3 Times You Should Absolutely Upgrade to Business Class

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There's a world of difference between flying business class and sticking to economy. Business-class seats are spacious and often recline, whereas, in economy, you might end up with knee bruises before your flight is over. While you can expect to be wined and dined in business class, in economy, be thankful if you're offered a cup of water.

But there's also a huge cost difference between business class and economy. And unless you have miles or credit card points to cash in, you may not be able to easily swing an upgraded ticket.

It's important to be judicious about upgrading to business class. But in these situations, it could pay off.

1. You're taking an overnight flight to a different time zone

It's one thing to force yourself into an economy seat for a three-hour flight that takes you from one state to another. But it's another thing to get stuck in economy on an overnight flight from the U.S. to somewhere like Europe.

When you're crossing time zones, getting some sleep during your flight could be crucial to minimizing jet lag. If you're flying for many hours overnight, consider a business-class seat. Often, these seats recline to mimic standard beds so you can get some shuteye.

2. You're flying for a special occasion

If you live in New York and fly to Colorado three times a year to see your siblings or parents, you probably don't want to be splurging for business class every time (unless, of course, you have a lot of savings to tap). But if you're flying from New York to Hawaii on your honeymoon, that's a different story.

A milestone trip like that is a truly special occasion. You don't want to start it off with a cramped flight that leaves you sore and uncomfortable.

3. You're flying solo and don't want to risk getting stuck with an undesirable seatmate

If you're flying with a friend or partner and you book your tickets together, you can potentially avoid having to sit next to a stranger on a flight. But when you're solo in economy, you're going to be seated next to someone. And that someone may not be the optimal person to share a six-hour experience with.

All it takes is an overly chatty or inconsiderate seatmate to make an already unpleasant flight in economy even worse. And you never know if you might end up getting thrust into the role of unwanted babysitter for parents who are separated from their children due to a variety of circumstances. (It's not always a refusal to pay more to book seats together. Delays and cancellations can leave parents seated separately from their offspring.)

If you're traveling on your own, you may want to spring for business class to avoid all of these problems. This way, you're guaranteed a certain amount of space from the closest passenger nearby.

Although business class can be expensive, sometimes, it's worth it. The good news is that you don't always have to pay for those tickets in full. If you bank enough air miles or travel rewards points, you can upgrade your way to business class without having to dip too heavily into your own cash reserves.

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