What's Happening
11 minutes ago

What's Going On With AMC Entertainment Stock Friday?

benzingabenzinga.com
12 minutes ago

'Oregonians Have High Standards When It Comes To Their Weed' Says Mike Tyson, As Products Launch Throughout State

benzingabenzinga.com
16 minutes ago

P/E Ratio Insights for DocuSign

benzingabenzinga.com
16 minutes ago

Economists Warn: Trump's Tariffs On Canada, Mexico And China Could Hurt Your Budget More Than Help It

benzingabenzinga.com
21 minutes ago

Why Petco Stock Is Skyrocketing Today

foolfool.com
23 minutes ago

Illinois Cannabis Sales Back On Track In October Hitting $142.3M After Slight September Dip

benzingabenzinga.com
25 minutes ago

Shaped By Kevin Miles' Legacy At Zoës Kitchen, This Mediterranean Restaurant Chain Is Rising Fast As A Chipotle Killer: What's Making It Tick?

benzingabenzinga.com
27 minutes ago

What's Going With Lululemon Shares Friday?

benzingabenzinga.com
28 minutes ago

SoundHound AI Stock Up 564% YTD: Can Bullish Streak Keep Playing?

benzingabenzinga.com
29 minutes ago

Why Dollar General Stock Popped 4.5% Friday Morning

foolfool.com
30 minutes ago

Key Takeaways From IDEX Analyst Ratings

benzingabenzinga.com
30 minutes ago

Where QuinStreet Stands With Analysts

benzingabenzinga.com
30 minutes ago

Analyst Scoreboard: 15 Ratings For Datadog

benzingabenzinga.com
30 minutes ago

Critical Insights From Bloom Energy Analyst Ratings: What You Need To Know

benzingabenzinga.com
31 minutes ago

Evaluating ONE Gas: Insights From 5 Financial Analysts

benzingabenzinga.com
31 minutes ago

VersaBank's Earnings: A Preview

benzingabenzinga.com
31 minutes ago

Examining the Future: VersaBank's Earnings Outlook

benzingabenzinga.com
31 minutes ago

What's Going On With Super Micro Computer (SMCI) Stock?

benzingabenzinga.com
31 minutes ago

A Closer Look at 8 Analyst Recommendations For Fastenal

benzingabenzinga.com
31 minutes ago

EXCLUSIVE: Bitcoin Briefly Tops $100,000, But Where Do Benzinga Readers Predict It Will Finish 2024?

benzingabenzinga.com

Is Upgrading to Business Class Worth It? Here’s How to Decide

Airplane passenger flying business class

Image source: Getty Images

Travel can be exciting, but getting to your destination isn’t always fun, especially if you’re flying. Dealing with busy airports, long layovers, and cramped plane seats is not ideal.

You may wonder if upgrading your airfare to business class is worthwhile for some trips. Not having to sit in economy could improve your entire travel experience. Still deciding whether to spring for a seat upgrade? Here are some considerations to help you decide whether a business-class flight upgrade is worth the money.

Consider the route, departure and arrival times, and flight length

Before spending money on an airfare upgrade, you should review the flight’s details.

I’ll likely never upgrade my ticket for a flight that is four hours or less. Why? I can deal with some slight discomfort for a few hours if it will save me hundreds or thousands of dollars.

But if I’m taking a long-haul flight overnight and will arrive early the next morning, I may consider an upgrade so I can arrive at my destination more rested and relaxed.

Consider these factors when determining whether you should spend more money on an upgrade. In some situations, it may be worthwhile. But you don’t want to spend a lot of money on an upgrade only to regret it because it didn’t improve your trip experience much.

Want to earn travel rewards? It’s easy to get rewarded with the right travel rewards credit card. Click here to review our curated list of top travel credit cards with big rewards.

Consider the amenities provided and your travel preferences

Not all seat or ticket upgrades are created equal. You may get fewer perks when upgrading with one airline over another. Depending on what in-flight and airport amenities you value, it may be worthwhile to upgrade your existing ticket.

If you’re upgrading to business or first class, the amenities may be more plentiful. You might decide to upgrade to get a lie-flat seat so you can rest and be more comfortable. There may be better entertainment and food options. You might qualify for free airport lounge access before your flight.

Before swiping your credit card, be sure to research what is included with an upgrade. This way, you can decide if you’ll get value from and truly appreciate the upgrade opportunity.

Related: Find out why this Chase card tops our best travel cards list.

Do the math to see if the added cost makes sense

Not all upgrades are a good deal. But if you’re considering investing in a better seat for an upcoming flight, do the math to see if it makes sense. Ask yourself if the perks match the additional cost. If it’s an affordable upgrade, it may be worthwhile.

Most importantly, always keep your finances in mind. The last thing you want to do is rack up expensive credit card debt because you charged your card for a flight upgrade that was beyond your financial means. Only spend what you can afford.

Here’s how to upgrade your flight

Here are a few ways to upgrade to business class:

Pay with cash through in-app upgrade offers: Many airlines have in-app upgrade offers. If you like an offer and want to upgrade your ticket, you can accept an offer and pay with a credit card. I’ve done this several times before when the price felt fair.

Use miles: You may be able to upgrade your ticket using miles. Before doing this, check to see if it’s a good use of your miles or if saving them for another redemption is a better choice.

Bid on an upgrade: Some airlines allow you to bid on an upgrade. You decide how much you’d be willing to pay. The airline will upgrade your ticket before takeoff if your offer is accepted.

No matter what — before spending money or miles on an upgrade, carefully consider whether it’s a good choice for you. If an upgrade will increase comfort, you value the perks provided, and is a good price, it may be worthwhile.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Related Posts

Image source: Getty Images Buying a home means making a lot of financial decisions, often all at once, without having time to really consider them.

Image source: Getty Images The dreaded credit score. Unfortunately, Americans need to pay attention to their credit scores if they want to be financially healthy.

Image source: Getty Images If you have credit card debt you’re struggling to pay off, chances are you’re tired of seeing those interest charges month

Image source: The Motley Fool/Upsplash Using credit cards is one of the easiest ways to build a credit score, but it’s not the only way.