Who on earth pays for 1st class flight tickets

[Gregoravitch]

Just got home from a lovely holiday from the US.

We splurged out for Premium Economy tickets and it was bliss, as you enter the aircraft we had to walk through first class and my word it was so bloody extravagant and packed, their didn't seem to be an empty seat.

Out of curiousity I had a look at the prices for the very same flight journey that we took for a first class ticket and the cheapest I could find was around 3 grand and the most expensive was 7 grand

3 bloody grand, if I could afford it I probably would but it seems horribly expensive. A return ticket would be 6 grand and that's more then our entire holiday for 4 for a fortnight cost.

Who are all these people paying these prices?

I'm also very envious, those first class seats looked very comfy

[NancyNamechange]

Very rich people I do wonder what kind of salary I would have to have to justify that price

[VeryBitchyRestingFace]

Rich people.
People whose companies pay for their tickets.
People who've saved up for a special occasion.
People who've won a competition.
Profligate nutters.

[SleepDeprivedAndCranky]

Business Execs/Rich people/Honeymooners/"Famous" people or just average people who can afford it and think they are better than the rest.

[TroubleinDaFamily]

Depends really, we are flyng BA club to Malaga next year,because I have survived cancer and the ramifictions are still being felt, we are also 25 years maried so thought sod it.

So I guees their could be folk in there who could well afford it and other like us who can afford it but are normally more financially prudent, but this year (for next year) we thought sod it, there are no pockets in a shroud.

[TroubleinDaFamily]

Sleep deprived we don't think we are better than anyone, we are lucky we have it to spend and even luckier I am here to help them spend it.

[ShanghaiDiva]

I am one - we get a travel allowance as part of my husband's expat package.

[Gregoravitch]

Trouble, those seats looked fabulous. I hope you enjoy every moment.

Nancy, I'm also sat thinking how much would I have to earn to spend 3-7 grand on a seat and extra luxuries, I really can't imagine it.

[ShanghaiDiva]

I don't think I'm better than anyone else either - what a strange comment sleep deprived

[IceMaiden73]

People who travel a lot and use their miles to upgrade

[Gregoravitch]

ShanghaiDiva, are the seats as comfortable as they looked, lie if you have to as I'll never get to sit in them

[ArmySal]

How do they think they're better than the rest?

I would, if I could afford it.

[BigGreenOlives]

I'm in the states at the moment & paid for Club in a sale. We got upgraded to 1st as DH actually booked the tickets & he has travelled so much on BA that they always upgrade him if there is availability. Long flight & it was heaven, one of the few flights I haven't been counting down the minutes to get off. The flight attendants were lovely.

[Gregoravitch]

Sleepdeprived, I don't think better seats means that they think their better then anyone else, I just think it means that they can afford better seats.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Rich people who are not wealthy enough to own or charter their own plane?

[ShanghaiDiva]

They are :)
On air NZ they have a mattress they put on your seat for the night flight and the seat is almost as flat as a bed, albeit a little short. I imagine it's not great if you are 6ft plus, but fine for me at 5ft 4.

[Gregoravitch]

We only travel once a year, so no chance of getting an upgrade via flight miles, I do remember an episode of friends were honeymooners made out in front of the check in desk and were upgraded because of it. It didn't work for Moncia & Chandler but it may just work for DH & I?

[erinaceus]

The boring answer is, a company will pay, if the cost to the business of the traveler being a bit bleary and scrumpled when they arrive at their destination is higher than the cost to the business of the difference between an lower category ticket and the first class one.

Sad but true.

Flying in anything other than economy is lovely, but I feel guilty about the carbon footprint. You can fit more travellers per square metre in when you do not have flat beds.

I have never travelled in first class, twice in business I think and once in premium economy then a bunch of economy flights. I hate flying, and traveling in general, and would rather stay home. But if you have to fly and can forget about climate change and finances, upgrading can make the whole thing more bearable.

[InionEile]

I would say the majority have air miles and either use them to pay for the upgrade or just get bumped up to first class if there is space when they are checking in. If you have the top level of air miles then you will often get upgraded automatically if there is space. Very few people actually pay out of their own pocket for first class unless it is a special occasion like Trouble above (lovely idea by the way!) or some once in a lifetime trip.

[Gregoravitch]

HeartsTrumps oh dear, that thought put a smile on my face.

ShanghaiDiva, I told you to lie that sounds so bloody wonderful, I think if I start saving and wait just a few more years till DCs have all left home and abandon DH at home, I may just may be able to splurge on one ticket.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

If i had the money I would fly all over the shop in First. It would be the one 'rich person' thing I would do. I love to travel but hate flying.

[NovemberInDailyFailLand]

I will have to take my baby to DH's country (11 hrs) so I probably will do it to avoid a breakdown.

[NewgatesKnockers]

DH often gets upgraded, because he is a frequent traveler with beaucoup air miles.

[trafalgargal]

Many of them travelling in August (the lightest month for business travel) with families will be people whose work takes them away from home frequently and have paid much the same as you have and earned flyer miles or been given free upgrades based on frequent flyer status . If you've travelled 100k miles in a year the airline are going to treat you better than someone who flies once a year.

[TriJo]

I'm flying from Dublin to London in Club Europe with my 5 month old tomorrow. I wanted flights at very specific times and when I was booking them BA had a promotion on Club Europe seats. It ended up costing me not an awful lot more than an economy seat for those particular flights and I have a bit of extra room for longbaby to stretch into while feeding.

[pluckpluckpluck]

My company pays and it's fucking fabulous. I would go mad doing long haul economy for my job. Luckily my bosses understand this