The soaring cost of jet fuel has caused many airlines to raise prices, making the cost of your summer trip more expensive than ever. At a time when all of your other costs are going up, too, you might be straining to make your usual travel plans fit your budget.
Instead of cancelling their summer vacation plans altogether, travelers are trying everything to offset or avoid fuel surcharges. That includes things like swapping destinations for one of the cheapest countries to visit, opting for a slight downgrade in hotel to save money or even shortening the overall length of their trip.
If you’re a traveler who’s accustomed to traveling in luxury, some sacrifices might feel like a bridge too far. But downgrading from business to economy or taking advantage of a better point redemption rate by grabbing that awards deal for basic economy tickets is an easy way to lower the cost of your trip without giving up your vacation.
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Whether you’ve never flown economy or it’s your go-to but you’re just tired of the little annoyances that come with it, here are a few things you can do to make the experience feel a little more luxurious.
1. Pack TSA-friendly snacks and hydration boosters
Not only are you unlikely to have many complimentary food or drink choices available in economy, but even the options available for purchase might seem limited compared to business class. But there is a workaround.
The TSA allows travelers to bring solid food items like candy, sandwiches and snacks through security. So pack a few Ziploc bags of your favorite things to munch on instead of limiting yourself to the peanuts or pretzels available for free on board.
You can also bring an empty reusable water bottle through security and fill it at a water station before boarding. To make the experience feel a little more elevated, pack a few electrolyte packets, drink enhancers or flavored hydration mixes to add to your water. Not only can this help you stay hydrated in the dry cabin air, but it also gives you a refreshing beverage without paying airport prices.
Pair your favorite snacks with a customized drink and you’ll have a more enjoyable in-flight experience that feels a little more luxurious, even if you’re flying economy. You’ll hardly miss business class (except for, perhaps, the lie-flat seats).
You can check the full TSA guidelines on food and alcohol on the agency’s website.
2. Make your own amenities kit
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One of the little details that makes flying business class that much more luxurious is the amenities kit that’s often waiting for you on board. Typically filled with lip balm, moisturizer and other skincare and wellness products from high-end brands, these kits add a little bit of self-care to your long haul flight.
You won’t find an amenities kit waiting for you in economy. But you can easily pack your own — and even customize it to your own preferences.
What exactly should you pack? It’s all up to you, but here are a few ideas:
3. Travel pillows and blankets can make for a cushier experience
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There was a time in the not-so-distant past when even those of us in economy would get complimentary pillows and blankets on board. That’s becoming a rarer occurrence now. But that doesn’t mean you have to freeze or debate between using your coat as a pillow or a blanket.
Even if you’re trying to pack light for the trip, you can find some surprisingly compact options to bring a pillow and blanket on your next flight.
- For pillows, look for foldable or packable options like this memory foam pillow from Cushion Lab. It rolls up small enough to fit in your carry-on and then unfurls into a plush, supportive pillow to use on the plane.
- For a cheaper pillow option, go for a traditional neck pillow and either wear it around your neck as you board or loop it around the handle of your carry-on.
- Complete the set with a blanket like this Brookstone travel blanket that comes in a pouch with a luggage strap so it can slide over your carry-on luggage handles without taking up any space inside your bag.
4. Bring noise-cancelling headphones for your own silent retreat
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Whether it’s the baby crying three rows down or the passenger who thinks everyone wants to hear the action movie they’re watching, there are a lot of noises to contend with on an airplane. But you can retreat to your own little happy place by slipping on a good pair of noise-canceling headphones to shut out the sounds around you.
Unlike standard ear plugs, these not only muffle the sound but use technology to actively cancel out the noises in your environment. Connect the headphones to your phone and listen to your favorite relaxation playlist to complete the experience.
5. Get an airline card that comes with priority boarding
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One of the most annoying parts of flying basic economy is that you’ll usually end up having to check your bag at the gate. The service is often free if you do, but for those of us who’ve had our baggage lost three times too many (me) or just don’t like the extra hassle of waiting at baggage claim, it’s not ideal.
One of my favorite workarounds for this is having an airline credit card. Simply by having one of the Delta Skymiles American Express cards, I automatically get zone 5 boarding on Delta flights, even when I’m flying on a basic economy ticket. Since this is the first main economy zone to board the aircraft, there’s always bin space available when I get on.
6. Book the exit row or upgrade to premium economy
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Many airlines charge a bit extra for exit row seats, but not so much that it’ll blow your budget. So if legroom is a priority for you, consider paying a few extra bucks for one of these seats as it will typically come with a little extra legroom.
If exit row seats aren’t available, check out the price for an upgrade to premium economy. Most airlines have begun adding this class to their aircraft. Along with a little extra legroom, the perks also often include an expanded menu of complimentary food and beverages. So you might even be able to skip the DIY cocktails and snacks.
Premium economy tickets are, of course, more expensive than basic economy but they’re still a lot cheaper than business class. So it’s a more reasonable splurge to squeeze into your summer travel budget.
