When booking a flight, most people compare the price, departure time and baggage allowance. For some of us, there is another detail that can send us straight back to the search results: the aircraft.

Spot an Airbus A350 or Boeing 787 operating a route usually served by smaller aircraft, and suddenly an inconvenient departure starts looking rather attractive.

But is choosing a widebody aircraft a sensible way to improve your journey, or simply an aviation enthusiast finding another excuse to spend money?

The answer depends on what you value, how long you will spend on board and what that extra money actually buys.

A widebody aircraft has two passenger aisles, while a narrowbody has one. That distinction sounds straightforward, but it can change the atmosphere of the cabin.

Stepping onto a widebody can give even a relatively short flight the feeling of a long-haul journey. There is a broader cabin, often divided into several sections, and potentially an individual entertainment screen waiting at your seat.

For passengers who enjoy flying, that is part of the appeal. The journey becomes something to look forward to in its own right.

There is also the novelty. Boarding a large aircraft for a short hop can feel like getting a little more experience for your money, particularly when the alternative is the familiar single-aisle cabin.

However, that initial excitement is only one part of the journey.

A wider fuselage gives an airline more space to work with, but it also accommodates more seats across the cabin. It does not automatically translate into more personal space for each passenger.

Seat width, legroom, recline and cushioning depend on the airline’s chosen layout and seat design. The individual seat you select matters too.

An extra-legroom seat on a smaller aircraft could provide more room to stretch out than a standard Economy seat on a widebody. Equally, a comfortable seat with a sensible layout could make the narrower cabin the better choice.

Before paying a premium, establish what you are actually getting. The aircraft type is useful information, but it cannot tell you everything about the seat.

One tangible reason to choose a particular flight is seatback entertainment, where it is fitted.

On a journey lasting several hours, having a screen in front of you can make a meaningful difference. It saves holding a phone, balancing a tablet or relying entirely on downloaded content.

For some passengers, settling into a film is part of the pleasure of flying. For families, individual screens can also provide a welcome way to keep everyone occupied.

However, check the specific product. A widebody aircraft does not guarantee seatback screens, and a screen alone does not guarantee an extensive selection or a responsive system.

If you normally sleep, read or watch your own programmes, its value may be limited. An entertainment system is only worth paying for if you are likely to use it.

The longer you spend on board, the more opportunity there is to benefit from the cabin’s features.

A comfortable seat, useful entertainment and a pleasant cabin environment become increasingly relevant as the hours pass. On a short flight, you may barely have time to settle in before preparations for landing begin.

That changes how much an aircraft upgrade is worth.

A small premium for several hours in your preferred cabin might feel reasonable. Paying the same amount for a brief hop could be harder to justify, particularly if most of the experience consists of boarding, a quick drink and landing.

For an aviation enthusiast, the novelty may be enough. For other passengers, the practical benefit could be quite small.

The seating layout can matter more than the size of the aircraft.

For a couple, a pair of seats beside the window can be particularly appealing. A row of three may mean sharing with another passenger, regardless of whether the aircraft has one aisle or two.

For a family, a larger block of seats might work well. For someone travelling alone, an aisle seat with convenient access could be the priority.

Look at the seat map for the actual flight, including which seats remain available and what they cost to reserve.

Paying more for an aircraft because it looks spacious makes less sense if its available seating leaves your party in an arrangement you dislike.

A larger aircraft can create expectations of a more substantial onboard experience. Those expectations are not always justified.

Catering and service depend on the airline, route, cabin and fare conditions. A widebody operating a short sector may still offer a service designed around that short flight.

The aircraft might have the equipment and cabin usually associated with long-haul travel, but that does not mean passengers will receive a long-haul meal service.

Check what is included in the ticket. The presence of a larger galley does not tell you what will arrive on your tray table.

There is no universal figure, but there is a useful way to frame the decision: what else could the money buy?

Imagine two flights on the same route. One costs £100 and uses a narrowbody. The other costs £120 and uses a widebody with a seat and entertainment system you prefer.

An extra £20 might be an easy decision, provided the departure time also suits you.

Now imagine the second flight costs £200. That additional £100 deserves closer scrutiny.

Could it secure extra legroom on the cheaper flight? Would it cover checked baggage, a more convenient airport transfer or a better hotel room after arrival?

Those are tangible improvements to a trip, and they compete with the pleasure of flying on a particular aircraft.

Compare the total cost too. Seat selection and baggage charges can change what initially looks like a small difference between fares.

Choosing between two departures on the same route is one thing. Adding a connection to secure a widebody is another.

An extra airport stop introduces more time, another boarding process and another opportunity for disruption. It can turn a straightforward journey into a much longer travel day.

For an aviation enthusiast, that might be part of the fun. For someone trying to reach a holiday destination comfortably, the trade-off may be harder to justify.

Compare the complete itinerary, including airport waiting time and the journey to your final destination.

A more appealing aircraft for one sector needs to offer enough enjoyment to justify the extra effort involved in reaching it.

There is one practical weakness in paying specifically for an aircraft: the scheduled type can change.

Operational requirements and maintenance can lead an airline to substitute another aircraft. A booking made around a particular cabin may therefore deliver a different experience on the day.

Choose a flight whose fare, timing and overall itinerary you would still find acceptable if the aircraft changed.

Enjoy the prospect of the A350 or 787, but consider how disappointed you would be if something else appeared at the gate. If the answer is enough to regret the whole booking, the premium may be too high.

Paying a little more for a widebody can make sense, particularly on a longer flight where you will use and enjoy its cabin features.

The key is to look beyond the aircraft name. Check the seat layout, entertainment, inclusions and departure time before deciding what the experience is worth to you.

For aviation enthusiasts, there is also room for a less practical answer: sometimes you simply want to fly on that aircraft. That enjoyment has value, provided you are comfortable with the price and the possibility of a substitution.

A widebody can make the journey more enjoyable. The strongest booking is one where the seat, schedule and price are appealing too.