Is American Airlines Premium Economy Worth It For 13 Hours?

We recently flew 13 hours from Philadelphia (PHL) to Doha (DOH) on one of American Airlines’ longest routes outside of Oceania. This flight stretched far beyond our previous limit of nine hours in premium economy, making it our first ultra long‑haul experience in this cabin. 

For this leg of our journey, business class was completely out of the budget, and 13 hours in regular economy seemed unpleasant, so we decided to test the limits of premium economy comfort. The ticket price is sometimes double regular economy but a fraction of business class. So was it worth it? Here’s what we paid, exactly what to expect, and the one detail that completely depends on your aircraft – and can make or break your flight.

Lounge Access

We started our journey in the brand‑new Admirals Club in PHL Terminal A West. This is not included with the premium economy fare, but we recently got AA’s new Globe card which comes with four passes a year. You can also purchase a day pass with money or points. If you have Amex access, the Centurion Lounge is close by. We wanted to check out the new Chase lounge, but we didn’t have time to walk over to Terminal D.

Tip: If you don’t have lounge access through a card or status, budget for a pass if you value a calm pre‑flight environment before a long haul.

Boarding

This was surprisingly smooth for a sold-out, wide body plane. Premium economy passengers board in Group 4, the last of the priority boarding groups, which was orderly thanks to the crew, and we had no problem getting overhead space for our carry‑ons.

Premium Economy Seats

The seats were super comfortable and very similar to domestic first class, but maybe even a step up. On the Boeing 787‑9 (the aircraft we flew), the seat dimensions were approximately: 38‑inch pitch, 19‑inch width, and a 7‑inch recline. The cabin layout was 2‑3‑2 in premium economy, and there were only three rows, so it felt very cozy and somewhat private.

One thing we love: individual air vents are so essential for having control over the temperature on such a long flight.

Pro tip: bring multiple charging options, just in case. There were plenty of in‑seat chargers but our USBs weren’t fitting properly and our universal charger (despite being a new sleek design) didn’t fit in the full‑outlet under the seat rest. Fortunately we also brought a small adapter, and we were able to stay powered up.

The seatback IFE (in‑flight entertainment) screen was large, the tray table solid, and the storage nook in front of the seat handy for a travel pouch, book, or water bottle. The headrest was adjustable with winged sides and the lumbar pillow was the best we’ve ever had. Overall, for a non‑lie‑flat seat, this delivered a very comfortable long‑haul experience.

Main Meal Service

The first meal service took place promptly after take‑off at dinner time, which was perfect. There was plenty on the tray to pick and choose. Some items (including the main dish) were great and some were meh, but overall it was really solid and there was plenty to choose from. The meal options were the same as economy, but it’s nice to be served first in the small forward cabin.

We had pre‑ordered:

• A lamb stew (highly recommend)
• A butter chicken (also very good)

Pro tip from a carb lover: On prior long-haul AA flights, the two pasta dishes I had were terrible. So, as tempting and safe as pasta may seem, I’d pick something else. On this flight the meals we had were quite good for the skies.

The drink service included complimentary liquor, wine, beer, soft drinks and water. The flight attendants were fantastic through the whole service and funny and engaging.

Amenities

I love that American gives you a big zippered bag with a blanket, headphones, and pillow. The blanket was perfectly fine, though nothing luxurious. The pillow, however, was the star. I love that it was contoured and could be used for neck or lumbar support.

It also came with an amenity kit that’s basic but has everything I’ll actually use in flight. It included an eye mask (which I always use), socks which I didn’t need this time, ear plugs, lip balm (always good in the air), hand lotion which is great to put on after hand sanitizer, and a toothbrush & toothpaste to refresh at the end of the flight.

Pro‑tip: Bring your own disposable slippers for a long haul. They’re so nice to slip on and off when you get up to stretch or use the bathroom.

Sleep Quality

After meal serves and a nice big glass of complimentary wine, the lights dimmed and it was nap time. The seat recline is really nice and the neck support built into the head rest is as good as it gets if you don’t have a lie‑flat seat.

I got a little achy at times (which you’ll expect after 13 hours) but also got some really solid sleep.

The tinted windows were a small but noticeable upgrade: even though it was daylight for much of the trip, the cabin felt dark and cozy for sleeping. We like this so much better than regular window shades.

I woke up with six hours left, stretched, used the lavatory, and when I sat back down the lights were turning up again for a second lighter meal service. Perfect timing!

Second Meal Service

This was an unexpected surprise midway through the journey. The flight attendants came around with a sandwich, ice cream, and beverages. I didn’t need to eat again but ice cream is always a good idea and it made my dehydration headache disappear. It was a thoughtful touch and adds to the value of the experience.

More Napping

After the snack service, they did a quick clean‑up and dimmed the lights again and it was time to pull the eye mask back down. The cabin remained quiet, and the lighting stayed subdued for a comfortable sleeping atmosphere. On our aircraft the premium economy cabin felt way more secluded than regular economy, which was a big help and felt like a huge upgrade.

Third Meal Service

After some more sleep they slowly brightened the windows and came around with breakfast. We were not hungry (since we’d already had two meal services), so we just had some coffee and juice. The option was plentiful though, with coffee, fruit, yogurt, and egg sandwiches. It’s nice to have that even if you skip it.

Lavatories

This is where the experience completely depends on the plane you get and the crew. On this flight the bathrooms were great. We’ve done four American Airlines long‑haul premium economy flights so far. One of them was on a different aircraft that had the PE cabin sharing the back bathrooms with economy. That certainly takes away from the premium experience you’re paying for.

However, on all three of our other flights on the Boeing 787‑9, including this one, the premium economy lavs were in front of the cabin and felt like business class. On this plane they were spacious and clean with ambient lighting. They were also at the galley where you could grab snacks or water.

Pro tip: the lav on the J/L side of the plane is much bigger, but both have a full‑length mirror and are much more spacious than economy.

If you end up on a plane where the premium cabin shares lavs with economy, factor that in when you evaluate whether it’s worth the upgrade.

Note: On our way home from Doha, the crew did not put the curtain down between economy and premium economy. Many people in economy came up to use the premium lavatories, causing a lot of traffic and noise, as well as dirtier bathrooms. It’s not a huge deal, but this took away from the “premium” experience.

Flight Crew

Amazing! On our flight to Doha, they were super friendly and efficient, upbeat and professional the whole 13 hours. We felt well looked‑after throughout the flight and we had lots of laughs. 5 stars for sure!

(Update: I swear I wrote this at the end of the flight before we got to the hotel. We ran into our amazing crew in the lounge and they were so much fun and gave us great tips on what to see and do in Doha. That’s what travel is all about. 10 out of 10 experience!)

Was It Worth It?

Absolutely. We’ve flown premium economy on six airlines and this one ranks among our favorites. The key for us on any PE ticket is to get the pair of seats together by the window with no neighbors in our row. On this flight the cabin was cozy with only three rows in a 2‑3‑2 configuration. It was spacious, quiet, comfortable, and separated enough to feel like a premium cabin.

Would we always prefer a lie‑flat seat? Of course. But not for thousands of dollars more. This round‑trip premium economy journey involved 28 hours in the air and cost us $1,800 each, whereas economy was $1,100 at the time we purchased. We think it was well worth it for a big step up in comfort, priority service, and overall experience. We arrived in Doha well rested and ready to hit the ground running.

If you’re traveling long‑haul, want to step up your comfort but don’t want the expense of business class, premium economy on American Airlines is a solid choice, especially if you can confirm you’re on the right plane (like the Boeing 787‑9) and you’ve selected the right seats. Pro tip: check the seat map for lavs in front of the cabin rather than in back. That’s the one you want!

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