Ever flown business class? Is it worth it?

[LowFlyingBacon]

A little bit of background needed here so trying to avoid drip feeding! Sorry it’s much longer than I intended!

I'm due to go on holiday next month. It’s a big birthday holiday so I’m trying to make it a big treat! I’m flying as a single parent with two, primary aged, children. One has complex additional needs, one has mild. Both are good travellers.

I’ve had a text from my airline today to say that my flights have changed. I’ve had a look online and my 1 hour layover at JFK is now a 6 hour one. Because of my kids, this is really bad news. The flight is a night flight so a one hour layover meant we would get off the first flight, toilet, snack and then get ready to board the next. Now we have 6 hours in a busy airport with two tired kids. I’ve contacted the airline (Virgin) and been told that I can’t prebook into a lounge for ‘health and safety’ reasons. And they can’t guarantee entry into the lounge when I get there unless I’m flying upper class. I’ve had a look on the app and there’s an option to bid on an upgrade, and for £400 each, I’ve got a reasonable chance of getting it. If I don’t, then I’m in my original seats and it doesn’t cost anything.

the issue is, I’ve never flown business class before. It’s been a dream but this is the first time I’ve ever actually considered it. Financially I know it’s not worth it for the free lounge food and a lie down bed (we will sleep the entire flight I’m hoping!) but mentally I’m thinking that it might be to avoid the stress at the airport, the shorter queues and embarkation, and the extra treat of a lovely bed for the flight?

for financial information- I am basically a broke lone parent, and this holiday has already cost a fortune. But I do have enough to cover this as holiday spending money. It means we will have less to spend on our (all inclusive) holiday, but won’t bankrupt me. It’s more the idea of spending the equivalent of another holiday on upgrades to flights I’ve already paid for that’s the issue?

So lovely people of mumsnet- is business class worth it?

YABU- save your money, it’s not worth it
YANBU- it’s a big holiday and this will relieve so much stress that it’s worth it

Worth every penny.
ill only do long haul BC and last year we did Greek islands BC out of Heathrow with BA. Utterly worth not being in the main concourse with my AuADHD daughter with the smells, lights , people , kids, lack of seats etc.
if I can’t go BC I’m not going frankly.

For you? 100% with SEN kids.

Not convinced that a £400 bid would be successful OP? On my VA flight last year, we bid double that with no success. Always worth a go though.

We use priority pass through Amex and we've never been turned away because the lounge is full

happened to me 3 times just the past year or so, all in the US. One lounge (Philadelphia I think it was) said they have 3 hour wait. Everybody and their dog has some kind of a lounge pass/credit card/whatever access there.

Just flown business class to the US. Work paid for the economy and I upgraded it. I usually go premium economy but the business class wasn’t that much different at that point. Best thing I ever did. Made use of the lounges at both airports which was lovely but we had a 4 hour delay once boarded so I had plenty of space, extra drinks etc. so 15 hours in the seat, that would have been awful in economy. first time I’ve ever slept on a plane too.

since I booked it, the cost jumped by 5k which is outrageous so normally 7k. I could never justify that and wouldn’t be worth it either. So, if you can get a deal, absolutely. Full price, nope

Given your DCs ages then yes I would take a punt and bid. They and you will love being able to turn the seat into a bed and have food served on a big table with proper plate/cutlery etc.

Yes, it's amazing but it will ruin you for economy travel in the future! The experience is so different- it makes flying long haul a pleasure rather than a trial. £400 is an absolute bargain

Sometimes if you upgrade you don't get lounge access though. You can always pay separately for a lounge.

I would absolutely, BC is worth every penny long haul. Consider it part of your holiday.

Check what you get in terms of lounge access. In my experience, you get lounge access according to the flight you are about to board, meaning that flying business to New York wouldn't get you lounge access for your 6 hours in the airport, unless you are upgrading both legs of the journey (in which case that's a very reasonable price to pay). Also lounge access is usually limited to 3 hours I think.

As an alternative upgrade, consider getting a hotel room at JFK. In any case as an international arrival you have to exit the airport then re-enter. So you could get a room and spend around 3 hours there and rest between your flights.

Is business worth it for your flight? I'd say only if it's at a time when you really intend to spend the flight sleeping. Otherwise it's nice but I'm not sure it's £1200 nice...

I was going to say a 1 hour layover isn’t enough. What about delays. It would feel too rushed. This way you can take your time getting off the plane, and getting food and toilet breaks and so on.

Thanks everyone. I hadn’t thought about not getting the lounge with the bid. I might call them again tomorrow and see if they can give any advice on it. I’m also worried about the seat layout. I always pay to sit with my kids, but I’m guessing with a bid then I won’t get that option and wouldn’t want to be opposite sides of the plane?

If its more for the lounge access, it might be worth looking at your bank. Some banks if you upgrade to their premium banks they include things and some include lounge access and travel insurance. Might be worth upgrading your bank account instead which would be cheaper and give you those extras, especially if you travel often.

It’s worth every last penny long haul. Anything under 4 hours and I wouldn’t bother.

Where are you flying to after JFK? You may well have to get your bags, go through immigration etc etc. 1 Hr would never have been long enough and it could take ages to get through everything anyway so you may not have that long to hang around. I would just prebook another type of lounge.

I've flown business class once. Probably the best seven hours of my life!

I lived in the ME and when my grandmother died my husband who flew extensively for business had lots of thousands of air miles that could be used for my trip. It’s was an Emirates flight and was totally stunning, I even had a driver from the airline collect and pick me up. Do it if you can, it’s sooooo worth it. Enjoy 💐

Yes check the T&Cs as I have never bid on VA as always just got upper but have bid on other airlines and always make sure I get the lounge 😁.

As for seats on VA again go to the seat map to understand the configuration. Most cases being directly opposite can sometimes feel closer than next to each other in VA upper but plane configurations vary so drill down into the details. On my last VA upper flight someone (adults) did ask to swop as I think they had won their bid and was seated complete opposite side to their partner and as most people are happy in their individual pods swooping seats wasn’t such a hardship unlike economy.

JFK is going through extensive renovations right now and the roads around it are a disaster zone. On top of that, Uber is only available in certain areas so you have to take a train to get to them. By the time you got to the hotel, it could be almost time to turn around and go back again.

I also love business class but JFK is such a short flight that I don't think its worth it. (Can't really afford/justify it these days either)

Depends on the flight, airplane etc. If on a small plane it isn't a big difference and not worth it. On larger, longer flights it's really nice

£400 each upgrade is premium economy not business class. Business class long haul costs thousands.
less than one hour layover with children with additional needs is very tight, I wouldn’t even do that with kids without needs.

I real business class you never really sit next to someone - that’s sort of the point. so at take off for example you wouldn’t see them if they sit next to you as the seats are separated by a “wall”.

Yes, though modern business class seems to be designed so you can’t see anyone else ( you kind of have your own private booth), which may not be ideal with kids. We got the middle seats which do have a divider you can open, my teenager kept closing it when I opened it, ASD ten year old liked being able to see us. As a family of 4 it worked well as DH had the seat next to her, and I sat behind her so could get to her easily ( if there’s only one adult you have to walk round the back if the cabin to get to the person your sat next too). It was also good to be allowed more luggage than we needed ( or one could carry). You’ll always be able to see over the dividers when standing cause the flight attendants need to. Only other thing I discovered is that lie flat beds make travel sickness worse so I ended up having mine more like a recliner.
The majority of the food was actually edible, and some was even nice, which made a change from the normal airline fare.

Good point. I have only ever seen the upgrade to the next class. So are you economy or premium economy?

I would rather a 6 hour layover than 1 hour!!! JFK is a huge and horrible airport, 1 hour would never be enough. I’ve had really bad experiences trying to transfer there.

Additionally, whenever I’ve transferred planes in the US I’ve had to exit passport control and then “re enter” through passport control because of US immigration rules. As you can imagine, this can take a lot of time.

Would you be able to trust your children to behave appropriately if the fasten seatbelt sign came on during the flight? If not I wouldn't even consider it because you're not going to be able to reach them with your own seatbelt on even if you're in adjacent seats. If you're in economy you'll be next to the children and so any messing about could be shut down quite quickly, not so in business.