Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who on earth pays for 1st class flight tickets

330 replies

Gregoravitch · 23/08/2016 01:18

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 Shock

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 Grin

OP posts:
NancyNamechange · 23/08/2016 01:23

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

VeryBitchyRestingFace · 23/08/2016 01:24

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 · 23/08/2016 01:25

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

TroubleinDaFamily · 23/08/2016 01:25

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. Grin

TroubleinDaFamily · 23/08/2016 01:28

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. Shock

ShanghaiDiva · 23/08/2016 01:28

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

Original poster
Gregoravitch · 23/08/2016 01:29

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.

OP posts:
ShanghaiDiva · 23/08/2016 01:30

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

IceMaiden73 · 23/08/2016 01:30

People who travel a lot and use their miles to upgrade

Original poster
Gregoravitch · 23/08/2016 01:31

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

OP posts:
ArmySal · 23/08/2016 01:32

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

I would, if I could afford it.

BigGreenOlives · 23/08/2016 01:33

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.

Original poster
Gregoravitch · 23/08/2016 01:33

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.

OP posts:
HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 23/08/2016 01:33

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

ShanghaiDiva · 23/08/2016 01:34

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.

Original poster
Gregoravitch · 23/08/2016 01:36

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? Grin

OP posts:
erinaceus · 23/08/2016 01:37

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 · 23/08/2016 01:39

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.

Original poster
Gregoravitch · 23/08/2016 01:40

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

ShanghaiDiva, I told you to lie Wink 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.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 23/08/2016 01:42

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 · 23/08/2016 01:43

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

NewgatesKnockers · 23/08/2016 01:46

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

trafalgargal · 23/08/2016 01:47

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 · 23/08/2016 01:53

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 · 23/08/2016 01:54

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