Emirates Expands Its Premium Economy Cabin to These U.S. Routes

While Emirates is renowned for its luxurious first and business class offerings, the Dubai-based airline is now shifting its attention to the increasingly sought-after premium economy class. Positioned between economy and business, this cabin caters to travelers looking for a more enhanced experience without a substantial price hike over standard economy. In August 2022, Emirates launched its premium economy aboard the Airbus A380, making it the first major Middle Eastern airline to introduce this service.

One year after its initial launch, Emirates now boasts 20 Airbus A380s equipped with premium economy—comprising 6 new aircraft and 14 that have undergone refurbishment at Emirates’ engineering center. As of May 1, this new service class became available on Emirates flights from the U.S., starting with routes between New York and Dubai. Following that, San Francisco flights were also upgraded, and by July, routes from Houston and Los Angeles began offering the premium economy option as well.

“Premium economy plays a vital role in our ongoing commitment to our customers globally, especially in the U.S. market,” said Essa Sulaiman Ahmad, divisional vice president for the USA and Canada, in a statement to Dinogo. “As with all our services, Emirates’ premium economy is designed to be outstanding in its category, with meticulous attention to every detail of the customer experience.”

U.S. Routes Served by Emirates Premium Economy

U.S. travelers now have increased chances to enjoy stylish, textured cream leather recliners on flights to Dubai and beyond. Emirates currently operates the Airbus A380 with premium economy on four routes connecting the United States:

• Houston (IAH)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• New York City (JFK)
• San Francisco (SFO)

Other international destinations featuring the enhanced four-class Airbus A380—offering first, business, premium economy, and economy—include London (LHR), Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), Auckland (AKL), Christchurch (CHC), and Singapore (SIN). To date, Emirates reports that over 160,000 passengers have enjoyed the premium economy experience.

An Overview of Emirates Premium Economy

While the first and business class cabins are situated on the upper deck of the Airbus A380, the premium economy cabin is located at the front of the lower deck. This cozy 52-seat space features leather seating with enhanced details arranged in a 2-4-2 layout, compared to the 3-4-3 configuration found in economy class.

Each seat comes equipped with a wood-grain fold-out table—akin to what passengers might find in first or business class—and a 13.3-inch LCD screen mounted in the seatback, complete with both headphone jacks and Bluetooth capability. In terms of comfort, each seat is 19.5 inches wide with a pitch of 40 inches, a six-way adjustable headrest, an eight-inch recline, and an adjustable calf rest. Additionally, window seats feature electronically adjustable shades, a luxury not found in economy class.

Passengers in premium economy benefit from dedicated service by three flight attendants, beginning with a welcome drink upon boarding. The gourmet menu is refreshed monthly, and all meals come with complimentary wines and spirits, including the exclusive Chandon Vintage Brut 2016, an Australian sparkling wine. Food and beverages are served on fine china and glassware.

Travelers receive soft, eco-friendly blankets made from recycled plastic bottles and full-size pillows tailored specifically for premium economy. Complimentary amenity kits include socks, eye masks, a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a bookmark for added comfort.

Of course, the enhanced in-flight experience comes at a price. We examined several round-trip flights between the U.S. and Dubai and discovered that premium economy seats were approximately three times the cost of economy seats for identical routes. For example, a round-trip flight from San Francisco to Dubai in mid-October was priced at $575 for economy, $1,623 for premium economy, and $4,280 for business class. An autumn round-trip from New York to Dubai was $442 for economy, $1,570 for premium economy, and $3,719 for business.

Future Plans for Emirates Premium Economy

This is merely the beginning of Emirates’ ambitions for premium economy. The airline is making substantial investments as part of a $200 billion refurbishment initiative, planning to introduce this cabin across a total of 120 aircraft, including 67 Airbus A380s and 53 Boeing 777s. By 2024, all 67 A380s scheduled for refurbishment will be back in service, at which point Emirates will turn its attention to its Boeing 777s designated for the upgrade.

The complete refurbishment program is anticipated to be finished by mid-2025, featuring over 4,000 premium economy seats. In the upcoming months, premium economy will be offered to travelers heading to Mumbai and Bengaluru in India starting October 29, with more cities to be revealed soon.