Aviation

Etihad premium economy vs Emirates premium economy: Which Airline Is Best?

When considering premium economy options for air travel, Etihad and Emirates emerge as two prominent airlines offering distinctive experiences tailored to meet the evolving needs of passengers.

With a focus on enhancing comfort, service quality, and overall satisfaction, both carriers have introduced premium economy cabins aimed at providing a balance between affordability and luxury. In this comparison, we’ll explore the premium economy offerings of Etihad and Emirates, delving into the amenities, seating, and overall experience provided by each airline to assist travelers in making an informed decision for their next journey.

In-flight Amenities:

Emirates is a leader in complementary amenities, offering necessities like toothpaste, toothbrushes, eye shades, socks, and earplugs to its passengers at no cost. However, for those who want even more comfort and convenience.

Etihad provides a dental kit and eye shades upon request. On ultra-long-haul flights, customers can even purchase premium luxuries like Christian Lacroix sleepwear and Kit Bags.

Choices for Seating and Upgrades:

For travelers looking for better seats or upgrades, both airlines provide special services. To improve the travel experience, Emirates lets customers use their Neighbour-Free Seat service or bid for upgrades. In a similar vein, Etihad offers the Neighbour-Free Seat service, guaranteeing travelers a roomier and more comfortable ride.

Passengers can select their seats on both airlines, although the opportunity to do so opens at different times. Passengers have plenty of time to reserve their ideal seats with Emirates since they can choose their seats during check-in or up to 48 hours before the flight. It is, however, possible for passengers to choose their seats closer to the departure time as Etihad provides this option 24 hours in advance.

However, when it comes to additional charges, emirate airline proves to be more expensive for extra legroom, while ethiad airways levies higher fees for extra luggage or additional weight. Notably, Etihad has a stricter policy on overweight items, not accepting items over 32kg, whereas Emirates accommodates such items.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

British Airways Unveils Its Brand-New First Class Cabin for the Airbus A380

This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

Etihad Airways Unveils 10 Exciting New Routes for 2025

In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.