Your guide to getting extra legroom on major U.S. airlines

Cheers to the little things in life, like free drinks and extra legroom. Photo Courtesy Delta Airlines.

In between business class and economy seating, there is a heavenly balance between comfort and cost called "extra leg room." Find out which airlines offer this mini-upgrade, and which have the biggest bang for their buck.

United Economy Plus is a one-time purchase or annual subscription for extra legroom. The higher your elite status, the more access you have to complimentary Economy Plus seating for you and a companion.

American Airlines Main Cabin Extra includes up to 6" of extra legroom and priority boarding. Like United, your elite status (or purchasing a full fare ticket) will get you priority and/or complimentary access to these seats.

Delta Comfort+™ will give you Sky Priority® boarding, dedicated overhead bin space, extra leg room. On longer flights, you can expect superior snacks, free drinks (cheers!) and complimentary premium entertainment. After May 16, booking Delta Comfort+ will actually be a booking option (rather than upgrading separately each leg of your trip). Cross-country extras include a pillow, blanket, ear plugs, eyeshades and even a toothbrush and toothpaste.

JetBlue: Even More® includes up to 38" of extra legroom, early boarding, and early access to overhead bins. For a limited time, you can also enjoy Even More Speed (expedited security) in select cities with your purchase.

Virgin Atlantic offers an additional 3" of legroom for $60 one way. Also, you know that amazing moment when your flight is done boarding and there is still no one is sitting next to you? Yep, you can buy that. With Seat Plus in Economy you can reserve the seat next to you for more space and privacy starting at $100 for flights departing before November 1, 2016.

Unfortunately, most prices aren't revealed until during the booking process, but for specifics on your seat size, check out on seatguru.com.  Also, keep in mind that most "upgrades" are purchased for each individual leg of your trip, so make sure to compare nonstop options to see if the additional cost could even out. Let us know about your experiences in the comments section below, and as always, safe travels!