Information on AIR PREMIA Flights

Flying somewhere new (or old) is always exciting, but when you’re considering booking a ticket on a low-cost airline you haven’t flown before, it can feel a bit risky. Air Premia bills itself as a South Korean hybrid airline that offers low-cost fares but with full-price amenities and space. Basically, it’s the best of both worlds. It’s a fantastic option for people who are looking to travel to South Korea comfortably without breaking the bank.

Like any new airline, hearing about it from someone who's already flown it multiple times is often the best insider knowledge and can help make your journey smoother. So, if you’re considering booking a ticket on Air Premia, consider these expert tips to fly halfway around the world with ease.

Air Premia routes

Air Premia operates out of its main hub in Seoul at Incheon International Airport (ICN) and flies to and from the South Korean capital to a limited number of popular cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Newark, Bangkok and Tokyo (to Narita airport).

Since the current network is so limited, Air Premia only has a small number of planes in its fleet, and this could make delays considerably more annoying as there aren’t a ton of extra planes to reroute. In my personal experience, I have yet to encounter a delay on this airline, but it’s something to keep in mind if time is of the essence.

Air Premia fare classes

One of the major perks of Air Premia is that they’ve simplified their fare classes and only offer two options, Economy and Premium Economy. They’re very transparent and clear about what the differences are, so you know exactly what you’re getting, unlike many other low-cost carriers.

The Economy class seats, despite what you may have experienced on other airlines, are surprisingly roomy with a generous 35-inches of legroom. This made for a comfortable flight when I flew nearly 13 hours from Los Angeles to Seoul. Even my 6’2” partner could stretch his legs out all the way and remarked on what a comfortable flight it was.

If you choose to pay extra for a Premium Economy seat, like I did for my elderly father, you’ll receive something in between a traditional economy and business class-type experience. You’ll also often find that the price of Premium Economy is close to the same as the price of regular Economy on other larger airlines.

While the seats don’t convert into beds, they give you a whopping 42 to 43 inches of legroom, wider seats, priority boarding, a larger HD touchscreen with more extensive entertainment choices, a hygiene set that includes basics like hand cream and toothpaste, and access to premium in-flight meals, snacks and wine.

Premium Economy passengers also get to bring one additional check-in bag for free. I find it’s a great option for those looking for a more luxury flight experience without shelling out thousands of dollars.

Air Premia baggage fees

You will be happy to learn that baggage rules on Air Premia are pretty straightforward, and they won’t be nickel and dimed. Economy passengers are allowed one free check-in bag up to 50 pounds and one carry-on bag up to 22 pounds, while Premium Economy passengers can check-in two carry-on bags (each up to 50 pounds) for free.

For those who need additional baggage allowance, the price will vary depending on whether more pounds or more items are required. It also depends on what destination you’re flying to. The airline can also accommodate special items like sports equipment, large musical instruments, fishing equipment, bicycles and more for an additional fee.

Air Premia check-in

Check-in is pretty simple with Air Premia. You can start checking in online up to 48 hours before your departure time, and this closes three hours before. This is when you can select your seats, pay for any additional baggage and get your mobile boarding pass.

If you miss the online check-in window (or just prefer checking in with a live person), you can head to the Air Premia counter at the airport. Be warned that in my experience, sometimes no one is there to assist you until two hours before your departure time, though, and lines can be long if you come on the later side.

Still, the website can be confusing for some to navigate in translated English, so this may still be your best bet.

Premium Economy passengers receive priority check-in with a dedicated counter that should help make the whole check-in experience faster and more enjoyable. And, in case you are wondering, yes, Air Premia now participates in TSA PreCheck when departing from US airports.

Air Premia meals

In-flight meals are provided. On my flight from Los Angeles to Seoul, I was served two full meals and several snacks and beverages in between. You can generally choose between a Korean meal or a more western or international option. I personally always choose the Korean menu and have never been disappointed. Just know that “spicy” means it’ll be truly spicy. One of my most memorable meals included rice, spicy pork, vegetables and a creamy pasta dish on the side.

The flight attendants come around regularly to offer beverages (twice for Economy) and dispose of trash. The airline can also accommodate dietary restrictions with vegetarian or vegan meals, diabetic meals, pescatarian meals or an all-fruit platter. These special meals can be requested until 48 hours ahead of departure. Air Premia even has special child meals for kids under 12 (my kids loved them) and baby meals for little ones that don’t eat solid food yet.

There’s also a fun selection of reasonably priced food for purchase, like udon, truffle potato chips and Pocky, as well as both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Wi-Fi on board

Air Premia offers different levels of Wi-Fi service, starting with one-hour free chat for texting and messaging apps on most aircraft, and more comprehensive plans for an additional fee after that. Full flight internet, where you can browse the web, text and stream video and music for the entire duration of the flight is available for a larger fee.

In-flight entertainment

This may be one of the most note-worthy features when you first fly Air Premia. The HD touchscreens onboard are enormous – 12 inches in Economy and 13 inches in Premium Economy, effectively making them larger than the iPad I packed for my own flights.

You’ll want to note that while there’s a ton of in-flight movies and TV shows available, they’re all in Korean. There are subtitles, but most of these are only in Korean, including the kids’ programming. If you’re flying with kids who can’t yet read or don’t know Korean, or if you yourself wanting to watch non-Korean movies and shows, prepare ahead by downloading options on personal devices ahead of time.

Air Premia loyalty membership

The airline’s loyalty program is called “Premia Members” and allows frequent travelers to earn points based on the cost of airfare. As points accumulate, they can be applied to the cost of future airfare, upgrades and other perks. The points are counted on a 24-month cycle, and there are three different tiers of membership: Blue, Gold and Diamond. Obviously, the higher the tier you’re in, the faster you collect points.

Pet policy

People are welcome to travel with their furry friends on Air Premia as long as the animal(s) combined weight in a pet carrier doesn’t exceed 22 pounds. There are also size restrictions on the carrier itself. It must be less than 7.87 inches tall for hard carriers and less than 10.2 inches in height for soft carriers. The pet must also be older than 8 weeks old to fly in the cabin.

If you’re planning on checking your pet as baggage, note that there’s a 99-pound maximum weight limit. Your pet must be in a hard-sided carrier no larger than 33 inches tall, and must be over 16 weeks old to fly below in the cargo hold.