side because the seat is more horizontal. This recline is a huge advantage when compared to the seats in Economy, and the seats on newer planes, on their Airbus A380, Boeing 787/777-300ER, and retrofitted Boeing 767/777-200 aircraft offer increased recline, over the older Boeing 767 and 777-200 aircraft. So if recline is a dealbreaker, make sure you don’t book onto the 767 and 777-200.

9. Economy vs. Premium Economy: Amenities

As part of Premium Economy, you get an oversized pillow, a blanket, a small amenity kit, and a large pair of headphones. The amenity kit contains just the essentials: a toothbrush and toothpaste, an eye mask, a pair of socks, earbuds, and a pen. The blanket is plush but not too thick. The headphones were the noise-canceling type that would normally be distributed in business class and above, so that is a real advantage if you are choosing between flying in Economy vs. Premium Economy.

10. Economy vs. Premium Economy: Food & Drink

A big bonus traveling on BA in Premium Economy is that you get ClubWorld standard meals (with fewer choices) served on proper crockery with a real napkin. You also usually get a welcome drink and another round of drinks with the meal, along with tea and coffee during/after the meal.

Depending on the flight length, if it is overnight, you sometimes get breakfast served, although I believe that this is the same as in Economy. On shorter flights, you just get a drink and a mars bar (or similar).

Conclusion: I would say that the British Airways Premium Economy is a good product and worth paying the extra if you can afford it. I have flown in Premium Economy and would not hesitate to fly it again.

British Airways Premium Economy Reviews

Review: Premium Economy On British Airways Dreamliner 787-9

Recommended Post In "Reviews"

In this review, I review British Airway’s World Traveller Plus, also known as Premium Economy, on their new Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner on my trip from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to London. This product was newly launched a few months before, and I was eager to try it. We have also reviewed First Class On The British Airways Dreamliner B787-9 as well as Business Class on the B747 Jumbo and Business Class on the B777. The Premium Economy cabin is located right behind the Business Class cabin. There are a total of 6 rows of seats.

British Airways

Copyright Luxury Travel Diary 2014 - 2024. Duplication outside of luxurytraveldiary.com is forbidden.

Note: Benefits & upgrades subject to availability. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing. Terms & conditions apply. Enquire for more information. Benefits offered correct at the time of writing but may be amended at discretion of the vendor. Posts may be sponsored by the proprietor or brand being appraised. All opinions remain our own & are in no way influenced.

Featured By

Join our mailing list

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Receive news on auctions & our most popular posts. Opt out at any time. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Simple Flying

Is british airways premium economy worth the upgrade.

For the right price, World Traveller Plus offers a much more comfortable flight.

• Premium economy, known as World Traveller Plus on British Airways, offers better seating and a smaller cabin for a more comfortable flight experience.
• World Traveller Plus fares offer additional luggage allowance and faster check-in on the ground, while in the air, service is faster and meals have more choice.
• Upgrading to World Traveller Plus can earn you additional Avios and Tier Points, making it a valuable option for frequent flyers chasing status.

Premium economy has become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more airlines introducing the cabin between economy and business class. British Airways is no exception, and the airline has a good, but not top-rated, cabin and service on offer.

British Airways World Traveller Plus

Like many airlines, British Airways offers a premium economy cabin on long haul flights. It was one of the first airlines globally to do so. The cabin is now offered on all its long-haul widebody aircraft and routes.

British Airways names its cabin products differently. Premium economy is known as World Traveller Plus (with economy class being World Traveller, and business class Club World). The World Traveller Plus cabin is an upgraded offering over an increasingly cramped World Traveller cabin, but it is far from the flatbeds and better service in Club World.

Of course, the value of any cabin upgrade depends on the price. As with any airline, there are large variations in this. On many routes, however, British Airways prices World Traveller Plus very competitively (this is not usually the case with Club World). The cabin can be available for a relatively small price increase, especially during regular sales and promotions.

It is also possible to upgrade to World Traveller Plus using Avios – see our guide to using Avios for more details.

Better seating and a smaller cabin

The main reason to upgrade to the World Traveller Plus is for the improved seating. This generally makes for a much more comfortable flight and is a major consideration on long routes. A day flight to New York might not be worlds apart, but you will really notice the difference on a 14-hour overnight Asian flight.

While there can be small differences between aircraft, British Airways typically offers reclining seats with 38 inches of legroom (seat pitch) and a seat width of around 18.5 inches. This compares with a standard in World Traveller of 31 inches pitch and 17.5 inches width. Seating information here is based on seatguru.com .

The cabin is also smaller, leading to a (hopefully) more relaxing experience and better service. On the Boeing 787-9 there are 29 seats (compared to 127 seats in World Traveller), rising to 56 on the A350-1000 (against 219 in the World Traveller cabin).

There are other small improvements over the World Traveller seat. There is a fold-out leg rest, a larger tray table, and larger fixed armrests. There is no real additional storage (the exception being on the Airbus A380 where there are side storage panels for the window seats).

The seat-back screen is slightly larger, and you are (usually) offered better noise-canceling headsets. The entertainment system is the same (albeit very good) as other cabins, and there is no included WiFi or additional benefits.

Read about the best premium economy cabins on offer

Better service – on the ground and in the air

On the ground, there are some important differences. World Traveller Plus fares (paid or upgraded) offer an additional luggage allowance (of two checked-in bags). This could be an expensive addition if needed on a normal economy fare. Mid and top-tier Executive Club members (and one world equivalents) can take an additional bag as well. You will also get faster check-in (usually with dedicated World Traveller Plus desks) but not access to fast-track security or any departure lounges.

In the air, the differences are arguably smaller. There is no pre-departure drinks service (although this was offered in the past, so may change again). Main meals in theory have more choice (although in recent experience, I have come across very limited loading of some options), and the drinks menu is largely the same. With the smaller cabin, service is usually much faster (especially useful on a night flight when you want to rest as soon as possible).

Flight Review: Hong Kong to London In Premium Economy On British Airways' Boeing 787-9

Don’t forget avios and tier points.

As a final consideration for upgrading, bear in mind the value of the additional Avios and Tier Points. Now that British Airways Executive Club has switched to a revenue-based earning method for Avios, this is much less of a consideration. But if you want to be strategic (and are not interested in status with Executive Club), you could credit flights to many alternative one world loyalty programs (such as Qatar Airways) and earn based on the cabin and flight length. Premium economy traditionally earns much higher here than economy fares.

Love learning about points and miles? Read more of our loyalty news and guides here .

If you are chasing status with Executive Club, choosing a World Traveller Plus fare will make a big difference. On a return flight from London to Hong Kong, for example, any World Traveller Plus fare will earn 200 Tier Points – in the lowest World Traveller fares, this would be just 40 Tier Points (rising to 160 Tier Points for expensive full-fare tickets).

Have you flown British Airways World Traveller Plus? Would you like to share your experiences and value you see in the upgrade to the cabin? Feel free to do so in the comments section below.

British Airways

• Holiday Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• Things to Do
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre

Comparison: BA World Traveller Plus vs Virgin Premium Econ - Air Travel Forum

• Tripadvisor Forums    
• Air Travel Forums

Comparison: BA World Traveller Plus vs Virgin Premium Econ

• Australia Forums
• United States Forums
• Europe Forums
• Canada Forums
• Asia Forums
• Central America Forums
• Africa Forums
• Caribbean Forums
• Mexico Forums
• South Pacific Forums
• South America Forums
• Middle East Forums
• Honeymoons and Romance
• Business Travel
• Train Travel
• Traveling With Disabilities
• Tripadvisor Support
• Solo Travel
• Bargain Travel
• Timeshares / Holiday Rentals
• Air Travel forum

COMPARISON – British Airways World Traveller Plus versus Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy

(Can’t seem to post the table so have broken it down into a list instead.)

Dedicated check-in desk

Checked baggage allowance

WTP – 2 x 23kg

PE – 2 x 23kg

Priority baggage

Priority boarding

WTP – No (in fact WTP is very last group to board)

WTP – BA website does not specify but SeatGuru says 38”

Cabin layout

WTP – on 777, 2-4-2, 3 or 5 rows

PE – on 747, 2-2 upstairs and 2-4-2 downstairs; 2-3-2 on A340 and A330

Dedicated toilets

WTP – No. On 777, where 3 rows WTP, toilets are in middle of Economy cabin; where 5 rows, toilets are in Economy cabin but immediately behind WTP

PE – depends on aircraft and configuration

Entertainment (IFE)

WTP – varies according to aircraft

PE – varies according to aircraft

Dedicated cabin crew

Pre-departure drink

Different meal to Economy

WTP – Yes; to/from LHR and LGW, not clear for other routes

Food extras

In our experience:

One drinks run on 8½ hour flight , then a few water/juice runs during flight

One drinks run on 7½ hour flight , no water/juice runs

Help-yourself fresh fruit

More food on the tray (eg cheese and biscuits)

Ice cream (all classes, not just WTP)

Other snacks (sweet and savoury) offered during flight

Drinks readily available – crew either do drinks runs (offering water/juice or actually asking what you want) or you could go to galley any time

Bottle of water provided

Reading material

WTP – No (except BA in- flight magazine)

PE – Yes; newspapers and magazines as you board, newspapers offered onboard

Extra mileage points

PE – 125-150%

I have flown Virgin PE numerous times and have just completed my 4th transatlantic flight in BA WTP.

I am not impressed with BA WTP. It is not a good product, especially when compared to Virgin PE, even though it is a similar cost and is marketed as being comparable. In reality, a more accurate comparison would be with United Airlines Economy Plus, ie just extra legroom. Unlike Virgin, there is no separate check-in desk, no priority boarding (in fact, just the opposite!), no priority luggage, no dedicated cabin crew and no pre-departure drink.

The BA website says WTP is, “given priority when leaving the aircraft”. Personally I do not believe this is a specific benefit for WTP but simply a result of WTP being located between Business and Economy. What the website does not tell you is that BA’s policy is to board by row number from the rear forward which makes perfect sense but means that WTP boards last of all, which doesn’t quite fit with the idea of a premium product.

Despite the BA website mentioning a complimentary newspaper, none were offered at all on my 2 recent WTP flights . The “complimentary bar service … throughout your journey” consisted of one drinks run and I was only given one small can of soda. Other than wine, no drinks were offered with the meal. Some water/juice runs were made on one flight , none on the other. Bottles of water were not provided. I saw no evidence whatsoever of the advertised “snacks”; and I think the “3-course meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner” is a figment of the BA marketing people’s imagination, certainly where my special meal (fruit platter) was concerned.

By comparison, on my most recent flight in Virgin PE, by the time I took my seat I had been given 2 newspapers, a Hello magazine and a bottle of water. Before departure I had been offered sparkling wine, orange juice or a mixture of the two, and more newspapers. Drinks were offered regularly, by the dedicated cabin crew who came around and asked as well as being available in the galley, and who always gave 2 of the small soda cans. A full bar service was offered with the main meal; there was an ice cream run and several water/juice runs; a fruit bowl was available to help yourself from; and other snacks were offered during the flight (including hot savoury snacks). The meal was the usual appalling airline food but there was more of it, including cheese and biscuits, so more chance of finding something vaguely edible.

I think the seats and legroom are comparable, although Virgin PE upstairs on a 747 wins hands-down every time. Unfortunately the exclusivity of the 747 ‘bubble’ is being phased out with the current refitting of Virgin’s Gatwick/Manchester 747 fleet. I have not yet flown in the new ‘purple’ Virgin PE seats, nor have I travelled in the new WTP cabin. The IFE varies from aircraft to aircraft with both airlines .

Given a choice, I would always choose Virgin PE over BA WTP. It is a much superior product, distinctively different from Economy, and far better value for money. BA should either improve their WTP product to bring it in line with Virgin PE or re-brand it as extra legroom only and reduce the cost accordingly.

However, Virgin’s routes are far more limited than BA. I do not want to travel Economy and cannot often afford Business, so BA WTP is sometimes my only option. No doubt this effective monopoly is why BA can get away with providing an inferior product at an inflated cost.

I'm new to the forum; but, many of the posts are quite old. So I'm probably repeating others.

Virgin Atlantic: A330-300 British Airways: Boing 747 or 767.

Thanks for your help.

BA planes you noted above are old/older (although mechanically maintained) and the WTP cabins are not comfortable. While there is additional leg and seat room, there is no leg lift to speak of and food is mediocre. I have not flown with Virgin, so I cannot say. Why don't you go through this entire thread and see what people think?

I did. But, as noted, most comparisons are a year old or more.

A more current discussion on BA's PE product:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k6753944-British_Airways_premium_economy_class-Air_Travel.html

I always wonder why boarding early is considered a benefit ...

Who wants to seat in a small plane longer than one has to?

Virgin Premium Economy is an excellent product. Better than "business" class on many routers (continental US, Caribbean) on US-based careers.

Back to the original topic. I have recently had a few good WT+ flights with BA but yesterday I flew from Calgary to LHR in WT+ the plane was an old 767, whilst the flight was good - the cabin was disgusting, old creaky seats, accumulated food in the carpets gaps, low res small screens showing interence... it really is night and day between the old and new or refit and seems pot luck in what you get..

Planning trip fro NY to LHR I saw a comment about the newly fitted BA 777’s have all the fleet be refitted including the 747’s? Also one of our family members is 6’5 will they be comfortable in the WT+ seats or Virgin Atlantic Premium cabins? Can anyone comment on any of these or seat choice? thanks

• Wizzair and over booking - what do you think? 14:42
• Qatar Airways cabin luggage Crazy Size 14:33
• Booking.com Flight Refund process time frame 14:28
• Is Priceline reliable? 14:21
• Timing around SAS leaving Star Alliance 14:13
• Where to buy in USA Luggage respecting EU Airlines 14:12
• I put the wrong gender on a Emirates air ticket. 13:31
• Luggage covers 12:24
• PE and Business Fares getting more expensive? 10:02
• 15 hour flight tips 09:16
• Aegean Airlines Flight tomorrow - Concern 07:53
• Anyone have RECENT experience (post Covid) flying LEVEL air? 07:46
• Xcover insurance from SkyScanner and RyanAir 07:01
• Business class tickets Miami to Taipei/Tokyo decision 04:44
• ++++ ESTA (USA) and eTA (Canada) requirements for visa-exempt foreign nationals ++++
• ++++ TIPS - PLANNING YOUR FLIGHTS +++++++
• Buy now or later? What's with these screwy ticket prices?
• Around-the-world (RTW) tickets
• All you need to know about OPEN JAW tickets
• Beware of cheap business class tickets (sold by 3rd parties)
• ++++ TIPS - PREPARING TO FLY +++++++++
• TIPS - How to prepare for Long Haul Flights
• TIPS - Being Prepared for Cancellations and Long Delays
• TIPS - How to survive being stuck at an airport
• Flights delays and cancellations resources
• How do I effectively communicate with an airline?
• Airline, Airport, and Travel Abbreviations
• Air Travel Queries: accessibility,wedding dresses,travelling with children.
• Connecting Flights at London Heathrow Airport
• TUI Airways (formerly Thomson) Dreamliner - Movies and Seating Information
• ++++ COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION ++++
• Covid-19 Coronavirus Information for Air Travel

Is British Airways premium economy worth it on the Boeing 777-300ER?

British Airways launched its premium economy cabins and service way back in 2000, dubbing it World Traveller Plus.

The product is on all the airline's long-haul aircraft, so travelers (with one "l" here in the U.S.) will find it on most of the airline's major international routes, including to the carrier's U.S. gateways at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) and Nashville International Airport (BNA).

British Airways operates several types of long-haul aircraft, but I took a flight from Phoenix to London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) operated by a Boeing 777-300ER which departs at 7:30 p.m. daily and arrives in London at 1:25 p.m. the next day at Terminal 5. On the return, it departs London at 2:40 p.m. and arrives in Phoenix at 5:30 p.m.

Here's what British Airways premium economy is like and whether it's worth it.

How to book premium economy on British Airways

Before I decide which cabin to book on any route, I price out my preferred dates in economy and then also in premium economy — especially if it's an overnight flight and I want to sleep. I find I can relax more easily in premium economy, which offers more space and footrests. The seats are comparable in size to domestic first-class recliners.

For the Phoenix-to-London route on British Airways, the economy prices tend to be around $1,200-$1,400 round-trip, but I have seen them over $2,000 on some dates. The premium economy fares for this route can range from $2,200 to over $4,000 round-trip. I booked 30 days out from my departure and paid $2,994.35, which was $1,290 more than the economy fare for the same dates.

I also always price out a one-way ticket versus a round-trip, just to see all my options, and find that British Airways often prices one-way tickets the same as round-trips.

I have flown this route in economy a handful of times, and a few years ago, I upgraded at the check-in desk at Heathrow and paid 300 British pounds (about $385) to upgrade one-way into premium economy for the 10 1/2-hour flight back to Phoenix. I felt it was worth it to gain more space and upgraded service.

If you have British Airways Avios (or can convert credit card points to Avios), you can search for award availability on the British Airways website if you'd prefer to book your ticket as an award. It's easier if you have flexible dates, use the search-by-month tool and look at off-peak days. I ran a few searches outside of the peak summer travel period. It currently shows no award availability on the British Airways leg from London to Phoenix in October, but plenty of space in the opposite direction in economy and premium economy.

Pricing my itinerary out with Avios, it gave me the American Airlines flight as the return option for dates in October at 55,750 miles and $649 in taxes — the taxes are higher on BA than most other carriers. Even pricing a cash economy ticket, the fare was $620 round-trip but the taxes added another $649, making the total ticket price $1,269.

Here are the airfare and award redemption ranges for Phoenix-London round-trips on British Airways over the next several months:

Checking in to premium economy on British Airways

I always like to check in for flights online or using the airline's app on my phone. I was able to check in for my flight to London using the British Airways app, but was not issued a boarding pass pending a passport check, so I stopped by the British Airways priority desk at the airport to claim my boarding pass and check my bag. Normally I would not check a bag, but I packed my medium-size Away suitcase because London was not my final destination and I was going on an extended trip.

Premium economy tickets do get an extra bag allowance, so you could bring a cabin bag plus a personal item on board and check up to two additional bags of up to 23 kilograms (51 pounds) for free.

The priority check-in desk can be used if you hold elite status on British Airways or a Oneworld alliance partner. I have Platinum status on American Airlines, which gives me Oneworld Sapphire status . In Phoenix, there are two agent stations for priority passengers in premium cabins or with elite status, and three for those in economy. The check-in process was quick and easy as this is the only flight that British Airways operates out of Phoenix, and I did not wait more than five minutes. I also arrived three hours prior to the scheduled departure.

Once checked in, I headed through security using my Clear membership and went to the American Express Centurion Lounge , which is near Gate B22 in Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor Airport. I stood in line for almost 30 minutes to get my name on the waitlist and was told it would be another 30 before entry. I walked to the Admirals Club instead and gained immediate access with my status since I was flying internationally.

All this to say that a British Airways premium economy ticket alone does not provide lounge access to passengers unless you either have elite status or hold a credit card with lounge access as a perk.

On the return from London to Phoenix, I somehow missed the priority check-in area and opted to use a self-scanner to check my bag and send it on its way. This is a great timesaver in theory, but my machine was buggy and decided to become "unavailable" midscan, so I had to switch to another scanner. I did, however, make my way post-security to the south end of Terminal 5 to have a snack at the British Airways Galleries Club Lounge , to which I had access thanks to my Oneworld status, while I waited for the boarding time.

Boarding for the British Airways outbound flight from Phoenix always feels a bit like a cattle call as the gate is near the end of the terminal, and there are not really any seats, just long rows to funnel nearly 300 passengers onto the plane. The day I flew, the flight was fully booked because the flight the night before had been canceled, so anyone who could be moved to the next departure was.

The staff managed to board the plane in Phoenix quickly and efficiently, so there was not a lot of time lost at the gate. Boarding started at 6:50 p.m. and was completed by 7:30 p.m. A premium economy ticket entitles you to priority boarding after first and business class, but before main cabin passengers.

On the return flight from London, the plane was parked at a remote stand, which meant passengers needed to board shuttle buses to reach the aircraft and board via stairs instead of a jetway connected to the terminal. The flight was normally scheduled to depart at 2:30 p.m., but there was a mechanical delay announced at 2 p.m. so we didn't end up boarding until 4:30 p.m., and the process was completed by 5:12 p.m. By the time we pushed back, it was almost three hours after our originally scheduled departure, but the staff moved swiftly during boarding to get us on our way as quickly as possible.

How comfortable was premium economy on British Airways?

One of the aspects I enjoy the most about premium economy is the cabin size. It's much smaller and more intimate than the main cabin. There are only five rows in a 2-4-2 configuration for a total of 40 seats on the Boeing 777-300ER, just behind the main business-class cabin.

If I'm traveling with a companion, I try to book a set of two seats by the window, but since I was traveling alone, I opted for an aisle seat in the center section in the second row — 16G. I prefer an aisle seat, and my rationale here is that if I fall asleep, I won't necessarily be woken up by my neighbor if they need to get up since they can exit out of the other side of the row. Conversely, I won't need to wake anyone up if I need to stretch or use the restroom.

The seats are roomier than in economy, too — a full 18.5 inches wide versus just 17.1 inches — which feels equivalent to a domestic first-class seat. There is also a leg rest that can pop out from the bottom seat cushion and an adjustable footrest attached to the preceding seat.

The seat reclines up to 8 inches and offers an adjustable headrest with wings to cradle your head.

I found the tray table and access to two power outlets in the armrest between my seat and my neighbor's. The table popped up and out, and unfolded to twice its stowed size, which was large enough for my 13-inch MacBook. There was onboard Wi-Fi available starting at 4.99 British pounds ($6.40) for one hour, 11.99 British pounds ($15.40) for four hours or a full-flight pass for 19.99 British pounds ($25.60).

I found the Wi-Fi to be slower when trying to load files via Slack while I worked on the plane for a few hours, but it worked perfectly fine for emails and messaging on my MacBook.

Finally, there were two lavatories located directly behind the premium economy cabin and ahead of economy that premium economy and economy passengers shared. Since there were only two other lavatories at the very aft of the plane for economy passengers, there was a wait to use them at times, but it never took too long.

Amenities in British Airways premium economy

Upon boarding, each seat had a small pillow and lightweight blanket, which I found to be soft and comfortable.

There were also basic noise-canceling headphones and an amenity kit.

The amenity kit contained a toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm and hand lotion from Scaramouche + Fandango, socks, a pen and an eye mask. I was surprised there were no earplugs included, like you'll find in many other amenity kits.

The personal entertainment system included a 12-inch screen in the seatback that was adjustable up and down so that when the person in front of you reclined their seat, you could still view the content well. The entertainment on demand included an array of new movies, classic movies, TV and music. The BA High Life Entertainment system includes Paramount+ shows, and I was able to catch up on episodes of "1923" with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren during the flight.

For a break between episodes, I would switch to the satellite-view flight tracker and check our location as we navigated up over Canada and Greenland toward the U.K.

The entertainment system can be controlled with a wired remote that pops out of the side of the armrest, but the same controls are available on the touchscreen. The headphones plug in right next to the remote in your armrest.

How was the food in British Airways premium economy?

As boarding on my outbound flight from Phoenix was underway and passengers were getting settled in, flight attendants came through the cabin, welcoming everyone and offering a predeparture beverage choice of water or orange juice.

Around 30 minutes after takeoff, the crew circulated with warm towels. Drink service started about 10 minutes after that, and menus were handed out. All service in the premium economy cabin was quick and efficient, and the friendly flight attendants made a point to chat with each passenger.

I'm not sure if it's due to the double aisles, but meal service overall on the plane seemed to take less time than on a domestic flight in the U.S. where they only serve drinks and pretzels. The BA crew definitely has it down to a science.

On the outbound flight, dinner service included a starter of quinoa salad. The main course was a choice of:

• A vegetarian Indian dish.
• Beef brisket.
• Roasted chicken with parmesan cheese.

The tray also included a dinner roll and butter, cheddar cheese with crackers and a vanilla bean cheesecake with tropical jelly.

I selected the chicken with roasted potatoes for my entree. The temperature was perfect, and the chicken was tasty. I know it's hard to get a good crisp on roasted potatoes served in the sky, but they were decent. I'm not really a dessert fan so I only took a bite of the vanilla bean cheesecake and decided to eat the cheese and crackers instead. Bottled water and a choice of beverage were also included. The bar menu includes a selection of cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine, tea, coffee and soft drinks.

After dinner, the crew dimmed the lights and I watched a movie before reclining my seat, donning my eye mask and sleeping on and off for about four hours. In my book, that's better than nothing!

About two hours after dinner, I was awake when crew members came by handing out Walker shortbread cookies. The buttery goodness is something I always associate with my trips to the U.K. Around midnight U.K. time, the crew circulated with a choice of water or orange juice. I'm still not sure about orange juice at dinnertime or midnight, so I grabbed more water.

About an hour before landing in London, breakfast service was delivered and passengers had a choice of:

• Scrambled eggs with mushrooms, bacon and potato hash
• Cheddar cheese omelet, potato wedges, cherry tomatoes and asparagus

Both dishes were accompanied by a fruit cocktail cup and a muffin. I only ate a few bites of my scrambled eggs and side veggies, which was enough to hold me over until I could grab a full meal once in London.

The food quality on the outbound flight to London was OK but not excellent. However, on the return flight to Phoenix, both dinner service and the light meal before landing were some of the best food I've had on a flight. Around 30 minutes after takeoff, the crew circulated with warm towels, followed 10 minutes later by water, orange juice and pretzels.

Dinner service started just after 7 p.m. (we'd been in the air about 90 minutes) and was a choice of:

• Rigatoni pasta in a slow-roasted tomato sauce.
• Chicken tikka masala with rice pilaf.
• Braised leg of lamb with pea mousseline, roasted cauliflower and rosemary jus.

Lamb is one of my favorite dishes, so I gave it a go and was pleasantly surprised at how tender and juicy it was. I'm not a fan of peas, but whip them up in a mousseline, and they're apparently delicious. The pannacotta was a good balance of passion fruit with a touch of sweetness. The couscous tabbouleh that accompanied the entree sat atop a coriander yogurt sauce that was light and tangy.

The light meal prior to landing was not breakfast this time as the London-Phoenix leg normally lands around 7 p.m. in the evening, so the offerings were:

• Chicken and vegetable pie.
• Aubergine (eggplant) parmigiana.

British Airways hit a home run with two of my favorites on the same flight. I chose the eggplant, and it was delicious. I rarely eat bread on a flight unless it is fresh and warm. This roll was wrapped in plastic so I skipped it in favor of the apple and rhubarb crumble, which was a nice blend of tart and sweet to end the meal.

Dining in premium economy definitely felt like an upgraded experience to the economy cabin. The main entrees, side dishes and most desserts were served on real ceramic plates. The napkins were cloth, not paper, and the silverware was metal, not plastic. Actual glasses came on the tray for your water or other beverage, and cocktails were served in glasses, not single-use plastic cups.

On previous flights in British Airways economy, I remember being handed a dinner tray, and everything was wrapped in foil or plastic. The presentation is definitely elevated in premium economy.

Was British Airways' premium economy worth it? 

Having flown both economy and premium economy on this route, I can say that the premium economy experience is definitely an upgrade and more restful than flying in economy. I am a frugal traveler, though, and I have a hard time shelling out hundreds or even a thousand dollars more than necessary, so I only tend to book premium economy when I know I need to sleep on an overnight flight, and I'm more than happy to fly economy on the return if it's a daytime flight. That helps keep the price of airfare lower.

Booking mixed fares on British Airways is a good way to save at least a little money if you only need to fly something nicer than coach on one of the segments. If you prefer to book using Avios instead of cash, you can also mix fares. Taxes are expensive, though, and can cost over $600 round-trip on this route.

If you are looking for genuinely friendly service and upgraded amenities (like the soft blanket!), then I would definitely recommend flying British Airways premium economy — especially if you want to arrive rested and well-fed.

Related reading:

• When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
• The best airline credit cards
• What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
• The best credit cards to reach elite status
• What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations