Eva Air Premium Economy: A Smart Upgrade or Just Hype?
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Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
We’ve flown with EVA Air twice before in Economy Class (from Vancouver to Asia) – and both times, it was as comfortable as Economy gets.
But for our third long-haul EVA Air trip, this time a Vietnam adventure, we splurged a little on Premium Economy. And it was totally worth it!
Our flights to and from North America (on a Boeing 777-300ER) were overnight, and the upgrade made all the difference.
EVA Air’s Premium Economy cabin is tucked between Business and Economy, with its own bathrooms. With wider seats than in Economy – and at least six more inches of leg room, a footrest and generous seat recline – we actually got a few zzzzs!
Here’s our EVA Air Premium Economy review.
Contents: Review of EVA Air Premium Economy
What is Premium Economy on EVA Air?
Premium Economy cabin and seats
Cost, seat selection and fare type
Note: All prices are in USD
What is Premium Economy on EVA Air?
Based in Taiwan, EVA Air (officially EVA Airways Corporation) was the first international airline to roll out Premium Economy Class – which they originally dubbed “Evergreen Deluxe Class” – way back in 1992.
It featured a roomier 38-inch seat pitch, a generous step up from regular Economy. The airline was also the first to offer personal TVs in this cabin class.
Today, EVA Air’s Premium Economy isn’t quite Royal Laurel Class (the airline’s Business Class). But it’s a definite upgrade from Economy, as we can vouch!
Think of Premium Economy as the sweet spot between Economy and Business.
Which flights have a Premium Economy cabin?
You’ll find Premium Economy on most of EVA Air’s long-haul routes to Taipei (in Taiwan) from the U.S., Canada and Europe – where the aircraft used is the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Note that not all routes use this aircraft.
EVA Air’s North American flights
From North America, EVA Air flies direct to Taipei from:
- Chicago
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- New York
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Toronto
- Vancouver
Starting November 3, 2025, Dallas/Fort Worth will be added to the mix.
Next-gen Premium Economy on the Dreamliner
Coming soon?
EVA Air’s “Fourth Generation Premium Economy Class” with even bigger and comfier seats. (More details below.)
It just debuted on the airline’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight to Jakarta and will soon launch on select European routes plus the daytime San Francisco-to-Taipei flight.
And, yes, it looks fabulous!
EVA Air’s Premium Economy seats and cabin
Cabin layout
EVA Air’s Boeing 777-300ERs have a dedicated Premium Economy cabin.
Depending on the aircraft configuration, there are either 56 or 65 seats in the cabin (7 or 8 rows). The upholstery is a neutral greige tone, accented with touches of orange.
The layout is 2-4-2 across, so couples can snag a pair of seats together on the sides (which is exactly what we did).
There are two bathrooms just for this cabin, located at the back (one on either side of the plane) and curtained off from Economy.
They were super clean, too!
The flight attendants kept them spotless and fresh-smelling. And in a nice touch, the loos are stocked with toothbrush/toothpaste kits and sleep masks, along with hand lotion and liquid soap.
Details: See the seat layout for EVA Air’s different B777-300ER configurations.
Seat recline and pitch
We found the seats plush and comfy, and they had adjustable leather headrests.
They come with a 38-inch seat pitch and 19½-inch width – plenty of legroom and elbow space. (For comparison, Economy on the same plane has 31 to 33 inches of pitch and narrower seats.)
The recline felt generous, too – more than just a token tilt.
It’s actually surprising how much difference a few extra inches of wiggle room can make.
We both managed to grab a couple hours of sleep on our overnight flights from and to Vancouver.
And even though our journey to Asia was nearly 20 hours long (including a 2-hour connection), we felt way less bagged than after our 9- to 10-hour flights to Europe in Economy on other airlines.
We expect that after trying Premium Economy, it’s going to be really hard to go back!
Now, if we were being a little picky… We both wished the seat base could have been a bit longer. When sitting upright, we could feel the seat edge pressing into the back of our thighs. Not a deal-breaker, but worth mentioning…
Tray table and footrest
The tray tables are built into the arm rests – handy and solid.
As for the footrest? This is where we downgrade our EVA Airways Premium Economy review.
The footrest is a small metal one that flips down from the seat in front. It only hovers a few inches above the floor, and for shorter people (like me – Janice – at 5’4″), it doesn’t raise your feet enough when reclining back.
It took us until the return flight to figure out how to adjust the footrest a tad higher, which helped create a more stretched-out feel.
Still, it feels like your legs are hanging down on these seats (especially for us shorter folks).
We both wished the footrest extended from our own seat into a proper full-length calf rest – like on Cathay Pacific’s 777 Premium Economy seats. (It also looks like you get extended supportive footrests with EVA Air’s new Premium Economy seats on the Dreamliner.)
Best EVA Air Boeing 777-300ER Premium Economy seats?
There are 7 or 8 rows of Premium Economy seats, depending on the layout of the specific Boeing 777-300ER you’re on.
We chose two seats on the side, in the second row, just behind the first bulkhead row. We didn’t have a full window view (we looked partly at the wall). But we didn’t mind as we were flying overnight.
We think these seats are perhaps the best in the cabin for a couple – close to the front of the plane for faster meal service and quicker boarding and deplaning.
Now, the bulkhead row gives you more leg-stretching space. But you don’t get a footrest there – and we’d take the footrest over a bit of extra legroom.
Plus, the TV is mounted on the divider in front (not in your armrest), so it’s farther away and harder to view if your eyesight isn’t perfect.
Tip: Avoid the last two rows at the back of the Premium Economy section. They’re right beside the toilets, so you’ll have people lingering there, doors opening and closing, and light filtering in – not ideal if you’re trying to sleep.
In-flight amenities
Amenity kits, blanket and pillows
Waiting at our seats when we boarded? Disposable slippers, thick brown fleece blankets and large soft pillows wrapped in silky covers.
Soon after, flight attendants handed out EVA Air’s new Premium Economy amenity kits – part of a collab with Hunter, the Scottish brand famous for their wellies.
We got an oatmeal-brown pouch on our flight to Taipei and an olive-green one on the return.
With a strap and press-button closure, the oatmeal one could be repurposed as a passport pouch to wear around your neck. But we preferred the zippered green one, which we’ll re-use as a travel bag for makeup or jewelry.
Inside the kits, we found hand cream, lip balm, an eco-friendly toothbrush with toothpaste, earplugs and a sleep mask. (Oddly, no socks.)
We didn’t use their masks, however – they’re thin and not the best.
Tip: We always bring our own sleep masks – they’re an in-flight travel essential!
Entertainment
We give high marks to the in-flight entertainment system.
It features an 11-inch LCD touch screen, which pops out of the armrest. It’s loaded with tons of great new-release movies to watch, perfect for binge-watching at 35,000 feet.
And the noise-canceling headphones we received in Premium Economy were excellent.
That said, we both only got through one movie before settling down for some night-time rest.
EVA Air Premium Economy food, drinks and service
Service
Just before take-off, we were offered orange juice in a paper cup.
We’re sticklers for in-flight hygiene, so we appreciated the pre-meal antibacterial refreshing towel handed out afterwards – perfect for wiping hands and the tray table (though we’d already down a full wipe with our own sanitizers).
Service throughout our flights was excellent. We can’t say enough good things about the crew – always professional, friendly, efficient and all smiles on our long-haul journeys.
Food
Our meals were served on a tray, with the hot main dish in china and the sides in high-quality plastic containers (not disposable ones).
They came with a wrapped fresh wipe plus a napkin, along with real silverware (not plastic or biodegradable wooden cutlery).
Meals on our flight from Vancouver to Taipei
Dinner menu
- Appetizer of Ahi tuna with pearl couscous salad
- Grilled beef tenderloin with peppercorn sauce and fingerling potatoes OR braised chicken with chestnut-and-egg-fried rice
- Fruit cup
- New York cheesecake
Breakfast menu
- Yogurt
- Sliced fruit
- Scrambled eggs with bacon and potatoes (plus a warm croissant) OR congee with beancurd, scallops and prawns
- Side dish of egg pancake, beancurd noodle salad and fish
Meals on our flight from Taipei to Vancouver
Dinner menu
- Appetizer of smoked chicken breast, ham and salad
- Italian chicken lasagna OR Japanese-style hamburger steak with steamed rice
- Fruit cup
- Caramel pudding
Lunch menu
- Starter salad of chicken roll and ricotta cheese
- Pasta with seafood in pumpkin cream sauce OR savory porridge with chicken, yam and mushrooms
- Fruit cup
- Fruit mousse chocolate cake
Between meals, you could have a snack – chicken samosas on the way to Taipei and pizza on the return.
We enjoyed the meals to Taipei, especially the breakfast. And on the way back, the Italian chicken lasagna was a nice change for us after weeks of Asian cuisine.
But the seafood pasta for lunch on the return?
A definite miss – the overpowering “fishy” flavor masked everything else. We took one bite, then pushed it aside. Our bodies were craving breakfast anyway…
Drinks
EVA Air’s Premium Economy offers a broad selection of drinks, which you can browse on the entertainment screen – a flight attendant helpfully pointed it out to us.
You can get cocktails like Mojitos and Screwdrivers, sparkling wine, plum liqueur, local Taiwanese beers, plus non-alcoholic options like Calpis water and premium green tea.
We didn’t sample the cocktails (it was the wee hours, after all). But we did opt for a glass of red and white wine with our dinners – strictly to help us sleep, of course!
And our wine and water were poured into real glass tumblers.
Baggage allowance
You can check in two suitcases p.p. for free (up to to 50 lbs per suitcase), which is great!
But the carry-on allowance is very restrictive. We thought we’d get a more generous allowance than Economy, but no, the same rules apply.
EVA Air allows two carry-on pieces in Premium Economy
- Hand-carry bag – One small rollaway (no bigger than 9 x 14 x 22 inches), weighing no more than 15 lbs
- Personal item – A purse, briefcase or small backpack that fits under the seat.
By contrast, in EVA’s Business Class (Royal Laurel on the 777-300ER), you’re allowed two 15-lb carry-ons.
Traveling carry-on only, we definitely felt the squeeze – Eva Air’s 15-lb limit is lighter than what most North American airlines allow.
Of course, if you’re checking a bag, this likely won’t be an issue.
Details: See EVA Airline’s carry-on luggage allowance.
Cost, seat selection and fare type
Ticket cost
We booked one return ticket to Vietnam using our credit card points and paid for the second return ticket. The purchased ticket cost about $1,200 more than an Economy seat.
In general, a Premium Economy roundtrip flight with EVA Air between North America and Taiwan costs between $1,800 and $2,500. (It’s more if you’re connecting with another flight farther away, e.g., to Bali or Vietnam).
If you’re eyeing Business Class (which gives you lie-flat seats on the long-haul 777-300ERs), expect to pay more than double the Premium Economy cost.
Seat selection
We were a bit taken aback to discover there was a fee to preselect our seats.
Premium Economy is divided into three fare types: Basic, Standard and Up. And it turns out that for the Basic fare, you’re charged extra for advance seat selection. Guess we had the Basic fares for most flight legs!
To lock in our preferred seats, we had to pony up another $320 for the two of us for three of the four legs to and from Vietnam (one leg didn’t require a payment).
EVA Air Premium Economy Class seat selection fees
- Basic – Long-haul ($65) and short-haul, e.g., from Taipei to Ho Chi Minh City ($30)
- Standard – Complimentary
- Up – Complimentary
Now, you can wait until online check-in opens (48 hours before departure) to pick your seats for free. But by then, the prime spots – those cozy two-seaters along the windows – may already be snapped up.
Our long-haul night flights were pretty much full, and in the Premium Economy cabin, only a couple of middle-row seats at the back were still empty.
Details: See EVA Air’s different fare types.
Safety and ratings
On the safety side, EVA Air ranks an impressive seventh on AirlineRatings.com’s list of the “Top 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines for 2025.”
This is the twelfth year in a row the airline has earned a spot on the site’s global safety rankings – reassuring when you’re flying halfway around the world.
As for awards for its Premium Economy Class, EVA Air also shines.
They’ve won many accolades, including the #3 spot in the “World’s Best Premium Economy Class Airlines” (2024) – just behind Japan Airlines and Emirates.
New “Fourth Generation” Premium Economy Class Seats
It looks like EVA Air aims to beat the competition!
Their brand-new “Fourth Generation Premium Economy Class” has just landed on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner – now flying the Taipei-to-Jakarta route.
And by 2029, you can also catch it on flights between Taipei and Munich, Milan, Vienna and San Francisco (the daytime hop).
Some cool new features?
- 42-inch seat pitch – More space to stretch out than ever (EVA Air says it’s “industry-leading”)
- Cradle-style recline – The seat cushion slides forward and up as the back reclines (up to 8 inches)
- 2-3-2 layout – 28 seats in total
- Privacy wings – On the headrest for a bit more personal space
- Extendable footrests – For added comfort
- Multiple storage spaces – To stash your essentials
- Bigger 15.6-inch widescreen TV – Your own mini-movie theater in the sky
With another four more inches of legroom, a deeper recline again and proper footrests, this version of Premium Economy is the better-dressed sibling of the one we flew. Consider us officially jealous.
Other FAQs on Premium Economy
1) What’s the difference between Premium Economy and Economy on EVA Air?
Premium Economy offers significantly more space than Economy (at 38 inches of seat pitch on the Boeing 777-300ER vs. 31 to 33 inches in Economy).
You also have better seat recline (can lean back further) and enjoy upgraded meals, larger entertainment screens and a quieter cabin with fewer passengers.
2) Can you use EVA Air’s lounges with a Premium Economy ticket?
Generally, no. You don’t get lounge access with your Premium Economy ticket.
We have Priority Pass and used this to get into various VIP lounges.
3) Do you get priority boarding?
No. Premium Economy passengers board in Zone 4. By the time we were called, it seemed like half the plane’s passengers had already boarded.
The only group left after us was Zone 5, which was for the remaining Economy passengers who hadn’t yet boarded in earlier zones.
4) What’s the difference between Eva Air Premium Economy Up vs. Standard?
Honestly, there’s not much difference between the two fare types, aside from the cost.
UP fares are more expensive than Standard ones – but both include free seat selection and the same baggage allowance.
The main difference comes down to mileage earnings and flexibility.
- Standard fares earn miles at 115%
- Up fares earn miles at 125%
Also, if you need to change your ticket, Standard fares come with a change fee, whereas UP fares don’t. (Though with either, you’ll still have to pay the fare difference if your new ticket costs more.)
5) Can you upgrade to Business Class from Premium Economy?
Yes, it’s possible. Bid for an upgrade through EVA Air’s upgrade program or ask at the airport. Availability, prices and policies all depend on your route and how full the flight is.
A few days before both our international flights, we got emails inviting us to bid for Business Class. Tempting – until we saw we’d need to offer at least $1,000 each more again just to nudge our bid out of the red “unlikely” zone.
Final thoughts on our EVA Air Premium Economy review
So, is it worth upgrading to Premium Economy on EVA Air? For us, absolutely!
It felt a little like flying Business Class back in the day before lie-flat seats – with spacious seats, a more intimate cabin, attentive service and mostly tasty meals.
The extra room made a real difference on our overnight flights to and from Vietnam. We arrived far less jet-lagged than after our usual Economy jaunts.
Bottom line?
If you want a more comfortable long-haul experience on EVA Air, without splashing out for Business Class, their Premium Economy Class is a savvy choice. And if you luck out with the new Dreamliner version, so much the better!
See more of our airline reviews
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