3 Reasons I've Sworn Off Flying Economy

When I was younger, I always flew economy. Like a lot of travelers, I was on a tight budget, and I didn't want to spend more than necessary on airfare. The only exception was when there was a cheap, last-minute upgrade to first class available.

Nowadays, my travel style has done a 180. I pretty much never fly economy, and I book a business- or first-class seat whenever I can. If you're wondering whether booking more expensive airfare is worth it, here are my reasons for doing so, and how you can save money on an upgrade.

1. I have enough travel rewards for a better seat

I started using travel rewards cards years ago, and they've made the biggest impact on how I travel. I pay for all my bills and everyday expenses with my travel cards so I can earn points on them. When I need to book a flight, I transfer my points to an airline, and then use those points to pay for my airfare.

This has made it much more affordable to book a better seat. Business class and first class can cost $750 to $1,000 or more for domestic flights, and potentially several times that for international flights. But these seats are also frequently available for 40,000 to 75,000 miles, plus taxes and fees.

It took me some time to learn how to maximize travel rewards, as well as how to use them to book the trips I want. If you don't mind a bit of a learning curve, this is a great way to book expensive airfare nearly for free.

2. Travel is one of my spending priorities

It's almost always more expensive to fly in business class and first class. If you're paying with travel points, it costs more points than economy would. The same is true when paying in cash.

I'm fine with that. Travel is important to me, and it's one of the places where I'm happy to spend more money for a better experience. I've also prioritized it by setting aside money in a savings account specifically for travel. Since I have a travel fund, I don't feel the need to book the cheapest airfare.

If you'd like to have more to spend on airfare, or on travel in general, creating a travel fund is a good idea. You could set up a savings account, or a sub-savings account, specifically for travel. Then, transfer some money to it every month.

3. I don't want to be uncomfortable when I travel

I enjoy the first-class experience. Some people don't care about all the bells and whistles, but I like the better service, the free drinks, and how it feels a little more luxurious.

But the difference in comfort is the main reason I don't fly economy anymore. There's no debating that economy seats are less comfortable than premium economy, business class, and first class. They have much less space, and since I'm tall, an economy seat feels cramped. Having barely any room to move isn't how I want to spend an hour, much less five or more.

I like having plenty of room to stretch out, and I love flying in a lie-flat seat. If you're not comfortable in economy, then it's worth looking for ways to book a bigger seat.

How to get a better seat for less

I realize that lots of travelers would fly in business class or first class if they could afford it. Here are a few ways to get these seats at a lower cost:

• Pay with travel rewards instead of cash. As I mentioned earlier, getting credit cards that earn travel rewards was a game-changer for me. With many of these cards, the sign-up bonus alone is enough to cover a first-class seat.
• See if you can upgrade an economy seat. This isn't always an option, but when it is, it's usually much more affordable than buying a first-class ticket outright would've been. Start checking your reservation about a week before your flight, and keep an eye on your email to see if any upgrades are available.
• Shop around using low-fare calendars. You can often find much lower flight prices just by adjusting your travel dates by a day or two.

There's nothing wrong with flying economy. It's affordable, and it gets you to your destination just as fast as a first-class ticket. But it can be nice to book a better seat with more legroom, at least on occasion.