My 33-hour travel day began at Denver International Airport. By the end of it, I would be in Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Getting there involved a three-and-a-half-hour flight to Washington, DC; a 13-hour flight between DC and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; a three-hour flight from Ethiopia to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and a final flight to Zanzibar.

My ticket on Ethiopian Airlines cost $975, and I sat in economy for every leg of the long-haul journey.

Naturally, the flight I dreaded the most was the longest: 13 hours, cramped next to strangers.

While Ethiopian operates a range of aircraft for long-haul flights, I was on an Airbus A350-900XWB.

I don't think I've ever boarded a flight so bright. While most airlines stick to navy blue, black, and dark colors for seats, Ethiopian Airlines embraced color with an unexpected green.

While it wouldn't have been my choice, it didn't impact the flight, though I did think it gave the cabin an outdated look.

The plane itself had 30 lie-flat business-class seats and 313 economy seats. The economy cabin had three rows of three seats, with two bathrooms in the middle and two in the back.

After my boarding group was called, I headed to the back of the plane and cozied into my window seat.

I rarely take a 13-hour flight. Instead, I'm more familiar with shorter flights, where economy seats tend to be smaller.

For this aircraft, my seat was 18 inches wide with a 32-inch seat pitch. The seats could also recline.

While it was only a few more inches than seats I've sat in for short-haul flights, I did notice the difference. My seat felt roomier, and my legs could stretch a bit farther.

As for amenities at the seat, I was greeted with a standard airplane pillow and blanket.

Flight attendants came around with headphones, and in front of me was a touchscreen entertainment system with a USB port for charging.

The airline had plenty of media options, from TV shows to music and movies. While I thought it was missing major US blockbusters, I loved eyeing the international movie choices. I could also buy WiFi for $25.

A few hours after taking off, flight attendants arrived with dinner.

I was surprised when there wasn't an entrée option. Instead, I was handed a tray with rice, carrots, chicken curry, bread, a grain salad, and dessert. It was delicious.

After dinner, I fell asleep and believe I missed a sandwich snack during the nighttime service.

Toward the end of the flight, flight attendants arrived with breakfast. This time, I was served a tray with mushrooms, baked beans, eggs, and a hash brown.

Overall, I was shocked by how much I enjoyed the meal. Airline food tends to be a hit or miss, and Ethiopian Airlines' food was a hit by my standards.

Whether in business class or economy on a long-haul or short-haul flight, I've never noticed drastic differences in airplane bathrooms.

The Ethiopian Airlines bathroom felt typical. It had a small changing table, a toilet, a sink, and tissues.

To get home, I left Entebbe, Uganda, and flew five and a half hours to Doha, Qatar. From there, I had a 16-hour flight to Dallas before my final two-hour flight home.

This flight, also in economy, cost $900.

Qatar uses four aircraft for flights to and from the US. I was on a Boeing 777-200LR for this flight.

This plane was a bit smaller than my Ethiopian Airlines flight. There were 42 business-class seats and 217 economy seats, with two rows of three seats and a middle row of four. Passengers had access to five bathrooms, an extra one compared to Ethiopian.

The decor felt standard, with dark-gray seats and red accents.

The seat was nearly one inch wider than Ethiopian, at 18.9 inches, and had an inch bigger pitch at 33 inches with reclining capabilities.

I'm always surprised at how much a single inch can make a difference, but for a 16-hour flight, it helped. I could stretch out my legs and didn't constantly feel like my knees were pressed against the seat in front of me.

However, I didn't like that there wasn't a barrier between the leg area of my row's middle and the window seats. My seatmate could easily encroach on my personal space.

A typical airplane pillow, blanket, and headphones were waiting for me in my seat. I was also surprised to see a small complimentary toiletry kit — an amenity I've only received in business class. The paper pouch held an eye mask, earplugs, a toothbrush, and socks.

I found an outlet below my seat, and near the screen was a USB port to charge my phone.

The entertainment system felt a touch outdated with a retro remote control. However, there were plenty of movies and shows to choose from, and WiFi cost $15 with an option to upgrade to high speed for $20.

On trips home, I typically opt for a vegetarian meal. It's a way for me to reset and, ideally, eat something a bit healthier after a trip filled with dining out.

I did that for my Qatar flight, but instead of marking vegetarian, I accidentally marked raw vegetarian.

During the flight, I was served three trays of raw vegetables. Thankfully, I had enough snacks to last me the whole flight.

Beyond that, Qatar had pros and cons to its food service.

The meals felt slightly elevated with metal cutlery, and I received more food during this long-haul flight. In addition to two meals, passengers were given a spinach-and-feta hot pocket, plus chocolate and water at the end of the flight.

The con was that drink service was much more limited. I wasn't offered complimentary wine, beer, or soda, and my free options were limited to juice, tea, coffee, and water.

Again, there was not much to say about the airplane bathroom. There was a room spray and scented soap, which I appreciated.

I'm eager to fly Qatar Airways at least one more time to experience a full meal service. Even without factoring in food, the bigger seat and complimentary toiletries made for a better overall experience.

Qatar Airways and Ethiopian Airlines didn't respond to requests for comment.

Business Insider received a media rate for the round-trip flight to Auckland.

Leading up to the 13-hour flight, I learned that my business-class ticket also granted me access to the Star Alliance Lounge at the Los Angeles International Airport.

Another new experience was the airport lounge, which caters to first-class, business-class, and some travel credit-card holders. Before landing at the airport, I had never visited an airport lounge.

Thankfully, I had a seven-hour layover in LA to discover its unexpected perks. I spent hours tasting every food item I could find and exploring the lounge's outdoor patio and quiet room.

My favorite perk was knowing that an Air New Zealand representative was stationed at the lounge, supplying flight updates so I didn't have to stress about missing an announcement or my flight. 

The lounge was a luxe respite and much nicer than the airport gates and restaurants I typically camp at during layovers. 

With a full stomach, I left the airport lounge, grabbed my carry-on suitcase, and navigated through the crowds of people waiting to board the flight. 

At my gate, I passed families and couples waiting for their boarding groups to be called while my group — business class, which is the airline's version of first class — was welcome to step onto the plane. 

I reached the jet bridge entrance, scanned my boarding pass, and joined two dozen business-class passengers. Together, we were some of the first people on the plane. 

As someone who has only ever sat in economy, boarding first was an entirely new experience. I'm typically one of the last people on the plane and accustomed to hunting for rare overhead luggage space.

Since there were fewer people, the business-class cabin felt more spacious. I had plenty of overhead storage available for all my belongings, and I didn't have to worry about being told I'd need to gate-check a bag. 

One of the biggest perks of flying business class on long-haul flights is the extra space. 

In economy, I'm used to cramped seats that hardly recline. 

Even with an expectation of a larger seat with more room in business class, I was shocked by how spacious the seat actually felt on my Air New Zealand flight. In front of me was a footrest, where at 5 feet and 8 inches, I could stretch out my legs. I also used this space to store my backpack. The tray table was larger than any I've seen in economy.

Perhaps the best part was the seat's ability to recline. I had four buttons to experiment with moving my seat backward and forward. Plus, I could lie flat, which was a valuable feature when it was time to sleep. 

As I boarded the Boeing aircraft, a flight attendant asked if I would like a glass of Champagne or something to drink before takeoff.

I'm used to a smiling flight attendant handing me a sanitizing wipe when I've boarded — not a glass of bubbly. 

I happily accepted a flute. Shortly after, another flight attendant came by with a tray of roasted nuts. I quickly learned I would never be hungry or thirsty on this flight.

I also realized the snacks I packed in my backpack wouldn't be needed. Instead, I was part of the group I'm typically envious of: the first-class travelers with space, snacks, and endless alcohol to enjoy on their plane ride.

I wasn't surprised to see a blanket and pillow waiting for me at my seat since I'd had those amenities in economy before, but I was thrilled to find a bag of complimentary toiletries.

The purple pouch contained a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, ear plugs, an eye mask, lip balm, lotion, a pen, and a pair of socks.

As I lathered the balm across my lips, I wondered how much the tube cost. I later found out that the Ashley & Co. Lip Punch retails for $15, and the brand's Soothe Tube lotion costs $25. 

These small perks added an element of luxury throughout the flight, and they came in handy when I realized I had left my toothpaste in the bottom of my carry-on suitcase. 

After taking inventory of all the free stuff at my seat, I noticed that nearly everyone around me had their shoes off and their complimentary purple and black striped socks on.

I sat there shocked. There are a few plane etiquette rules I always follow, like giving the person in the middle seat both armrests. At the top of my list is not taking off my shoes — no one wants to smell stinky feet. 

I succumbed to the peer pressure, tossed my rules aside, and slipped off my shoes. Between the length of the flight and having more space in business class, I felt less guilty taking off my shoes, which I'm not sure I would've done in economy. 

After I took off my shoes, examined my toiletries, and settled at my seat, the flight attendants came around the cabin, introduced themselves, and offered each passenger a hot towel. 

There have been few instances in my life when I've received a hot towel, so I eyed my fellow passengers for clues on how to use it correctly. 

The people around me wiped their faces, necks, and hands, and I followed their lead. 

I felt spoiled using the towel and thought it was a relaxing way to start my flight.

Later, after a nap, the flight attendants came around with another hot towel before serving breakfast. This time, I confidently wiped the towel across my face. The warmth coated my skin, and I felt refreshed and ready for the morning. 

When it was time to eat dinner, my first meal of the flight, a menu was provided at my seat outlining options for the three-course meal inspired by New Zealand ingredients. Beetroot-cured salmon, poached chicken, and chocolate truffle ice cream were listed on the menu. 

The flight attendants kicked off dinner service by placing a cloth napkin across my tray table and laying down a set of metal silverware. I quickly realized that this meal would be nicer than any airline meal I've ever had.

On previous long-haul flights, as a vegetarian, I was given one option on a tray. The meal was typically packaged and served with plastic cutlery.

The silverware at my seat already established a drastic difference. Next, I was offered butter, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Following the condiments, the flight attendants walked around with a basket of warm sourdough and garlic bread. 

Then, the first course arrived. I opted for a pescatarian meal and was served stuffed olive leaves. This was followed by a main course of Alaskan cod with saffron sauce and finished with a chocolate tart for dessert. 

The meal was rich and filling. From its appearance and taste, I thought the meal could easily be served in a nice restaurant rather than an airplane cabin.

Our flight was a red-eye. We departed LA in the evening and were scheduled to land in Auckland in the early morning. 

After dinner was cleared, passengers slowly retreated to the bathroom to freshen up before bedtime. I headed to the restroom to brush my teeth and wash my face. By the time I was done, a flight attendant had converted my seat into a bed. 

During the turn-down service, a flight attendant presses a few buttons, which turns the upright seat into a horizontal bed. Then, they add a mattress topper, blanket, and pillow. Finally, they pull out the seat belts for safety and check in with each passenger to see if they want any final drinks, snacks, or items before dimming the cabin lights.

I thought the transition from dinner to sleep was effortless for passengers. As I grabbed my eye mask, I knew there was a good chance I'd actually fall asleep. I rarely have that confidence when sitting upright on a plane in economy. 

Sure enough, I slept for about five hours in the comfy bed and woke up to the smell of hot coffee and breakfast.

Before our plane left the jet bridge, I was getting to know the flight attendants. They stopped at every seat to confirm the passenger's dinner order and introduce themselves.

While I've encountered plenty of welcoming flight attendants in the past, this was the first time I'd been on a flight where everyone exchanged names.

By the end of the long-haul flight, we were all on a first-name basis and sharing travel recommendations for our coming trips. 

Since there were fewer passengers in business class and just as many flight attendants when compared to economy, we were able to bond much more than I expected. 

When our plane touched ground again, I wasn't ready to disembark. Instead, I could've spent another day in the glamorous cabin.

As a budget traveler, the chances I fly business class again are slim, so I soaked in every moment in my lie-flat seat and cherished every drop of Champagne. I hope I'll be able to experience the premium cabin again in my lifetime. At the very least, I'll bring my toiletry pouch on any future economy flight to replicate a small part of the experience.