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Norwegian Air 787 Premium Class (Austin to London)

Spoiler alert! I've been a HUGE fan of the Norwegian Air 787 experience since flying with them for the first time on an economy ticket from London Gatwick to Miami

Booking an Austin to London flight two and a half weeks in advance, I paid $400 for the base fare, plus another $81 for a hot meal, seat reservation, and checked bag (the last of which I didn't need as I was traveling with a carry-on size backpack).

Red and white Norwegian Air 737 at Barcelona airport
Norwegian Air 737 at Barcelona airport

A one-way flight for $481 isn't ultra-cheap, but I was also paying for the chance to fly on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. As advertised, the latest airplane tech makes for a noticeably more comfortable ride, a difference I could feel after the nine-hour flight—more on those features below.

Flying Norwegian

The Cost of Norwegian Air 787 Premium Class

Norwegian Air 787 Premium seating cabin
Norwegian Air 787 Premium class seating on Austin to London Gatwick flight

When the opportunity arose to return to Europe for the first time in three years to attend the 2018 Adventure Travel World Summit, I looked to Norwegian Air first. I discovered they began a direct nine-hour flight from Austin, TX, to London Gatwick. Score!

While I didn't screenshot the October 2018 fares, I do recall the base economy fare being around $200 one way. Add another $80 for a hot meal and seat choice, and it totaled about $280. Incredible, I thought.

As I was fawning over the cheap cost of a trans-Atlantic flight, my eyes shifted to the right on the rate chart. For another $400, I could upgrade to Premium with all the added benefits and still pay less than $700, comparable to Economy seats on major airlines flying similar routes.

I was thoroughly happy with my Economy class experience in 2015. Still, only days after that flight, I learned I had a PE (pulmonary embolism) blood clot in my lungs, likely due to DVT (deep vein thrombosis) from flying.

Since that health scare, I've spent the extra money on flights for Premium Economy seating that offers more legroom to stretch my legs. I decided to go for it and booked a one-way Norwegian Air 787 Premium class ticket for $680.

Premium Class benefits include:

  • 2x checked bags, plus up to a 10kg carry-on bag and personal item
  • Lounge access (not available in Austin, unfortunately)
  • Priority check-in line at the airport
  • Priority boarding (yay!)
  • Comfortable seat with up to four and a half feet of legroom, USB charger, and power outlet
  • Hot dinner and pre-landing snack, plus complimentary drinks throughout the flight

It was the last three bullet points above that mattered most to me, not to mention it was another chance to fly the Dreamliner, with all its built-in comforts.

Norwegian Air Premium seating
The spacious 787 offers easy-to-use overhead bins (Premium cabin)

Why the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is Awesome

Why do I love Boeing's 787 Dreamliner? Let me count the ways.

Lower carbon emissions

It's built from composite material, making it lighter and more fuel-efficient than its predecessors. It has 20-25% lower CO2 emissions. Choosing to fly modern planes like the Dreamliner reduces my carbon footprint.

Lower noise levels in the cabin

Back in 2015, I would fly with a pair of Beats wireless noise-canceling headphones. I loved the quieter flying experience they offered, and they were useful. However, I travel as lightly as possible, and they take up a lot of space in my daypack.

The Dreamliner is designed for a quieter in-cabin experience, so to test this claim, I didn't use my Beats headphones for the entire nine-hour flight. Sure enough, I didn't feel the need to take them out to watch movies or listen to music, as the jet engines were noticeably quieter than those of older planes.

Better cabin experience – air quality, space, and lighting

The biggest reason I'm a fan of the 787 Dreamliner is how I feel after a nine-hour flight. HUMAN! The Dreamliner is designed to provide a more comfortable in-cabin passenger experience regardless of where you sit on the plane. The cabin altitude is lower, the humidity is higher, the air you breathe is cleaner, the temperature is better controlled, and the sound system is more refined.

Combined, this is the most significant selling point for me. I felt noticeably better at the end of a nine-hour trans-Atlantic flight versus ragged and worn out, dry, flaky skin on my face, looking and feeling like a zombie. Beyond improved air quality, the Dreamliner is more spacious, too, with increased headroom above and legroom below.

The LED lighting system dims and brightens gently around takeoff, sleep time, and landing. It can put on quite the technicolor show at times. I love it. The windows are significantly larger than average and are easily dimmed with the touch of a button. Considering all this, I believe the economy seats are the best value currently available for trans-Atlantic flights.

Norwegian Air 787 Premium seat legroom
Plenty of legroom

My Norwegian Air 787 Premium Class Experience

Check-in and Lounges

The benefits of flying Premium begin at the airport. I had to check in at the counter for my international flight, and while the regular line wasn't that long, it was nice to have a dedicated agent and no line.

Once I checked in, I passed through TSA Pre-check and got a bite to eat while waiting for my flight. Premium ticket holders get lounge benefits, but only at select airports, which doesn't include Austin.

Priority Boarding

Austin has a great airport, though. It is modern, spacious, has plenty of natural light, offers free Wi-Fi, and has good restaurant options. The time passed quickly, and I benefited from priority boarding to be the first on the plane.

Legroom

The seat pitch in the Premium cabin is 43-46″ (109-117cm), and in Economy, it is 31″ (78cm). So you get an extra foot of space, which is more than enough for me at 5'8″ to stretch my legs out fully.

Seats

The seating configuration in Premium is 2-3-2, whereas it's a more crowded 3-3-3 in Economy. The most significant difference with the Premium seats is that you have a leg rest to pop up.

Combined with the recline, you won't get to a lie-flat position as you look for in Business class on other carriers. However, it does provide added comfort over the Economy seat.

Another difference between the seats is the location of the in-flight entertainment systems. In the Premium cabin, the touchscreen HD TVs are pulled out of the armrest, while in Economy, they are on the back of the seat in front of you.

This makes sense, given the added space between seats in the Premium cabin. However, it also means you can't use the entertainment system during takeoff and landing as you can in Economy. This didn't bother me.

Lastly, every Premium seat has a dedicated USB and electric outlet; in Economy, there are two outlets for every three seats. I rarely, if ever, use electrical outlets on flights as I charge my phone by USB.

In-flight Entertainment

Speaking of in-flight entertainment, I've flown three nine-hour flights with Norwegian Air now, and so far, I've enjoyed using their TVs. I can watch three to four movies in this amount of time.

You can also access a real-time map to track your flight's progress and estimated arrival time. All passengers have access to the same entertainment system and media library.

Hot dinner after take-off
Hot dinner after takeoff

Drink Service

Before takeoff, we were offered water or juice, and the drink offers in the Premium cabin continued throughout the whole flight. I was super impressed with the frequency with which the cabin crew would walk down the aisles with trays of water.

I felt more attended to on this flight than on any other flight aside from my business class experiences with Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways. Staying hydrated is a huge help when it comes to feeling good after a long flight, and it's also the number one thing you can do to protect yourself from blood clots.

Meals

A Norwegian Air 787 Premium ticket (an $80 value) includes meals. After takeoff and the initial drink service, the food was served. I got the chicken with mashed potatoes, which came with a healthy side of cheese, quinoa salad, and bread.

This is the same meal served in Economy, so you're not getting anything fancier in the Premium cabin. And, frankly, the food is average. I've had hot meals on all my Norwegian Air flights, which is what you can expect. Following dinner, the cabin crew offered passengers complimentary alcoholic drinks, including Bailey's.

Snack service before landing at London Gatwick airport
Snack service before landing

Before landing at 7:15 AM in London, there was a second food service with cold pasta, ham, bread, and cheese. It was fine for nibbling on, but nothing special. I used my six-hour layover between London and a connecting flight to Milan to eat a proper breakfast at Gatwick Airport.

Bathroom

To stay hydrated and protect against blood clots, I drink water like a racehorse. This also means I get up to stretch my legs and use the bathrooms every one and a half to two hours. Sitting in the smaller Premium cabin means accessing the bathrooms frequently, which isn't an ordeal. I don't have to be on high alert to try to time my walk down the aisle.

The Dreamliner's bathrooms are modern and well-designed. I appreciate the tiny detail of the slight plastic protrusion on the bottom of the toilet seat. It makes pulling up and putting down the toilet seat ever so slightly less gross.

Disembarking

We arrived on time at London-Gatwick Airport at about 7:15 AM. It was a long, smooth ride over the Atlantic. Having extra space in the Premium cabin when getting luggage out of the overhead bins and everyone jostling to get off the plane first is a minor thing, but it is still worth mentioning.

Conclusion

As mentioned, I became an instant fan of Norwegian Air with my first Economy flight in 2015. The Economy experience on a Dreamliner is a step above Economy on any other plane. That said, I found the Premium experience worth the extra money in terms of added value, comfort, and service.

When it came time to fly home after my month in Europe, I booked the nine-hour Norwegian Air 787 from Barcelona to Newark, NJ. The cost of Premium class for that flight, reserving only a few weeks ahead, was even cheaper at $602.

Between my health concerns since 2015 and the fact that I only visit Europe on average once every two years, these recent flights have solidified my desire to continue flying Norwegian Air 787 Premium class.

Packing for Long Flights

Long flights can be tedious. Here are a few things I've found that can make the ride safe and a little more comfortable.

Apple AirPods Wireless Bluetooth Headphones 

These are a game-changer for iPhone-carrying travelers. They're tiny, hold a long charge, and offer good sound quality. When the AirPods came out in 2017, they became my daily headphones at home and abroad. I also find they're OK on planes, especially quieter ones like the Dreamliner. Available on Amazon

Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones 

If you still prefer the ultra-quiet experience of over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones, I recommend the Beats Studio3. I had a pair in matte black I wore from 2013-15. I quickly found they weren't just excellent for blocking jet engine noise; they were also wonderful to have in often-loud departure gates. Available on Amazon

Compression Socks 

The longer your flight, the greater the risk of getting a potentially fatal DVT blood clot. Compression socks are constructed to constrict your lower legs and feet to help keep blood circulating. As they've grown in popularity, there are more playful colors and patterns. Available on Amazon

External charging device 

I don't know what it is, but I'm perpetually afraid of losing a charge on my phone, even when I have plenty of built-in options with my airplane seat. Sometimes, it's easier to pack consistently, so you don't have to keep track of which planes offer outlets and USB ports. Available on Amazon

SUAVS shoes

I was recently gifted a pair of SUAVS shoes from a company based in Austin, TX. They're so lightweight and comfortable; you won't want to wear socks. I tested them on my nine-hour flight to London and didn't feel any need to take them off. This saved me from the usual hassle of taking my shoes on and off whenever I wanted to use the bathroom. Plus, they're easy to compress, so they won't take up much space in your bag. Available at suavshoes.com

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:

Philip S Shear

Saturday 10th of November 2018

Nice write up Dave. Anna and I are planning to visit Stockholm around June and I want to see if I can fly aNorwegian there from Thailand (and now a Dreamliner).

Dave

Saturday 10th of November 2018

Thanks, highly recommend it!

Michael

Friday 9th of November 2018

Hi Dave, Interesting report and a nice read. Can I ask the seat width on the flight and ... not meaning to be pedantic, the image at the top of your report i a B737 of Norwegian not the 787

Dave

Friday 9th of November 2018

Thanks Michael, and thanks for catching my mistake about sharing a photo of the wrong plane. I just noticed the wingtips aren't shaped like those of the 787. I'll edit the caption to clarify.

I checked SeatGuru for the Norwegian Boeing 787-9 and it looks like the Premium seat is 19" wide. Regular Economy seats are 17.2" wide.

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