Which is the best Premium Economy Transatlantic Airline? British Airways or Virgin Atlantic? You can see where I rank each Premium Economy seat in our article about the top 10 best Premium Economy Airlines in the world.
In order of preference, both British Airways and Virgin Premium Economy seats are similar with limited recline. You can collect Virgin or British Airways miles or Upgrade Vouchers with airline credit cards and supermarket shopping like you can on Virgin or British Airways. When comparing British Airways vs. Virgin in Premium Economy, Virgin tends to have wider seats, so it has the edge. However, the food British Airways World Traveller Plus has the edge over that in Virgin.
I have compared these two airlines in detail below.
Review: Virgin Atlantic Premium Economy
The facts: 21-inch seat width, 38-inch leg room, free drinks, free food.
We like: Priority boarding, wide reclining chairs with footrests, the enhanced menu offering served on china with stainless steel cutlery, the snack bar on the new 787 aircraft with free snacks and drinks that you can help yourself to the fact you can book your seat on Virgin Flying Club miles.
We don’t like: The very average legroom.
You can read all my Virgin Premium Economy flight reviews in this collated guide.
Review: British Airways World Traveller Plus
The facts: 18.5-inch seat width, 38-inch legroom, free drinks, free food.
We like: Jolly British Airways Biggles pilots, the menu (three-course) with options from the business class menu served on china with linen napkins, and that it is easy to collect Avios at Tesco or with the Lloyds Avios credit card.
We don’t like: The lack of priority boarding, the thin seats at 18.5 inches, which are not very comfortable, and the very average legroom.
We have reviewed British Airways World Traveller Plus.
The American airline companies are new to the Premium Economy game and will be launching their versions within the year. American Airlines has started selling AA Premium Economy seats on its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
Delta Air Lines already offers Comfort Plus with extra legroom but will be launching a complete Premium Economy cabin called Delta Premium Select on long-haul aircraft later in 2017. Expect 38 inches of pitch, up to 19 inches of width, and up to seven inches of recline with adjustable leg rests and headrests. They will also be including a Westin Heavenly® In-Flight Blanket with pillow and a TUMI amenity kit featuring Malin+Goetz Travel Essentials. A fresh, seasonal menu will be presented with Alessi service ware designed exclusively for Delta. There will also be an up to 13.3-inch, high-resolution in-flight entertainment screen, noise-canceling headphones, in-seat power ports, and Sky Priority service, including faster check-in, accelerated security, priority boarding, and expedited baggage service will also be included.
United currently offers Economy Plus with a 37-inch seat pitch, five inches more than Economy, but this currently has no other advantages over the normal economy seats.
British Airways and Virgin also feature in our top top 10 best airlines for longhaul Business Class and you can read our British Airways Premium Economy, BA Business Class and First Class flight reviews as well as all of our Virgin Atlantic flight reviews.
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