Growing up I used to fly coach all the time. I never imagined I’d fly anything else. I never heard of an upgrade, and couldn’t imagine either being in a position to pay for anything else – or being willing to spend so much money just for comfort during the flight. “You’re both getting there at the same time!” I flew cross-country and across oceans often.
Taking an American Airlines DC-10 to Sydney via Honolulu wasn’t bad at all when the plane was empty and I could snag a middle row of coach to myself. It wasn’t great flying a completely packed plane. I still remember watching John Goodman star as King Ralph on loop and being unable to escape it all the way to Honolulu.
Once I learned about upgrades (about 30 years ago) I started doing everything I could to avoid coach. When I was just a premier (now ‘silver’) on United, I would go out of my way to pick larger aircraft with more premium seats, and even pick my travel dates and times, to maximize chances of an upgrade. I’d fly a Boeing 777 at noon on Wednesday via Denver if I had to, instead of a non-stop to the West Coast, but fortunately back then United flew even Boeing 747s that were can’t miss for the upgrade.
Upgrades aren’t as easy as they once were. Airlines have gone from selling just about 10% of their first class seats on domestic flights, to monetizing the vast majority of them for some amount even if it’s just a ‘tens of dollars’ cash buy up. I’m willing to play the discounted cash game now, too.
However I’m also willing to fly coach, and one thing about my life has changed to make it much more comfortable. I lost a lot of weight. Before the pandemic my view was that it wasn’t just the legroom that’s an issue, but the seat width too. I was just a lot wider!
In 2020 I wasn’t traveling as much, so I was eating better and had a healthier routine. I dropped 20 pounds that year. Since then, though, I’ve dropped another 60 pounds. And that’s made all the difference. Several of you commented on the difference when I shared photos from SMU’s Texas Economic Forum.
Give me an exit row and decent seat padding, and I don’t mind coach at all. However, there are two caveats. I need decent seat padding, and extra legroom.
- Standard coach seats at 31 inches from seat back to seat back doesn’t work for me, because I need to comfortably open my laptop and work on the flight. For me, high speed inflight wifi is for being productive, not just doom scrolling social media.
- And if I have to sit in United Airlines coach with their hard 1-ply seats, I’m going to have a back ache. Southwest’s latest generation seats aren’t better. Airlines tried to mask how much legroom they were taking away – squeezing seats closer together – by also taking away seat padding. That way they ‘got back’ half an inch of space, at the cost to your bum and back. I need a decently-padded seat.
The ergonomics of a seat, which isn’t just seat padding but that’s an important part, make enough of a difference that I’d rather fly coach on a Qantas Airbus A380 than premium economy on an American Airlines Boeing 787.
The American Airlines premium economy seat is basically a domestic first class seat, with a seat back screen and an unusable foot bar (bulkhead seats have a foot rest). I found premium economy on the 787 to be uncomfortable just flying Los Angeles to Dallas.
In contract, Qantas with a decent 34 inch pitch and soft seat just isn’t horrible for a long flight. And while I’ve never found Qantas crew to rival those of the better Asian carriers, I’ve always felt well checked-on during flight with frequent passes of snacks and water.
I shared recently my second child so maybe I’m doing a bit of oversharing here. But my perspective on traveling is heavily influenced by my experience traveling so the things that shape that experience matter and feel like something I ought to disclose.
I absolutely still want to fly in premium cabins! I love international first class. I don’t want to do long haul in less than business. But it bothers me a lot less that I may wind up stuck in back on more domestic flights than this used to happen.
You look like a new man! And congratulations on the latest addition to your family!
Congrats on the weight loss. Makes a huge difference not just in travel but, more importantly, your overall quality of life.
So you used to be one of those people I worried about sitting next to me lol…..
Glad you’re healthier now. Of course always the downside of that if you gotta go out and get new clothes lol. View From the Waist!
Congratulations! Yes, we need padding on one side of the pants or the other.
This is such a sweet update. Well done, Gary. Keep up the great work!
Way to go, Gary. Congratulations!
I am on the same trajectory…not there yet…need to shed another 15 lbs. But yes, it did cross my mind that Economy might not be all that bad. Depends, as you say,in the seat padding leg room. Less. Crowded plane would be nice, too, but let’s get real….
Some airplane seats just don’t have enough padding to sit comfortably in. One suggestion a while ago was to get a small zip closed pillowcase and put a change of clothes in it for a cushion. I have done that and it works quite well.
I try to avoid coach and have no issue with paying for upgrades. I don’t expect a business to constantly give away their product for free. With Americans getting bigger and bigger it’s not legroom but being squeezed by someone’s girth. I’ve gotten too old to be rubbing up against a stranger and luckily can afford cash upgrades.
When I started flying heavily in the mid 90s empty middle seats were pretty common and even having an empty row. The days are long gone.
Congrats on the weight loss! That’s a huge accomplishment. As someone who lost 50 pounds, it truly is lifechanging.
Congrats again!
@JorgeGeorge Paez – I wasn’t *that* big, even if I was bigger than I should have been 🙂
I used to fly Continental (& later United) 777 regularly between 2008 & 2016. The economy seats were “3 x 3 x 3.” I am stunned that both United and American are now “3 x 4 x 3” on the 777.
Indeed, good job – taking weight off with a busy trave schedule is difficult.
About two years ago, I had my own reckoning and went full keto – 100 pounds off in 10 months. Keto foods are simply more sating and for me ketosis further suppressed apetite. Turns out that what my doctors had been saying about prediabetes, high blood pressure and apnea was correct all along.
@jfhscott – my wife tells me i no longer snore!
Congratulations on a healthier lifestyle, and keep the discipline to do what you can to try to maximize the quantity and quality of life with your family and the miles and points universe.
@Disgruntled American, I don’t fly B777s with 3-4-3, either. It is basically a non-starter for buying a ticket.
I’m built for modern coach. I’ve turned down exit row seats, because I don’t need the legroom. Let someone tall have it, I figure. Plus, I’m less likely to have an empty seat next to me in an exit row (though I know I wont get an animal there either). My reason for buying extra legroom seats is so the guy behind me is less likely to stick his knees in my back. The best domestically are last row F with a divider behind me: no knee gring and no complaining about my recline.
I was still glying Y or Y+ whent 777s started to be changed from 3-3-3 to 3-4-3. Besides the loss of an inch or so of width, the middle section had 4 supports, making 3 unique underseat storage areas for 4 people. Where do I put my luggage and/or feet? Last time was AF. I had an aisle in the “4” section with quite obese grandma next to me, then 8 yo granddaughter, then normal size mom. Why couldn’t they see that me-mom-gkid-gmom was the fair way to do it?
Sorry don’t know your back story. Why are you flying so much? Just to write about flying around? Or are you flying for business and just happen to write about it as well? Burning a lot of wasted fuel for nonsense it seems. Hope everyone does not do this. Planet will burst into flames.. But no laws against excessive waste so have at it i guess.
@Doug P – since you don’t know my backstory maybe don’t assume it? 🙂 I’ve been a business traveler since 1996. As a kid, I grew up as a frequent ‘VFR’ traveler, since my parents lived on opposite coasts. (I have family abroad that I’m close to as well.)
Here’s my response, by the way, when the U.K.’s Independent said I was actually personally at fault for the world’s climate crisis https://viewfromthewing.com/uk-media-says-i-am-to-blame-for-the-climate-crisis-what-the-actual/