Metro's Deputy TV Editor, Tom Percival, recently undertook the longest flight of his life, travelling from London to Tokyo in British Airways' Premium Economy cabin. As someone who developed a significant fear of flying following a traumatic emergency landing incident, this journey represented both a personal challenge and an opportunity to evaluate whether enhanced travel comforts could alleviate aerophobia.
The Premium Economy Experience: Space and Comfort
Upon boarding the aircraft, Percival was greeted with what he describes as "your bog-standard airline seat, but slightly wider and with a bit more leg room." The tangible differences proved substantial: Premium Economy seats offer approximately 7-8 inches more legroom (with a 38-inch pitch compared to around 31 inches in standard economy) and are typically 1-2 inches wider, measuring between 18.5 and 19.5 inches across.
Passengers also benefit from larger television screens and increased recline capability. For someone prone to claustrophobia during flights, this additional space made a noticeable difference. "I felt less claustrophobic than I normally do," Percival noted, "and this definitely eased my existential dread as we zoomed around the Earth at 575mph."
Service and Dining Enhancements
The service experience began promisingly with a pre-takeoff offering of champagne or fruit juice, accompanied by a bag of sour cream and onion pretzels. The in-flight meal surpassed typical airline food expectations, featuring braised steak with vegetables followed by an apple tart. Notably, Premium Economy passengers receive proper cutlery, including an actual knife, allowing them to cut their food properly rather than wrestling with plastic alternatives.
"Airline food has a bad reputation thanks to Jerry Seinfeld," Percival observed, "but I thought the in-flight meal was delicious." The inclusion of a courtesy bag containing an eye mask, toothbrush, toothpaste, and noise-cancelling headphones further contributed to a more comfortable journey.
The Entertainment Shortfall
Despite the physical comforts and improved dining, one significant drawback emerged: the entertainment selection. Percival found the available television shows and movies disappointingly limited, particularly noting that box sets advertised as containing multiple episodes often comprised just one or two installments.
For anxious flyers, this proved problematic. "The worst thing about flying is having time to think," Percival explained. "Thinking is what turns every normal thunk, clunk, and bang into a mechanical fault that will doom their flight to be the topic of some air disaster podcast one day."
Maintaining distraction from the reality of being confined in an aircraft became crucial to managing anxiety, and the inadequate entertainment options made this challenging. The onboard Wi-Fi, while occasionally inconsistent, provided some relief by enabling communication with friends on the ground, preventing complete mental spiralling during connectivity gaps.
Cost Considerations and Overall Verdict
A non-refundable Premium Economy ticket on British Airways from London Heathrow to Tokyo's Haneda Airport carries a minimum price tag of £2,284. When asked whether the experience justified this premium, Percival offered measured praise: "I thought Premium Economy was good, if not life-changing."
He acknowledged that his entertainment criticisms applied equally to all cabin classes and couldn't fault the service received. The most significant endorsement came from an unexpected quarter: "I think the highest praise I can give the flight is that I fell asleep for an hour or two, which is normally impossible for me."
Regarding the central question of whether Premium Economy can ease flying anxiety, Percival reported positive outcomes from subsequent flights without experiencing his usual panic. While he couldn't definitively attribute this improvement solely to the cabin class rather than gradual exposure, he concluded that "it certainly makes my life easier."
The review ultimately presents British Airways Premium Economy as a solid middle-ground option that delivers tangible comfort improvements over standard economy, particularly valuable for nervous travellers, though let down by entertainment offerings that fail to adequately distract during long-haul journeys.
