Is That Upgrade Worth It?

BY JUNO D E MELO

THE SPEND Extra Legroom on a Flight

IS IT WORTH IT? Sometimes!

HERE’S WHY: The person in front of you reclines their seat, and it seems like their head is mere millimeters from your face. The “pitch” (airline speak for the distance from one seatback to the next) in economy is around 29 to 32 inches before reclining. (To find out the pitch before your next trip, enter your flight number on seatguru.com, or check with the airline.) Booking a spot in premium economy, tucked between business and coach, may score you some extra inches, which generally translates to more legroom too, says Scott Keyes, founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights, a deal-hunting service. “On some flights, you could probably get a roomier seat with at least three extra inches for under $100 each way,” he says. You’re also closer to the front of the plane, meaning earlier debarking.

Before springing for premium, consider the length of your flight (it’s easier to suffer on a shuttle than a cross-country red-eye), your size (the leggier you are, the tighter that economy seat will feel), and whether you think the price is reasonable. If extra legroom is a must, book a premium economy seat when you buy your ticket, Keyes says. If you’re willing to risk it, try to upgrade the week before your flight, when prices might be lower. Option C? “If your seat was very inexpensive, one of the shrewdest tactics is to book the seat next to you,” Keyes says. Hello, Spread Out City!