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TRAVELLING long haul is always tough and not just on your body but your wallet too.
However, on a recent trip to Cape Town I flew with a little-known airline that allowed me to do the 11-hour overnight stint in Premium Economy for the same price as a rival company in Economy seats.
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Norse Atlantic Airways is a budget airline that bought Boeing 787-9 planes from Norwegian Air after their long-haul arm folded in January 2021.
And they're carrying on their legacy of cheap fares to exotic destinations - albeit flying to fewer places than Norwegian.
Norse offers six long-haul destinations, including Miami, New York, Bangkok and Cape Town.
To give you an idea of price, return fares for two adults and one child in premium economy cost £3,583 to Cape Town next March, while return fares in Premium Economy on a rival airline cost £5,000.
Keen to test it out, we flew to the South African city in their posh Premium seats and returned in Basic Economy.
So what do those Premium Economy seats get you on an 11-hour Norse flight? Well it starts with a priority lane at check-in.
Norse doesn't do online check-in - everyone checks in at the airport. And Premium passengers are given their own lane, so we waited about five minutes before dropping off our bags and getting our tickets.
You get a small handbag, a cabin bag and a checked suitcase included in the price of a Premium ticket.
You also get priority boarding, which I’m not normally a fan of given I have a young child who needs to let off steam before a flight, but given our seats were massive, it was worth it.
Which brings me to the cabin.
Cabin extras
Norse’s premium cabin isn’t quite Virgin Atlantic or BA’s Premium Economy, but equally they aren’t asking close to those prices.
Most importantly, the chairs are very roomy. With a very decent recline that allowed my whole family to get a decent night’s sleep.
My son pretty much slept uninterrupted from 10pm to 7am, while I snatched a manageable 5ish hours, which is far more than I’ve ever done before in Economy on a long haul flight.
Crew hand over ear plugs, eye masks, pillows and blankets at the start of the flight, as well as headphones for the TVs (you have to pay £5 for these in Economy).
Two meals are also included - I had a decent tortellini, side salad and cheesecake-type evening meal with complimentary wine, and a hot cooked breakfast, plus a croissant, yogurt and mini fruit salad.
All in all, we disembarked from the flight at 8.30am feeling so well-rested that we managed a whole day at the beach in Cape Town, followed by an evening meal.
Economy savings
Of course, Norse’s Economy cabin is considerably cheaper. And that is how we returned to the UK - on their 11-hour daytime flight - which takes off at 10.45am and lands at 9.35pm at London Gatwick.
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An Economy flight to Cape Town on Norse costs from £182, but the cabin is definitely no frills - although you do get a TV and access to the in-flight entertainment system (you have to pay a fiver for the headphones, but you can also use your own).
The seats are considerably slimmer - it’s a 3-4-4 configuration, compared to 2-3-2 in Premium, but we booked seats on the bulkhead row, which gave us so much legroom that my toes just about touched the wall in front when my legs were outstretched.
Given I’m 5ft10, that’s a considerable amount of leg room and it made the very long flight much easier to manage, for £100 extra.
There were no blankets though, or pillows, eye marks and ear plugs. And the full meals had to be pre-ordered and paid for.
We ditched these, and opted to feed ourselves from the snack menu, as they serve hot sandwiches and pot noodle-type offerings, which kept us full. Given I’ll happily tuck into a shin cup for lunch when WFH, this was hardly a hardship.
The staff have to work hard on Norse flights, as they’re constantly pushing their trolleys down the aisle to sell food and drinks to passengers.
But they’re a cheerful bunch.
And to be honest, so were we… even after our 11-hour return in Economy.
Because when you’re saving hundreds of pounds per fare, it’s hard not to feel chipper.
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How to get a free upgrade to first class on a plane
Travelers often wonder how to secure an upgrade to first class without paying the premium price. According to a flight attendant, there are several strategies passengers can employ to increase their chances. Firstly, loyalty to an airline is crucial; frequent flyers and those with elite status are more likely to receive upgrades. Additionally, booking directly with the airline rather than through third-party sites can improve your odds, as can being flexible with your travel dates and times.
Dressing smartly and arriving early can also make a difference. While airlines generally prioritize upgrades based on status and fare class, a well-dressed passenger who checks in early may catch the staff's attention. It's also beneficial to be polite and friendly to the airline staff, as they have the discretion to upgrade passengers at their own judgment.
Lastly, if you're celebrating a special occasion, such as a honeymoon or birthday, it doesn’t hurt to mention it. While not guaranteed, some flight attendants might consider this when deciding on upgrades. Overall, while there's no surefire way to get a free upgrade, combining these strategies can certainly improve your chances.