I booked basic economy on JetBlue and got a premium coach seat. I’d only splurge on the $180 upgrade for long flights.

When I booked a six-hour JetBlue flight from NYC to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in basic economy, I didn’t expect to feel pampered.

I’ve flown with this budget airline dozens of times to spend as little as possible on airfare, so I know the drill — get my seat assignment at the gate, and board last.

But this time was different. I was lucky enough to get into the EvenMore section, the airline’s premium economy seating, for no additional cost.

The perks went beyond having a more spacious seat at the front of the cabin. By the time I landed, I was already planning to dish out more cash to experience the upgrade on another long-haul flight.

I booked a basic economy seat for my international JetBlue flight.

Living in Queens, New York, I usually book JetBlue flights since the airline has a hub at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

I booked my basic economy ticket 26 days before my trip for about $300. At this point, I had no idea I’d be getting more than I paid for.

A representative from JetBlue couldn’t provide a ticket price for an EvenMore seat on my flight, so I used Best Fare Finder to look at prices for the same flight a month from now. Basic economy was about the same price, $310, and the EvenMore ticket cost about $490.

I got to the airport at 2:30 p.m. for my 5:48 p.m. flight to Vancouver on a Monday afternoon.

Since traveling internationally, I arrived three hours before my flight. Thanks to TSA PreCheck, I was through security and at my nearby gate 15 minutes later.

I got my seat assignment at the gate and was surprised to find it was toward the front of the aircraft.

Gate attendants spaced out their calls for passengers who needed seat assignments in the hour before boarding. My name was called in the final group, so I had already made peace with the idea of sitting at the back of the plane.

When I looked at the seat number on my boarding pass, my eyes widened — 9A, it read.

“Wow, that’s on the front end,” I thought. I’d seen JetBlue’s premium economy seating many times on my way to my seat on past flights, and I wondered if nine was a low enough number to be my golden ticket to comfort.

I found out I had a premium economy seat when I boarded.

I flew on JetBlue’s A321 Classic with Mint. Mint refers to the business class section — the highest class on this plane — located in rows one through five. The economy cabin had three rows of seats on each side. The first five rows — six through 10 — were EvenMore seats.

The EvenMore seats — part of a January 2025 rebrand of JetBlue’s Even More Space section — are the same size as basic economy but with more cushioning and leg room. EvenMore tickets also come with early boarding and priority security privileges at select airports, but since I booked a basic economy seat, I was still in the final boarding group.

Although I was among the last to board, there was still overhead bin space for my carry-on right above my seat. I thought I’d just gotten lucky again, but I later learned that one of the perks of EvenMore seating is having storage space designated for you.

The seat was far more comfortable than a basic economy seat.

When I saw my spacious window seat, I had a feeling I’d never had before while boarding a flight — I was excited to sit down.

The seat cushioning felt thick and supportive, and the headrest felt like a firm pillow. Unlike most long-haul flights I’ve taken, I didn’t experience any neck or back pain in the EvenMore row.

Beneath my seat, there was a power outlet and a USB port. All JetBlue seats have this perk, as well as free WiFi.

I had more than enough leg room.

According to SeatGuru, the basic economy rows on this plane are 33 inches apart, while EvenMore rows are between 37 and 41 inches apart.

At 5-foot-3, I had plenty of space to stretch out with my backpack under the seat.

In front of me was a roughly 10-inch seatback entertainment screen.

The entertainment system seemed a bit outdated to me — the interface wasn’t as user-friendly as the screens I’ve experienced on newer JetBlue planes, but I thought it made sense since the plane fleet came out in 2014.

The system had new movies like “Gladiator II” and “A Complete Unknown,” classics like “A League of Their Own,” and a few episodes of TV shows like “Blue’s Clues” and “Modern Family.” The system also had more than 100 DirecTV channels.

We were stuck on the tarmac for over an hour before taking off.

We sat on the tarmac until 7:09 p.m. as the pilot periodically updated us on the situation. They said takeoff was delayed due to airport traffic and low visibility, but assured us we’d arrive around the scheduled time.

We landed at 9:20 p.m. PT — just 15 minutes later than scheduled.

Once in the air, flight attendants came around with an exclusive treat for premium passengers.

After takeoff, a flight attendant announced that EvenMore passengers would be offered a “welcome treat.” They handed me a small bag of Tate’s chocolate chip cookies — an exclusive snack that isn’t provided to basic economy passengers.

The EvenMore rows also got drinks and snacks before the service was announced for basic economy travelers. I wasn’t expecting these perks and felt like a VIP guest.

Hungry for more, I took a look at the menu.

There were $10 snack boxes with kosher and gluten-free options, $13 meals from sandwiches to salads, and $10 craft beers and mini liquor bottles — though EvenMore passengers get three complimentary alcoholic beverages.

The menu also had amenities like blankets, earplugs, sleep masks, and wired earbuds for the entertainment system, ranging from $2 to $10. EvenMore passengers get complimentary earbuds.

Instead of splurging on a meal, I hit the complimentary pantry.

All JetBlue passengers can access the “pantry” — a self-service snack and beverage station with water bottles, canned sodas, plantain chips, Goldfish, granola bars, and Biscoff cookies.

There was a pantry between the business class and EvenMore rows, so it was easy to access. We were in the air for five hours, so I appreciated being able to curb my hunger whenever I needed to without spending a dime.

I was glad I didn’t have to go to the back of the cabin to use the bathroom.

There was a clean bathroom across from the pantry in front of the EvenMore rows. It had an outlet and was stocked with seat covers, facial tissues, and paper towels.

Five hours after takeoff, we landed in Vancouver.

When we arrived in Canada, it was past midnight for me, so it was surreal to see the sun still setting as we prepared for landing. The sun had set completely by the time we were on the ground.

Since I’m usually seated toward the back of the plane on flights, I typically expect to stay seated for at least 10 minutes before it’s my turn to deplane. But in seat 9A, I was out in less than five.

Experiencing premium economy for free was a treat. Having it on an international flight was even sweeter.

While $180 sounds like a lot for an upgrade still in economy seating, the comfort and perks made my international journey much more pleasant than I anticipated.

I wouldn’t upgrade to EvenMore for a short, domestic flight, but I would for any journey five hours or longer for a more relaxing ride. Next time I’m traveling far from home, arriving at my destination feeling refreshed and free of back pain will be worth the added price.

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