What Is The Difference Between United Economy And Economy Plus?

A lot of factors go into making a good airline ticket price. Some of these include the various perks offered by the airlines, such as free Wi-Fi and additional legroom.

Now, many domestic airlines are offering economy class tickets that are usually only available for basic and standard. This is a new way of charging customers for la carte flight offerings.



We used SeatGuru to measure the distance between the seat and the point at which the headrest is located on the plane. While it's not the exact distance that you'll get from the seat to the point at which the seatback is positioned, it does give a good approximation of how much room you should expect.

Deciding which flight to book can be a bit of a juggling act. There are so many factors to consider when it comes to choosing a ticket, it can be hard to know which one to take. Before you book, it's important to understand the terminology used for different seating levels.

The various seating classifications before first and business class can be confusing to some passengers. While economy plus and premium economy are often the most common options for travelers, they can also be hard to distinguish.

Related: Does United Premier Access Give You Lounge Access?

What is premium economy?

American Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Air Canada offer premium economy. Other airlines have their own take on the concept, with names such as Premium Select, World Traveller Plus, and Premium Plus.

Premium economy is more than just the seats. It also provides a variety of extras, such as priority boarding and meal options. In addition, flying in premium economy usually comes with a lower rate than standard tickets.

Premium economy seats are typically placed in the middle of the main cabin and the business class cabins. According to Skyscanner, they are 65% less expensive than economy tickets.



What is economy plus?

If economy is the love child of the business class and economy, then where does it fit in? While it is not as luxurious as the premium economy, it is still more affordable.

While it’s still a better seat, there are more comfortable seats in economy class. In some airlines, the seats are even wider and newer. You’ll also get a better meal and a better boarding experience.

Although many airlines offer economy-plus tickets, they often call it something else. For instance, Delta has Comfort+, while American has Even More Space and Main Cabin Extra.

Basic economy

For most airlines, including United, Delta, and American, the basic economy ticket is a step up from the main cabin. This means that passengers can bring more items with them, but they can't upgrade their seat.

A basic economy ticket is the least restrictive and most expensive option. It typically has less legroom and is not allowed to carry bags in the overhead bin.

Preferred seating

Although it's typically cheaper to get a preferred seat than a premium or business class one, it's still worth the extra money to avoid a middle seat.

Although it's usually guaranteed more space, airlines charge more for preferred seating. These seats can be found in the front of the plane or anywhere but the middle seat. Some airlines, like United and Delta, charge for advance seating.

Economy plus

On some airlines, like Delta, they provide dedicated overhead bin space and free beer, wine, and spirits.

For an additional fee, passengers can board earlier and have more legroom. They'll also be able to get to a faster exit.

United Airlines Economy

United's economy seating has a width of 17 inches, but it has 37 inches of legroom. This means that paying for the same seat but with 6 inches more legroom is equivalent to getting the same seat but with 6 inches more of space.

JetBlue's economy seats have the most legroom in the industry, with 34 inches of space. They also have the widest width at 17.8 inches.

On the other hand, JetBlue's Even More Space seats have up to 39 inches of legroom. They also offer Early Boarding and Speed.

Delta's Comfort+ class has the same seat width but has about 33 to 34 inches of legroom. Some of the perks that come with this class include free movies, priority boarding, and a dedicated overhead bin.

On Wow, passengers get 32 to 33 inches of legroom on some of its seats, and 35 to 37 inches on others. They also receive free checked baggage, priority boarding, and in-flight meals.

On Wow, customers can get up to 33 inches of legroom on its standard seats and up to 35 inches on its BigSeats. They also receive free checked baggage and priority boarding.

Spirit's economy seats have the least amount of legroom with a width of 17.75 inches.

What is the cost and upgrade potential for premium economy and economy plus?

Depending on the length of your flight and your personal preference, you might be better off with an economy or premium economy ticket. For instance, if you fly cross-country, you might be paying up to $300 more for a premium economy ticket.

If you have a Delta Silver Medallion or lower status tier, you may be eligible for free upgrades to first class or economy seating at no charge. For example, if you fly with Delta, you may be able to get upgraded to a first class seat at no charge.

Where Does Economy Into This?

While economy doesn’t get you an upgrade, it does provide a basic level of service. Most airlines offer meal service, though it depends on the exact flight and your exact situation. In most cases, economy seats have about 30 to 31 inches of legroom.

Costs of Subscription

Consider the following examples of Economy Plus subscription prices:

  • $599 for one passenger in the continental United States
  • $799 for two people in the continental United States
  • North and Central America – $699 per person
  • $799 for one passenger worldwide
  • $999 for two travelers worldwide

United’s Economy Plus Product

Economy Plus seats have additional legroom of up to six inches. While it is not free, United does offer alcoholic beverages.

Confusion with Premium Economy

The distinction between Premium Plus and standard economy products is important. In this product, United offers a wider variety of seats and better overall comfort. It is also closer to First Class than to Economy Plus.

Related: Can I Upgrade From Basic Economy To Economy On United?

Changing Seats in Economy Plus

After booking our tickets to Ireland, I decided to change the seats using the seat maps found on SeatGuru.com. This site lets users customize the seats for their upcoming flight. It also shows you the best seats and the worst seats.

Delays to Our Economy Plus Refund

This is where the bad assumption gets made. I thought that United would refund me for the seats that I bought but would no longer use them.

After re-booking our trip to Ireland, I booked Economy Plus again. I expected United to process the refund immediately.

Premiers Get Free Economy Plus

If I still had United Airlines, I would not have any issues with it. However, after the merger with Continental, I became disillusioned with the company.

Members of the Premier Program can book Economy Plus seats at NO CHARGE. Those with Premier Silver status are also eligible to receive free Economy Plus seats.

Compare Individual Flights against Subscription Cost

If you cancel your travel plans due to illness or accident, you will not be entitled to the money back. But, if you use Economy Plus, you will get the money back.

For our trip to Ireland, the total cost for our Economy Plus tickets was almost $900. While it wasn't going to save us any money, the subscription was still worth it.

The Saga Ends, Nine Months Later

For a long time, United Airlines owed me a refund for my purchases from their economy tier. I tried to get them to refund me, but it took me a few days to get the money back.

United made me whole after I got back all of the miles and money I spent for this trip. The people I talked to were pleasant and tried to help me.

Four refund checks were issued back to me on September 24, 2020. They were processed almost a year after the flights were canceled.

Conclusion

Having purchased an Economy Plus seat on United Airlines, I learned that there are plenty of fine print issues that can affect the purchase.

If you like Economy Plus, consider buying a subscription instead of paying the usual price.

We’re planning on going to Ireland in 2021. Instead of flying American Airlines, we’ll be using Economy Plus.

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