Germany airline Lufthansa has unveiled its new premium economy class, initially on its Boeing 747-8 aircraft. The new seats will gradually be fitted on the entire long-haul fleet within twelve months.

“Our Premium Economy Class will create a completely new travel experience that combines affordability with greater comfort,” says Jens Bischof, CCO & Member of the Lufthansa German Airlines Board. “The seats offer up to 50 per cent more room than economy class and will position us in a premium segment within the international competitive environment.”

The new product will enable Lufthansa to meet the requirements of many business and private passengers who travel with other airlines in a similar travel class or who fly economy class due to travel specifications. Following the introduction of its new full-flat business class, Lufthansa created a much wider gap between economy and business class. As a result, there is now room for its new premium economy class, which offers considerably more space and comfort as well as many additional product features, but is closer to economy class than business class in terms of its average prices. The move also means that Lufthansa is introducing a completely new travel class for the first time in 35 years.

The new seats were designed in partnership with the company Müller/Romca Industrial Design in Kiel and produced by the seat manufacturer ZIM Flugsitz near Lake Constance. Depending on the aircraft type, they are up to three centimetres wider and provide greater privacy as well as approximately ten centimetres more room at the side thanks to each seat having its own wide armrest and a centre console between the seats. The back rest can be reclined further and the seat pitch is a significantly more spacious 38 inches, or 97 centimetres. As a result, passengers have around one-and-a-half times as much room as economy class.

The head rests can be set to the exact height desired and folded at the sides for added comfort and support. Height-adjustable foot rests from the second row back and – for technical reasons – leg supports with an integrated foot rest in the first row provide extra comfort. Practical features around the seats such as a bottle holder, electrical socket and lots of storage space for passengers’ belongings also help to ensure a relaxed and pleasant journey.

An enhanced service awaits premium economy passengers on board: They are greeted with a welcome drink and will find their own water bottle as well as a high-quality amenity kit with practical travel accessories at their seat. Meals are presented on menus commensurate with the new travel class and served on porcelain tableware.

Passengers can navigate the extensive in-flight entertainment programme using their own touchscreen monitor on the seat in front of them. This can also be done using a remote control, which serves as a controller for video games as well. The screens are 11 to 12 inches (28 to 30 centimetres), which makes them at least two inches bigger than the screens in economy class, depending on the aircraft type. A wide selection of magazines and newspapers completes the range of entertainment on offer.

Riding in the new premium economy class also comes with a range of other perks: with a baggage allowance of two items weighing up to 23 kilogrammes each, passengers can take twice as much free luggage with them compared with economy class. For an extra €25, passengers can also enjoy the comfort of the Lufthansa Business Lounges before their departure. Lounges were previously only open to status customers and are otherwise unavailable on a paying basis. Check-in and boarding procedures as well as hand luggage regulations are the same as in economy class.

Lufthansa premium economy class is located within the cabin as a clearly identifiable separate compartment between business and economy class.

Ticket prices in the new premium economy class will be closer to economy class than business class – a return flight across the North Atlantic or to Asia will cost an additional €600 on average. www.lufthansagroup.com/en/themen/premium-economy