For a domestic traveller in the US wanting to have an extra legroom, option is simple, purchase an economy plus, a business class, or a first class ticket. Never mind skyhigh prices these sections command for small bit of extra inches. More interesting, do these premuim classes even have the maximum legroom in an aircraft? Answer is no, which belongs to the emergency seats. Emergency seats either belong to economy basic or economy premium section.
So how to get one the emergency seats without paying extra, either during booking the flight or buying a premium seat. The answer is the United Airlines Silver Membership, which allows one to select economy premium seats, including emergency seats, during check in. Many people simply pay for it or do not bother to change their seats during check in. But getting Silver Membership in United Airlines is hard just by travelling; it requires spending good amount of money in the previous year and meeting minimum travel segment requirements.
Easy option is getting a credit card that brings the United Airlines Silver Membership as a perk. And that credit card is Chase IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. This card not only provides with Silver membership, but also provided $25 travel credit every 6 months on United Airlines. Silver membership comes with one free check in bag for every flight, adding to the perks.
The credit card has an annual fee of $95, but it easily pays of with a free night at IHG Hotels after every anniversary of the card. Plus, $50 annual United Airlines annual credit and Silver membership.
There are other credit cards that come with United Airlines Silver Membership, such as Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, but its annual fee is $650 with different perks.
Why United Airlines?
The challenge is selecting a good airline (or less bad airline) is plenty.
- JetBlue offers the maximum legroom for all its seats and they are comfortable, but the airlines has limited routes. So it one travel plan lies within the JetBlue segment, it is worth trying.
- Delta airlines has same destination network as United airlines, and in most cases, is punctual in its time schedule. But the prices are very high and it has switched the premium segment with little option to selection premium economy and emergency seats to select; certaintly not with the non-Delta credit card. Even American Express Platimun Credit Card is unable to offer such perks.
- Southwest airlines doesn't allow passengers to select seats, they just have to be first in line
- American Airlines, could potentially offer similar perks on a credit card, but I am not aware of any such offers. There doesn't seem to be much difference between American and United Airlines, which includes frequently delayed flights, lost or broken luggage, or poor customer service.
- Getting extra legroom in Spirit Airlines, Frontier and other low-cost carrier is a dream and will remain so in the foreseeable future. One should be lucky that one is not charged extra for luggage.
There are a few advantages that United Airlines have that allows a passenger to benefit from these perks
- Large Network: Both for domestic and international, it has largest number of routes and destinations.
- First Class App: Contrary to the customer service, the mobile app is first rate, compensating for any anger in delayed flights. The app shows all the nearby airports when selecting a flight and allows one to change the flight in a hassle-free manner.
- Competitive Prices: Because United is a full service airlines competing for all types of passengers, the prices are on the competitive side, including changing flights at no additional cost.