• I spent $2,637 to fly from Baltimore to Copenhagen and back in Icelandair's Saga Premium class.
• My meals impressed me, and my seat was so comfy that I slept easily despite it not lying flat.
• When you add perks like priority check-in and lounge access, this upgrade felt like a great value.

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.

Luckily, they didn't disappoint.

Saga Premium is not a true business class, but it's a big upgrade from economy.

Icelandair's Saga Premium is the Nordic airline's highest offering.

Some also say it's the airline's version of business class, but I'm not sure I agree. Notably, Saga Premium features large reclining seats rather than the coveted lie-flat ones that most business classes offer on long-haul flights.

Still, the seats here were nothing to scoff at and felt like a big upgrade from any economy seat I've tried.

On this plane, a Boeing 737 Max, premium seats were 20.5 inches wide with a 40-inch pitch compared to economy seats, which were 17.2 inches wide with a 31- to 32-inch pitch.

The wide premium seats were grouped in pairs and located at the front of the plane.

These seats were in a two-by-two configuration on my flight, and I was in the aisle.

Although it would've been nice being able to lie down, my seat felt spacious and incredibly comfortable with a deep recline, a footrest, and ample legroom.

Thanks to these upgrades, I slept more than I thought possible on my way to Europe.

I also had a large seatback screen packed with in-flight entertainment options, plus access to complimentary WiFi for up to two devices.

The food was delicious, and I loved the in-air dining experience.

Before each meal service, I received a printed menu from which I could choose what to eat during my flight. I appreciated that some options were Nordic-inspired.

All of my meals were fantastic, but dinner was a highlight. The three-course meal started with a salad and bread served with whipped butter topped with Icelandic blueberry salt.

For my main, I chose a vegetarian option that included plant-based patties and roasted carrots. I ended my meal with a rhubarb crumble for dessert.

Food was served on porcelain plates with metal silverware on a tray-sized tablecloth, which elevated the experience.

It was a huge upgrade from the typical meal service on airplanes, where a flight attendant usually shoves a plastic tray into my hands along with a half-filled cup of soda.

For the first time, my in-air dining experience truly made me feel like I was in a restaurant in the sky.

I also loved having unlimited access to drinks throughout my flight.

Alcoholic drinks, including specialty spirits from Iceland, were included with my ticket. They looked great, but I stuck to zero-proof options.

I especially appreciated the easy access to caffeine on my flight home, when I was trying to stay awake until landing.

Being able to access Icelandair's Saga Lounge during my layovers was a nice bonus, too.

Because I have a Priority Pass membership, I've been spoiled with access to comfortable, quiet airport lounges around the world that are stocked with unlimited food and drinks.

However, Keflavík International Airport, which serves as Icelandair's hub, only has one lounge — and it's not included in my Priority Pass.

Fortunately, I was able to gain access to Icelandair's Saga Lounge with my premium ticket.

I loved being able to decompress and grab a complimentary Icelandic-inspired meal in the lounge between flights, both en route to Copenhagen and on my way back. It helped make my long travel days a little less grueling.

In addition to lounge access, Saga Premium has other perks I found valuable.

Although I try to fly carry-on-only wherever possible, I do occasionally check bags — and I did so on this trip since my packing list was so extensive.

Getting up to two complimentary checked bags with my ticket was a nice perk, since I usually have to pay extra to bring a full-sized suitcase on a trip.

Another benefit of flying Saga Premium is getting priority check-in and boarding. Check-in lines for my Icelandair flights were long, so it was nice to have access to a shorter one for premium passengers.

Priority boarding was nice, too, since I didn't have to fight for overhead space for my carry-on.

When disembarking, I usually stand up as soon as we stop, anxiously waiting for other passengers to gather their luggage and clear the aisle. Instead of waiting at the back, though, I got to get up right away and be one of the first people off the plane.

This helped me get through immigration in Europe and the United States even faster because I wasn't stuck behind passengers who deplaned earlier.

All in all, this premium class left me feeling impressed.

My seat was comfy, the food was good, and the perks added up. I also really underestimated how much I'd like being the first group off the plane after landing.

As with the time I upgraded to United Premium Plus, I got a decent amount of sleep on this flight and experienced significantly less jet lag than usual. Gaining more time to explore and spending less time recovering made the upgrade feel like an even better value.

I can't afford to sit at the front of the plane often, but my two experiences with premium seats have shown me that it's worth the investment for the right kind of trip — particularly one that requires a long flight.

Read the original article on Business Insider