This airline now offers beds in premium economy
Is this the next best thing to business class?
By David Flynn, October 8 2025
Thai Airways is blurring the lines between economy and business class with the launch of Premium Economy Plus featuring lie-flat beds and direct aisle access.
It’s a clever marketing exercise from an airline famous, if not infamous, for its jumble of planes and seating types – a mix which the Thai flag carrier hopes to smooth out by standardising on new business class suites and premium economy recliners across its Airbus A350, Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 fleets.
In this case, Thai’s Premium Economy Plus is actually the business class of several Airbus A330s previously flown by Virgin Atlantic.
Thai Airways' Premium Economy Plus.
Those jets feature the same dated business class design as adopted by Air New Zealand (which the Kiwi carrier is now retiring in favour of modern Business Premier suites).
Thai Airways' Premium Economy Plus is a rebadged version of Virgin Atlantic's old A330 Upper Class.
Thai is also promoting what Virgin Atlantic called the Upper Class bar as a ‘social snacking space’.
Thai Airways' Premium Economy Plus.
With the A330s set to begin flying this month on a handful of regional routes from Bangkok to India, Nepal, and Indonesia, Thai Airways has decided to sell these 31 berths not as business class, but rather as an upgrade from premium economy.
Air New Zealand's old Business Premier shares the same design as Thai Airways' Premium Economy Plus.
Thai hasn’t detailed how much extra it will charge for the comforts of Premium Economy Plus, compared to the A330’s conventional premium economy seats, and details on what else is offered remain scarce.
Thai Airways' Premium Economy Plus.
While promising “dedicated check-in” and “premium amenities”, there’s no mention of any difference in food and drinks – depsite what looks like a business class meal in the promotional photo – or if Premium Economy Plus will offer other traditional business class touches such as lounge access.
However, we expect this is more of a ‘hard product’ play which monetises a sub-standard business class seat.
Thai Airways’ Premium Economy Plus will debut on 26 October 2025 on selected flights from Bangkok to Chennai, Dhaka, Hyderabad, Jakarta, and Kathmandu.
Also read: Here is Thai’s new A321neo business class
Singapore Airlines - The PPS Club
20 Apr 2015
Total posts 36
I always thought BA's older 8 across business class would make a great premium economy product.
12 Aug 2022
Total posts 15
Honestly, this is all I want from PE. A flatbed so I can get some sleep - I find it very hard to justify the existing PE prices. PE return to Europe on Emirates is now almost as expensive as J on China Eastern. Give me a flatbed with poor soft product over a seat with good soft product all day long.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Jan 2018
Total posts 868
Hear, Hear!! Why, I'd be happy to pay for my own drinks by the glass - or bottle - if this became de rigueur for PE.
And I wouldn't expect pyjamas either.
27 Oct 2022
Total posts 1
Actually makes some sense - its defenitely a bump up from the usual Premium Eco seats seen on other airlines and if TG is using the ex Virgin A330s on regional routes (4-5 hour flights) it is a good opportunity for them to make some extra Cash. However - what remains to be seen is if they will continue with the usual hotch potch mix of fleet types and different hard product or will they have some method in the madness Lol
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on This airline now offers beds in premium economy