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Original poster

Flying first class

218 replies

MrsExpo · 19/07/2019 10:33

We have go on a long haul flight later in the year and have been looking at options for flight times, departure airports, fares etc. Having done the research we're more or less decided what we're booking, but just for fun, DH looked at how much it would cost to upgrade to first class. Shock The difference was between just under a thousand pounds for economy to around £6k (each!) for first class .... to get on the same plane, at the same airport and arrive at the same time as everyone else at the same destination.

So .... has anyone done it? Is it really worth the difference in price? What are the advantages? What do you get for the extra ££££ ?

Anyone care to share experiences?

OP posts:
Yeahyeahyeahyeeeeah · 20/07/2019 21:26

We no longer travel for work and this makes a difference. 4 of us in business for our summer trip added £13k. I just can’t quite settle that!

Nanamilly · 20/07/2019 21:36

ause the staff pander to their every whim. Personally I hate kids travelling in Business (surely the clue is in the name?) as there’s no increased privacy or staffing and the kids making a racket don’t appreciate the adults alongside them need to rise at some ungodly hour to have a meeting or present

I think the names need to be changed from Business to something reflecting the cross section of passengers in the cabin.

Nanamilly · 20/07/2019 21:42

but we a baby and I’ll be mortified if she is upset and disruptive

It wouldn’t bother me one bit. In fact I’d try and help you weather the storm so to speak.

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BuzzShitbagBobbly · 20/07/2019 21:53

I’ll be mortified if she is upset and disruptive

I'll either be fast asleep or plugged in to my noise cancelling headphones (or both), in my little cabin of my own. So unless you slide my door back and actually drop a crying baby on top of me, I won't mind one bit!

Alternatively, you could always take her back into economy and walk her about there..... (JOKING!!)

ChihuahuaMummy1 · 20/07/2019 22:07

If you dont go first class make sure you book the airport lounge,it really gets your holiday started,comfy seats,unlimited drinks and snacks.

HollowTalk · 20/07/2019 22:30

How could you be upgraded to Concorde? Surely you booked on Concorde or on another airline?

WanderingTrolley1 · 20/07/2019 22:37

Yes, worth it.

HundredMilesAnHour · 20/07/2019 23:22

How could you be upgraded to Concorde? Surely you booked on Concorde or on another airline?

Er, no. I'm not sure why you seem to find it hard to understand but...

I was booked in Club on an early flight. That flight was cancelled (which I only found out as I was checking in) so they upgraded me onto Concorde (which was leaving at a similar time). Same airline, different flight, different class (since Concorde was First only).

HollowTalk · 21/07/2019 00:13

Sorry, @hundredmilesanhour, I thought you'd have had to book on Concorde or on another airline altogether.

LittleMissEngineer · 21/07/2019 09:20

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Namaste6 · 21/07/2019 09:30

@mumdom You're so right! They simply don't have the same sense of life about them compared to the main terminal. No one talks to each other, everyone looks bored and unhappy. I remember taking my son to the first class lounge in Heathrow. I travelled a lot for business and found myself on that card level. We stayed for about 10 minutes before he asked to leave. We ended up having food in the main terminal, sat next to a lovely American family, chatting with them about their tour and experiences of the UK. It's those fleeting moments that matter in life in my opinion, especially when travelling. You simply don't get that, stuck in a soulless lounge, with a false sense of entitlement created by airlines purely designed to encourage the purchase of overpriced seat tickets. IMO of courseSmile

LittleMissEngineer · 21/07/2019 11:14

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Nanamilly · 21/07/2019 11:56

its those fleeting moments that matter in life in my opinion, especially when travelling. You simply don't get that, stuck in a soulless lounge

Really?

Perhaps it’s just you.

IMO of course 🙂

verystressedmum · 21/07/2019 11:57

As soon as I win money I'm only travelling first class. Please let me win money soon 🙏

Nanalisa60 · 21/07/2019 12:09

Never done first class but been in business a lot!! If you can afford it then go for it. Trouble is I know just hate economy seats and will only fly economy if it’s less the five hours. When I was young if I did long haul I would always fly cattle class and take two prescription sleeping pills!!

iMatter · 21/07/2019 13:07

I used to travel long distance a lot with work.

Day flights were business class and night flights were first class.

It's a fabulous way to travel but a shit load of money if you're paying for it yourself.

checkoutno3please · 21/07/2019 13:34

its those fleeting moments that matter in life in my opinion, especially when travelling. You simply don't get that, stuck in a soulless lounge

I can live with that. BA lounge suits me nicely Grin

HeronLanyon · 21/07/2019 14:11

I dislike lounges - doesn’t feel like I’m travelling!
My best first class upgrade from India -
Would you like to upgrade to first?
How much would that be?
Only £500 each
No thank you.
What about for free ?
Yes please!

zonkin · 21/07/2019 15:34

I don't want to chat to random equally bored and tired strangers in a soulless airport terminal. I'm quite happy in a lounge chatting to the people that I'm actually travelling with in a lounge in a relaxed environment. Not paying for overpriced crap food in some generic chain restaurant and then struggling to find a table to sit at. If on my own, I'm perfectly happy with my own company.

I'll get my memorable moments when actually on holiday.

zonkin · 21/07/2019 15:35

@HeronLanyon - love that upgrade!

HeronLanyon · 21/07/2019 17:32

zonkin I still puzzle about it. Bizarre. We were checking in early as well so it wasn’t as if they didn’t have others to try to get £1000 from.

buttertoasty · 21/07/2019 17:42

Always don't for long haul. The absolute best IMO is with Etihad, the space is amazing.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 21/07/2019 18:38

I subscribe to a great blog/daily email called One Mile At A Time, which is all about using points for luxury travel (plus general aviation news).

It's great to read the reviews as Ben and his team go into a lot of detail and add loads of pics. So many trips on so many airlines are on my bucket list now!

onemileatatime.com/

Proseccoagain · 21/07/2019 22:02

I always book business if I can, it makes such a difference. But people look at me as if I've got money to burn! Nicer food, bigger seats, and a great lounge. Can't quite afford first class, but if I could, I would.

mumdom · 22/07/2019 14:33

I’m agog at some of these justifications. The person who doesn’t want to pay for overpriced food in a generic terminal restaurant clearly doesn’t appreciate irony 😂😂😂

The Concorde lounge doesn’t announce flights which makes it very easy to miss yours, and it is miles from the gates. The bacon sandwiches are curly at the edges and the pasta is rank. How this is life-enhancing, I know not.