Whether it comes from the ticket, status or a credit card, what’s the one perk you value most when flying? Lounge access, an upgrade, extra legroom, seat selection, priority boarding, free checked bags, or something else completely?
Personally, it depends. Decent business class on a flight over 7 hours, I’ll take the upgrade. Domestic recliner seat or a decent lounge (capital one, chase, skyclub), I’ll take the lounge. If the lounge is a rather sad Priority Pass affair, I’ll happily buy my own pretzels and take any upgrade, even if it’s on a regional jet.
On a side note, as someone who’s very particular about where they sit (time of day, length of flight), I actually place more value than I realize on free seat selection
Curious what everyone would choose if they could only keep one.
Interesting question...the obvious answer is the upgrade to F. Crossing that off the list, I would say:
- Priority boarding: so I don't stress about getting my carry-on onboard.
- Extra legroom: room to stretch the legs and free booze (if you're flying AA, AS, or DL at least).
- Lounge access: I've gotten used to having it, but if I don't, I'd probably be testing airport theory more often.
Seat selection isn't something I think about most of the time, since most US airlines include it with a non-basic ticket.
If we're narrowly defining "perk" I'd go with the 'premium' lounge access via oneworld Emerald. Whether its JFK, LHR, HKG, DOH, or elsewhere, that specific alliance and higher tier of status affords passengers more access to more of the standout lounges around the world. Having a refreshing shower before or after a long-haul flight, a decent meal, great coffee/tea, etc. That starts/ends the journey right.
If we're broadly defining "perk" I'd say anytime you can get lie-flat, either because of using points to secure those seats more affordably, or using a specific benefit like Delta's RUC/GUC, United's PlusPoints, American's Systemwide Upgrades, or jetBlue's Move to Mint, if confirmed in-advance (that said, I've grown quite tired of dying on the Waitlists, so, better be confirmed!)
Relatedly, I used to never be able to sleep on planes... probably because I was mostly flying in Economy. I'd usually just caffeinate and try to catch up on as many movies as possible. The 15+ hour flights across the Pacific are especially brutal. Following the pandemic, there were real deals in business class (specifically, 2021-2022); like, think, half-price, ~$2,500 from N. America to Asia/Africa, so I started paying cash for some of those, and using points for other routes, seeking those lie-flat seats, whenever I could find it at a good rate. Miraculously, I could finally sleep on those flights. Huh. Wonder why...
That’s pretty much where I land. A good lounge experience improves almost every trip, whereas lie flat seats really start to win once the flight gets long enough that sleep matters. Seven hours or so seems to be roughly where my priorities shift from the lounge to the seat.
I'd keep reliable lounge access, but mainly for the consistency: a quiet place to work, use a real restroom, and get through an irregular operation without camping at the gate. The value varies hugely by airport, though—if most of my trips started at airports with mediocre lounges, I'd probably choose extra legroom instead.
Lounge access....full stop..
@isaacc this.
I generally fly economy short-haul, business long-haul, so having lounge access via status is important to me when flying short-haul.
I guess I might feel differently if I was US-based, where status often doesn't entitle one to lounge access when flying short-haul.
Beyond this, some airlines have attractive perks for their higher tier customers (OWE or equivalent), e.g. upgrade vouchers, but the utility of those is obviously highly dependent on availability.
@mickyb So this made me realize how much more I value these perks when flying economy, which I often do when flying domestically. I fly a lot for work, and company policy is economy class for anything domestic, Mexico, and Canada. While they don't book basic, free bag and lounge access means more to me than when I'm upgraded. (Although lounge access remains the same). When I fly internationally, most of these perks come with the ticket.
When flying, the ability to pick any seat I want if flying Y, including extra leg room seats. I don't care for lounges for the most part, since they tend to be overcrowded glorified waiting rooms with terrible food, with some exceptions (mostly some F lounges via OWE).
Otherwise, the other non flying perk I value most is access to expanded J saver award availability, particularly for Flying Blue since I fly Air France the most (that's the one best value point of Platinum). It's also nice to have access to expanded inventory on United although it is via credit card for me.
@clem United has really stepped it up recently on the discounts for credit card members and Premier bonuses (like finding 75% off on some premium routes, including transcon, TATL, is huge.) Of course, there could always be better availability, but there's a new sweet spot there, now, where there wasn't as much before.
I’m increasingly coming around to seat selection as one of the most underrated perks. The expanded saver availability is a good one too, and I hadn’t really considered benefits that happen before you even book the ticket.
Am I the only one that thinks getting a free checked bag (or two) is the airline perk that I would keep? While we fly a lot, it usually in economy on points, paying with cash for the extra comfort upgrade. And we ALWAYS check a bag each. The money we save on not having to pay for checked bags can really add up. Of course, if I book premium economy or business class on points, the free checked bag becomes less of an issue, but looking back on our flights the past year, the free checked bag is the one perk I want to keep.
@walester If I recall correctly, in the past, you mentioned on here that you're based in Hawaii? If so, I can definitely appreciate how you might be checking more bags on your travels (like, I know some folks who do a lot of shopping, bringing back items from the mainland, etc.) That said, some of us are strictly carry-on-only travelers, so just different priorities. But, if I had to check a bag (or multiple) each time, I'd definitely want that additional checked baggage allowance. Many of the elites get not one 1 or 2 but sometimes 3 complimentary checked bags and also each up from the typical 50 lbs to like 70 lbs a piece. That is very generous, especially if you actually use it.
@1990_ I almost always travel with a checked bag. On AU domestic flights one is included on all QF and all but 'Lite' VA tickets. On QF gold and platinum you have an extra included bag, but I almost never take a second one, but AFAIK no credit cards offer a baggage allowance. I value the free baggage allowance status gives me when I'm travelling domestically in the US, so I don't have to worry about whether there is an allowance when I'm booking, but a second or third bar is no added incentive. It's not decisive so isn't 'the one I'd keep', but it is part of the reason for chasing status, but any earned status gets it, not just the more elevated ones.
@mike-c That is a fascinating nuance between the systems (US vs. overseas credit card benefits and status). I'd imagine many travelers going between Oceania and North America are checking bags; however, I've managed with a rolly and backpack (carry-on only), though I was traveling in J, which tends to not weigh the bags (had they, I'd've probably been overweight).
@walester Yes, I'd say free bag is probably the perk I get the most "value" out of having. While I much more prefer lounge access for travel comfort, free bag provides more monetary value than lounge.
I'd be torn between lounge access and fast track. But probably lounge access. Makes all the difference, especially on longer layovers (which I prefer over short connections).
*G with UA due to MM. Better seat selection is probably #1 perk, extra suitcase comes in handy at times, and lounge access on international travel. Early boarding is OK.