premium

HAVING racked up nearly 60 countries in just a couple of decades, it’s fair to say I’ve been on a LOT of flights.

But at the same time, I’ve been cursed with the double whammy of being unable to sleep on public transport, and old knee injuries that swell up on planes. Not ideal for a Travel Editor.

So when it comes to choosing a seat on a plane, I think I’ve got it down to a fine art.

(Sadly the days of constantly flying business class everywhere are over).

When faced with spending 11 hours in economy, there is actually a great seat that I found I slept better in, even compared to premium economy.

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But my favourite seat is the one behind the bulkhead row on either the left or the right side of the plane.

Some of the bulkhead rows only have two seats on either side of the centre, due to the layout of the aircraft door.

That means the seat behind these by the window has a crazy amount of legroom, but is more tucked away than the bulkhead.

Bulkhead seats, while often the best for legroom in economy, also come with the downside of lots of passenger traffic of people using the toilet or stretching their legs.

But this tucked away seat is a gem when it comes to economy.

In fact, I think it can be even better than premium economy, especially when you factor in the price.

I paid around £65 to pick this seat, whereas Premium Economy seats can be hundreds of pounds more expensive.

Not only that, but a lot of Premium Economy seats have built in arm rests you can’t lift.

If I lucked out with no one next to me on this seat, I could even lift the arm rests and have a double set to myself.

As a non-sleeper, I managed to get about five hours on and off of sleep, something unheard of for me normally on planes.

Not all planes will have this seat, so if it doesn’t I still recommend paying for the bulkhead seat if they are still available.

Here’s a plane hack you should NEVER try for better seats – unless you want to annoy other passengers.

WHEN it comes to flying to the States, a major airline has unveiled a huge new revamp of their planes – and it’s making it much comfier to fly long-haul.

Having flown to and from America several times over the past five years to visit family, I quickly found a love for United Airlines‘.

Follow The Sun’s award-winning travel team on Instagram and Tiktok for top holiday tips and inspiration @thesuntravel.

The airline recently announced they were launching a brand new ‘Elevated’ cabin on their 787-9 Dreamliner between San Francisco and London Heathrow, upgrading every single class from economy to business.

This includes the rollout of the first ever new business class United Polaris Studio suites, which have more spacious seats, larger screens and Bluetooth connectivity.

I, however, was trying out United’s new Premium Plus Economy seat which they say has “elements normally reserved for business class customers” – a welcome sight when leaving gloomy London.

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There’s a total of 35 United Premium Plus seats arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration in the new cabin design, each with privacy dividers and a built-in reading light – both firsts for United Premium Plus seats.

And in all honesty, the seats felt closer to business class than economy and even better than some business class seats I’ve experienced on other airlines.

I opted for the very first row with enough room that when stretching out my legs straight, they still didn’t hit the wall in front of me.

Plonking myself down in my aisle seat – which actually felt more like an armchair – I was immediately impressed by how comfortable it was.

And then when it came to checking out the generous 40.6cm 4K OLED screen, I was excited to snuggle down and watch one of the latest film releases.

Pressing play on Wuthering Heights, I connected my Airpods to the Bluetooth to listen in to the film and placed my phone on the quartzite cocktail table between my seat and the next seat to connect it to the wireless charging.

As for the amenities, a small ‘United 100’ pouch to celebrate the airline’s centenary was on my seat featuring branded socks, an eye mask and some Vitamin C Perricone MD products.

Also on my seat was a Saks Fifth Avenue pillow and blanket, which added to my cinema experience when Wuthering Heights started to play.

When it comes to space, passengers get 96.5cm pitch and 50.8cm width, and then 15cm of recline – which while not much felt spacious enough and with the new privacy screen acting as a good headrest, I was more than comfortable.

Power outlets and bottle holders are located between the seats for added convenience too.

Located on one armrest is also a remote for the TV and a small cubbyhole where you’ll find your overhead earphones.

Of course, you can now also get Starlink Wi-Fi on United flights – even if it is just for messaging – which I have to admit was super speedy.

Another thing I love about United is that you are always fed well,

My first meal consisted of an artichoke salad and bread for starter, with roast chicken for my main and chocolate truffles for dessert.

Mid-flight, I then enjoyed a chicken burrito and before landing, tucked into another salad and a paneer curry.

In between these courses, the cabin crew were great at always ensuring I had enough water or a drink of my choosing – whether that be alcoholic or non-alcoholic.

United aims to have at least 30 planes with the new Elevated interior flying by the end of 2027.

So if you’re trying to decide which airline to go with on your next trip to the US? I’d recommend United – if you want a business class experience on a premium economy budget.