I paid $400 to upgrade to KLM Premium Economy on an 11-hour flight – was it worth it? -The Points Guy

I had to travel to South Africa for a work conference in October, and I was dreading the thought of spending 22 hours in economy to get there.

The last time I flew such a long distance in coach was three years ago when I boarded Qantas for a 17-hour journey from Dallas to Sydney. The only good thing I remember about the experience was the Tim Tams.

Luckily, on this recent trip, I only flew in economy for the first leg and was able to upgrade premium economy For the second section. I paid just under $400 for the upgrade – and I got about half of that amount refunded because there was an issue with my seat, and the airline issued me a credit as an apology.

Here’s my advice on whether it’s worth it Upgrading to Premium Economy on your next flight And what was the experience like for me.

Price difference between KLM economy and premium economy

Six weeks before departure, I paid $1,722 for a one-way economy ticket on KLM from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Cape Town International Airport (CPT) with a connection through Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) . This was a high price, but it was comparable to what other carriers charged on that route. Plus, I didn’t have much date flexibility.

Looking at the price of this flight on Google Flights for the next year, one-way economy tickets start at $1,160, while premium economy tickets are almost double that at $2,010.

When online check-in is opened 24 hours before departure, no business class or premium economy Upgrades were available on the 10-hour flight from San Francisco to Amsterdam. I was disappointed by this, as I wanted to get maximum sleep on the night flight.

However, I got an offer to upgrade to premium economy on an 11-hour flight from Amsterdam to Cape Town for $382, so I took advantage of it.

I blame myself for this Chase Sapphire Reserve® Which I use for most of my airfare purchases due to its superior travel security; Plus, I earn 3 points per dollar spent on travel purchases. After all, I should have worn it The Platinum Card® from American Express To earn 5 more points per dollar spent because I already had travel protection from my original purchase.

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My colleague, senior hotel reporter cameron sperence Was flying in from Boston and joined me for the second segment. He also got a premium economy upgrade offer, for which he paid Rs 25,000 Delta SkyMiles(He booked his ticket through Delta, which means he can redeem SkyMiles for his upgrade.) According to TPG’s December 2024 ValuationHer 25,000 SkyMiles were worth $300, which means she paid 21% less than I did.

Check-in and Boarding

My journey began at SFO, where I checked in using the Sky Priority Lane; Since one of my two flights was in premium economy, I had access. The process was quick. It took less than five minutes to verify my passport, check my bag, and get my boarding pass.

If I had traveled the entire journey in economy class, I would have had to use one of the self-service kiosks if I only had carry-on; With my checked bag, I had to wait in the long line which you can see in the background of the photo above.

On my first flight, I boarded in Zone 5 with other economy class passengers, and on my second flight, I boarded in Zone 2 with Premium Economy class passengers.

Seats in KLM Economy vs Premium Economy

I flew both segments on the Boeing 777, on the -300ER version on the first leg and then on the smaller -200ER on the second leg. Both aircraft have the same seat configuration in premium economy and coach:

• economy: 10 seats in a strict 3-4-3 layout
• premium economy: Eight seats in a more comfortable 2-4-2 layout

My economy seat on the first flight was narrow and only had thin padding. It had 31 inches of pitch – as you find on domestic flights in the US, KLM’s extra-legroom Economy Comfort seats have 35 inches of pitch.

On my second flight, I found the premium economy seat to be very comfortable. It had a generous pitch of 38 inches, which was about the same as the standard airlines offer in this cabin.

The 5 inches of drop in economy was the same as I’ve experienced on most other carriers, but in premium economy you’ll get 60% more (8 inches total). It makes a big difference, especially with the more comfortable cushioning of the premium economy seat.

Connected: Our full review of the KLM Premium Economy

On one hand, I was grateful that the first flight was fairly empty, so I was able to lie down in a row of four seats in the center; On the other hand, there were children sitting on either side of me (closer to the windows), and I didn’t sleep well.

I arrived in Amsterdam tired and stressed; I ran from my arrival gate to the departure gate, as my stay was just over an hour. Needless to say, even though I was assigned a middle seat for the second flight, I still got a good three hours of sleep and am extremely grateful for the increased comfort of the premium economy seat.

KLM Premium Economy has standard seats that recline in the front row. I much prefer the new generation fixed-shell seats that you can find in companies like airlines japan airlines, air france And China Airlines Where the seatbacks simply slide down without encroaching on the second row.

While KLM’s economy and premium economy seats feature an HD touchscreen entertainment system, the premium economy seat is 21% larger (13.3 vs. 11 inches).

There is also a noticeable difference in the size and stability of tray tables. The premium economy table can fit a 16-inch laptop, while the economy class one can fit a maximum of 13-inch laptop.

Both seats had highly adjustable headrests, with the Premium Economy seat offering more padding.

Dining in KLM Economy vs Premium Economy

I’m glad I had lunch in the (recently renovated and impressive) Air France-KLM lounge at SFO as there were very few options onboard on my first flight. However, they included fresh fruits and vegetables.

The second flight was definitely a step up, mainly by serving copious drinks and one of the best meals I’ve had during a flight – a delicious and light but filling Salmon Poke Bowl with edamame, ginger and rice. It was a nice dinner before landing in Cape Town and going to bed.

I also appreciated the printed menus waiting at their seats for Premium Economy passengers.

Halfway through the second flight, Premium Economy and Economy passengers were served the same cheese sandwich, and the main course dessert was also the same ice cream.

Features in KLM Economy vs Premium Economy

In economy, I got a thin, scratchy pillow, while in premium economy, it was larger and more plush.

The blanket in the economy was also like a light throw. Premium Economy passengers got a thick, cozy blanket that was warm but breathable, making it easy to sleep under.

Economy class passengers get weak disposable earbuds, while premium economy class passengers get good noise-canceling headphones.

It’s notable that all passengers have the same in-flight entertainment options in terms of movies and TV shows, albeit on different screen sizes.

Service in KLM economy vs premium economy

Premium Economy passengers receive an amenity kit in the form of a reusable tote with earplugs, an eye mask, a bamboo toothbrush, toothpaste tablets and a pen. However, economy passengers don’t get these, so be sure to pack your own toothbrush.

There was no notable difference in service between the two cabins.

I was disappointed when the headphone jack didn’t work 90 minutes into my second flight. Eventually, the purser came to resolve the problem and first offered to exchange my seat with a non-revenue passenger’s seat in my row. I declined because I didn’t want to disturb other passengers. I can use my AirPods and iPad to enjoy the downloaded content as a backup.

The money lender finally offered me 70 euros ($74) or 15,000 Air France-KLM Flying Blue Miles To compensate for this. I took the miles because they were worth $195 according to TPG as of December 2024 Valuation -Almost three times the cash amount was offered.

The process of claiming my miles was easy because the stalker had noted down my email address. Two days later, the miles appeared in my account. I redeemed them (well, all but 500 of them – plus $76 in taxes) for a one-way economy-class award ticket on Aerolineas Argentinas from Buenos Aires to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, as part of a trip to South America. Taking it next year.

ground level

After a bad night’s sleep on a flight from the US to Amsterdam, I was relieved to find a more comfortable seat for the second leg of my trip to South Africa.

However, keeping that previous flight out of the equation, at what price would I recommend upgrading to premium economy? I would say paying up to $40 per flight hour is reasonable, at least for my budget and travel preferences. This upgrade cost me $35 per flight hour – and I’m very grateful for it. If the upgrade had cost more than $450, I would have started to hesitate.

As a point of comparison, I flew condor premium economy Back from South Africa. It’s more like an extra-legroom economy seat with more recline, rather than a completely different product.

That’s why it’s important to do your research because what is marketed as premium economy can vary greatly from airline to airline. For a Condor flight, my recommendation would be to pay up to $15 per flight hour for an upgrade, which is less than half what I would pay for KLM’s more classic premium economy offering.

Connected: How to Upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy Without Breaking the Bank

If you want to maximize your sleep on a comfortable seat with plush blankets, enjoy priority check-in and boarding, watch movies on the large entertainment screen and explore better dining options, all for a reasonable upgrade cost. Are – then it’s worth it.

If you have an economy class ticket on KLM and can upgrade to premium economy for $40 per flight hour, I would say do so.