Tuesday, Jul. 28, 2009

Try Coach-Plus

The line between business class and coach has blurred. Many airlines sell "premium economy" seating, with wider seats and more legroom, with first dibs going to the élite members of their loyalty programs. Also, some airlines, such as Virgin America and Spirit, don't charge much for their upper-class option; just don't expect the champagne and chateaubriand of yore. Other airlines — such as British Airways' spin-off OpenSkies, which flies New York–Paris and New York–Amsterdam — only have business-class seats, but at a fraction of what other airlines charge. And many airlines sell last-minute upgrades, but the catch is that if you check in online, you'll never see them (the upgrades show up only at check-in kiosks or at the check-in desk).