Advice on economy class air travel and seat selection

It’s a calm Sunday evening at Sydney Airport. There’s a queue at check-in and no priority line for Premium Class. That’s the first hint that Premium Class isn’t true premium economy – and, to be fair, it’s about half the price of Qantas’ premium economy on the same route – so I set my expectations accordingly. The queue pleasingly clears in less than 10 minutes with security and passport control also hassle-free.

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Atmos Rewards, Oneworld Alliance. Atmos points are challenging to earn in Australia, but linking your Qantas Frequent Flyer number delivers between 1425 and 5700 Qantas points one-way, plus 35-70 status credits (varying between fare types). Qantas Gold and Platinum get lounge access too.

Premium Class allows the standard economy allowance of two checked bags of 23 kilograms each, plus two cabin bags – one large, one small. Provided you can lift your own cabin bags without assistance, no weight limit applies.

The 2-4-2 cabin layout in Premium Class matches the rest of economy, as does the 18-inch (45.7-centimetre) seat width. But Premium Class, formerly known as Extra Comfort, offers additional legroom, with a seat pitch of 36 inches (91 centimetres), versus 31 inches (79 centimetres) further back. Bulkheads are usually great for having even more space, but avoid 11C (my seat) and 11G. The aisle cuts diagonally through the floor space here, impeding usable legroom. The seat’s padding could be improved, but I finally nod off … to be quickly awoken by a pilot standing on my foot. Ouch! I get minimal rest after that. Six restrooms are shared between the 260 passengers of both Premium Class and economy.

Every passenger gets a slow-charging USB-A port, but Premium Class provides AC power for laptop and higher-speed charging, plus a small amenity kit. The eyeshade tucked inside brings a welcome escape from Hawaiian’s bulkhead-mounted flight map screens – switched on all night. Each seat has a personal 10.6-inch (27-centimetre) entertainment screen, although selections are modest and generally dated – think Crazy Stupid Love, The Intern and Moulin Rouge as headliners. Free Starlink Wi-Fi is a welcome distraction when sleep eludes. Download speeds reach a lightning-fast 250Mbps during my tests: zippier than my internet at home.

The welcome announcement takes an interesting turn when we’re asked to “avoid screaming and waking everyone up” (that’s a new one!) and to keep the aisle clear to “allow our staff to do their jobs”. Crew are otherwise efficient and polite, keeping to the galley outside of service times – typical of North American carriers. Regular water runs would be nice: there’s nothing proactively offered between supper and breakfast.

Finally, an airline that doesn’t force-feed you after take-off when you’ve already eaten dinner earlier, at dinnertime. There are ham sandwiches if you’re peckish (basic and a little dry), but the flight’s food focus is breakfast: bravo. Today’s offering is “pancakes or eggs”. The pancakes are standard, with passionfruit coulis bringing some flavour. That’s joined by a fruit salad, blueberry Greek-style yoghurt, coffee, juice and water.

Hawaiian Airlines uses AI to continuously optimise its flight paths, reducing fuel burn and emissions. Together with its parent company Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian hopes to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.*

Hawaiian Airlines’ Airbus A330s are getting an upgrade, but not until 2028. There’ll be a true premium economy cabin, all-new business class seating and a refresh of economy. For now, book Premium Class by choosing an economy fare type and then selecting a Premium Class seat to pay the upgrade charge ($175 to $300 one way).

From about $1300 return from Sydney to Honolulu for Premium Class.**

With Premium Class upgrades from just $175 one way between Sydney and Honolulu, it’s an affordable way to make economy flying a tad more tolerable. Just avoid 11C and 11G to arrive with your toes intact.

The writer travelled as a guest of Hawaiian Airlines. See hawaiianairlines.com

*For more information about air travel and sustainability, see iata.org

**Fares are based on those available for travel three months from the time of publication and subject to change.

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