When you miserably walk through the business class cabin down to your seat in coach, and pass all the comfortable chairs that you know you can’t sit in, it can seem pretty tempting to upgrade your next ticket. There’s no denying that upgrading will bring you a more comfortable flying experience, but is it worth it?
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We examined the pros and cons of upgrading and whether it’s really a good idea to spend the money. The right decision is different for everyone, but you’ll definitely want to think about these things before choosing to upgrade your flight or stay in coach. Check them out below!
10 Pay For It: You’ll Leave The Plane Feeling Refreshed
We all know what it’s like to arrive at a new travel destination we’ve been wanting to visit forever and feeling like death warmed up after the horrible flight. Sometimes coach is like that. You have to stay in a cramped space surrounded by the same people for hours on end and it’s virtually impossible to sleep comfortably. It’s very rare to land after a long coach flight feeling refreshed.
But when you’ve been traveling in business or first class, the chances of you feeling good when you leave the plane are a lot higher because of how comfortable those classes are. Then you’ll get off to a great start on your trip!
9 It’s Not Worth It: It’s A Lot Of Money To Spend On A Few Hours
There’s no denying that business and first class are much more comfortable than coach. But what stops most people from upgrading is the price difference. Especially when you’re looking at upgrading to first class, it’s not just a few hundred dollars we’re talking about.
Flying like a high roller is really expensive—to the point where a lot of travelers don’t even have the money to consider it. And if they do, they have to figure out whether they can justify paying for it. Because as amazing as first class is, it is a lot of money to spend on just a few hours of your life.
8 Pay For It: You’ll Get To Leave And Board First
Being in an upgraded class doesn’t just mean that you’ll get to sit in a more comfortable seat with more room. There’s also the fact that you get special boarding privileges. If you’re a frequent flyer, you would have noticed that those traveling in business or first class are called to board the plane first.
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It can take quite a while for everybody to get settled in their seats, so when you’re at the back of the line, you’re sometimes standing on your feet for a really long time. That problem is eliminated when you upgrade. Instead, you get to sit down and relax in your seat right from the get-go.
7 It’s Not Worth It: You Don't Always Get That Much More Space
If you want to upgrade your flight ticket, it’s going to cost a lot of money so you want to make sure you’re getting value. A lot of the time, the flight experience really is much more comfortable when you upgrade your ticket. But depending on the airline and what you’re upgrading to, sometimes you don’t get that much more room after all.
Not every upgrade comes with a bed and a private butler. Sometimes you’ll find yourself in a seat that’s just a little bigger than what you get in coach.
6 Pay For It: It Can Ease Flying Anxiety
If you’re a little nervous about the flight, upgrading your ticket can be an effective way of dealing with that anxiety. Yes, it’s an expensive way, but it can work wonders. While the actual flight is no safer when you’re in first class, the overall experience is much more relaxing.
You can stretch more easily and rest in a comfortable position, which will help to keep you relaxed when you start to panic. It also tends to be less crowded, so that can help to promote feelings of calmness as well.
5 It’s Not Worth It: You Won’t Want To Go Back To Flying Coach
How many people can afford to fly business or first class every single time they fly? If you’re like most travelers, you might be considering it for one trip, but know that every other trip you’re going to go right back to flying coach. The problem is after you’ve upgraded once, you won’t want to go back.
If you’ve never upgraded, then you don’t know what you’re missing out on. But once you do, it’s even harder to sit in a cramped coach seat. You’ll feel much more cramped once you know what the people behind the curtain get to experience.
4 Pay For It: You Sometimes Get More Baggage Allowance
Another benefit of upgrading your ticket is that, on most airlines, you will also be allowed to bring more luggage onto the plane. Some airlines increase the weight allowance of each passenger by up to 20 lbs. That’s a bonus if you’ve over packed or done a lot of shopping on your trip!
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Being fined for overweight luggage can be really expensive. Depending on the airline, you might have to pay for each pound that you’re overweight. So when you’re slapped with a bill that is in the high hundreds or more, it makes sense to just pay for extra luggage (and extra comfort) from the start!
3 It’s Not Worth It: You Can Recreate First Class Style In Coach (For Free)
You can’t really recreate the exact experience of first class in coach, but you can come pretty close! If you’re well prepared, there are certain things you can do to make the journey less miserable and make you feel like you’ve upgraded. This way, you get some of the same luxuries without having to pay a cent more.
For instance, you could pack your own food so you don’t have to eat the food that’s offered to you. You could bring a scarf to give yourself some privacy. Or you could bring toiletries to keep your skin hydrated. Again, it’s not exactly first class, but you can definitely achieve a similar feeling.
2 Pay For It: The Luxury Extends Beyond The Plane
When you pay for first class, the privileges extend beyond the plane ride. In addition to getting to bring more baggage on board and boarding first, you also get to wait at the airport in a private lounge. This can be a life-saver when you have a long layover or when your flight is delayed.
Some airlines actually organize transfers to and from the airport for those flying in first class. Do your research to see exactly what you’re entitled to, but normally, the benefits go way beyond a comfortable seat on the plane.
1 It’s Not Worth It: The Basic Flying Journey Doesn’t Change
At the end of the day, flying is flying. Having an upgraded ticket definitely makes things more comfortable, but you’re still stuck in a plane with everybody else. Those in first class still have to deal with turbulence. They still have to deal with painful pressure in their ears. They still have to get up and move around to help their blood flow.
The basic flying journey doesn’t change just because you’ve paid for a first class ticket. So the decision is about whether you think it’s worth paying that money to ride in style and comfort.
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