To provide long-haul travelers with a more comfortable experience without the high costs of business class, EVA Air introduced a new seating class between coach and business 30 years ago. This innovation offered additional space at a minimal extra cost, quickly becoming popular among passengers. Other airlines soon adopted similar offerings, making premium economy a common choice globally.
Premium economy is now considered an essential part of air travel. The "big three" US airlines, along with Japan Airlines (JAL) and Emirates, offer unique variations that include priority boarding and special menus as affordable extras. This has made it a profitable option for many airlines, leading to the retirement of international first-class by some US carriers.
Edward Plaisted of Skytrax remarked on Japan Airlines' consistent high standards: “This highest 5-Star Airline Rating for Japan Airlines is an excellent recognition of the high quality of the product and staff service experience that they provide to customers."