Is TUI Premium Worth the Extra Cost? Our Honest Thoughts
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Have you heard the famous TUI Premium saying: “Once you turn left…”
It’s the phrase people love throwing around when talking about premium cabins. And it raises the big question:
Is TUI Premium actually worth it?
For us… yes — sometimes.
If you’re flying long-haul, a bit of extra comfort can make a big difference. And if it’s a special occasion or a rare holiday, treating yourselves can feel well worth it.
We’ve flown TUI Premium and economy on the Dreamliner to Mexico, so below we’ll walk you through what you actually get, what we liked, and whether it’s worth the money.
Quick Answer: Is TUI Premium Worth It?
If you can get it for a reasonable upgrade price, TUI Premium is worth it for long-haul flights thanks to bigger seats, lounge access, priority boarding, and extra free drinks.
But when upgrades start pushing £1,000+ for two people, many travellers may prefer saving the money for their holiday instead.
Check TUI Premium Prices
Priority Check-In
Premium passengers also get fast-track security, which helps you dodge the usual queues and glide through much quicker.
This perk is not particularly a biggie, especially If you’re staying at an airport hotel the night before.
Anyone can check in in the evening. In the morning, all you have to do is walk through to security.
Tui Premium’s Fast Track Access
With fast-track security included in TUI Premium, you get access to a dedicated lane, which helps you avoid the worst of the airport queues.
Of course, I still managed to make a mess of it.
In a masterclass of airport incompetence, I forgot to empty my pockets and remove my belt. That meant two trips through the metal detector, a brief starring role in the X-ray machine, and a polite security pat-down.
Not my finest moment.
Even with my security performance, we were through and into departures within about twenty minutes of entering the terminal.
Which, in airport terms, is practically teleportation.
Again. Not a massive perk unless you hit a bad day at the airport. I think the average security time at UK airports is around 10 minutes.
Airport Lounge Access: The No1 Lounge at Gatwick
One of the better perks of flying TUI Premium is airport lounge access.
It is only the No. 1 lounge, though.
Inside the No1 Lounge, you’ll find complimentary food and drinks, including breakfast options (buffet), hot meals later in the day, plus soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits.
In other words… save your money and have your airport pint in the lounge instead.
If the main lounge area is busy, have a wander around and try to find the library.
We stumbled across it almost by accident. Despite the main lounge being packed, the library was almost empty — just one bloke enjoying a bacon roll and reading the newspaper.
A peaceful little hideaway compared to the chaos about 15 feet away.
Another bonus of airport lounges is delay cover for up to three hours, so if your flight gets pushed back slightly, it’s not the worst place in the world to be stuck.
Priority Boarding: First on the Plane
Priority boarding isn’t the biggest perk of TUI Premium — the real value comes once you’re in the air.
Still, it’s nice to board early and escape the greenhouse at the gate.
Just be prepared to navigate past the gate lurkers — the people who start queuing half an hour early despite being in boarding group 6.
Free Drinks, Champagne & Snacks
Who can say no to a free glass of bubbly?
Even if you don’t drink the stuff normally.
Once you’re settled into your seat, the cabin crew come around with welcome drinks — usually champagne, sparkling wine, orange juice, and a packet of crisps.
Not a bad way to kick off the holiday.
Throughout the flight, you’ll also get complimentary drinks, and if you’re lucky (or polite), you might even end up with two cans each time the trolley comes around.
Always worth being friendly with the crew.
Economy class also gets free drinks during the flight.
You just won’t get as much, and no snacks.
Food & Drink in TUI Premium
On TUI long-haul flights, all food and drinks are complimentary, even in the economy cabin.
That said, the premium cabin does feel a bit more relaxed when it comes to service.
One thing we always recommend — be friendly with the cabin crew when you board. A bit of politeness goes a long way, and it makes their job easier, too.
We were pleasantly surprised by the food in Premium. For aeroplane meals at 35,000 feet, it was actually pretty decent.
Better than the economy stuff, which is a bit dry.
Not great, not bad.
The menu included options like chicken, beef, Thai green curry, and a vegan dish.
Because aircraft only carry a limited number of each meal, it’s usually best not to be too picky.
The staff will note that too, and you’ll probably get a better overall service and your choice.
Quick Off the Plane: Priority Disembarkation
After a long flight, the last thing you want is to sit around waiting to get off the plane.
Although if you’re flying into Cancun…
It might actually pay to hang around.
If you’re wondering how long it takes to get through Cancun Airport Terminal 2, we’ve covered it here.
There’s another handy perk too — premium luggage is loaded last, which means it’s usually one of the first bags to appear on the carousel.
By the time we cleared immigration, the belt had just started moving and our luggage appeared almost straight away.
The next trip? Nearly two hours for bags.
Even Premium.
Welcome to Mexico.
If Mexico is your destination, we’ve used Canada Transfers twice now and arrived at our hotels around two hours before the coach transfers. If you’re thinking about going private, check out our Canada Transfers guide.
Money very well spent after that big ole trek.
If you’re staying in Riviera Maya, Akumal, or Tulum, I’d highly recommend this approach.
Pricing: Is TUI Premium Still Worth It?
Since writing the original version of this post, we’ve kept an eye on Premium prices for our Mexico trips.
When we first upgraded, we managed to grab a decent deal about four months before departure. It felt like a bit of a splurge at the time and a YOLO moment.
Fast forward to our 2025 trip, and the prices were a different story.
We tried our luck at the airport with the classic “40th birthday trip” charm, (it was my 40th that day) hoping for a cheeky upgrade. Everyone seemed on board… until we hit the final boss at the gate.
His verdict?
£350 each. Each way.
Considering there were three empty Premium seats staring back at us, it felt a bit like Grinch behaviour.
So we flew economy instead.
For our 2026 trip, the Premium prices are even harder to stomach.
We’re talking well over £1,000 extra for two people, which starts to feel like the price of another holiday entirely.
And that’s the real dilemma.
Yes, TUI Premium is great. But whether it’s worth it depends heavily on the price you can get it for.
If you spot a good deal — grab it.
If not, you might be better off saving the money for cocktails, excursions, and Mexican Coca-Cola once you land.
That amount of money is a good chunk towards another holiday or a city break.
I know which one we’d prefer.
Check TUI Premium Prices
Economy Is Still Pretty Decent
That said, TUI Economy on the Dreamliner is still a pretty decent experience.
It’s not luxury by any means, but compared to some airlines, you’ll be very thankful.
The seats have around six inches less pitch compared to Premium.
And we all know what six inches looks like.
Unless you’re particularly tall, it’s unlikely to ruin the flight.
And if you do want a bit more space, there are usually extra legroom seats available to book that cost far less than upgrading to Premium.
So while Premium definitely feels more comfortable, Economy will still get you there just fine — especially if you’d rather save the money for tacos, cocktails and excursions once you land.
One thing we highly recommend is getting a pair of headphones with an AUX cable.
The ones provided in economy will wreck your ears by the sixth hour.
Final Thoughts
We loved the TUI Premium experience and would definitely recommend it if you fancy a treat, have a special occasion, or spot a good price.
If you’re considering upgrading, it’s worth keeping an eye on prices throughout the year.
Last time we flew Premium, we managed to grab a decent deal about four months before departure.
From what we’ve seen though, prices often only go one way — and that’s up.
When we upgraded, it felt worth it.
We hadn’t had a holiday for ages thanks to the Panny-Dee, so we decided to treat ourselves and make the flight part of the experience.
But if the upgrade starts creeping towards £1,000+ for two people, you might prefer to save that money and spend it on cocktails, excursions, and good food once you land.
Either way… your holiday is still waiting at the other end.
More Travel Tips, More Mexico:
- 12 Riviera Maya & Cancun Travel Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
- Fee-Free Spending Abroad
- Are Airport Hotels Worth It? Honest Pros & Cons Before You Book
- TUI Flex: What Is It & Is It Worth It?
- Mexico Resort Essentials To Save You from Getting Ripped Off
If this post saved you or helped you book smarter, that’s a massive win for us.
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¡Adiós amigos!
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