The slightly comfier premium economy offers wider seats and more legroom at a comfier price than business or first class on most airlines. Some airlines categorize economy and premium economy under main cabin.

No, Premium Economy is lower than First Class. In the hierarchy of airline cabins, First Class remains the absolute highest tier, followed by Business Class, then Premium Economy, and finally standard Economy. Premium Economy is designed as a "middle ground" for travelers who want more comfort than a standard coach seat—typically offering 5–7 inches of extra legroom, wider seats, and improved meal service—but don't want to pay the multi-thousand dollar premium for a lay-flat Business or First Class suite. While some airlines have branded names that sound grand (like United's "Economy Plus" or Delta's "Premium Select"), these are almost always positioned as upgrades from the back of the plane rather than competitors to the luxury services found in the front cabins.

No, premium economy is not higher than first class. In the typical airline cabin class hierarchy, first class is the highest level of service, followed by business class, premium economy, and then economy class.

Here’s a breakdown of the differences:

1. First Class: Offers the most luxurious and spacious experience, with the best amenities, personalized service, gourmet meals, and often lie-flat seats or private suites.

2. Business Class: Provides a high level of comfort, with lie-flat seats (on long-haul flights), priority services, and enhanced dining options, but generally less luxurious than first class.

3. Premium Economy: Sits between economy and business class, offering more legroom, wider seats, better meal options, and additional amenities compared to standard economy, but far less luxurious than business or first class.

4. Economy Class: The most basic and affordable option, with standard seating and services.

So, premium economy is a step up from economy but does not match the luxury or exclusivity of first class.