Hot Seats

Premium economy soars in popularity among returning business and leisure travelers.

- IRENE RAWLINGS

The middle cabin, tucked in between business class and economy, has grabbed the attention of both business and leisure travelers. It also proves a big moneymaker for the airlines. The cost per ticket can be as much as 80 percent more than an economy seat but still substantially less than business class. Some airlines call it Premium Plus, some call it Premium Select, and others call it Elite Class. Whatever the name, most major airlines offer this class of service on international and many long-haul domestic flights.

For many years, airlines relied on big-spending business travelers to fill the high-priced, front-of-the-plane seats. Now those customers are traveling less frequently and on greatly reduced expense accounts. According to Deloitte Insights, it could take another two or three years for business travel to recover, and with the popularity and effectiveness of virtual meetings, it may take even longer to reach pre-pandemic levels. So, for now, many business travelers are booking into premium economy.