I bid to fly business class and won. It had great food and felt luxurious, but I wouldn't pay full price.

Like many airlines, Lufthansa gives passengers an opportunity to bid for an upgrade. In this case, the range of bids was £65 to £220.

The bidding process helps airlines maximize the use of their aircraft. If the bid isn't accepted, the passenger doesn't have to pay anything.

I took a chance and bid for an upgrade to business class for the slightly longer leg of my journey, from Munich to Helsinki, for £75. It wasn't quite the lowest amount possible, but it was close.

I got an email from Lufthansa telling me I'd be notified in good time if my bid was accepted. Not expecting that to happen, I more or less forgot about it.

Three days later I woke up to a message saying my bid had been accepted.

However, as it was only the connecting flight that was upgraded, I started off in economy class from London to Munich, and I didn't have access to the first-class lounge at Heathrow.

In London, boarding was slow, and the aircraft was packed, forcing me to place my hand luggage far from my seat — not ideal with a short layover.

I got a window seat, which was nice for the afternoon views of the English Channel and the English and French coastlines.

Shortly after takeoff, passengers in economy were given a complimentary bottle of water. Other beverages and snacks were for sale.

I had only a 45-minute layover in Munich, and we arrived late. There was no chance I'd get to enjoy the business-class lounge, which I'd heard was quite good — instead, I rushed to the gate.

I arrived just in time, so I didn't have to wait more than a few minutes. With priority boarding, I was on Lufthansa's Airbus A320-200 in no time.

The business-class cabin had three seats on each side, as in economy — but the middle seats were left empty in each row.

Though I was set to sit in the aisle seat, I got lucky and ended up having the whole row to myself. It was a great change after the first cramped flight.

We left Munich on time. Just after takeoff we were treated to a hot towel, which was a welcome surprise; even some long-haul flights don't offer that in business class.

We were given some salty pretzels, and the flight attendants offered us a broad choice of drinks.

I went with some red wine and a glass of tomato juice, as I find the latter always tastes better in the air.

We were handed menus with surprisingly broad options for a 2-1/2-hour flight, including different main courses.

I placed my order with the very friendly flight attendants, who took the time to explain what the different dishes entailed. I had another glass of red wine while I waited.

The food arrived quickly. Though the courses all arrived on one tray, I was pleasantly surprised by the generous portions.

I'd ordered the traditional German roast of Rhenish sauerbraten, which was piping hot, tender, and juicy.

I also particularly enjoyed the starter that came with carrot tartare; it tasted fresh and zesty. Dessert was French opera cake, and though it was nicely chilled, it wasn't quite as flavorful as I'd expected.

We were already well on our way, and I hadn't realized how much time had passed. Time flies when you're having fun.

Once the plates and cutlery — which were porcelain and steel — had been cleared, I was offered some fruit and further snacks. I chose an apple, as I was quite full.

As I had the whole row to myself, I got to enjoy the fantastic "midnight sun" and well-lit midsummer skies at 11:30 p.m.

I felt quite luxurious sipping my cognac and coffee at 30,000 feet, enjoying the scenery in such comfort.

Suddenly we were preparing to land in Helsinki. After we'd disembarked, leaving the airport was a breeze.

It was definitely worth bidding for the upgrade.

Unlike the cramped economy class, business class was spacious — to say nothing of the ease of boarding and disembarking, the fantastic onboard service, and the complimentary food and drinks.

Next time I'll hope for a slightly longer layover so I can enjoy the benefits of the business-class lounge.

I don't think I would have traveled in business at full price.

But by keeping an eye on potential upgrades — which airlines often let passengers know about and which passengers can find with a bit of research — I learned it was possible to get a bit of luxury for a bargain.