I bid $290 for a premium economy seat on a 10-hour Lufthansa flight. I'm glad I didn't win.

• Lufthansa allows passengers to place bids for cabin upgrades on some flights.
• I placed a $290 bid to sit in premium economy, an upgrade that typically costs $1,490.
• I didn't win the upgrade, but ultimately was glad I kept my window seat. 

I boarded a 10-hour Lufthansa flight from Denver to Germany and immediately questioned the decision I made just a day prior.

That decision was to bid on a premium economy seat for my return flight home.

Typically, passengers can pay outright for a higher class or earn seat upgrades through airline status programs.