To book business class at 3 times the price?

[itshou]

We are planning super long haul as a family UK to AUS. Starting to think of the logistics of the flights, is business class really worth it at 3 times the price? Travelling with one teen. It's a frightening amount of money, but the only time we'll do this as going for an event. First world problems I know, but it's such a big trip!

It wouldn't be worth it for me, but only you know if you can afford all that extra money just to sit in a better seat. I'd save it and spend it once there.

Long distance air travel isn't ever going to fun, no matter how much extra you pay.

I don't think it's worth it. But I've only gone Business for work on short haul trips. Flight to Australia is knackering whatever

No. The flight is just a day. Think of what you could do with that kind of money other than sit on a plane.

Never worth it for me. Imagine what your teenager could do with that money in a few years

If you can afford it I would. But if it would be a big stretch then no, it’s not worth financially difficulty.

Depends how much money you have really. If it’s not at all an issue financially then do it. We’ve done a couple of family holidays in business using air miles and the flight becomes a very exciting part of the holiday (though your DC is a teen so might not get as excited!)

This!

It depends. Who are you flying with?

Why don't you buy one business class and two normal then each take turns?!
As a serious answer I wouldn't,
But only you know how much money you have!

Absolutely worth it for us and I would not fly economy that far away.
All depends on whether you can afford it, or you have more important expenses to pay?

It’s worth it if you can comfortably afford it.

We always travel upper if we can get a reasonable deal but otherwise we just get whichever fare is the better price. So once we paid £2k for upper when economy was £1,400 because £600 was worth it and affordable to us - but we’ve also travelled economy for £800 when upper was £5,000 and premium was £1,500.

If you didn't, what could you spend the money on otherwise?

I wouldn’t. I tried it once for longhaul UK to San Fran and it was really nice but it wasn’t several thousand pounds worth of really nice over and above the usual being slightly grinchy and snarky in an economy seat for a few hours, getting drunk on complementary wine to improve the experience, and then having a nap upon my arrival at my destination. I just ended up thinking “I could have bought another motorbike instead of sleeping on a flat bed plane seat for a bit.”

We can pay cash for the flights from a bonus I got from work, so we won't feel the impact. There isn't anything urgent we need the money for, it would just go into savings. So thought about giving us an experience as a family.

I just flew from London to Australia and back again. I was upgraded to business free of charge on the second leg (from premium economy)

Honestly I was no more comfortable. The business seat was quite narrow and you couldn't lie flat very comfortably and still had to wake up and lift up to turnover. I slept in 45 minutes chunks on both flights and was no fresher for my business class experience.

Premium economy is definitely worth it in emirates for super long flights

Go premium economy, much cheaper and pretty comfortable

Premium economy is more expensive than business based on what we've found, especially Emirates

I’m just back from the UAE. Business there but could only get economy back ( last minute) the emirates economy experience was absolutely bloody awful. Never ever again - 7 hours and 30 minutes and only offered two drinks. Seats were narrow and uncomfortable. Hated every single second of it. Usually we fly BA premium ( or business for special occasions) I’ve not tried the new premium on emirates ( they didn’t have it on our route) the business class was lovely though. If you’re considering emirates then I would absolutely do the business class.

I wouldn’t and I fly long haul a lot because of family abroad. Flying is the least nice part about a trip abroad and I don’t think paying extra makes up for it. And it’s only a day. We’re a small family (all about 5’2” and 50kg) except DH who is a bit bigger so we fit everywhere. And the last time I went to the states we had an empty seat next to us both ways so you could get lucky too.

If you can afford it, go for it. The difference is huge, especially during night sectors if your BC provides a flat bed.
The downside is, it’ll ruin you for ever flying long-haul cattle class again.

I would. I love flying business class. The ability to stretch out, nod off, all the extra attention etc is bloody brilliant, especially with children!

I would 100%. I will not do cattle class on long haul flights and I make no apologies for that! Absolutely do it imo.

Even if I could afford it, I honestly don't think I would. Spending so much money on a plane seat, albeit a much more spacious and comfortable one, just wouldn't sit with me. I'd constantly be thinking about the multiple better things I could spend all of that money on.
Not to mention that I'm a nervous flyer, so as soon as the plane started shaking that would be it for me anyway. You could sit me on a golden throne and I'd still be shitting bricks.

Recently flew 17 hrs Seattle to Singapore in Business Class with Singapore Airlines. Lounge in Seattle sucked but the flight was amazing.

I usually book economy and hope to get an offer to upgrade 1 or 2 of the legs and its generally more reasonable. If you're flying Qatar or Singapore their business class standards are worth it to me, I just try and upgrade the 2nd leg so something to look forward to and make 1st one more bearable