Do you feel like you’re wasting money flying business class?

[falindra]

I fly with work and get biz. So it’s hard to go back to normal and fly economy. We earn decent salaries but no way would we ever spend £2-3k of our own dosh on a flight.

We religiously collect avios and upgrade ourselves. But even then the taxes go up so we’re spending the airmiles plus another say £400 in taxes. We take home around £7k a month so £800 in taxes just to fly business class is a lot of money to us.

does anyone else feel the same?

Paying for business class is not something it would ever occur to me to do. I am similarly baffled by people spending tens of thousands on cars. It's transport. It gets me from A to B. That's all it needs to do.

You’re right. That’s me. I travel a lot, but I can go a lot further and do a lot more if I’m not forking out for business class and 5 star hotels which I don’t enjoy and don’t see the value - other people really like that sort of stuff though.

Horses for courses.

Well I'm another 'if I can't afford buisness then I can't afford to go' 🤷🏻‍♀️. We have had careers with lots of flights and lots of air miles so have only flown buisness or first for years. I've got back issues and find economy and even premium economy very uncomfortable on long haul flights. If I can't afford buisness then I am not interested in going. I'm happy to stay in cheap accommodation and eat cheaply but I don't won't to fly economy.
Holidays are meant to be enjoyable and I'm not going to enjoy a holiday if I know I'm going to be in pain when I fly.

I used to fly for work on business quite a bit, sometimes even upgraded to first class. It is nice but not thousands of pounds nicer if it were my own money. I also don't like experiencing turbulence whilst lying flat.

Nah, wouldn't stump up for business class. I would rather pay for more holiday than better sleep in a tin can. I go camping so luxury is not non-negotiable for me. Just a simple gal.

Absolutely not! DH and I are happy to fly economy short haul, but we wouldn’t fly long haul unless in business class!

I've never flown business class so I'm not missing anything. I could probably afford it. But I'm happy to fly economy with everyone else.

Can't afford it with 4 of us ☹️

I stump up for premium economy or business if it’s a night flight or really long haul. Especially if I’m renting a car at the other end, I wouldn’t feel safe on the road if I hadn’t had any sleep on a night flight.

I’ve also booked cheap and waited for special offers to upgrade. I’m frequently offered something close to the flight date.

Our company H&S training was don’t get off a flight and into a hire car - book a driver or stay in a hotel. Driving was one of the highest risks in what was already a high risk occupation.

@SabrinaThwaite I agree in theory, that’s why I upgrade for night flights as I can actually sleep. I’ve had family crises where I’ve had to get there ASAP.

Short haul no problem.
Long haul I Will really start to ache after a while so will look at points etc.
When I was in my 20's it wasn't an issue, nearly 50 it definitely is.

You might consider it as arrogant but it's just their opinion, don't get so offended by it!

Short haul, I don't really care how I fly.

Long haul, mostly not bothered, but if it's a nighttime flight, business class, definitely.

If I hadn't been on holiday for years and all I could afford was economy, I'd take it without complaint, but I'd be going short haul as it would be cheaper and I'd not be bothered wouldn't be on the plane for very long.

If you can afford to fly business class, or have fee upgrades, then why wouldn't you?

To answer the original question, if it's an overnight flight then would definitely get it if possible but otherwise probably not unless it was a very good deal.

I’ve just looked at prices on Emirates for my holiday flights in February. Business flights for my husband and I neatly £9800 Economy £2,200. We have flown both in the past, but it’s a big difference between the two!

If I had the money to spare I'd do it. If not. I wouldn't. Simples. All about priorities

I don’t think it is. I find flying an unpleasant experience that would be improved hugely by having more space and the ability to lie down properly. As it is, I can’t sleep, get massively bothered by people kicking and manhandling the back of the seat, HATE being hemmed in and so on. There are places I can’t face travelling to in economy due to the distance and, as I won’t pay for BC, simply won’t go. I completely get why people will either pay for BC/first or not go at all, and I had a colleague who went long distance rarely so he could afford BC when he did.

Yes I think business is worth it for flights over about 6 hours. I find flying increasingly uncomfortable the older I get and I’m prepared to pay to avoid sitting in pain for 6+ hours. I agree it’s very privileged position to be in being able to make that choice, but it’s certainly not arrogance to say if I couldn’t afford business I would not fly long haul.

It’s a question of priorities. I’m not interested in designer clothes, or expensive cars, or swimming pools or many other things people spend money on. I’m fine with staying in cheaper accommodation. But being comfortable and having more space to myself and shorter queues etc while flying are worth it to me.

I once walked through business class. That was alright. I obviously am not the person your post is aimed at. You live on a different planet to everyone I know.
Just to let you know this is a lovely problem to have compared to most of the world.

@daylightplease Yes, business class is definitely more appealing as you get older! My lower back has gone into spasms a couple of times after long flights, it’s agonizing. Luckily on return journeys so I could deal with it at home.

@Janedoe82 i agree with other posters. It is entirely up to Hobo how she wishes to travel on her holiday.

you cannot just police other people’s personal preferences. FOR HER if she can’t afford business then she won’t go. That is valid. And not arrogant. Maybe for you it’s different and that’s just as valid.

its not arrogant to have different priorities than you. Regardless of any cost of living crisis (irrelevant to her preferences)

😂

We have now started downgrading due to huge rise in airfares since COVID.

Before COVID we could often acquire BC seats to Bangkok, for instance, for around ,£2.5k each. Same
Seats are now in excess of £5k each! 😥. Bit rich for our blood! (No Avios or anything as retirees.)

We have instead booked economy with Emirates on the A380 - even PE was ridiculously expensive - which are definitely more roomy and breaking the journey for 2 nights on the return leg.

Really miss the flat beds though! 😥

I'm sorry but what language is this you are speaking?!

True that. LOL.

@user1471548941 when are the Premium Sales normally? I should start tracking these…

My husband travelled a lot for work and it was always business class with the occasional upgrade. But as a family we travelled economy or on occasion premium as he had loads of points. If we were going with him on a business trip he would pay for us to travel business (I think we did this a couple times). But no way would we go business regularly just us - we went to Australia once and the long part was premium but economy the rest.
However if you have the money I don't see why not.