Does premium economy get you into the lounge? Airline by airline

Premium economy sells on the promise of a wider seat, a better meal and a quieter cabin. The lounge is usually not part of the deal, and the gap surprises people who paid twice the economy fare. The rule of thumb is simple: unless you are flying a Japanese airline, expect to wait at the gate. The details, airline by airline, are below.

The airlines that include it

Japan Airlines is the clearest yes. JAL gives lounge access to passengers booked in Premium Economy on international flights, at the international departure airport, on JAL-operated flights, with no guest allowance, according to Australian Frequent Flyer's running list. That means the JAL Sakura Lounge at Haneda Terminal 3 before a flight to New York, or a partner lounge such as the Qantas International Business Lounge in Sydney on the way home.

ANA does the same for its Premium Economy passengers on ANA-operated international flights, with the caveat that it is not offered at every airport. Germany is the usual example of a gap. In Tokyo that puts you in the ANA Lounge at Haneda Terminal 3, which scores 4.8 in our ratings. Two smaller carriers, LATAM and Air Astana, also admit premium economy passengers on international flights where a lounge is available.

The big names that do not

British Airways' premium economy cabin does not include Galleries lounge access. Virgin Atlantic Premium does not include the Clubhouse. Air France Premium and Lufthansa Premium Economy are seat upgrades, not ground upgrades. Emirates is the one people assume most often, because its premium economy cabin is so plush, but the answer is still no. Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and Air Canada all keep their lounges for business class and status holders.

The US carriers follow the same line. Delta Premium Select does not come with Sky Club access unless you hold Medallion status on an international itinerary. United Premium Plus does not unlock the United Club or the Polaris lounge. American Premium Economy does not open the Admirals Club. Qatar Airways does not sell a premium economy cabin at all, so the question never comes up there.

Workaround one: status

Elite status overrides the cabin. A oneworld Sapphire or Emerald member flying BA premium economy gets the same lounge as a business class passenger, and the oneworld rules apply regardless of ticket class. Star Alliance Gold works the same way across Lufthansa, Singapore, ANA and Air Canada. SkyTeam Elite Plus covers Air France, Delta and Virgin Atlantic on international flights. Status earned with a partner is often more useful than the operating airline's own, because American and Delta restrict their own elites more tightly than they restrict visitors.

Workaround two: cards

Premium cards do not care what cabin you booked. An Amex Platinum opens every Centurion Lounge on a same-day boarding pass, which solves Heathrow, JFK, LAX, Hong Kong and Sydney for many premium economy flyers. Any card with Priority Pass opens an independent lounge at most large international airports. The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Capital One Venture X cover their own lounges plus Priority Pass. None of these are the airline's flagship lounge, but they beat the gate.

Workaround three: pay at the door

Some airlines will sell you their lounge. Lufthansa's own lounge page says Economy Class passengers can visit Lufthansa lounges, subject to limited availability, by paying at the entrance or booking online. Air Canada sells Maple Leaf Lounge access to passengers on its flights through the Aeroplan profile, with prices that vary by fare. Turkish Airlines' lounge terms publish a paid rate for its domestic lounge in Istanbul. Independent operators such as Plaza Premium, Aspire and No1 sell entry to anyone with a boarding pass, and our guide to booking a lounge in advance covers the mechanics.

Workaround four: the partner's lounge

The lounge access rule belongs to the operating airline, so a codeshare can change the answer. A JAL-operated flight sold with an American flight number generally follows JAL's rules, although JAL's own lounge page says codeshare tickets are handled case by case. The reverse is clearer. An ANA-marketed flight operated by United gives you United's rules, which means no lounge in Premium Plus. Check the operating carrier on your boarding pass before you plan a lounge stop.

Related reading

For the upgrade in the other direction, read our guide on paying for a single lounge visit and browse the Top 100 lounges to see which airports make the detour worthwhile.