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

A 6 hour layover is not enough to go into Manhattan from JFK and there is absolutely nothing near the airport, just stay in the terminal. By the time you get off the plane, through immigration and have rechecked your bags, it will be time to go through security for your next flight.

If £1200 is a great deal of money to you and would make a difference to your trip overall to have this spending money then do not bother upgrading. I fly JFK to the UK and back often and I simply don’t think an upgrade using your own money is worth it.

Dont overthink it, OP. Your kids will be excited to be going on a plane and won’t care if they’re in business or not. Same with the lounges, which are not very interesting for children compared to an airport terminal

because you said you’re a broke lone parent with two young children ? There will be much more worthy things to spend your money on in the near future than renting an expensive seat for a relatively short journey. Having the money doesn’t mean you can afford it? I’d save the money tbh. Lots of rainy days ahead of hen you’re on your own with two children.

We’re flying business in August for all the on the ground benefits. The seats are actually a bit of a pain for the daytime flight with a 3 and 5 yo (BA Club Suite, can’t see each other). The return is a night flight so hoping we all get some sleep.

Extra luggage allowance
Priority check in/bag drop
Priority security
Lounge access (I will stock up with snacks for the flight)
Priority boarding
Priority disembarking
Priority luggage (gets to the carousel faster)
Arrivals lounge on return to LHR (night flight arriving at around 6am so DH and I will grab a shower and coffee before heading on the road). - Virgin have one at LHR too.

When I last flew with Virgin I found the herringbone seats are a little weird, but I liked it well enough and the lounge is good (much better than BA). The price is good too. In your layover situation I would grab a shower.

@LowFlyingBaconanyone who is in business / upper deserves to be travelling there. Their ticket is just as valid as anyone else’s.

New York is such a short flight I wouldn’t bother. I would be trying to re arrange my flights instead for a shorter layover

JFK is a nightmare of an airport so I think a 1 hour layover was crazy optimistic of them to even sell. I've never upgraded as I'd rather have the money to spend on holiday, but if your huge consideration is the lounge - I'm really not sure how long you'd have to spend in there anyway. You'll have to go through border control and customs and get your bag and recheck your bag and that will take a while. Queues for all that at JFK can take a while - it was 3 hours all in for me last time we went through there. Then by the time you get a snack, get to a toilet, have a wander around... it will be time to find your next gate. You'll maybe have 1-2 hour spare but not sure that's worth £1200.

I agree, haven't been there for a couple of year but 1 hour to connect in JFK is crazy optimistic.

Definitely worth it for long night flights, if the seat can turn into a flat bed. And a lot nicer anyway, I wouldn’t bother for short haul - not if I was paying, anyway.

With children at least you’d get more room.

And I do agree, the lounges make it a more pleasant experience, especially if you’re like me and hate airports generally.

The trouble with flying business or first class, though, is that it completely ruins you for ever needing to go cattle class later.

Thanks everyone. I think my main concern is the kids getting overwhelmed by the airport and it causing a meltdown which would be horrific. The noise/business etc can cause sensory overload in both so that’s why I’m worried

I very much understand - my daughter is autistic and travelling can be challenging. The issue is though, that a lot of the chaos can't be avoided, particularly in JFK. I think you dodged a bullet having the flight times changed actually as you would never have made the hour layover and you'd have to rebook there.

Have you transferred in an American airport before? It's a long process and you'll need a lot of time to calmly work through it. Can you ask for accessibility support? I know it's a wheelchair but then at least you can skip some of the queuing.

Apparently there’s new sensory suites in terminal 4 at JFK for people travelling with children with additional needs.

https://x.com/jfkairport/status/2024212380347949373?s=46&t=yBZ212GvEwwVUixQOvkR8Q

More details can be found here…

https://www.panynj.gov/port-authority/en/blogs/air/airports-offer-spaces-for-family-travel.html

JFK Terminal 4 for transfers is about as smooth as it gets. The bag re-check is literally outside the customs area you walk through after you have picked up your baggage and there is often no line whatsoever. Then it’s upstairs to go through security again and that’s it. Never seen it looking remotely chaotic. Other terminals may vary but as you’re flying Virgin and presumably on with Delta, it will be 4.

Did you say you were flying overnight from LHR, OP? I didn’t know there were any overnight flights- what time do you arrive at JFK? This will make a difference.

What terminal are you in? You can hire a quiet room (Minute Suite) in Terminals 4 and 5 I think. Probably much cheaper than upgrading your flights.

@Beekman its an overnight flight from JFK to London. It’s a day flight from London but I’m worried about the night flight home :)

The night flight home seems very quick. Usually it comes in at around 6 hours. They dim the lights for most of the journey and everyone sleeps or at least sits quietly. I never upgrade that way, not even with points/ miles. You’re not on the plane long enough to get the benefit.

The NY-Lon flight is very short, actual flying time tends to be around 6 hours. You won't be able to lie down until you're up in the air and seatbelt sign is off, and you'll have to get ready for landing 40 mins before landing. So you'll get about 4.5hrs to sleep.

Wow. A low bar!!!