How to Make Coach Feel Like First Class
Wondering how to make coach feel like first class on your next flight?
These are my top tips for making your flying experience more comfortable!
I’m someone who flies a lot — when I worked in consulting, I was flying twice a week for months on end. As a full-time traveler who spends most of the year abroad, I still log multiple flights per month.
Overall, I enjoy flying. I’ve never paid for a first class ticket, but I’ve been lucky enough to be upgraded to first class seats many times because of my loyalty status with Delta Air Lines. I’ve even been upgraded on international and long-haul cross-country flights where I can enjoy lie-flat seats.
However, I’ve flown coach a lot more than I’ve flown first class.
And with so many flights, I’ve gotten good at emulating the first class experience as best I can, even while flying in coach. Curious about how you can do the same thing on your next flight? Read on for my tips!
1. Get an exit row seat.
Getting an exit row seat is one of the best ways to be more comfortable when flying coach.
These seats offer significantly more legroom (as in, you can fully stretch out your legs in front of you.) Most airlines charge a small fee for these seats, but it’s still way cheaper than a first class ticket.
You can also typically select an exit row seat for free if you hold a certain level of status with an airline’s loyalty program — I know you can do this with Delta, my number one airline of choice!
2. Select your seats in advance.
Even if you can’t snag an exit row seat, you should still select your seats in advance. Most airlines, aside from ultra-budget airlines, will let you do this at no additional cost. And even if you have to pay a little extra for a seat reservation in advance, it’s worth it, especially for flights more than a few hours long.
The last thing you want to do is get stuck in a middle seat!
I highly recommend consulting the website SeatGuru when selecting your seats. You can put in the airline and type of aircraft you’re flying and get a seat map complete with ratings for each seat.
SeatGuru flags undesirable seats (such as seats located right next to the restrooms, seats with limited recline, or particularly noisy seats) so you know which ones to avoid and which ones are best.
I also always select a row with the least number of seats. For example, on an aircraft with a 2-4-2 layout in coach, I’d select a seat in one of the two-seat rows on the sides and not the center four-seat row.
3. Pack your own amenities kit.
One of the nice things about flying first class is that you get an amenities kit. While you might get a basic amenities kit in coach on long-haul international flights, it’s not a guarantee.
So I recommend packing your own kit with the following essentials:
- Ear plugs
- Silk eye mask
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Hand sanitizer
- Facial mist spray
- Hand lotion
- Deodorant
Especially on long-haul flights and overnight flights, this will make your flying experience more comfortable. You can arrive at your final destination feeling a bit more refreshed and well-rested.
4. Bring a travel pillow.
Another key to sleeping well on long flights in coach? A travel pillow! Unlike first class, you won’t have seats that lie flat and turn into your own personal sleeping pod. No, you’ll be stuck in an uncomfortable seat that only reclines a few inches if you’re lucky… but a travel pillow can make it more tolerable!
And there are some revolutionary travel pillows out there these days.
For side sleepers, this travel pillow is a lifesaver. I also like this travel pillow which lets you lean forward comfortably and sleep. Or you can opt for a simple travel pillow with neck and chin support.
5. Get a foot sling.
One uncomfortable thing about flying coach is where you can put your legs and feet. Coach seats don’t have any leg rest or foot rest. But sometimes you really want to be able to prop up your feet.
And that’s where a foot sling comes in. This ingenious little item can be configured in several different ways, allowing you to comfortably kick up your feet or support your legs better.
6. Make the most of empty rows.
I’ve gotten really lucky a few times on long flights where I’ve had a whole row to myself. I’ve been able to lie down across two or three seats and actually get really comfortable on my own little bed.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee this. But if a flight is going to have empty rows, it’s typically going to be further towards the back of the aircraft. Once the boarding doors have closed, it’s usually fair game to get up and claim one of these empty rows for yourself — I’ve done this several times too.
Just make sure you time it right and wait until the boarding process is fully complete. Be discreet and quick about it. You can also give a heads-up to a flight attendant about your desire to move if there are any empty seats, and they might come back around to let you know once you’re free to do this.
Note: Several airlines are now letting passengers book a whole row of coach seats for this exact purpose. You’re guaranteed to have the row to yourself, and it’s still much cheaper than a first class seat.
7. Don’t book a seat next to your travel companion.
If you’re flying with someone else, there’s another little trick you can try to get some extra room.
In a row of three, book yourself and your travel companion in the window and aisle seats of an empty row, leaving the middle seat open. Someone is less likely to book the middle seat, giving you and your travel companion a good chance of having an empty seat between you, and providing some extra room.
Depending on how full the flight is, this has a good chance of working.
And if someone does end up in that middle seat, you can just offer to swap seats — anyone would much rather have the window or aisle rather than be stuck in a middle seat between two travel companions.
8. Dress comfortably in layers.
An easy way to make a flight more comfortable is to dress in layers.
Airplanes can often start off being way too hot, and then end up becoming freezing. If you’re on a long flight, especially an overnight flight, you want to make sure you’re a comfortable temperature.
I recommend wearing super comfortable clothing made from stretchy fabrics for flights. And I always make sure I have a big hooded sweatshirt on, because I like putting my hood up when I sleep.
9. Pack a pair of slippers.
One of my favorite little tips for how to make coach feel like first class is to pack a pair of slippers in your carry-on luggage. Ideally just a cheap pair of slippers you’ve picked up from a hotel will do.
Slippers are something you get in first class, and it’s a nice touch. On any flight, I immediately take my shoes off and put slippers on. It’s much more comfortable (and less gross than putting your socks on the dirty airplane floor, especially if you want to get up and walk around without putting your shoes back on.)
10. Bring your own food and drinks.
Depending on which airline you’re flying and how long your flight is, you may or may not get anything to eat or drink. Some ultra-budget airlines only offer snacks and beverages for an extra fee.
On many airlines, you’ll get a snack and a beverage for free, but you won’t get any full meals unless it’s a long-haul flight (even though first class passengers will.) So you should always bring your own!
If it’s a longer flight, you might want to bring some heartier food that’s still easy to eat and not super messy, like a sandwich or wrap. You can also bring some supplemental snacks such as:
- Air-popped popcorn
- Fruit leather
- Dried fruit and nuts
- Cheese sticks
- Protein bars
I also recommend bringing a BIG bottle of water with you — you should be able to get water on the flight, but just in case, it’s good to have your own. Staying hydrated on a flight will make you feel much better.
How to Make Flying Coach More Comfortable
So these are my top tips for how to make flying coach feel like first class!
Okay, it still won’t feel quite like first class… but you will be more comfortable!
Flying in coach can be rough, especially on long-haul flights. But by following these tips, you can make the experience more tolerable without having to spend a ton of money on a first class ticket.
