Jet blue: even more space/even more speed

[LoveTrains]

I am visiting my sister in Seattle for a week after her daughter is born. I just bought the tickets on jetblue (direct flight - yay!).

In any case, they were offering "even more space" for $80 each way. it's a full cross country flight. Even more space gets you 4 more inches of legroom (I don't really care about that, TBH, as I'm five feet tall) but what is most interesting is it comes with "even more speed" which gets you through the first class security line and early boarding with access to overheads (I never check a bag). ALSO, and even more intriguing, according to Seatguru.com, the even more space seats have AC power at the seats (for things like laptops, cell phones, etc). I'm assuming this plane will have wifi, and if the even more space seats are the only seats with power, is it worth $80 each way to power my electronic devices?

What say you, MM? 

[y4m]

I'd do it if I were in a middle seat in the back, but probably not otherwise.

For $80, you can buy a really great external battery that will ensure you always have power for your devices.

[LoveTrains]

Nov 6, 2014 12:26:19 GMT -5 y4m said:

I'd do it if I were in a middle seat in the back, but probably not otherwise.

For $80, you can buy a really great external battery that will ensure you always have power for your devices.

Plane looks empty, I had my pick of seats when selecting online. I was able to choose a window seat in the middle (front is "even more space"), which is my preference. 

[LoveTrains]

Ok the only other consideration is most of you know I am obese so is it less likely that I will have someone in the middle seat if I do "even more space"? Or do I just need to be prepared that someone will be in the middle seat regardless of where I am sitting?

[libbride]

I've taken JetBlue to and from Seattle and the regular seats are spacious so I wouldn't pay extra. It was actually one of the best flights I've ever been on.

[v]

Planes are typically so packed nowadays that I'd assume someone will fill the middle seat no matter where you are.

Also, pick of seats doesn't mean the plane is empty -- just may be that not many people have picked seats yet.

[Deleted]

I just paid $77 for United's Economy Plus and thought it was worth it. I had to book a last minute red-eye for work (so I only paid the upgrade fee OOP) and the only seat choices otherwise available were middle seats in the back of the plane. No thanks.

[Deleted]

No, I wouldn't.

[rikki]

Nov 6, 2014 12:29:35 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Ok the only other consideration is most of you know I am obese so is it less likely that I will have someone in the middle seat if I do "even more space"? Or do I just need to be prepared that someone will be in the middle seat regardless of where I am sitting?

Honestly, most flights I've taken in the past few years (which is quite a few) are almost always full.  A lot of the time the regular seats are all booked so when someone purchases a ticket, so it does not allow them to select a seat.  If general seats do not open up before check-in, they will just be placed in the "economy plus, even more room, priority" seats. 

[LoveTrains]

Nov 6, 2014 12:34:20 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Nov 6, 2014 12:29:35 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Ok the only other consideration is most of you know I am obese so is it less likely that I will have someone in the middle seat if I do "even more space"? Or do I just need to be prepared that someone will be in the middle seat regardless of where I am sitting?

I would think less likely assuming the whole row is at the premium price. Actually, not having a neighbor might make me more inclined to splurge. 

When are you in town? If you have time to meet up for drinks, let me know!

I am not coming until March (spring break) but I would love to see you again! I will be in touch when it gets closer. 

[v]

Nov 6, 2014 12:34:20 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Nov 6, 2014 12:29:35 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Ok the only other consideration is most of you know I am obese so is it less likely that I will have someone in the middle seat if I do "even more space"? Or do I just need to be prepared that someone will be in the middle seat regardless of where I am sitting?

I would think less likely assuming the whole row is at the premium price. Actually, not having a neighbor might make me more inclined to splurge. 

When are you in town? If you have time to meet up for drinks, let me know!

If they don't get enough people to pay the premium, they'll fill those spaces for free.  They will not keep seats on the plane empty just because they can't find 12 people to pay an extra $80 for more leg room.

[v]

Nov 6, 2014 12:38:02 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Nov 6, 2014 12:34:20 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

I would think less likely assuming the whole row is at the premium price. Actually, not having a neighbor might make me more inclined to splurge. 

When are you in town? If you have time to meet up for drinks, let me know!

I am not coming until March (spring break) but I would love to see you again! I will be in touch when it gets closer. 

You're probably seeing a ton of empty seats because you aren't flying for 4 months and people don't tend to book domestic airfares that far ahead of time.  

[cheezer]

I don't think it's worth it. First, my computer lasts me long enough that I don't need a charger on a cross country flight unless it's not fully charged when I get on. Second, the more legroom thing doesn't seem to bother me and I'm not short. The only thing I'd pay for is reclining seats like business class.

[y4m]

If your goal is an empty middle, your best bet is probably booking in the back few rows.

[v]

Oh, and I see the priority boarding as a plus bag-wise. Having to gate check is usually only a concern when people have to pay to check bags and/or the plane is tiny. Since JetBlue lets people check a bag for free, and it is a cross-country flight (meaning, people are probably likely to be going on a longer trip and will need more stuff), I'd imagine lots of people will check bags and there will be enough overhead space for non-checkers.

[aurora]

I've only paid for an upgrade like that one, and it was a 9-hr red-eye for which I paid an extra $60. I don't consider coast-to-coast in the U.S. a long flight and wouldn't pay $80 for an extra 4" for ~5 hrs, especially in day time.

Also, I agree that your best chance for an empty middle seat is the far back of the plane.

[emilyinchile]

I voted yes, but I'm 5'9". In your case, I might still do it for the overhead space plus what I'm assuming is still a small benefit of having a bit more leg room (but maybe I'm wrong?). I wouldn't care about the power outlet.

[Redpoppy]

Nov 6, 2014 12:46:30 GMT -5 y4m said:

If your goal is an empty middle, your best bet is probably booking in the back few rows.

This was our strategy before we had to start buying DS a seat. It often worked. Flights always seem really full lately though.

JetBlue seats are big to begin with so I wouldn't personally.

[sjh722]

I wouldn't if it were just me. If I were with H, probably. He's 6'4 and has long legs and broad shoulders and he is miserably uncomfortable in coach. (Where we always fly, lol.) I think he liked flying better when you could just get put in an exit row before they started calling it "economy plus" and charging more!

[msmerymac]

I'd prefer width to leg room. I probably wouldn't do it in this case.

If I could get more width and legroom, I'd pay in certain circumstances, like red eyes.

The one time I've paid more was when I bumped myself up on Virgin America for $30. The plane had 2 emergency exits in consecutive rows, so I got a seat that was in an exit row, but also with an exit row behind me. My seat couldn't recline, which is fine during the day, but the seats of the people in front of me couldn't recline either, AND I had more leg room. I wanted to actually work on my laptop on that flight, which is pretty much impossible in a regular seat with someone reclining into your lap. It worked well. And I got my company to reimburse me.

[sicilygirl]

I wouldn't for that short of a flight. It wouldn't be worth it to me.

[LoveTrains]

I wish my flight was offering the new jet blue "mint experience". Now that looks nice.

[hulley]

My experience with the more room was not worth it. We were the only two in the row and they moved the person behind us so she could be "more comfortable" (read: push her legs into my armrest and sleep on the flight home)
The flight attendant refused to turn off the extra overhead lighting in their area because she "would fall asleep if it gets shut off". It was a very late flight and I'd counted on sleeping because I had to work the next day. Apparently her being able to fix her makeup, read magazines and not feel tired was more important.
I wouldn't pay the fee just for the power outlets. Just get an external power source.

[genet313]

For me, it depends on the length of the flight.  Anything over 5 hours, maybe 4, and I'd probably go for it.   For a full cross country, I'd do it.