To book myself a business class flight for my bday?

[nwone]

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?

JingsMahBucket. I might be completely wrong and not claiming expertise but whenever I’ve looked at premium economy one way for a medium length daytime flight and return on business overnight to allow sleep it’s been far more expensive than business both

Occasionally I book the whole package of hotel and flight with a carrier like Ethiad but via phone rather than website as you can negotiate and get a good deal. We had a very cheap stay at Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi last year as low hotel price offset flight costs. My five days was cheaper than my husbands two days booked through work - he then just moved across to join me when I arrived.

I use SkyScanner a bit and don’t rule out two stops. The flight this weekend is 10 ish from Heathrow with a two hour lunch break at Schiphol for loo and leg stretch. I like airports so this is part of the fun for me. It was sold as then Amsterdam to destination country but stopping in Kuwait for an hour - on checking with KLM it seems it’s not stopping In Kuwait at all. I land about 9:30 local time so an 11 hour day rather than the more expensive route via Dubai work booked my husband. He had to go that way because he’s talking in Dubai afterwards. His is over fifteen hundred pounds more than mine.

We had similar experience going to HK last year. I had an excellent carrier in FinnAir at half his BA price. He flew direct, didn’t have a leg stretch and de-bloat walk around and had much worse service and food. He had to fly separately as he’d been to Xiamen beforehand. My flight was about two hours longer going out but excellent levels of comfort.
On return I was asked to swop to another flight due to overbooking. I refused a direct BA flight because their flatbeds are 2:2:2 and I don’t sleep with strangers. They did a bit of phoning and I was moved to first class on a direct Cathay flight. It was really rather nice! Sadly too close to take off to experience lounge fully but I did get a prepaid MasterCard with €350 for my cooperation. I arrived back before my husband too.

@Shmithecat2

the food could be better, but other than that I have no complaints, I've always been treated beautifully by BA Business, especially when travelling with my son.

It's just not a patch on the Middle Eastern and Asian airlines for long haul, in my opinion, and most of my business trips are to SE Asia (monthly) so that's who BA are competing with for my tickets.

Things like the crazy seat layout BA implemented on the 787s have taken them out of the picture for many of us.

Who the hell wants to sit in business facing the passenger next to them?! It's just bizarre and a very uncomfortable situation if you're not travelling with friends/family/colleagues.

Etihad, Qatar, et al, all managed to maximise the seats they could get into the 787 business cabin without resorting to BA's ridiculous setup. BA know it's stupid, too, as they're changing it.

They're just miles behind everyone else again.

Do it! But on the return leg.

As PPs have said - prepare to be spoiled and not want to go back to economy. We made the mistake of upgrading once ten years ago and haven’t been back since

@SuperSara

We're usually on a 777, and have the middle row double seats.

Club is Business....

Only on BA... which is utter, utter dogshit

Bit harsh but once you have a Q Suite, BA is a bit shit

I’d do it OP.

We have flown business (BA but not 787 thank goodness, so we had three seats between us) a couple of times when I was accompanying DH on a business trip, and really enjoyed it - but don’t think it’s worth doing it all the time. We normally fly economy but book a lounge.

I bloody love airports and flying. I don’t think the 787 is a patch on the A380.

If it's what you want to spend your money on then absolutely, do it. I fly long haul a fair bit for work and go business class - it will ruin you as long haul in economy will be even worse next time you fly. But I'm an incredibly anxious flyer, so the offer of lots of booze and a flat bed to sleep on is worth it for me as I can always sleep and feel a lot calmer. But work pays for it, I'm not sure I could bear to part with that much money myself. Keep an eye out for sales on BA and Virgin websites for South Africa routes - earlier this year BA were selling business class seats for £1000, which is similar to a Premium Economy seat price. I would definitely do it if I could get BC that cheap.