For as long as I’ve written on the topic of travel, I have prided myself on being an “economy first” flyer. It was always more important to get to the destination, instead of flying in luxury. However, one experience in KLM’s World Business class changed much of that for me. Which lead me to do something I do not normally do: live in the lap of luxury and take an upgrade to domestic first class.
On a recent business trip to Denver, I was presented with the option to upgrade to United Airlines’ first class aboard my Airbus A320. With visions of a comfortable seat and hopes of having slightly better amenities, I pulled the trigger and decided to run an experiment: was domestic first class everything it was hyped up to be?
Needless to say: after my World Business experience, I was greatly disappointed.
To begin: travelers in the premium cabin aboard United First are not allowed in the United Club without either a club membership, or a day pass granted from the United MileagePlus Explorer Card. Because my flight was from Denver to Columbus, it did not count as a “premium transcontinental” flight.
Despite being able to board the aircraft first, upgrading to the “premium” cabin did not feel premium. While the seat was wider and offered more pitch than economy counterparts, it felt like a dated product compared to the United Polaris or the United p.s. offerings. Furthermore, it lacked what seemed like a standard amenity of premium cabins in 2017: standard power outlets.
When it came to mealtime, having a seamlessly unlimited supply of beverages was refreshing – but nothing that a water bottle couldn’t solve. Unlike other premium meals I had in my past, the offering on my first-class flight had me asking “What’s the deal with airplane food?” The chicken dish I opted for was disappointingly flavorless and only redeemed by the chocolate cheesecake at the end.
Looking back in the cabin, it occurred to me that I could have been served just as well in paying half as much for an Economy Plus seat in a nearly empty row. Without the endless beverages and questionable meal, I could have still had a seat with plenty of space at a fraction of the price. Additionally, the price of that upgrade may have been covered by the fee waiver from The Platinum Card from American Express. Because my upgrade was technically considered a new ticket, it did not get erased from my account, but I did earn five times the points, which was a nice consolation.
In the aviation world, there are upgrades we look forward to with eager anticipation. Unfortunately, this was not one of them. How can you ensure that your upgrade experience doesn’t live up to the hype? Here are three easy ways to ensure your upgrade is the one you want.
Don’t Spend Miles on Upgrades:
As we often point out on this blog, there are great ways to spend miles – and there are not-so-great ways to spend miles. Upgrading with miles results in a much lower redemption rate than the industry average of around 0.2 cents per mile. While it may be tempting to spend a handful of frequent flyer miles to get a better seat, the three hours in a marginally better product may not be worth is.
Weigh the Pros and Cons:
In my situation, I upgraded on the hopes that I would have a better seat to sleep in on my four-hour flight, with some nicer amenities. While the seat was wider and the snacks better, the overall qualities did not justify spending the money. For a longer flight heading east, the comfort could have been worth it – but in this situation, I found it was not an excellent use of resources.
Research the Aircraft:
Finally, before pulling the trigger on that upgrade, be sure to research the aircraft and the amenities on board. A quick look on SeatGuru could have told me that power outlets may not be available while giving me more information about my seat. As a result, I could have saved time and disappointment with a simple online search.
Although the seat was slightly nicer, the cost did not justify the upgrade. On my next flight, I’m definitely making sure everything aligns before making the decision to go one cabin forward.
How do you determine when a upgrade is worth the price? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Written by Frugal Travel Guy @ http://www.frugaltravelguy.com
Written by Frugal Travel Guy @ http://www.frugaltravelguy.com