As the price of jet fuel increases in correlation to world events, travel is expected to become even more expensive, and passengers are feeling the burn. Economy class travel can be frustrating at the best of times, but there are a few tricks you can use to give yourself more of a first class feeling on an economy class budget.
Here are my recommendations on how travelers can close the gap and meaningfully improve their next flight without breaking the bank.
Choose Your Airline & Seat Carefully
Not all airlines are equal, nor are all economy seats. The sooner you realize this, the sooner you can improve your next flight with some careful research and planning.
In my experience, airline carriers in North America are often a worse experience than those that are based elsewhere in the world, as North American service culture and standards can often be bottom-of-the-barrel. For example, if you are flying to Southeast Asia, you are usually better off choosing an airline from that region of the world, as the service, food and beverage, and often even the seat can be better in various aspects (including more width and legroom).
That being said, always compare prices before you commit. It could be worth paying a bit more for a better airline with a better economy class product, especially for a long-haul flight if there are measurable improvements versus another airline.
Similarly, you should always be looking at seat maps to determine the best seat for your desired flight. Aerolopa is a great resource for this purpose, as they offer up-to-date seatmaps for every configuration of aircraft. Not all seats in economy class are the same, as some rows may lack windows, and some rows, such as the bulkhead, may offer significantly more legroom.
For longer-haul flights, it can absolutely be worth splurging to choose your seat in advance of check-in if it will have a measurable positive impact on your flight experience. A few extra dollars to select a seat with more legroom, or an aisle seat away from the bathroom, can go a long way on an eight-hour flight.
Premium Economy As An Excellent Budget “Splurge”
It’s no secret that the majority of travelers are price sensitive, myself included. However, people get so focused that they miss what can be classified as an excellent opportunity, if you are willing to splurge a little: booking premium economy.
Booking premium economy class can be one of the best value-for-dollar deals in air travel when you find a good price, as it can only be a few hundred dollars more for benefits that are absolutely worth it. Premium economy always offers an improved seat, often with much more legroom than economy, and improved food and beverage service (with alcohol included at no cost).
The benefits don’t just start on the plane, though. Depending on the airline, premium economy passengers are often treated to priority check-in, priority baggage handling, priority boarding, and even complimentary airport lounge access.
Accessing Airport Lounges & Frequent Flyer Status Benefits Without Being A Frequent Flyer
Many of the best airline-related benefits are tied to frequent flyer programs and reserved for those who earn elite status within those programs by flying far more than the average person. For many, it means that these benefits look unattainable on the service, but they might not be.
The secret lies in credit cards, and more specifically, many of what I would consider to be the best travel credit cards. Many travel credit cards offer travel-related benefits, including free airport lounge access, airline benefits, travel insurance, and more.
One of the most notable and impactful benefits is complimentary airport lounge access. While many premium travel credit cards offer unlimited airport lounge access, there are many cards with average annual fees that offer four or eight annual airport lounge passes, making these the perfect option for the casual traveler.
Airport lounges are far superior to paying for food and drink in the terminal, and can be an excellent way to kick off your vacation. They offer a more exclusive space than the rows of chairs in the terminal, free food and drink (including alcoholic beverages), free WiFi, and many international lounges even offer shower rooms so you can refresh before your flight.
There are also co-branded airline credit cards available in most markets worldwide, and these cards can be an excellent tool if you tend to fly a specific airline. These cards come with benefits like free checked baggage for the cardholder and their guests on the same itinerary, priority check-in/baggage/boarding, free seat selection, complimentary airport lounge access, and even the opportunity for complimentary cabin class upgrades.
While these benefits can be great, always do your research before you add a new credit card to your wallet to ensure you are applying for the best card for your situation. And of course, practice good financial habits when it comes to credit cards to ensure the benefits aren’t outweighed by interest payments.
You Don’t Need a First Class Budget To Make Travel Better
Being a smarter and more effective traveler doesn’t always require additional cost, but instead, only requires applying a few tips and strategies to meaningfully impact your next flight and vacation. While I think we all wish we had a first class budget to book our vacations, with the right mindset, you’ll be surprised at the travel improvements you can unlock.
