- I fly internationally at least twice a year, and recently took a 13-hour flight from Japan to the US.
- I upgraded my seat on a United Airlines flight to premium economy for $300.
- We liked the extra comfort, space and amenities offered in the mid-range class.
Part of my job as a travel writer is to fly regularly.
I always fly United because there are plenty of direct flights from my local airport in Florida and it's pretty easy to climb the ranks in the airline's loyalty program, MilagePlus: Basic members earn 5 miles per dollar and Premier members earn 7-11 miles per dollar depending on their status.
On a recent trip to Japan, I was upgraded from economy class to premium economy class (what the airline calls Economy Plus) on my return flight from Tokyo to Washington DC.
Here's why the $300 flight upgrade was worth it.
I was able to sit at the front of the plane.
I knew the premium seats would be closer to the front of the plane, but I was really surprised to find that they were even closer.
I chose economy plus seat 21A, a window seat in row 2. Upon landing in Washington DC, I was off the plane and through customs in less than 10 minutes.
We didn't have much time to catch our connecting flight so the upgrade was worth it to be able to get off the plane right away.
I enjoyed the amenities of my upgraded seat
My seat came with several amenities for use during the flight, including over-the-ear noise-canceling headphones, a Saks Fifth Avenue pillow, and a cozy blanket.
The flight attendant said I could take these things away at the end of the flight, but I decided to leave mine behind.
We were also given a complimentary felt pouch with some basic essentials like hand cream, facial wipes, lip balm, earplugs, eye mask, socks, tissues, pen and toothbrush.
I was very happy as these amenities were not offered to economy class passengers.
The ample leg space was helpful when I wanted to stretch my legs.
Premium economy seats offer plenty of legroom, 38 inches compared to 31-34 inches in economy.
The extra space allowed me to stretch my legs when I needed to without having to get up and walk around the plane every hour.
I also liked the footrest attached to the back of the chair, which allowed me to place my feet in a slightly higher position, which was comfortable when sleeping.
Unfortunately, the footrest blocked the storage space under the seat, but I had no problem storing my small bag by leaning it against the cabin wall.
A large entertainment system makes watching movies and TV easy
Each premium economy seat comes with a 13-inch seatback entertainment system. Economy seats only have 9-inch screens.
The TV was large and easy to see, and I didn't have to squint to read the subtitles.
The premium seats came with a small remote control on the side panel of the seat so I didn't have to reach over to touch the screen.
Food service was a bit off-par
I really hate airplane food, but the food in Economy Plus was slightly better.
I skipped dinner to take a six-hour nap, but still had time to eat waffles and fruit for breakfast.
Food was served on real plates with cloth napkins and real silverware, and drinks were served in real glasses instead of the flimsy plastic cups we're used to in economy class.
I would pay again to upgrade my flight, especially for long-distance travel.
On a long-haul flight from Tokyo to Washington DC, the $300 upgrade was worth it.
The generous room allowed me to get a good night's sleep, something that's rarely available in economy class, and I also enjoyed the quality food service and amenities.
You probably won't upgrade every time you travel, but if your flight is over 10 hours long, it's worth splurging.
