I’m 6’2” and upgrading to a seat with 38” legroom vs 31 is 3x or more the cost of economy is crazy expensive. Buying exit seating would be ok but you can’t with the cheap seats. I’ve considered buying an extra seat to stretch out but I’m not sure if it’s even possible on BA? Not sure how that could be done. It would still be less expensive than the extra legroom seat. Or maybe wait until check in, then ask the gate agent to put me in a row with an empty seat next to me maybe? If the flight isn’t full? I’m just trying to be creative. For reference my flight is a flight to France. Leaving DEN it has a stop at LHR with a connection to Nice. Any tall travelers suggestions are appreciated. Thanks much.
Posted by
26 posts
I to am 6’2” but my legs are more like for a person 6”5.” We realized a few years back that we just had to suck up the extra cost and be comfortable, especially for an international flight. So now we fly business and figure that in for our travel expenses. Do we like it, NO, but it is what it is Best of luck in your planning.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
10704 posts
Pay for the extra legroom. It is the difference between pain and pain free. Remember that on a long haul flight it is extremely likely the person in front of you will recline his/her seat. Look at bulkhead seats. Shouldn’t be 3X as expensive.
Posted by
Pennsylvania
485 posts
We’ve often used BA because they have a direct, convenient flight to Europe from our home airport. IMO, the only downside to BA with this flight is that there isn’t any ‘middle ground’ seat that you can get, between standard economy and premium economy. The only option if you didn’t want to pay for PE would be the exit row or bulkhead (some additional $ but not $$$). Be careful choosing because some bulkhead seats have spots with baby bassinets. Not sure if you’d get bumped if a family with a baby wanted that.
With BA you are allocated a seat upon check in., unless you pay for a seat earlier. We’ve had luck checking in as early as possible and switching to a more preferred seat for free (in the same class). So if you want an aisle seat for example.
You might like the Main Cabin Extra seats on American Airlines (often code shared with BA). You get several inches of extra legroom, and to me it’s worth the extra fee ($150 or so, if I remember correctly). Not nearly as expensive as premium economy.
Posted by
Land of La
10388 posts
I see you’ve flown to Europe before. How did you resolved the issue on those flights?
IMHO comfort wins over cost. Why cause yourself discomfort?
Posted by
OP
56 posts
To answer Claudia, on BA I just got up and walked the cabin every two hours. Not my favorite thing. Hoping my flight isn’t full and I can find extra room somewhere. Gate agents might have sympathy.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
3338 posts
Having recently flown British Airways to and from Europe in business class, if you’re expecting a date agents to have sympathy, you’re probably on the wrong airline
But seriously, the truth is agents very rarely have sympathy anymore and would you if you had this job? . At least once a day someone comes up to them and does the don’t you know who I am at I’m the most important passenger the airline has ever had I should get upgraded. Or what do you mean this is 4 carry on. Don’t you see my special exception because you know who I am
I’ve been at the airport and heard people announcing that they’re golf buddies with the CEO of Delta. Yeah, right they got some coach seat basic economy and now they’re trying to act like they play golf with the CEO of Delta, not likely
Sadly, airline passengers have become rude and then there’s the I watch TikTok and got some scam idea passengers . And the combination has just led a lot of agents to be incredibly defensive and I can’t blame them. On one of my most recent flights there was a man at the counter complaining that he was stuck in the middle seat. He turned out to be stuck in the middle seat next to me. He asked me if I wanted to trade to sit next to my husband in the window seat. I looked at that man in the window seat and said I’ve never met him in my life, I don’t want to trade. My seatmate acted put out but shut up. During the flight I hear him talking to the man in the window seat and it turns out that he saw on TikTok that if you booked the center seat, you would get the whole r row to yourself because no one else will book the other seats. This TikTok, genius said at worst you would have to trade with a couple that took the window and the aisle and he believed that line he flew Atlanta to Los Angeles in the center seat, even though he was paying for fairly expensive ticket and when he explained all that to the agent, they didn’t care (i can’t imagine why. )
Your other proble
Posted by
478 posts
I am 5’11” and always book a bulkhead for flight where a Economy Plus level set with at least 33” is not zavailable. Usually, the cost for either option is $250 to $300 each way but guarantees I can walk off the plane.