When a friend of mine told me she recently flew to Europe on a business class ticket, I was a little jealous. The reality is that I’ve long refused to pay for business class because of the exorbitant cost.
But my friend is a savvy credit card user, so she does a great job of chasing sign-up bonuses that make those upgrades less expensive. I, admittedly, don’t always want to be bothered with new credit card applications.
Now since I’ve never flown business class, I can’t say how much less comfortable it is to fly economy. But I can use my imagination.
That said, I’ve learned some tricks to make economy more comfortable. You may want to use them as well if you can’t see yourself splurging on an upgrade to business class anytime soon.
1. Upgrade to premium economy
Though I’ve never flown business class, I have flown in a premium economy seat — one with extra legroom. And I can tell you that it makes a world of a difference.
The next time you’re planning a trip, research the difference in cost between premium economy and regular economy. You may find that it’s affordable — and way less expensive than a bump up to business class.
As one example, I’m thinking of visiting a friend in Florida this September. The flight I’m interested in costs $265 for basic economy where I can’t pick my seat, $335 for regular economy, and $405 for a refundable economy ticket.
A business class ticket will cost me $1,069, and I’m not willing to raid my savings account for such a short flight. But there’s also the option to upgrade to a premium economy seat for $507, which is more than the lower-tiered economy tickets but not nearly as much as business class.
Now because this is a pretty short flight, I’ll probably stick to regular economy. I don’t necessarily need the extra room for a journey that’s under three hours. The point, however, is that it pays to compare your options, because you may find that premium economy is a reasonable compromise.
2. Book your seats strategically if you’re traveling with a partner
When my husband and I are traveling together, we’ll always try to book two seats next to each other when there are rows of two. But when we’re looking at a row of three, what we’ll commonly do is book a window seat and an aisle seat in the hopes that no one else reserves a ticket in our row.
This strategy doesn’t always work, but it can. And if no one sits between you, you automatically get a lot more room.
Of course, if you go this route, you need to prepare to either have someone between you or have one of you switch for a middle seat. But if you’re traveling at an off-peak time and are heading to a not-so-popular destination, it’s worth trying.
3. Pack a comfort kit to get through the journey
I don’t enjoy flying, so I find it hard to get physically comfortable in a seat when I’m anxious. But I’ve learned that there are a few things that can make my journeys more tolerable.
First, I like to pack small snacks for the plane. The downside of economy is not getting the fantastic food business class is known for. But I also know that I’m sensitive to turbulence and couldn’t really enjoy a big meal anyway. So I like to pack foods like granola bars and crackers that are easy on the stomach.
I also like to bring a small amount of hand lotion with me because the air on planes tends to be dry and my skin gets affected easily. Think about the little items that might make your flight more comfortable, whether it’s an eye mask that makes it easier to nap or a travel pillow that helps you avoid a stiff neck.
Business class tickets are out of reach for many travelers. But that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a lousy flight. So see if these tips help you better manage in economy.
And if not, you could always do what my friend does and apply for the right credit cards with fantastic sign-up bonuses. Getting a bunch of extra miles or cash back at once could make it possible to fly business class — if not all the time, then at least on occasion.
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