By Emmie V. Abadilla
Philippine Airlines (PAL) yesterday launched its Premium Economy service as part of its ongoing program to obtain a 5-Star quality service rating.
The flagship’s new Premium Economy experience enables travelers to avail of a high-value inflight alternative to full business class or mainstream economy class service.
It features a complete international travel experience from priority check-in to extra-comfortable premium seats and an enhanced meal service in a private cabin onboard Airbus A350 and selected A330 aircraft.
Domestic passengers may also avail of upgraded service and extra-legroom seats on flights operated by A330, A321 Classic and Bombardier Q400 Next Generation aircraft.
“This service innovation will build on the foundation of our solid network of international and domestic routes made possible by a fleet of versatile, advanced and customer-friendly airplanes, remarked PAL President and Chief Operating Officer Jaime J. Bautista.
PAL’s new Premium Economy Class is a smart choice that provides the best value for passengers looking for a more comfortable flight, whether they’re traveling for business or leisure,” added Marketing Vice President Ria C. Domingo.
“Our goal is to address the needs of all sectors of the aviation market, and this product offers the best of both worlds a leveled-up experience from economy class with a touch of comfort and convenience from business class, she explained.
On International Premium Economy flights, passengers will enjoy comfortable long flights with extra spacious premium seats with 38-inch pitch, 8-inch recline, built-in leg rests, footrests and multiple stowage areas, as well as 13.3-inch myPAL eSuite personal screens with over 300 hours worth of inflight entertainment – movies, TV and music.
Passengers enjoy Inflight Wi-Fi, premium inflight service and amenities, such as welcome drinks and refreshing hot towels upon boarding, as well as an overnight amenity kit.
The premium meal service are crafted by world-class chefs. Additional perks include priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling services at the airport.
The new Premium Economy will be available on flights to and from New York, London and Toronto via the Airbus A350 and to and from Honolulu, Auckland, Melbourne, Tokyo (Haneda), Tokyo (Narita), Osaka, Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong via the A330 Tri-Class aircraft.
On Domestic Premium Economy flights, passengers can enjoy exceptional convenience even on shorter flights, with priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling services at the airport, extra-legroom seat rows near the front of the aircraft and extra inflight service touches upon boarding, such as welcome drinks and refreshing hot towels.
The new Premium Economy will be available on flights to and from various domestic destinations utilizing the Bombardier Q400NG, Airbus A321 Classic and A330 Bi-Class aircraft.
Other recent or ongoing PAL service enhancements include an upgraded Business Class experience for long-haul flights, the introduction of nonstop flights to Auckland, New York and Toronto, the launch of new routes to Sapporo, San Vicente (El Nido), Antique, Hanoi, Phnom Penh and New Delhi, and the shift to a more advanced IT computer system powered by Amadeus for passenger transactions.