EVA Air Premium Economy — is it worth the upgrade?

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Ever since I’ve flown on China Airlines Premium Economy, I've been curious about how Eva Air's version stacks up.

As a Taiwanese-American, I try to visit my family in Taiwan every year. Back then when I was living in the Bay Area, the flight from San Francisco was already a bit of a marathon (12 hours) but ever since I moved to New York, it's turned into an epic journey (16-18 hours — yikes!).

All my Taiwanese friends swear by EVA Air, praising their service and their amenities. I grew up flying with China Airlines, so I'm just here for an honest and no-judgment comparison. 🧐

Let’s see if EVA Air’s Premium Economy lives up to the hype, shall we?

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EVA Air’s Premium Economy brief overview

Alright, buckle up, because we’re about to dive into the features of EVA Air’s Premium Economy!

SEATS
Plush and spacious, with 38 inches of length and a generous 19.5 inches of width. Yes, you read that right — room to stretch those legs!

ENTERTAINMENT
An 11-inch touchscreen TV with a huge selection of movies, TV shows, and music. And guess what? Noise-canceling headphones.

TOILETRIES
Overnight kits in case you need it — moisturizing cream, lip balm, comfy socks, a comb, earplugs, and a sleep mask.

IN-FLIGHT AMENITIES
A super soft and plush blanket and pillow. USB plugs and 110V AC outlets for your tech? Check!

FOOD
Exclusive meals for you to choose and preorder online, red & white wines, famous beers, and a selection of non-alcoholic drinks.

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booking process

All about where and how I booked my flight along with the money-saving tips for EVA Air’s Premium Economy tickets.

When the time finally came to book my flight to Taiwan, I went onto Chase Travel in Chase Sapphire and compared Premium Economy prices between EVA Air and China Airlines from NYC to TPE. Surprisingly, EVA’s Premium Economy was cheaper than China’s by $600!

Once I found the best dates to fly to Taiwan, the price for EVA Airway was originally $2179.95, but thankfully I’ve accumulated some points and viola! I saved $617.61 and ended up only having to pay $1562.34 for EVA Airways Premium Economy — round trip. 🎉

One of the best perks booking through Chase? Refundable tickets. Yep, if life decides to randomly throw a curveball, I can get a full refund.

One thing that I noticed that when I booked through Chase is that I had to call to reserve my seat — which I did not have to pay. But, when I was heading back to New York from Taiwan and they allowed me to choose my seats online, I had to pay an additional $60 to choose my seat!

I found the price of Premium Economy to be quite high, and I was disappointed to discover that there was an additional $60 charge to reserve a seat. However, I later learned that with Premium Economy Basic (which was the type of ticket I had), I could select my seats for free 48 hours before the flight either online or through the EVA Air app. Since EVA Air's Premium Economy flights tend to fill up quickly, I would suggest paying for your seat if you're flying with someone else. If you're flying alone, I recommend using the 48-hour window to avoid the additional charge.

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download EVA Air’s app

Alright, here's a pro tip – download the EVA Air app (Apple / Google Play). Trust me, it’s super beneficial for you when you’re traveling with EVA.

I won’t dive into all its features, but here are some important features in the app that stood out to me and might benefit you as well:

MY TRIP/CHECK-IN
This is crucial intel for planning when to get to the airport. Now, the online check-in was a bit redundant because, surprise, you still need to check in at the airport especially if you’re flying internationally.

But, picking seats, meals, and browsing the e-menu? That’s where the app shines.

MEALS
Here’s where things get exciting. In the MY TRIP/CHECK-IN zone, after punching in your info, you get a front-row seat to your meals.

Two weeks before liftoff, you can even peek at or change your meal choices.

Gabriel pre-booked the Exclusive Gourmet Meal made by Michelin-star chef Paul Lee’s beef, and according to him, it tasted amazing.

NOTIFICATIONS
What do I love most? The app's notifications before the flight. It's like having a personal assistant — it tells you which terminal to go to, your gate, and the boarding times. Plus, if you're checking your bags in, the app gives you updates on which stage your luggage is at!

THE CONS
Here’s the not-so-fun part. The app can be a bit slow.

You tap into the EVA Air App, and sometimes the app just loads. Normally after a few minutes of loading nonstop, I close the app and re-open it again — which runs the app normally.

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check in process

The check-in process from New York and Taiwan was smooth, fast, and efficient.

If you’re checking in your luggage(s), the EVA staff will ask you to wait at the side and watch the TV screen to make sure your luggage goes in before entering TSA.

💡 TIP
Download the EVA Air app so you can track your bag’s status through the app notifications
Apple | Android

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waiting process + lounge access?

Unfortunately, if you’re not a frequent flyer with EVA, like myself, you don’t have access to the EVA lounge. Yeah, a bit of a bummer, right?

In New York, my waiting game was right at the assigned gate. No lounge, just me and my anticipation of flying to Taiwan.

In Taiwan, was a different story. The gate didn’t open until later, so I sat at the Taoyuan airport food court and did some work until the boarding time was nearing and headed over to the gate.

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boarding process

So, here's the deal with boarding EVA Air’s Premium Economy — there’s nothing special about it. There is no priority boarding for EVA Air’s Premium Economy. Even with the “fancy” name, the boarding process was still basic and I found myself boarding in Zone 4.

The zones range from 1 to 5. Zone 1 is the first to board, and then, there's me in Zone 4. Economy was in Zone 5.

I was just confused as to why EVA Air Premium Economy didn’t have priority boarding like China Airlines.

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in-flight experience

Seats

The Premium Economy setups a 2-4-2 row configuration.

The seats are all cushioned and soft, spacious, and comfortable to sit on. There’s also an adjustable headrest.

The biggest bummer for me is that there’s no fixed-seat reclining. A bit of a personal bubble bummer when the person in front decides to recline.

Even with the spaciousness, sleeping was super difficult for me. The footrest situation often makes your legs go numb, and — trust me, numb legs don’t feel good when you’re sleeping.

Toiletries

Cute and practical! Small, thin, and totally reusable.

Inside? The essentials for mid-flight freshening: eye mask, earplugs, body cream, chapstick, a comb, socks, and a toothbrush and toothpaste combo.

Water bottle

Stay hydrated. Thumbs up for the regular-sized water bottle! 👍🏼

Fluffy pillow & blanket

The pillows and blankets are so nice. Fluffy, warm, and just perfect when the temperatures drop during your flight.

Slippers

It’s definitely a sweet touch.

You can take off your shoes and wear slippers! You also don’t have to worry about putting your shoes back on again and wear these slippers when using the bathroom. 🙈

Entertainment

Movies, music, TV shows — there are endless options to keep you entertained.

I must admit they have a ton of great movies to watch.

And, if you’re you’re having a hard time falling asleep you can listen to some nice tunes they have available. My favorite was the sleep meditation to help me fall asleep. 😴

Refreshing wet towel

The crew members will hand out a refreshing towel that has antibacterial ingredients which is perfect to wipe your hands and tables.

It’s a bit cold, which I thought would be nice and warm, but still, a nice touch that elevates the experience.

Refreshments

If you’re thirsty – apple, orange juice, or water?

They make their rounds about three times during the flight separately from your meals.

Meals

Two weeks before your flight, you can peek at the meal options and make your choices online.

There are also special meal options for dietary restrictions you can adjust online in the Special Meals section.

They have Exclusive Gourmet Meals that are created by Celebrity Chefs you can also pre-order, but be ready to pay a little extra for the fancy culinary experience.

Pre-ordering your meals online means you get your food first – a little perk for the planners.

During your meal, the flight attendants will come around asking if you want another round of bread with your meal.

And yes, dessert is a thing! They were passing out Häagen-Dazs caramel biscuits & cream — which I’ve never tried before was so good. Love Häagen-Dazs!

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ready to upgrade to comfort?

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final thoughts

Overall, my flight on EVA Air was pretty good.

Here are three important factors that stood out to me:

1. No Fixed-Reclined Seating
My personal bubble struggle was real. No fixed-recline seating meant a perpetual guessing game of when the person in front might decide to recline.

2. Small Bathroom
A bit cramped, even with the cute decor and complimentary goodies, I still need my space. I just thought it would be a bit bigger than Economy, but sadly, it was still the same size.

3. Amazing Service
Now, let's talk about the shining star ⭐️ – the service. A round of applause for the top-notch crew. Professional, kind, and navigating those long flights with a smile.

To fly or not to fly?

Would I fly with EVA’s Premium Economy again? The answer is no for now — not until the seating situation gets a glow-up. Service? A+! But without Lounge Access or Priority Boarding, it's a bit of a head-scratcher.

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FAQ

Q: Do you still have to wear face masks when riding on EVA Air?

A: No, it’s completely optional.

Q: What is the difference between EVA Air Premium Economy Up vs Standard?

A: Both Standard and Up fares in EVA Air's Premium Economy offer a comfortable travel experience. However, the Up fare provides more flexibility in choosing your seat in advance, potentially allows you to earn more frequent flyer miles, and may give you a better chance of securing a seat with extra legroom (depending on availability).

Q: What's the baggage allowance for EVA Air Premium Economy?

A: When flying in Premium Economy with EVA Air, you get a generous baggage allowance. Here's the breakdown:

• CARRY-ON
  One piece, weighing up to 15 pounds (7 kg). Make sure it fits in the overhead bins (23 x 36 x 56 cm). There are testing units at the airport for a quick check. Plus, you can bring a personal item like a small backpack or purse, measuring no larger than 40 x 30 x 10 cm.

• CHECKED BAGGAGE
  If you're flying between Asia and the United States, you can check two bags, each weighing up to 50 pounds (23 kg). This applies to both directions. If you're flying within Asia, the same two-bag rule applies with the same weight limit.

Q: China Airlines Premium Economy vs EVA Air Premium Economy — which do you recommend?

A: Both China Airlines and EVA Air offer a comfortable premium economy experience that can elevate your travel journey. I particularly appreciate EVA Air PE's quality of food, flight experience, amazing service, and comfort. However, I personally favor China Airlines PE for its priority boarding, fixed-recline seating, and clean and spacious bathroom. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your priorities.

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Enough about me and my experience!
How was your experience on EVA Air Premium Economy?
If you haven’t tried it out yet, what are you looking for when you’re upgrading your flight?

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watch my EVA Air Premium Economy overview!

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• Sources

  EVA Air: Baggage Information

  EVA Air: Premium Economy Class

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Last Updated: 09.26.2024