As an avid traveler, I always look for ways to make my flights more comfortable, especially when flying overseas.
I recently flew with Scandinavian Airlines from San Francisco to Copenhagen, purchasing an economy ticket for $1,066. A few weeks before my scheduled departure, however, I received an email stating I could bid on an upgrade to the economy-plus section.
I had never bid for a flight upgrade before, but the idea piqued my interest since the overnight flight was over 10 hours long.
Upgraded economy seats on this route typically cost between $500 and $1,500 more than standard seats, but for this flight, the minimum bid was $210. This seemed like a great deal, so I went slightly higher at $221.
Though I didn’t expect my low bid to be accepted, I received an email the day before my flight stating that it had been successful.
Here’s what my upgraded flight was like.
The upgrade made the boarding process smoother
As a passenger seated in the economy-plus section, I got access to priority boarding, which was helpful since I prefer to travel with just a carry-on.
This meant there was plenty of room for my suitcase in the cabin, and I didn’t have to check it. It was also nice to be able to have additional time to get settled before the long flight.
My upgraded seat was super comfortable
When I arrived at my seat, I found a pillow, blanket, and an amenity kit that included a toothbrush and toothpaste, an eye mask, and earplugs.
These were nice touches that made the long flight more comfortable.
I also immediately noticed that the seats in the upgraded economy section were slightly wider than those in standard economy, and had a footrest.
Each seat also had a pair of dedicated armrests, so I didn’t have to worry about sharing with my neighbor.
My favorite part about the extra space, however, was that I could comfortably use my laptop, even when the person in front of me reclined their seat.
Later in the flight, I even dozed off for a few hours, which I’m not typically able to do in standard economy due to a lack of space. This allowed me to arrive in Copenhagen rested and ready to explore.
I also enjoyed my meal
Another perk of my upgrade was that I was given a three-course meal with real silverware.
I was offered my choice of two dinner options, each of which came with an appetizer, warm roll, cheese, and dessert.
I ordered the chicken entrée, which included potatoes and mixed veggies, and had two glasses of white wine. I also enjoyed a piece of white cake with a whipped-cream frosting for dessert.
For an airplane meal, I was happy with the quality of the food, though I wasn’t thrilled with the cold chicken and corn appetizer. However, that was more of a matter of personal preference.
Overall, I thought the upgrade was worth the money
Though I wouldn’t pay full price to purchase the economy-plus seat when booking, I’d definitely bid on an upgrade again.
I really enjoyed having extra space to relax and get some work done during the flight, and I thought the food was pretty decent for an airplane meal.
The only thing I wish the upgrade came with was free Wifi. However, I purchased it for $16 and was impressed with how well it worked for the entirety of the flight.
Overall, I thought $221 was a reasonable price to pay for a more comfortable experience.
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