The cheapest way to upgrade your flight

I rarely fly in anything other than an economy seat, but I was fortunate enough to be upgraded to business class on British Airways' new upgraded service to Moscow the other day. It reminded me just what a different experience it is to enjoy the space and atmosphere of a premium cabin – your knees are not cramped against the seat in front, you can lie full length and there is no agonising wait as the drinks trolley inches its way down the aisle. You can get up and stretch your legs without clambering over your neighbour, the food is good, the wines are excellent, and there is no queue for the loo.

And there are other advantages such as faster check-in, free lounge access, higher baggage allowance and so on.Most of the time this kind of luxury seems completely unaffordable. But is it? If you plan things carefully, there are ways to make long-haul flying more comfortable without paying through the nose. Here are 10 cost-cutting ideas.All fares are returns from London, including taxes and charges. They are the lowest currently available, may change without notice, and may be subject to restrictions such as a "book before" date, or a limit on changes to your booking.

Nowhere near as luxurious as business class, premium-economy cabins nevertheless offer significant improvements over the cheapest seats, with more legroom and better service. BA, Virgin and Air New Zealand all offer such a service and prices are usually about 40 per cent higher than a standard economy fare: for example, an economy seat on Air New Zealand to Hong Kong costs from ￡649, premium economy from ￡1,149 (through Bridge the World).