The Hidden Downside of Upgrading to Business Class

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Earlier this month, I endured an eight-hour flight to Europe on the way over and a nine-hour flight on the way home. And let me tell you, that experience would've been far better had I decided to upgrade to business class.

When you fly business class, you get a much more comfortable seat that can make a long flight more bearable. You also get wined and dined beyond the not-so-great meals your counterparts in economy have to settle for.

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In spite of the benefits of flying business class, I decided not to upgrade on my recent trip. Not only that, but I've never actually flown business class, period. And there's a reason for that.

When you get too used to a good thing

A few years back, I hosted a New Year's Eve party, and a friend of mine who's very knowledgeable about wine brought an expensive bottle to share. I've never thought of myself as a wine snob and usually refuse to spend more than $20 on a bottle. But let me tell you, that $100 bottle my friend brought was good stuff. And while I've yet to treat myself to that brand since, I've been tempted.

Once you get a taste of the good life, whether it's fine wine, an upgraded hotel suite, or a nicer car, it becomes harder to go back. And that's one problem with flying business class. Once you get used to that comfortable seat that lies flat, you might find that you're truly miserable flying economy those times you can't afford the upgrade.

When you spend so much on a flight that there's little money left over for the rest of your trip

The other problem with upgrading to business class? You might spend so much on your flight that you have to skimp on activities or lodging for the rest of your trip.

On my recent trek to Europe, I saved money by not paying for a business class ticket. Because of this, I was able to afford a nicer hotel that was not only comfortable but centrally located, giving me easy access to the sights I wanted to see.

Don't rush to upgrade to business class

If you have credit card points or miles banked, you may be eager to upgrade to business class, and that's totally fine. But if you're looking at paying out of pocket, then you may want to think twice before splurging on a more comfortable flight.

You may want to ask yourself how important it is for you to sleep on the plane. I'll admit that I probably would've benefitted from a business-class ticket on the way to Europe since that might've allowed me to get a bit of sleep and minimize my jet lag. On the way home, though, I specifically did not want to sleep too much on the plane, so my decision to stick to economy made sense.

Ultimately, there's nothing wrong with treating yourself to a business-class ticket if you can swing it. But think through the pros and cons before spending the extra money.

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