Generally, you will be charged around $400 for an upgrade to Emirates Premium Economy. This is not a confirmed ticketing price, though. The reason is Emirates airlines also has its own loyalty program called Skywards Miles that helps members to upgrade to Premium Economy without having to resort to cash payment. Basically, the said cabin upgrade can be done either by paying cash or choosing your earned miles, which requires you to have at least 7,020 miles in your account. 

Also, you can opt for cabin upgrade only for specific Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 routes, including the Emirates flights operating between Dubai and New York or Paris. And this reality shifts the game of cabin upgrade. In other words, you need to check if there are seats available in these cabins before choosing to upgrade your Economy to Premium Economy Class on Emirates. 

The best thing about Emirates Premium Economy is that it is world-renowned for offering larger, comfortable seats with extra legroom, apart from featuring, a 6-way adjustable headrest, a padded calf rest, a 2-4-2 seating layout and a more luxurious cabin. 

As a matter of fact, Emirates Premium Economy is considered one of the best in the sky today for passengers who appreciate the value of extra legroom, upgraded dining and a quieter cabin. If you want to enjoy these luxuries without having to pay for the full business class price, then upgrading to Emirates Premium Economy is worth it. 

Though Emirates Premium Economy has more comfort than regular economy, it doesn't have the flat seats, higher-end dining, and amenities that are normally found in business class on the airline. It also doesn't have lounge access or designer kits like those available in business class. 

What is Emirates Premium Economy?

The Premium Economy class of Emirates is a bit of an upgrade for passengers who want more comfort and premium services under affordable costs but better than what Economy class offers. In other words, upgrading to this class is basically making a comfortable balance on budget and need between Economy and Business Class. 

Premium Economy: Key Features

• Spacious cream-colored leather seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration.
• Each seat provides a 19.5-inch width, 38-inch pitch, and an 8-inch recline for better relaxation.
• Spacious woodgrain tables.
• Sustainable blankets.
• Free Wi-Fi internet (only to Emirates Skywards Platinum members).
• Dining served on premium tableware.
• Priority boarding on selected routes.
• Amenities: A six-way adjustable headrest, cushioned calf rest, and a metal footrest.

Is Emirates Premium Economy available on all flights?

No, Premium Economy is not available on all Emirates flights. As a passenger planning to travel on this airline, you should understand which flights of the airline have Premium Economy cabins. Otherwise, what is the use of upgrading if no seat is available in the cabin? 

Point is, this class is exclusively offered on specific aircraft, which means availability of the said cabin class depends on the specific routes and the exact plane scheduled to fly. Emirates Premium Economy is available on these specific aircraft:

• Airbus a380s
• Boeing 777s
• Airbus A350s

How to upgrade to Emirates Premium Economy: A Quick Guide

Since Emirates has its own loyalty program called Emirates Skywards, some people may naturally get confused whether upgrading to Emirates Premium Economy from Economy Class would require someone being a member of the loyalty program. Well, that’s not the case. You can consider upgrading your ticket to the Premium Economy using either Skywards Miles or through paid upgrades offers when available. 

Some may counter it by saying that cash upgrades are heavily dynamic and may depend on seat availability at the time of booking, but this has not been verified by Emirates. However, it is safe to say that all cabin upgrades are subject to fare conditions and seat availability. Therefore, be careful when choosing to upgrade to Premium Economy. 

Upgrading to Premium Economy using Skywards Miles

When upgrading to Premium Economy with Skyward Miles, the members can use their earned miles to do so on eligible economy tickets to Premium Economy, whether the original ticket was booked with cash or miles. However, it does not preclude applicable taxes or fees. Also note that the cost to upgrade to Premium Economy with miles, and when you can confirm an upgrade, largely depends on which fare type you book. 

One way to take a calculated guess on the number of miles an upgrade will cost is by using the airline’s MIles Calculator. This is where you need to enter your route, cabin class and the elite status tied to the loyalty program. Then choose ‘Calculate’, select the ‘upgrade’ tab to view the mileage you need to upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy for each eligible fare type. 

Bonus tip - On Emirates upgrade flight portal, you can set up an automatic class upgrade. When a premium economy seat is available between 90 days and 48 hours before your flight, the airline’s system will automatically upgrade your cabin class, subject to terms and conditions.

Upgrading to Premium Economy using cash

If you are not a member of Emirates’ Skywards Miles program or don't have enough points to transfer into the airline's loyalty program, Emirates also offers you a way to upgrade to premium economy just by using your cash. Unlike how you upgrade using earned miles, when you upgrade using cash, the cost depends on how the price is dynamically calculated by the airline. 

How Much Does It Cost to Upgrade to Emirates Premium Economy?

The cost of upgrading to Emirates Premium Economy depends on whether you opt for the upgrade using the earned Skywards miles or by cash. If going for the cash option, the said upgrade will cost you around $400. On the other hand, if using miles, it will involve paying 7,020 Skywards miles. Basically, it is a straight choice between paying with cash or paying with your accumulated miles.

If you upgrade using cash, no miles will be debited, and if you upgrade using miles, no cash will have to be paid. Make sure you have enough miles earned to  qualify for the upgrade price for the premium economy. Just remember that your cash or miles amounts depend on your ticket type, and the airline may charge slightly on miles to cover local airport tax differences. 

Factors that affect upgrade pricing for Emirates Premium Economy 

So, you want to upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy on Emirates flights, but it typically costs you double the base economy fare. However, the exact price, whether bidding for an upgrade or paying directly, is not static. They dynamically fluctuate based on a variety of factors, such as:

• Routes and distance - Traveling on long-haul Emirates flights will typically cost you higher upgrade premiums.
• Supply and demand - Prices, whether they fall or rise, largely depend on market dynamics. Therefore, flights that are booked on a large scale in premium economy see higher upgrade prices, and vice versa.
• Original fare class - If you have a discounted economy ticket, the upgrade will cost you more compared to flexible base tickets like Flex or Flex Plus.
• Elite status - This means upgrading to Premium economy using tier miles like Gold or Platinum tiers will avail better rates than upgrading with cash or Skywards miles (e.g. tier miles differ from Skyward miles).

Eligibility details for Emirates Premium Economy upgrade

To be eligible for upgrading to Emirates Premium Economy, the most important thing for you is to hold an eligible Economy Class ticket. And this ticket should be of a flight operated by an aircraft that must have a Premium Economy cabin. And also if the seats are available.

• Flex and Flex Plus Fares: Fully eligible.
• Saver Fares: Restricted until 48 hours prior to departure (before online check-in opens).
• Special Fares: Not eligible.
• Aircraft requirements - Eligible only for aircraft like Airbus A380sS, Boeing 777s, and New Airbus A350

Also to be noted, upgrading using cash is possible if you are holding a Saver, Flex, or Flex Plus ticket. Upgrading using Skywards miles must require you having an active account with Emirates Skywards with deserving accumulated miles starting from 7,020 miles. 

Winding up

Upgrading to Emirates Premium Economy is like elevating your status where you get facilities like comfortable seats with extra legroom, a 6-way adjustable headrest, a padded calf rest, a 2-4-2 seating layout and a more luxurious cabin and best dining experience. This is like bridging the gap between Economy and Business Class where you pay for a peaceful traveling experience without burning a hole in your pocket. 

However, this sort of upgrade is not without some terms and conditions set forth by Emirates. One of them dictates that passengers must hold a valid Economy ticket for an upgrade to Premium Economy, along with other factors like seat availability in the aircraft where such cabins are available. Being a member of Skywards loyalty program of Emirates also influences the cost of an upgrade in a certain manner, as well-explained in this guide.