Live well. Eat well. Travel well.

I had the opportunity to fly Air Premia’s Premium Economy, known as their Wide Premium, back in February on a flight from San Francisco, CA (SFO) to Incheon-Seoul, South Korea (ICN). The airline is considered as a hybrid or low-cost long-haul airline, so I had modest expectations. After all, the airlines offers only two cabins: Economy and Wide Premium.

As it turns out, the experience exceeded my expectations.

What you get with Air Premia Wide Premium

• Priority check-in and boarding
• Two checked bags up to 32kg (70 lbs) each
• Welcome drink (plus complimentary unlimited in-flight beverages)
• Amenity kit (with full size Korean beauty cosmetics), plus slippers
• Comfortable wide seats located in the forward cabin
• Power outlets and USB charging ports
• 13″ personal entertainment screen

For a product that sits somewhere between traditional Premium Economy and a budget airline offering, that’s a fairly generous list of inclusions.

Setting Expectations

Before the flight, I reminded myself that Air Premia is not a full-service premium airline. A few things worth noting:

• Most of their in-flight entertainment content was mostly in Korean (with English subtitles).
• There are no lie-flat seats or business-class cabins.
• Additional snacks and food items are available for purchase.
• Lounge access is not included.

As long as you understand what you’re booking, you won’t be disappointed.

Check-In Experience at SFO

I departed from San Francisco International Airport. When I got to the Air Premia counter, there are 2 separate lines – General and Priority.

The General queue was packed, while the Priority Lane was empty. Thanks to my Wide Premium booking, check-in took only a few minutes.

Air Premia participates in TSA PreCheck, allowing me to breeze through security.

No Lounge? No Problem!

Although Wide Premium does not include lounge access, SFO has a number of lounges available through Priority Pass and American Express Platinum Card. Since all terminals are connected airside, you can easily access them without leaving security.

That said, be prepared to walk. Depending on your gate location, it can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to get to and from a lounge.

My flight departed from Terminal 1, and I did not feel motivated walking back and forth to either The Club SFO (Priority Pass) or The Centurion Lounge (American Express Platinum Card). I only have less than an hour before my flight boards, so I spent my time browsing the shops and grabbing a quick meal at Gott’s Roadside near my gate.

Boarding and Cabin

Alas, it was time to board. The Wide Premium cabin is arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration, which immediately feels more spacious than a standard Economy cabin.

It is spacious. I’m at 5’2″ and I had more than enough legroom, but even taller passengers should find the seat pitch comfortable for a long-haul flight. the seats recline generously without aggressively invading the space of the passenger behind you.

Amenities and Entertainment

Each passenger receives a pair of headphones with disposable ear covers. However, I found the headphones somewhat uncomfortable. Since I was expecting most of their entertainment are in Korean, I downloaded movies and shows to watch in my iPad and used my own Bose headphones instead.

The amenity kit, however, was a pleasant surprise. It included a full-size Korean skincare products (rather than tiny samples) in a reusable and resealable clear bag, which gave the experience a more premium feel.

First Meal Service

A couple hours after takeoff, we were served our first meal.

I opted for fish over the bibimbap since I’m not really a big rice eater. The meal was decent, though a bit bland for my taste. A sprinkle of salt and pepper helped bring out the flavors, and I finished everything without complaints.

Just as we were wrapping up the meal service, the crew distributed what I initially assumed was dessert. It was a dorayaki filled with sweet red bean paste. It was actually intended as a snack for later in the flight.

Those who wanted more snacks could purchase items from the onboard menu (I later found out that the cup noodles at around $3 was a hit with some passengers).

Second Meal Before Arrival

A little under three hours before landing, the second meal service was offered.

I opted for pasta and shrimp, which I genuinely enjoyed. The flavors were well-balanced, and it felt like a solid pre-arrival meal before landing in Seoul.

Final Thoughts

Our flight departed San Francisco at approximately 2:30 PM and arrived Incheon-Seoul around 8:00 PM local time. The journey was smooth and I was comfortable enough.

The flight attendants were friendly and attentive, the amenities were surprisingly generous, and the Wide Premium seat delivered exactly what it promised: a more comfortable long-haul experience without the premium price tag of a traditional business-class ticket.

If you board expecting a luxury airline, you may find yourself focusing on what Air Premia lacks. But if you approach the experience understanding that you’re flying a value-focused carrier, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised.

For travelers looking for extra comfort, priority services, generous baggage allowances, and a spacious seat across the Pacific, Air Premia’s Wide Premium cabin offers excellent value and is well worth considering for your next trip to South Korea.