Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
sheepysheep · 09/09/2019 09:29

I fly BC a fair bit for work. It is a much nicer experience by far as it’s not just the comfort on the plane - the lounges are great for relaxing / having some food / quick shower. I often have to get off a long haul night flight and go straight to work (at altitude) via immigration so being able to rest on the plane is invaluable. A day light flight in BC is just my idea of luxury! Peace and quiet and a book / films plus food on tap ....

Also remember that there are knobs in BC - money definitely doesn’t buy class!! I’ve had a couple of awful flights due to proximity to such people - a delightful woman flying with four completely overindulged children who demanded they be looked after by the flight attendants (screaming, jumping around, really quite foul whilst mummy dearest went to sleep). Oh and a repugnant man who got drunk and was vile to all.

If you want it I think you’ll have to pay for it - many of my flights have empty seats. They really don’t give them away in the form of free upgrades. My boss occasionally gets upgraded to first but he’s lifelong platinum / gold / diamond with several airlines.

I would struggle to pay with my own money but that’s cos I am tight and think of all the things I’d rather spend on, but that’s me. If you can afford then go for it and enjoy! My advice though - don’t bother with BA (you’re still treated like cattle). I fly with KLM a lot and they are great. But my favourites are Emirates / ethiad / Qatar. Absolutely faultless facilities and service. Enjoy!!

Mrstraveller · 09/09/2019 09:31

Yes I’m a frequent flyer and you are never just offered an upgrade at check in these days as far as I know. The way in which “promotional upgrades” are offered is tightly controlled across most airlines. They are valuable seats.

MildThing · 09/09/2019 09:33

An 11 hour overnight flight is horrible in economy if you are tall and of average build, and every seat is full next to you.

I have done many of them

But it isn’t a route with many mix and match options and I can’t afford the extra £1k each way.

If I could, without a noticeable dent in my finances, I would do it.

Shmithecat2 · 09/09/2019 09:39

@woodchuck99

Club is Business....

woodchuck99 · 09/09/2019 09:47

@Shmithecat2 You can often pay to use the club lounges even if not travelling business. Maybe they have a separate business area once inside but really not so different that it is worth paying £1,000 extra.

Blingysolightly · 09/09/2019 09:51

Definitely do it! It just makes the holiday so much nicer! We flew to South Africa with BA and it’s a 12 hour flight - nice comfortable bed to sleep in and nice food and drink when you’re not sleeping. What’s not to like?Grin

squee123 · 09/09/2019 09:53

totally worth it for me. When I fly business I actually look forward to the flight and actively enjoy my time on the plane rather than dreading it and spending my whole time cramped and uncomfortable with crap food

Dissimilitude · 09/09/2019 10:00

If you can afford it, it's worth it as a treat. Makes the journey an enjoyable part of the holiday, rather than a thing to be endured.

Also "blagging" a business class seat is extremely unlikely.

amusedbush · 09/09/2019 10:13

DH and I both turn 30 in the spring and I desperately want to fly to NYC business class. It's outrageously more expensive than economy though Sad

We might be able to stretch to premium economy Grin

missbattenburg · 09/09/2019 10:19

Don't do it! It just makes flying in economy afterwards miserable 😂

maddy68 · 09/09/2019 10:20

It's lovely flying business. You can sleep, have nice food. Drinks when you call not just at the trolly run

JingsMahBucket · 09/09/2019 10:38

@nwone I’d only upgrade for the flight on the way back. That way you’re rested when you arrive home.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 09/09/2019 10:40

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.

Not especially. I just make different choices on where to spend/save my money than you might. I am sure I'd find some of your choices "bizarre" too, but I don't go round making snide comments about them.

Ariela · 09/09/2019 10:42

Definitely, if you are into that kind of thing.(my idea of hell, frankly.)

UrsulaPandress · 09/09/2019 10:56

I flew Premium Economy once to South Africa and it honestly wasn't worth the extra money.

Mother87 · 09/09/2019 11:08

Absolutely EVERY time if possible... yes you arrive at the same time, but that's NOT the point is it... much more comfortable/naicer food and much more space - even the stewards seem friendlier/less rushed and more amenable

woodchuck99 · 09/09/2019 11:16

Not especially. I just make different choices on where to spend/save my money than you might. I am sure I'd find some of your choices "bizarre" too, but I don't go round making snide comments about them.

I don't think it is "snide" to say that I find it bizarre that someone who isn't well off would choose to spend £1,000s on what is essentially just a nicer seat/food for a few hours.

bengalcat · 09/09/2019 11:19

Why not - I always fly biz long haul - would rather not go away then fly economy now .

HouseworkAvoider10 · 09/09/2019 11:34

Got upgraded for free to premium economy with BA. It was better than economy for sure, but I wouldn't pay for it.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 09/09/2019 11:34

I don't think it is "snide" to say that I find it bizarre that someone who isn't well off would choose to spend £1,000s on what is essentially just a nicer seat/food for a few hours.

These repeated dismissive comments and assertions that people are choosing to pay for little more than fancy cutlery (as per your pp) is exactly what is snide.

You seem to have a real bee in your bonnet about other people's choices which have absolutely zero impact on you whatsoever, and seem intent on belittling anyone who has a different opinion to you on this.

woodchuck99 · 09/09/2019 11:58

These repeated dismissive comments and assertions that people are choosing to pay for little more than fancy cutlery (as per your pp) is exactly what is snide.

I'm not being "dismissive" or snide. I am honestly just perplexed at the idea that anyone who is genuinely not well off would spend so much money on a bigger seat and nice cutley that when they only get the benefit for a few hours.

and seem intent on belittling anyone who has a different opinion to you on this.

In what way am I belittling you or anyone with a "different opinion".Hmm

thecatsthecats · 09/09/2019 12:29

I am honestly just perplexed at the idea that anyone who is genuinely not well off would spend so much money on a bigger seat and nice cutley that when they only get the benefit for a few hours.

Yes. To put it in perspective to me, you can stay at a 5* hotel with dinner and drinks for 2 for £500. That's the cost for both of you, and the experience lasts between say 4pm-11am - 19hrs (x2 - 38h).

You can do that 3x for the cost of just one person's flight upgrade (for say, 13h). 6x the cost of doing it for two people.

Now I've only ever flown economy (and one bizarrely cheap and uncomfortable larger sized seat). But I can't say I found it that unbearable that an extra £1500 was needed to remedy the situation.

I'm not saying it's not allowed or that people can't prefer it. It just strikes me as so unequal proportionally to the other things you can do to enjoy your holiday!

(for example, one thing I am very picky on is flight times and locations - I'm happy to spend more to optimise connections and departure and arrival times/locations)

By188b · 09/09/2019 12:35

Ex-eu fares for south Africa can often be had for £1300 upwards. Eg Amsterdam to Heathrow to Cape Town on BA in club is often priced around that level during sale periods.

bengalcat · 09/09/2019 12:37

It’s all down to personal preference in what we choose to spend money on - for me a long haul business flight means no long check in queues , use of the lounges calm environment ( although you can of course pay extra for this ) , more space and a bed for overnight flights , meaning I arrive fresh . Cutlery doesn’t factor into my decision .

Swipe left for the next trending thread