Originally Posted by tejolote

I'm flying to Belgium from Seattle shortly before April 29th for hip surgery and need to stay until at least May 10th. My total budget for flight is $1500, and I'm worried about leg room on the way back after surgery.

Coach looks like it's going to cost just under $600 (my dates are somewhat flexible, the surgery is on April 29), but business class is around $4000, which is way more than I can afford.

I don't have any miles to use for an upgrade, but I've heard that an upgrade can sometimes be purchased at the gate. Is this even remotely possibly? What airlines should I consider? Should I just suck it up and ask the docs for more pain medication for the ride home? This is my first flight to Europe, so I don't know what to expect.

I've always booked my own flights for travel in the states, but perhaps I should consider calling a travel agent this time? If you experienced travelers have any tips for flying more comfortably, I'd be happy to hear them! (Also, any info on Ghent would be welcomed).