10 Little Flight Hacks That Give You A First-Class Experience

Sitting in a first-class seat for a long-haul flight (or, let’s be real, any flight) is the dream. But for most people, it’s not a reality. International first-class flights can cost far more than their economy alternatives, making them more of a luxury rather than a given.

While riding in economy can be a slog, experts say there are things you can do to make your flying experience a little better. If you don’t want to spring for first class but still want a nicer flying experience, we have some tips. Here’s what experts say you should always do for a premium in-flight experience ― no matter your seat number:

Your dream of purchasing a business-class or first-class seat for your upcoming flight might seem out of reach. However, Katy Nastro, a spokesperson and travel expert at Going, suggested doing a little shopping around ― including looking at budget airlines and alternative routes.

“I think a lot of people think of low-cost carriers as being these super thin seats, really terrible experience [where] you have to pay for all these extras. When the term budget or low-cost carrier really refers to their bottom line … they’re trying to find ways to keep their costs down,” she said.

Many airlines offer upgrades on their lower-budget flights, or you might be able to snag a better seat if you take a more inconvenient route (like having a layover versus a nonstop). If that doesn’t bother you, you’re in luck.

By now you’ve probably tried all the hacks to find affordable flights. Unfortunately, booking on a specific day or looking at prices through your browser’s incognito mode aren’t always going to help you get a cheaper ticket, said Hayley Berg, a lead economist at Hopper.

“There isn’t one way, one time, one day, one platform that you can book your flight on and get the absolute best price because the pricing system for airfare is so complex, prices are changing constantly,” Berg explained.

It depends on the airport you’re flying out of, how competitive the route you’re taking is, and your travel dates, she noted. “All of that influences prices a lot more than something like the day of the week that you’re buying,” Berg said.

Instead? “My first recommendation for travelers is outsource: Use a price monitoring tool that essentially has a listening ear and is going to be monitoring every minute, every second, what the price is for your specific route and will notify you when that price changes,” she said. Google Flights and Hopper are two good options to track flight prices.

This way, you’ll be aware if your flight price drops (or increases) so you can book at the best time for your trip.

“One thing I think that people don’t realize they can take advantage of after they book … is if you book a main economy ticket, you can always call the airline if that flight drops again, and get that credit difference provided back to you and then use that for future flights,” Nastro said. “So you’re never losing out — and it’s never just set it and forget it.”

No matter how you book your flight, whether through Google Flights, Skyscanner or the airline carrier, you should keep your flight alerts on after the fact, she said.

“Because you do want to try to get the most bang for your buck, even after you’ve booked, and that’s one way to do so,” Nastro said.

Exit rows are appealing because they offer so much more legroom than the average economy seat. But most airlines now charge extra for this row.

“What we’ve learned is that because the exit row has become so expensive, a lot of people do not book it,” said Stephanie Greer, a travel influencer who specializes in budget travel tips. Greer said she’s found that if you ask the gate agent nicely, they’ll sometimes give you a seat in the exit row for no added cost.

“I’m surprised always that people don’t know this,” Greer said. “The key is to [ask the gate agent] as soon as possible.” So don’t wait until boarding. Instead, ask when your gate opens.

Greer added that she and her husband are very tall, so this may play into them getting the exit row for free, too. Note that this tip may not work for every airline — but it’s worth a try.

Nastro pointed out that airline status likely isn’t going to get you an upgrade, but it may help make your flying experience a little more pleasant, making it important to sign up for status with each airline that you fly (even if you only fly it on occasion).

“The lowest rung of status on any airline is really going to help you save and give you that even 10% [or] 5% better experience … like not having to pay for your first checked bag,” Nastro said. This can be a huge savings especially if you’re traveling as a family.

Additionally, status members often are in an earlier boarding group than those who aren’t status, or benefit from having their bag put on the conveyor a little earlier, she noted. While these things may seem small, they add up when you’re rushing to your connecting flight or just jazzed to leave the airport for your vacation.

“You gotta get the right neck pillow,” Greer said. “But the key that I found ― I’ve taken so many long flights and just had the most uncomfortable experience trying to sleep ― you have to get a neck pillow with support under your [chin].”

Greer recommends two pillows from Amazon that go “all the way under your chin so your head doesn’t bob forward.”

According to Nastro, it’s important to invest in a good pair of earplugs so you can “really zone out your senses.”

While you can find highly rated earplugs online, Nastro particularly recommends earplugs that are actually molded to your ear. While they can be costly, she said they’re worth it (and often cost less than noise-canceling headphones). An audiologist can help you figure out how to get these custom-fit earplugs.

It may sound silly, but a foot rest hammock can make a major difference for your comfort when flying economy, Greer said.

It works exactly like it sounds — all you do is hang it from your tray table or the seat in front of you and put your feet up. You can buy them online at stores like Amazon.

Greer said it can help take the pressure off your lower back. She added that her shorter friends whose feet don’t quite touch the airplane floor benefit from this a lot.

Greer said an eye mask is an important item to get as well if you want to be more comfortable in your economy seat.

Specifically, Nastro said she likes to wear eye masks that have little divots for your eyes to flutter while you sleep; they can be purchased for $10 to $15 on Amazon. “They really can be a game changer,” Nastro said.

“This is one that I’ve done for so long that I just think is so easy to do, but super helpful,” Greer explained. Pack a small bag or even small packing cube within your carry-on that’s full of all of the essentials for your flight.

This can include anything you know you’ll want, such as your headphones, book, eye mask and hand sanitizer. This way, when you get on the plane, you can take this small bag out of your carry-on so you have easy access to all of your essentials.

“All the time I’m on these long flights, I see people who have all of this stuff under the seat in front of them, but it’s like they’re just going in to grab a couple things here and there … if you have a tiny little go-bag to pull out of your main carry-on and just put your main carry-on up above you, then that can be really helpful to make more legroom,” Greer added.

While you’re at it, be sure to have your phone and charger in your bag of essentials so you aren’t left with a dead phone after hours of travel, Berg said — because that is a recipe for disaster that no one wants to deal with on a long travel day.