I spent over 19 hours in Icelandair's premium class. The $2,637 flight offered me way more than just a comfier seat.

I travel about once a month and usually stick with economy since skimping on airfare lets me afford even more trips.

However, after splurging on United’s Premium Plus seats on a recent trip to South Korea, I gained a new appreciation for what the extra cash (or miles) can get you on long-haul flights.

That’s when I discovered that the value of sitting toward the front of the plane goes beyond a bigger seat and more attentive service.

Flying premium ultimately helped me arrive at my destination feeling refreshed, well-rested, and better able to beat jet lag, which saved the first day or two of my vacation.

So, for a recent trip from Baltimore to Copenhagen and back with a layover in Reykjavík both ways, I decided to fly Icelandair’s Saga Premium class.

My upgraded round-trip ticket cost $2,637 (several hundred dollars more than I would’ve paid for economy) and included four flights totaling just over 19 hours.