EVA Air’s New 787-9 Premium Economy:
Is This the World’s Best?

By PrestigeFly

EVA Air has raised the bar for premium economy with its new Boeing 787-9 cabin, featuring what many are calling the best premium economy seat in the sky. We tested it on the Taipei-San Francisco route to see if it lives up to the hype—and whether it’s worth the upgrade over business class for budget-conscious luxury travelers.

The Seat: A Near-Business-Class Experience

✈️ Key Features

  • 21.5-inch width (wider than most competitors)
  • 42-inch pitch (7+ inches more than standard premium economy)
  • 15.6-inch 4K touchscreen (largest in class)
  • Legrest + footbar (almost business-class recline)
  • No middle seats (2-3-2 layout, vs. 2-4-2 on most 787s)

🍽️ Dining & Service

  • Restaurant-style meal service (china tableware, linen napkins)
  • Premium wine selection (including Taiwanese teas)
  • Pre-order meals (like business class)

🛌 Comfort Extras

  • Memory foam headrests
  • Adjustable lumbar support
  • Noise-reducing headphones included

How It Compares to the Competition

AirlineSeat WidthPitchScreenLayoutEVA Air | 21.5" | 42" | 15.6" 4K | 2-3-2
Qantas | 19.5" | 38" | 13" HD | 2-3-2
Singapore Airlines | 19.5" | 38" | 13.3" HD | 2-4-2
Air France | 19" | 40" | 13.3" HD | 2-3-2

Verdict: EVA Air’s seat is significantly roomier than rivals, with superior tech.

PrestigeFly Verdict: Who Should Book It?

✅ Best For:

  • Tall travelers needing extra legroom
  • Those who want business-class comfort at 60% of the price
  • Flight routes under 10 hours (e.g., Asia-West Coast)

❌ Skip If:

  • You need lie-flat seats (opt for business)
  • Flying ultra-long-haul (14+ hours)

Pro Tip: Book Row 20 (bulkhead) for even more legroom.

Fleet & Routes

  • First Routes: Taipei (TPE) to San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), and New York (JFK)
  • Rollout: Complete by mid-2025

Explore More Premium Economy Options

🔗 The Best Premium Economy Airlines in 2024 (The Points Guy)
🔗 EVA Air vs. China Airlines: Which Is Better? (CNN Travel)
🔗 Why Premium Economy Is the New Business Class (Bloomberg)