To book business class at 3 times the price?

Think what that money could buy you on the ground! It could probably buy you a wonderful hotel suite and room service for several days!

Imagine the options as game show prizes: you can have
Prize 1: 20h in a business class seat
or
Prize 2: 20h in an economy class seat, plus three days in a luxury hotel suite with room service.

It’d be a no-brainer for me!!

I think it depends on how uncomfortable you find economy. To me, business would not be worth it because I'm small and sleep well in economy. DH is twice the size, so definitely worth it for him.

I wish I hadn’t started flying business for long haul as it’s so hard to go back to Premium economy or economy.
I think it would be a lovely experience for your family. I very recently flew to New York business class with my young adult DC and they absolutely loved it. It was a fabulous experience to share.

Personally I wouldn't bother and I've flown to Australia probably well over 30 times.

Yes, it's a long flight but it's only a day and then it's over. I'd rather spend the money on other experiences while on holiday, not on something that lasts less than 24h and that you're likely to sleep through anyway.

I recently flew first class from Chicago to London. Worth every penny - slept for about 5 hours, hit the ground running. Only problem is the horrifying prospect of going back to coach class 😂

Go for it as it sounds like a trip of a lifetime.

100% worth it for me. Treat the holiday as starting the moment you leave the house - easier check in, glass of champagne at the airport, attentive service on the plane, great food, comfort - I could go on

Worth contacting some travel agents that specialise in business flights - this can bring the price down as they play around with different connections.

Absolutely worth it for me. You will have lounge access, priority boarding , nice food and will be able to sleep and stretch out.

I fly business class on long haul flights because it is more pleasant and I can easily afford it. I wouldn't if it were a tighter financial stretch. The main benefit for me is that it is easier to sleep on the flat beds/ seats in bc. I hate flying so the more I can miss, through sleep, the better!

It sounds like a long time, but it actually goes quite quick, flown it with a child several times. I'd be saving my money for better experiences than sitting in a different section of the same plane!

I did Business class out and economy return alone once. I was dreading the return, but it was fine it helped that I got an aisle seat and was next to an Australian sheep farmer who had loads of interesting anecdotes. And you could walk about, so not stuck in the rather cramped seats all the time.

Absolutely. We do go long haul Biz Class whenever we afford it (and look out for offers - BA have a sale twice a year and its well worth a look).

It makes such a difference and in fact going to Oz is definitely worth it and I always feel like a film star the lounges, the getting on first, the first glass of champagne, the getting off first, the seperate check in, the lounges when you are waiting for your second flight. Its truly fab. You wont stop talking about it for years to come. Have been on Qatar Q Suites and Singapore Airlines and a few years ago on Emirates A380. If you are going on Emirates please do ensure that you book the A380. They have a bar at the back. Its fab!

Premium economy is worth it as long as the difference is affordable. The seats recline better and much more spacious, like the business class of years ago before the booths

I would book business but look at each airline, the stopover and the aircraft, they vary with different airlines. I am flying uk to Australia on Emirates a380 plane which is much better than their 777 planes with a 3hr dubai stopover

I would then but you might save money by booking economy then upgrading rather than booking business straight off. Depends if you're willing to take the risk

I flew business to New Zealand via Singapore and it was so nice, you get fed, you get lie down and sleep. Etc it’s defo worth the money.

It depends if you can afford it i guess. I upgraded to premium economy recently and it was worth every penny! I couldn't justify the cost of business class upgrade because it was the same price as my hotels for the whole holiday! If you can afford it though definitely would for such a long flight

Do it. It's a long flight. Enjoy yourself, life is for living.

If you want to spend it then go ahead - the jet lag is grim that far so any little helps

If you have choice I wouldn’t fly BA - their staff try (mostly) but it’s just not the same as Singapore / Emirates / Qatar etc

Impossible to answer without knowing your income, or at least what proportion of your income this represents.

eg our family income one year was £500k so I paid for business class flights long haul as it was a small proportion of income. Our income is now half that so our annual trip down under this year will be in economy and the “unspent” £15k will be saved into ISAs.

Emirates business to Australia is brilliant, but so is having money to live off in retirement.

If you're flying BA, I'd only book the new club world suites. Having flown both, the old ones aren't worth the money.

Probably not enough time for this trip but I'd highly recommend getting a BA Amex which gives you a companion voucher for a 2 for 1 airmiles flight in any cabin. We've used ours for a number of long haul business and first flights but booking them is a pain in the bottom and a race at midnight for the most popular routes.

I'd do it. But I'm fat with wide hips even at my slimmest. Plus it's a long way and a good sleep gives you extra time when you get there.

And it makes the whole experience better, with lounge access and shorter security lines and less people to share the loo with onboard.

This. Stop for a day or two in Asia for rest, recovery and delicious food.

Oh yes, it's terrible on the next flight! We were upgraded once to business to the States but were back in cattle for the return, it was so depressing.

We flew to the West Coast of the United States in Business a few years ago. Going was wonderful. it was a plane purpose built for the flat beds, a Dreamliner on KLM, the return was the overnight leg and it was a converted Delta plane where the regular seats had been reconfigured by taking one of a pair for all the gubbins needed to drop the other seat to a bed and it was awful, like being in a coffin!