Air travel has deteriorated over the years.

Seat sizes, in-flight meals, and service have declined significantly since air travel became popular. This raises the question: is it worth paying extra for a premium economy ticket?

Premium economy class is a relatively new category of air tickets that falls between economy class and business class. It offers a middle ground option for added comfort at a price much lower than that of a business class ticket. Typically, premium economy seats are situated towards the front of the economy class section, close to the business class seats. Tickets for these seats come with additional perks such as premium beverages, early boarding, priority check-in, and more.

When determining the value of an economy versus a premium economy ticket, the airline you choose plays a crucial role. One of the standard offerings you can expect from most airlines’ premium economy seats is the sought-after commodity of extra legroom. For example, on Air Alaska, opting for premium economy can give you an extra eight inches of legroom. Other airlines usually provide anywhere from four to eight inches of additional legroom. While it might seem extravagant to pay hundreds of extra dollars for legroom, it can be crucial on lengthy flights. If you already have joint pain, being cramped in an economy seat for more than six hours is less than ideal. In such cases, the extra space afforded by premium economy could be well worth the investment.

When it comes to other amenities, the airline you select is a key consideration. Factors like priority boarding vary across airlines. Since not all premium economy seats are created equal, it’s advisable to conduct some research before deciding whether to purchase a premium economy ticket from a particular airline. The amenities provided can significantly impact your flight experience, particularly on long-haul flights.