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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To book myself a business class flight for my bday?

107 replies

nwone · 08/09/2019 19:55

Turning 40 next year, and flying to Cape Town a few weeks after for one of our holidays.

I really like flying and think this is a good enough excuse to fly (one way!) in business as a treat for my bday.

Would you do it?

OP posts:
Rubyupbeat · 09/09/2019 08:00

Go for it.
We always fly business or first, sadly have to pay for it ourselves now.
Those saying it's not worth it, come on, be real.
You have a lovely lounge to hang out in, peaceful, dont have to trawl your luggage anywhere, no queueing. Leg room and clean toilets on board.
Its more than worth it!

Shmithecat2 · 09/09/2019 08:08

@Rubyupbeat

Indeed - I'm 6'2, DH is 6'4 - the extra legroom is worth it alone!

woodchuck99 · 09/09/2019 08:18

Those saying it's not worth it, come on, be real.
You have a lovely lounge to hang out in, peaceful, dont have to trawl your luggage anywhere, no queueing. Leg room and clean toilets on board.
Its more than worth it!

I never get why people think it is worth it. It depends on how much extra but assuming it is about £1,500 how can it be worth it just to be in a slightly quieter lounge or to have more leg room for a few hours, especially if you are a woman and not that tall? I have been business class and first class (when someone else is paying) and I can think of loads of better ways to spend that kind of money.

Goldenglory · 09/09/2019 08:28

Oh @BeardedMum, if economy is that great then save your company some money and fly economy for work . Hypocrite.

MsLumley · 09/09/2019 08:30

Hell yes! It's absolutely worth it!

CherryPavlova · 09/09/2019 08:31

Yes. Outside of Europe I would always fly business even if it means a slightly longer journey. The travelling becomes part of the holiday.

Do your research and you can find deals that aren’t much more than some carriers economy but you have to transfer in random places. I’m flying to the Middle East at the weekend.Its £1450 BA premium economy but only £1520, business with KLM. It’s an hour and a half longer transferring at Schipol but that means a decent lavatory break and leg stretch. Then a long stretch from Netherlands to Middle East with a flatbed seat. Plus lounge etc before I fly and extra luggage.

I flew FinnAir to Hong Kong last year via Helsinki. Definitely better service than my husbands BA direct flights. More comfortable seat arrangements too, but about half the price because of a brief stopover. Upgrade to first with Cathay on a direct flight on return leg and I got a €350 prepaid master card for my cooperation.

woodchuck99 · 09/09/2019 08:36

Maybe it's worth it for some people if they don't pay much more due to a stop over but I still wouldn't do it. A relative of mine flew first class for about 30 years for work but I he always flies economy now that he is retired.

MildThing · 09/09/2019 08:39

If you can afford it without other compromises and it’s worth it to you, yes.

I would do it for the overnight flight.

BeardedMum · 09/09/2019 08:40

@goldenglory, lol I don’t have any say in what class I fly for work. Company policy decides. I am saying I would never spend my own money. My company can afford it😂

thecatsthecats · 09/09/2019 08:44

I never get why people think it is worth it. It depends on how much extra but assuming it is about £1,500 how can it be worth it just to be in a slightly quieter lounge or to have more leg room for a few hours, especially if you are a woman and not that tall? I have been business class and first class (when someone else is paying) and I can think of loads of better ways to spend that kind of money.

Yes. People seem to misunderstand the point. I get that it's nicer (of course it bloody well should be!). But the question isn't 'is it nicer', it's 'is it worth it?'.

And to me it resoundingly wouldn't be, until I was rich enough not to bat an eyelid at the cost. We have a lounge club membership that allows us to sit in a lovely quiet lounge and fill up on booze and food before we board. Once we're on the plane, we mostly sleep, watch films, and plan our holiday stuff.

Doing all that only in a nicer seat with better service is just not worth a fucking mortgage payment to me.

scheissefuergehirn · 09/09/2019 09:08

Etihad upgrades me a month ago and it was a lovely experience. Much more room, a seat that would convert to a bed, proper meals with proper cutlery instead of a TV dinner with plastic cutlery, very attentive flight crew, large tv screen to watch the films and proper headphones to listen with. If you can afford it, go for it.

SomeoneInTheLaaaaaounge · 09/09/2019 09:08

It’s soooo worth it. When I fly long haul economy my back is bad for weeks afterwards. For me it’s also the fact of not having to worry about the flight all holiday and actually look forward to a nice round off to the holiday.

Treat yourself and enjoy it !

NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace · 09/09/2019 09:10

Yep. I fly business class for long haul night flights. I love it.

Enjoy your trip Smile

woodchuck99 · 09/09/2019 09:12

And to me it resoundingly wouldn't be, until I was rich enough not to bat an eyelid at the cost.

Yes, OP is obviously not that rich so to me it seems bizarre to consider paying about £1,500 extra for a bigger seat and nicer food for a few hours.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 09/09/2019 09:12

Yes, do it, esp. if it's a night flight with an airline that gives you a flat bed. And a good business class lounge thrown in.
Totally different experience.
But please be aware that it will complete spoil you for any economy long haul flight in future!

Bluntness100 · 09/09/2019 09:13

Lol,at the blagging an upgrade. That doesn't happen any more. Airlines know the value of their product.

Upgrades are given for operational reasons now. Like a plane change and too many folks in the economy cabin. Then the computer says who gets it, it's the highest ranking frequent flyers first and so on down the list.

Desk staff don't have the authority any more. Do people seriously think you walk up and say it's your birthday and they say, fab, here, have thousands of pounds of upgrade for free. 😂

Op I would, but on the way back if only one way.

woodchuck99 · 09/09/2019 09:14

Much more room, a seat that would convert to a bed, proper meals with proper cutlery instead of a TV dinner with plastic cutlery, very attentive flight crew, large tv screen to watch the films and proper headphones to listen with. If you can afford it, go for it.

I get that it is nicer but unless you are very tall or wide, is a bigger seat and nice cutlery really worth £1,000s?

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 09/09/2019 09:15

hmmm, lie flat bed with fewer seats across; or 32 seat pitch with 6" of recline and more seats across. Leisurely boarding from a lounge, more baggage/storage on board, less hustle and general irritation.

yeah, totally 'no difference' at all Hmm

OP, do it for your return journey, better than outbound and having to downgrade on the way back

woodchuck99 · 09/09/2019 09:17

Upgrades are given for operational reasons now. Like a plane change and too many folks in the economy cabin. Then the computer says who gets it, it's the highest ranking frequent flyers first and so on down the list.

That happened even in the 80s although I occasionally was offered an upgrade when travelling alone if I agreed to a much longer flight with changeover (I didn't take the offer though).

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 09/09/2019 09:18

I get that it is nicer but unless you are very tall or wide, is a bigger seat and nice cutlery really worth £1,000s?

For me, yes. For you, apparently no. C'est la vie.
My flights are between 12-14hours long. Flying in comfort, with all the little extras, is part of the enjoyment of the whole thing.

Besides, if there weren't people willing to stump up, all the economy fares would be a lot higher...

woodchuck99 · 09/09/2019 09:21

yeah, totally 'no difference' at all

Who has said there is "no difference".Hmm To me it's just not enough of a difference to pay £1,000s. Liing flat is nice but not worth huge sums considering it is just for one flight. You can pay for extra luggage on board if you really need it as well as club lounges. I get that they aren't quite a nice as business or first class lounges but not so different that it is worth paying loads more when you are only in them for a couple of hours.

UrsulaPandress · 09/09/2019 09:24

I wouldn't. I'd rather save the money and suffer the discomfort.

woodchuck99 · 09/09/2019 09:24

For me, yes. For you, apparently no. C'est la vie.
My flights are between 12-14hours long. Flying in comfort, with all the little extras, is part of the enjoyment of the whole thing.

Maybe you are really well off then. Otherwise it is bizarre to me that you would spend so much on a nice seat and cutlery for a few hours.

Besides, if there weren't people willing to stump up, all the economy fares would be a lot higher...

I assumed that it was mainly businesses and very well off people that "stumped up"

MatildaTheCat · 09/09/2019 09:28

Premium economy offers a far better experience than economy and costs about half of business. If money if no issue obviously go as high as you want. If not I’d personally go premium and have a fantastic dinner or experience whilst away.

Enjoy 😊

OllyBJolly · 09/09/2019 09:29

Do it.

I booked business for DH's 50th and it was so worth it. It made the whole trip so special. In fact, drinking cocktails with other passengers in the bar of the A380 on the way home was one of the highlights of a fantastic holiday. You arrive feeling so much better than you do after 7 hours cramped in economy.

Only thing is, it was to be a once in a lifetime treat but we loved it so much that we're trying to work out how we can do it next year...

(I would check out what Flyertalk folks think of your airline. I understand some airlines business class isn't significantly better than premium economy.)