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

Long distance I’d love to do it and for £400 I’d jump at it.

Personally I would not bother upgrading, especially if money is tight. Nice as a flat bed is, you’ll have a row to yourselves on the plane and being with kids means enough room. You can just pay for the lounge at Heathrow. Flying business or first internally in the US usually does not entitle you to lounge access and they are very busy anyway and cannot be accessed (if at all) til 3 hours maximum before your flight

Virgin lands at JFK Terminal 4, which is actually rather nice these days. Plenty of restaurants and cafes and places to sit. If there is no line at immigration then you might be able to do it in an hour (rechecking your bags is easy and close to where you emerge from customs) and then a quick trip upstairs for security and your onward flight. However, if there is a line at immigration then you’d be screwed, so I would be happy with the change.

@LowFlyingBacon

Most larger airports have 'buy in' lounges. You don't have to be flying a particular airline etc, you can just buy a day pass. In some cases you can book them in advance. Google the airport name + 'buy in lounges'.

My son travels frequently for his work and will only fly business or better. Of course, he doesn't pay, his employer does. I've occasionally looked, but I guess I'm just too cheap.

Yes long distance is worth it, short continental flights not really.

If you can get a gold Amex card you’ll get 4 free passes for Priority lounges. Most airports you can then pay a small fee to book to guarantee entry. My DH and I both have this so we can use the lounge in both directions. If you have a friend who already has one get a referral code because you’ll get even more air miles. Just be aware there’s no guarantee of an upgrade when you bid with Virgin. Depends how busy the flight is. Business class is good but I only ever fly it if I have enough airmiles. We use it because DH is very tall - if your kids fit easily in a standard seat I wouldn’t bother.

If you think the actual flight will be manageable, I’d focus more on the layover. You can often pay for lounge access or a hotel even. You can also pay for airport fast track or mag be eligible for other cafe if you ask for assistance? £1200 for one way/one leg(?) will comfortably get you decent travel pillows, blankets, noise cancelling headphones, a hotel room and more spending money to enjoy your holiday or save for the next one.

Business class is definitely worth it to me, and for £400 it's a no-brainer IMO. But is £400 the cost for the upgrade, or the minimum you can bid? I believe they often open bidding to all economy and then whoever bids highest gets the upgrade. Which would likely be much more than £400.

Most importantly though, you do need to make sure you're going to be able to connect. 1 hour is cutting it really, really fine even if you're arriving and departing the same terminal as any delay at all could be disaster. Boarding starts about 40 minutes before departure, so you'll only actually have 20 minutes from landing to get to gate, if the hour is from landing time to departure time. Plus, if you're flying into the US from outside the US, you have to completely leave the airport and check in again. So collect bags, go through immigration, go through customs - then find your way back to the front door with all your luggage and children, check in, go through security etc etc. 6 hours would be really, really close in JFK... I'd say you're much better using the money to get a nice room in an airport hotel plus transfers, then fly the next day after a decent night's sleep.

Virgin upper layout isn’t easy with kids as you are one behind the other so can’t see each other or reach easily. Also the new seats are very hard with the join mid back. However depending on your kids this may be ok. Service is good with a bar you can stand at and the lounges and fast track great.

So yes I’d definitely do it for £400pp.

But! You say old configuration of plane - does the lambs have premium economy also? I’d check you weren’t upgrading to that.

The old BA layout isn’t brilliant but better than economy still.

Be warned you may still have to pay for seat reservations (and at a higher cost).

I flew business class from Dublin to Chicago with Aer Lingus three years ago and wouldn’t do it again. They ran out of the dessert I wanted on the way over and ran out of the main course I wanted on the way back. Also as I was sitting by the window I had to climb over the person bedside me to use the loo. On the way over I was sitting beside my partner but on the way back I was beside a stranger.

That’s why people need to look at airlines and plane configurations. Even the same airline has different set ups depending on the the route/plane they fly. Some are not worth the money and some are.

Long haul? Yes, every time for the last 10 years. And yes, it’s always worth it.
Short haul? Business class is shite and I don’t bother.

I have done it a couple of times when long haul flights have been at times I would usually be sleeping - I think it is totally worth it to lie flat and be able to sleep the whole flight. I really struggle with tiredness and need to lie down. If your kids won't let you sleep then it is not worth it....

The food, drinks, service etc don't make any difference to me - its all about lying down.

The booths are either single or double, would they be ok with that? I’d not bother myself and instead look at if there’s bookable hotels airside

Would it be 400 each? No if so, if money is tight

I would and £400 per person is not high. I doubt you will win the bid with £400. It may be worth checking the number of biz class seats left on your flight ?

It is absolutely worth it. Makes a huge difference in arriving exhausted or just a bit tired. Less stress in the airport, being able to lay down and sleep during flight.

And it just takes the experience of flying, which is a bit crap these days, and makes if feel like a bit of a luxury.

I upgraded for £350 on a 14 hour flight to Saigon with Air France and it absolutely was worth it - the lounge at CDG alone was fabulous. Go for it!

business class is overrated. at least today. there are so many classes available today, it is hard to track

For long haul on a good airline it is. Lay flat beds, proper sleep, personal space. Yes pls.

Bit different if you have kids to look after though.

I've tried these bids on I think 4 flights now - only successful once (the most recent bid was at the max allowable amount, said we were 'highly likely' to get the upgrade & still got rejected!). So def worth a try but don't rely on it for your planning, and you usually only find out if successful shortly before check in opens

I should add that while I very much appreciated business class, my daughter would probably have been happier in economy as she couldn’t cuddle up to us and I’m pretty sure the kids meals were the same. she managed though. Seatbelt wasn’t that much of an issue, she could do the lap bit herself once shown ( which is enough for turbulence), and I nipped forward and sorted her shoulder bit ( not sure if all airlines have this) before doing mine for takeoff and landing. We were with BA with the new layout, other airlines have different layouts.
Another big plus for us is they can give you a meal from a lower cabin, but not a higher one, so managed to feed my son who’s allergic to egg a full meal for everything apart from breakfast on the way back ( before any asks the only egg free option we could pre order was a vegan meal which I knew he wouldn’t eat).

Is it virgin upper class? If so £400 per seat is worth it! It’s a comfortable set up and the lounge is very pleasant.

I had the worst flight of my life (turbulence, vomiting) in virgin’s upper class. I was so glad to have my own space!

I think it will ruin every future flight for your kids and £1200 will go a lot further as spending money on your holiday.

I would research more the lounge options in your jfk terminal. Not sure leaving and checking into a hotel will be that feasible since security lines at JFK can be horrible. (something to do with federal employees not being paid)

I think you’d struggle in BC with 2 young kids with additional needs on your own. The seats are so far apart. You’ll either have to put the 2 kids next to each other or 1 kid on their own. I can’t see how it would easily work. I think it would be more stressful than premium economy.

I’d go for premium economy and hope and pray for space in the lounge. I’m sure there will be space in other lounges if the Virgin one is full though. I’ve never had a problem getting into a lounge.

Also, you were never going to make that 1 hour change so it’s good your flight has moved.