Business class travel - is it actually worth it?

[redutnrip]

I’m always amazed when travelling at the number of people who seem to afford to fly business for leisure. DH and I earn well but even paying for premium economy seems like a stretch.

We recently went to Joburg for a safari and direct biz flights were £3,500+ and yet the cabin was chokka?

I wouldn't bother with anything like this now, because it's become normalised for people to take babies and young children in business and first class.

They should, they have just as much right to as anyone else. But I wouldn't waste my money unless I could guarantee the experience wouldnt be ruined by a crying baby or a young child watching an iPad without headphones.

Very few people pay the headline rate for business tickets with their own money. Most use business accounts, air miles or get last minute upgrades.

I almost always do online check in. The airline I use most often has self bag drop, it usually takes me two minuts to drop my bag.

Business class luggage comes out first? I mean, if it does, the rest comes 3 minutes later.

You can pay for a lounge, its not that expensive. I did it once when I was stuck in an airport for a long time since I missed a flight. (long story...I couldn't leave the airport). The lounge had reclining seats so I was able to sleep. Otherwise I never get to an airport long enough before a flight that its worth the money.

You can also pay for fast track security.

All for less than a business class ticket.

I met an actual billionaire once who said he never pays for business or first class, he just takes a sleeping pill when he gets on a plane and it doesn't matter where he is sitting.

I have started doing that on night flights and its life changing.

Having said that, for a really really long flight I might be willing to pay a few hundred for a business class seat, but not more than a thousand.

This I usually travel to Asia or long haul the states with work and aint no way I look like a business traveller. As an experienced traveller its leggings and a big fleece or hoodie for the flight, saves the faff of changing if I dont fancy it. Will always have the laptop bag with me though

Bunch of absolute cunts. This makes me so angry

Business is well worth it for anything over 5 hours. I do fly business if I am on my own. With kids I fly premium, my days of 14 hours in economy are long gone. I’d rather stay home. For short haul I’m more than happy with Ryanair, allocated seats at check in and as little luggage as I can get away with them

I’ve flown business, first class and private jet and don’t think any of them are worth it. I generally don’t love to fly so it’s never going to be great so I really resent the huge uptick in cost for it to be slightly less unpleasant.

I can understand the fear of this, but having flown extensively in business and first for the last 15 or so years this has never happened to me. Noisy kids definitely more of an issue in economy in my experience

It probably depends where you're flying to as well. I usually travel to China and Japan and the kids on those flights are incredibly well behaved!

I flew years ago I was in an economy seat on SAS Scandinavian and struck up a conversation with the guy in the seat next to me. He turned out to be Ingvar Kamprad, the (billionaire) founder of Ikea.

If it's good enough for him...

I absolutely love business class and I factor it in as part of the holiday cost. A big part actually. I know that sounds silly but for me it's true 😀 and yes I know people
will say well Anthony Hopkins says you get there at the same time if you're in economy and that's true but horses for courses

It's worth every penny for a London - Sydney return trip despite costing the same as a decent car. I'm quite sure my teens will want to come with me for many years whilst I continue to pay for their flights 🤣🤣.

My point was, in economy I don't care if a baby screams throughout the flight as it's not cost much.

I love it and try to do business class for long haul. I hate arriving at a destination tired and bent out of shape (and I'm only 35!). I pay for it with airline points but sometimes have to spend a fair bit to top it up if I don't have enough points.

I'm not mega rich but I have no kids which seem to be the biggest expense for people my age.

I do this trip every year but no way could I afford to fly business despite being on a high salary. It is true that it’s the equivalent of a decent car and I think to be able to afford it you would need a 7 figure income.

I too have never come across a screaming baby or toddler-on-iPad-headphoneless situation in business class. But I do admit to mostly being asleep on BC flights so may have just not noticed.

I do this trip every year but no way could I afford to fly business despite being on a high salary. It is true that it’s the equivalent of a decent car and I think to be able to afford it you would need a 7 figure income.

You think you need to be earning £1,000,00 p.a. to afford a BC flight to Australia? Really?

I would never do this flight in economy and I earn nowhere near 7 figures.

Meant to tag @Newmeagain

I just checked and it's ~£6,000 BC return with BA. Definitely not reserved for the £1m+ earnings a year brigade. What nonsense.

I'm fully converted to business class for long haul, never pay the headline figure though. Last flights original price was £11700 for 4 of us business class, with points and a companion voucher parted with £2000.

We usually fly either premium economy or business/upper (VA).
It's usually only worth it for an overnight flight. You get access to the lounge, which is great on a late afternoon/evening leading up to the flight, then on the flight itself you get a bed. Definitely worth it if you can afford it.

Daytime flight, premium economy.

Call me a snob but I can't sit for 8 hours+ in economy seats. Awful.

@Crushed23 i also just checked and if I travelled in June (definitely one of the cheaper times) then with all the fees and taxes it would be nearly £8000. That is my after tax monthly salary and definitely not something I could afford just for a flight.

that’s just for one person.

And it's something that a lot of people can afford who earn similar to you. Especially if their mortgage is paid off and they don't have children / their children are grown up.

I haven’t flown economy (short haul) in nearly a decade, thanks to a combination of using air miles, bidding and using airline sales.

I love the extra room on a plane, being able to use the loo whenever I want without worrying about not disturbing my seat neighbour, dine on demand, airline lounges, fast track security, smaller cabins, lie flat seats and overall a better travel experience. I wouldn’t fly economy long haul again if I could help it tbf, would rather just stay at home or just stick with short haul destinations around Europe as I don’t think business class is worth it for a 1-3 hour flight.

I'll happily do economy short haul but my back can't take it long haul now in my 50's. We went to South Africa recently where there's hardly a time difference so booked a night flight. Had dinner in lounge, watched a film after take off, took a sleeping pill and when I woke up it was morning.

I have a dodgy knee and economy and even premium economy for long haul are a no-go. Even with walking around it doesn‘t work.

I had a day of issues after a 4 hour flight to Cyprus and Tenerife so when we planned a US trip 2 years ago it was business class or nothing.

I can’t sleep in a plane but I enjoy the comfort.

We only fly long haul every 4 years or so and do fairly cheapish holidays inbetween. Currently saving for a trip to Asia.