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!

I flew Business from Dublin to Chicago with Aer Lingus last year. If you can afford it definitely do it, the difference is massive.

Depends what your agenda is.

If you expect to be working straight after arrival then yes it is worth it and some would argue necessary.

If you are taking a long holiday then just book an extra day in a posh hotel to recover at a fraction of the price.

You may be able to find something for less money if you're willing to fly a European airport (and book a cheapo connection to get there.) Just play around with different departures and airlines and see what comes up.

Get emergency exit row seating at a fraction of the cost

I'd look at having a stop over somewhere first before deciding on BC flights.
We once stopped over in LA for the day and just spent the whole day walking - felt really refreshed afterwards.

Based on this I would do it.

I think I’m at the point in my life both age/comfort and financial wise that I will save to make sure first/business class is part of the trip price. Does that mean I travel a little less…yup. would I give up a trip of a lifetime if I couldn’t afford the increase…Probably not. But for the most part this is fine because I still get my ‘big’ holiday once a year and that also works for my life right now.

I have flown UK to AUS and NZ in all classes and yes Business is definitely worth it with the right airline/plane, my preference is Singapore (despite the recent tragedy). Premium is OK but is not much more than a slightly bigger economy seat, business is a wonderful 6ft bed and it is a long way.
Fly in the A380 if you can.

Yes it's worth it!

On this basis - absolutely I would. This is something I would (and have) spend a bonus on - something extra that I didn't need to save for.

I think you kind of have to get your head around that you're buying something different - not make it a pure mathematical equation. E.g. economy plus room in nice hotel is definitely going to be cheaper - but you're not comparing apples with apples. If of course you can't see past the "doesn't get you there any quicker" logic, then it'll never make sense,

I would 100%!!

I only fly that way - currently sat in business about to take off. Totally worth it for the space, seat, food etc. I actually enjoy flying when it's not all cramped up and horrid!

Australia is a long long flight, plus depending on where you're swapping you can get on some fantastic airlines who have great business / first class cabins.

Deending on the airline - 100% yes. DH is Australian so we travel fairly frequently to visit family and vice versa and for us, it's definitely worth it.

It depends, it's very personal. I live a 13 hour flight away from my family so do long haul all the time. I have friends who scoff at business because they can sleep in any position, anywhere, don't have back pain etc., even though they can absolutely afford it. And they would rather spend the money on something else.

Personally business is worth it for me. I am uncomfortable and in pain about 8-9 hours in so the last 4 hours of the flight are absolute torture for me in economy. But I can afford business, I don't have to cut back for it.

I don't care about the experience or better service. It's the ability to lie down that does it for me.

I've flown long haul business class once (we paid using air miles) and personally I don't think it's worth it for the difference.

Absolutely do it if you can comfortably afford it! Ultra long haul in economy is not a pleasant experience!

It's worth it, but be warned - it's hard to go back to economy after you've tasted all that space!

We did to Japan - the flights nearly cost more than the rest of the holiday...

but we could afford it, we could hit the ground running when we got there and go back to work much quicker when we got back. It was so nice too.

Australia - yes I would - if you can afford it.

Yes well worth it on such long haul. If you start from somewhere in Europe you will save thousands

We flew to the West Coast of the United States in Business a few years ago. Going was wonderful. it was a plane purpose built for the flat beds, a Dreamliner on KLM, the return was the overnight leg and it was a converted Delta plane where the regular seats had been reconfigured by taking one of a pair for all the gubbins needed to drop the other seat to a bed and it was awful, like being in a coffin!

Oh yes, it's terrible on the next flight! We were upgraded once to business to the States but were back in cattle for the return, it was so depressing.

This. Stop for a day or two in Asia for rest, recovery and delicious food.

I'd do it. But I'm fat with wide hips even at my slimmest. Plus it's a long way and a good sleep gives you extra time when you get there.

And it makes the whole experience better, with lounge access and shorter security lines and less people to share the loo with onboard.

If you're flying BA, I'd only book the new club world suites. Having flown both, the old ones aren't worth the money.

Probably not enough time for this trip but I'd highly recommend getting a BA Amex which gives you a companion voucher for a 2 for 1 airmiles flight in any cabin. We've used ours for a number of long haul business and first flights but booking them is a pain in the bottom and a race at midnight for the most popular routes.

Impossible to answer without knowing your income, or at least what proportion of your income this represents.

eg our family income one year was £500k so I paid for business class flights long haul as it was a small proportion of income. Our income is now half that so our annual trip down under this year will be in economy and the “unspent” £15k will be saved into ISAs.

Emirates business to Australia is brilliant, but so is having money to live off in retirement.

If you want to spend it then go ahead - the jet lag is grim that far so any little helps

If you have choice I wouldn’t fly BA - their staff try (mostly) but it’s just not the same as Singapore / Emirates / Qatar etc

Do it. It's a long flight. Enjoy yourself, life is for living.