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!

Ally. I have used both Emirates A380 and Qatar Q Suites recently. I honestly dont know what you are referring to re the Emirates Lounge at Dubai which has won awards and is very snazzy. I used the Qatar Lounge in Doha recently and it was very good and on par with Emirates Lounge.

Although the Q suites were nice with the doors etc I found the Qatar cabin crew robotic. There was an issue on board with a passenger and they were trying to fix using a manual labelled 'Customer complaints and how to deal with them'.

I actually like Emirates because of all the international cabin crew. My area was managed by a lady from Ireland and my husband had someone from Oz. I found Qatar had mainly people from Phillipennes or Africa. Very pretty and heavily made up as most of the Middle Eastern airlines seem to demand.

I also loved getting onto the Emirates A380 from the lounge at Heathrow. No walking miles to get to the gate with the pushing and shoving that often occurs on boarding.

The revenue per square foot is highest in business class, they are getting more from you in comparison to what you get.

Is there premium economy on the route as a middle ground if the price is an issue?

Look at the plane and what the business class offers. Being able to rest properly (flat bed, or semi-flat) is a game changer.

Wouldn't bother on a short flight.

The part I dread is the aircon.

First or business class is only really worth it on a flight to Aus/NZ from Europe. It’s brutal in economy. I would definitely do it.

Absolutely do it

Coming back from Oz on Singapore with a layover at Singapore where the flight was delayed. They got us to the gate to get ready to board and then nothing.... there was a family who were with us on the first flight and they looked ready to call it a day. In the end the women just lay on the floor and her daughter lay on top of her until finally we were called to board.

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I agree regarding Emirates. Was a bit confused by Ally’s post. And I’ve never faced another passenger flying business class. Our last flight to Dubai I saw noone for 7hrs, not even my own family. 😂

We’ve flown business to Sydney on a couple of occasions and luckily, we can afford it (there’s just me & DH), we both sleep well, eat well, get showers in the lounge during a stopover (Changi airport is brilliant). We try to fly on Qatar or Singapore airlines as they are fantastic. I’m not sure either of us would travel all that way in economy now, we’ve become too spoilt! We do have a good look around on skyscanner for good deals and we have done ex-EU for a couple of brilliant deals, but with kids with you, that would be a real faff and probably wouldn’t end up saving you that much. TBH, I’m not sure such great deals exist anymore.

Depends on the airline. We flew business on Quantas from Singapore to London and it wasn’t worth it though I still wear the PJs. OTOH we got a free upgrade from London to Johannesburg on BA and that was definitely worth it.

I feel like the best bits of business class are the lounge and not having to sit next to people you don’t know. As you are travelling as a group you can sit together and so if it was me I’d pay likely for lounges, fly economy and have another holiday a different time with the bonus.

I suspect the 'facing other passengers' comment refer to the old style BA seats but you can put up the screen up. I wont use BA flights anymore that still have these types of seats but the trick IMHO is getting a window seat and then putting the screen up if you really have no choice.

BA Club Suites are much much better but tend to be from Heathrow. I dont believe any Gatwick flights have the Club Suites. As you can probably guess I am very fussy. My seats need to be my choice and I am now BA Silver so can choose my seats free and the other airlines I have used dont seem to charge although it doesnt depend.

having done that same trip multiple times - i agree with you, id you can afford it, i would. I do as i need to sleep - its an insane amount of time to travel. We've done that trip with kids too.

There are 6 or 7 Emirates lounges in DXB, not 'the' Emirates lounge, and some are worse than others but of the ones I've been in none were not a patch on Al Mourjan in Doha, for example.

Regarding international crew, I'd say it's not so much airline dependent as route dependent. I've met many Qatar crew who were from the UK, EU countries and Asia as well as Middle East.

Google flights will give you the actual type of seats on BA. Lie flat seats mean old style BA whereas the Individual Suite = Club Suites.

@afterfive

And I’ve never faced another passenger flying business class.

I am talking about the BA cabins (prior to the suite-style updates they're going through).

Can you fly out economy and back business to soften the blow of re-entry?

I wouldn't, however with my short legs comfort in an airplane is not the issue it is for taller people.

I'd stop off somewhere on the way instead.

It really depends on how well off you are. If you have the money to put your child through university and help them with a house deposit already then yes I would. Otherwise I would slum it like everyone else. We are 70ish and flew Business Class for the first time a few months ago and yes it was so much better but not perfect. We would not have done this while we still had a mortgage or our children were in education. Have a look at prices of other airlines. They can sometimes be a lot cheaper for business class.

I would. Have flown many times from HK to Australia and NZ and can recommend Cathay Pacific.

Yes you do sound like my dh. He is Emirates platinum, and is annoyingly picky with his seats. There probably is no detail he does not know regarding lounges or seats. 😂 He greets the cabin crew by their first names, and my final straw was last time in the bar a cabin crew picked out the nuts from a bag of mixed nuts she knew he liked and put in a bowl for him. He is always nice to people though, compared to some people who are just twats to the cabin crew.

Ah sorry, read too fast.

It was Qantas. Enough said

I am also of the view that the kids can manage in Economy. It’s only now I am in my 60’s that I can afford this bar our honeymoon flight and I am not sure that it’s right for young lads to be in Biz Class. It will spoil them for life!

So you work hard to afford nice things like business class for yourself but think instead of enjoying the fruits of your labour then you should just give house deposits to your kids ( who if you thinking of being able to do so have already had a privileged life) Hmm