How to save money on premium economy fares

If you're tempted to push the boat out on your next flight, we've rounded up our tips for getting cheaper premium economy seats. 

From more choice for meals to extra legroom, premium economy certainly has its perks - especially on a long haul flight. But what you get depends on which airline you're flying with, so we've also listed the best and worst premium economy seats to help you decide whether it's worth spending the extra money. If you do decide to go for it,  use our hacks below to save.

Find a package holiday deal

You could get premium economy seats cheaper if they're thrown into an all inclusive deal. Check airline websites for flight and hotel packages – anything from last-minute to nine months in advance. These companies are so determined to win all your holiday pounds that they’re practically giving the flights away. 

We've crunched the numbers and weighed up the pros and cons to see how all inclusive compares to DIY. Read more about package vs DIY holidays 

Bid for an upgrade

If the price of premium economy makes you wince, try paying only what you think it’s worth. The PlusGrade website helps partner airlines – including Etihad, Qantas, Singapore and Virgin Atlantic – auction off their last remaining non-economy seats. If you’ve booked economy, a blind bid could see you leap up a class. You’ll be notified 48 to 72 hours before take-off if successful, and payment will be taken automatically (and multiplied to include every passenger under the same booking). But you only have one chance to get it right. Travel blogger Bethaney Davies, who has twice struck gold, advises subtracting the amount you’ve already paid from the regular price of a premium ticket – then offering 20% to 40% of the difference.

Collect air miles

Air miles are still the easiest way to upgrade – and flying isn’t the only way to earn them. Buying everything from TVs to takeaways via airline shopping portals can accrue up to 12 miles per pound. Similarly, BA’s Executive Club offers webpage has the latest promotions. Planning to splurge on a big-ticket item? The BA Visa Signature credit card gives you 75,000 points if you spend $5,000 (£4,130) within 90 days of opening your account. Rob Burgess, of frequent-flyer site headforpoints.com, told us: ‘Few people know you can cancel and reapply six months later to get another sign-up bonus. With your partner doing the same, you’d get a premium economy ticket within a year.

Fly from other European cities

If you want premium economy for less, try removing London from your search. Boarding in Paris, Dublin or Stockholm could save you a bundle, if you’re willing to spend a bit of time and money getting there. If you time it right, the savings can be ‘astronomical’, according to Gilbert Ott of travel blog God Save the Points. He slashed his premium fare in half when he flew to LA from Stockholm, rather than from Heathrow. ‘I’m happy to waste a morning to save £500!’ he told us. 

Try a no-frills airline

If extra legroom is your main reason for upgrading, there are other ways of bagging this on the cheap. Believe it or not, budget long-haul carriers can be surprisingly generous on that front. Norwegian Air offers a flat fee of £25 for seat selection, regardless of where you choose. So why not plump for a bulkhead or exit row spot with up to 38 inches of legroom (compared with 31-32 inches in economy)? Virgin Atlantic’s closest equivalent ‘Economy Delight’ is double the price and offers only 34 inches. Similarly, Wow Air’s ‘comfy’ service gives a roomy 37 inches. We've compared the economy seat size of popular long and short haul carriers to see which airline you can bag the most legroom with in economy.