Actually paying for F

[thegurio]

Hi all, i wonder here, who actually chooses to (now this is out of your own pocket) PAY for F?

Now i would imagine that most of us here would say do a DONE4 and upgrade to F using points. But to stump up for a AONE4 is a whole other matter...

The reason why i think this is because as someone who would do DONE4's, CIRC22's etc you would have more than enough time to get heaps of points to upgrade and so therefore the need to pay the extra money is not needed as you could upgrade the sectors using points.

 

[Keith009]

I've actually stumped up for F a couple of times on LH ex-Oz fares, the mixed class fares (where you ride J on TG or UA up to Asia or North America, and LH long haul in F to/from Europe) were decently priced during my *A-flying life. The base fare for ZAAX used to be about AUD6500, books into discount buckets but comes with full fare-esque flexibility. They were then substantially increased after Dec2006ish.

Every other time my F flying has been on miles (or miles and cash ), SEN vouchers, EVIPs and analogous instruments.

AONE4 ex-South Africa also looks reasonable atm if you actually intend to visit Africa.

 

[Dave Noble]

I have paid for first class a fair number of times on various airlines on long routes. e.g. LHR-SYD on EK and in past when it existed FRA-SYD on QF plus having finished off a 1st class roundtrip when I arrived in UK recently will be starting another one to go back next week

I have only once ever bought an ATW ticket and that was in economy; all other tickets have been normal ones since I rarely have any need for around the world travel

Dave

 

[drron]

On occasions i have but I'm sure they dont really count.
First was 40 years ago flying TAA SYD-POM.On a student discount it cost the huge sum of $10 more to fly first class-I reckoned quite rightly i could drink at least that much beer on the flight.
Second was some time ago opn BA BNE-SIN where it was an offer-pay for J go F.
Third was on this monday when I rang TA about a flight to BKK in December.Again an offer on BA flying F one way-I had to pay on the day as the offer ended on monday.The price was significantly less than the J fare.
However it now is a DONE4 with AA longhaul segments so I can upgrade.Have also been fortunate enough to get a couple of op ups on CX.
So unlikely to pay for an AONE4.

 

[jamesatfish]

Hi all, i wonder here, who actually chooses to (now this is out of your own pocket) PAY for F?

Now i would imagine that most of us here would say do a DONE4 and upgrade to F using points. But to stump up for a AONE4 is a whole other matter...

My wife and I just came back from a 2 week AONE4.

Basically, we wanted to travel in First both for the enjoyment of the flights and also to maximise the time we had on the ground (if we get a good sleep on the plane then you don't waste a day of work/leisure by being jetlagged). There were no FF point flights available (no surprise as we booked about 6 weeks ahead) so we paid for the tickets.

Neither of us have WP status (I'm Gold and she was Silver - but hopefully we'll both make WP by the end of this year thanks to the AONE4) so buying Business and hoping for 2 upgrades per flight (especially to/from the US) is a bit unrealistic.

The other consideration was the 2-class AA flights within the US - I believe that a DONE booking puts you into Economy on those US domestic flights, which isn't much fun when you've got a number of US cities to visit and multiple trips through DFW to connect.

Although this was mainly a business trip (our business, so out of our pockets) we are both of the opinion that we'd rather make one trip a year in First rather than 2 in Business, as getting the time away from work is harder than finding the money for the flights.

 

[sr81]

The other consideration was the 2-class AA flights within the US - I believe that a DONE booking puts you into Economy on those US domestic flights, which isn't much fun when you've got a number of US cities to visit and multiple trips through DFW to connect.

One of the great things about a DONE4 is that it books you into A (first class) on USA domestic flights. Hence you earn a better cabin bonus and status bonus. Coach is not fun.

I have upgraded a DONE with points but wouldn't pay unless the deal was amazing. I just can't justify the cost with business class being pretty damn good with lie-flat seats becoming the norm for longhaul.

 

[NYCguy]

Hi all, I wonder here, who actually chooses to (now this is out of your own pocket) PAY for F?

When flying for leisure, I try to use some of the ridiculous number of accumulated miles that I have sitting around, particularly with UA. It's never proved to be much of a problem getting the seats that I want, although I do tend to lock them in a good few months ahead. I occasionally use upgrades from C to F on leisure flights, although I "sponsor" my SWUs away to friends and relatives most years.

My partner accompanies me on nearly all of my business trips. I pay for those tickets, since my employer will reimburse me for my own seats in F or C, but not those of traveling companions.

 

[NM]

The other consideration was the 2-class AA flights within the US - I believe that a DONE booking puts you into Economy on those US domestic flights, which isn't much fun when you've got a number of US cities to visit and multiple trips through DFW to connect.

DONEx, DCIRxx, DGLOBxx fares all book into First Class (A) on 2-class AA domestic flights. However, QF Business Class OneWorld Awards and Partner Awards do book into economy (coach) on 2-class AA domestic flights. The equivalent AA awards book into First Class cabin on the same flights.

 

[jamesatfish]

DONEx, DCIRxx, DGLOBxx fares all book into First Class (A) on 2-class AA domestic flights. However, QF Business Class OneWorld Awards and Partner Awards do book into economy (coach) on 2-class AA domestic flights. The equivalent AA awards book into First Class cabin on the same flights.

I didn't realise this - on my last DONEx trip all of my domestic US flights on AA were in Economy class. I thought this was just a factor of the DONEx fare but perhaps it was just that there was no First availability at the time we needed to fly.

 

[NM]

I didn't realise this - on my last DONEx trip all of my domestic US flights on AA were in Economy class. I thought this was just a factor of the DONEx fare but perhaps it was just that there was no First availability at the time we needed to fly.

I have seen several instances where the booking agent is not aware of the rules and "assumes" they should book into economy even if A is available. And if A is not available at the time of booking, you can confirm in L and waitlist for A. However, its sometimes better to confirm in A on a different flight and waitlist for A on the flight you want.

 

[Mal]

I have bought F tickets a few times out of my own pocket. Nothing too major though.

SYD-AKL (Lan)
SYD-MEL (Qantas. Did it a few times while the loophole still existed)
BNE-AKL vv (Emirates)
SYD-SIN vv (British Airways)
Many flights in the US with American Airlines.

I enjoy comfort at times, but there is little chance of me forking out more than a few thousand for a ticket somewhere - hence no long trips in F.

Most of them have just been to try out the service, check out some lounges, earn some status credits at the right price or just because the right fare came at the right time.

 

[Therma]

I used to pay out of my own pocket for MH domestic 1st class : until 2002 the difference was maybe $10-15, and you got food and lounge access.
Also occasional KUL-SIN shuttle. Used to be less than $100 difference!

 

[PaulZ]

We have traveled on about 16 Business Class Trips with QF and BA using our points.

For our last trip to Dubai and onto Italy/London, there was no easy route to use points, and even if there was, it would have been impossible.

So we decided to use one of the more direct routes and pay $$ ... the first time we have ever paid for a premium class seat.

We flew Etihad in First Class and had a great time. They are a great airline too. If you had to pay to Europe, I would certainly recommend using them - its much cheaper than Emirates or Qantas.

Sydney - Abu Dhabi - Sydney $6800 First Class.

Sydney - Abu Dhabi - Milan - xx_ - London - Abu Dhabi - Sydney $8328 First Class (Except for AUH - MIL, where we were in Business Class as there was no First on plane).

Not too shabby I don't think.


Having experienced both of Etihad's premium cabin's, i would have to say that their First Class is far far superior to their Business Class.

For me, whilst the food, drink and service is better in First, the clincher is the seat. In First you have heaps of room, in Business, my shoulders felt a little cramped and it the seat was a tad short. I am 6ft 4ish.