In the US, if you only fly 1-2 times a year domestically you don't have to be rich, just a bit flexible, and diligent.

I pretty much always fly Delta, or sometimes AA, and go first class. If you do it right, you can usually do it for a couple hundred more than economy, and only once a year or so, it's worth it.


(Almost all of my flights are FL to the northeast, so it's probably different flying across country. Done FL - TX as well)