Article: Long-Haul Economy Class - A Valuable Reality Check

[p--and--t]

I have just flown to Norway and back for work. I managed to Bis to Singapore with Qantas but the flight from Singapore back to bris was in Econ, the dreaded night flight. HORRIFIC !! A family had a 7 month old child who screamed his offing lungs out from push back to landing. The baby was in the front of Econ so EVERYONE was kept awake including Biz pax. When we landed, the mother said it was the baby first flight. The parents made NO effort to comfort the baby but just let it lie in the bassinet screaming for 7 hour 45 minutes. The company I work for will NEVER EVER fly me biz so I have to use my points on long haul.

For some reason, Bose headsets DON'T block screaming babies. The crew did little to help or from what I could see. My flight over was with EK, the WORST flight of my life, over 6 hour delay out of Brisbane, missed my connection to Oslo then put up in a cough hotel overnight, the bed was damp/wet, the bathroom was full of mould and then woken up at 01:30 by kids playing tag in the corridor. Because I was in Econ this is the hotel I was put up in. I had a good seat from Dubai to Oslo booked but lost that so had a horrific seat to Oslo. NEVER flying EK again

Sounds like you will have some great stories to relate in coffee meets and dinner table for years to come.

 

[ThePW]

For some reason, Bose headsets DON'T block screaming babies.

Noise-cancelling headphones block ambient sound (like engine noise) very well. High-pitched sounds like babies crying are pretty much impossible to block – even with earplugs!

 

[gerrib]

A friend and I are travelling Melbourne Rome with Qatar in April. I found the cheapest seats available when I booked on Flight Centre online. They were cheaper than on Qatar Airlines website. I think they were about $2500 each return.
The question I now have is that my friend wants an aisle seat. She wants to pay the $56 for seat selection for Melbourne Doha flight. I am not too fussed but guess I will fork out the extra money for seat selection. My main interest is having a spare seat next to me. In the past I have found that the back middle section of the plane is least populated.
Just wondering if anyone has any tips for seat selection for the least populated area of plane.
If you do not pay for seat selection do you have any option to select seats at checkin or do you just have to take what you are given? TIA

 

[jase05]

A friend and I are travelling Melbourne Rome with Qatar in April. I found the cheapest seats available when I booked on Flight Centre online. They were cheaper than on Qatar Airlines website. I think they were about $2500 each return.
The question I now have is that my friend wants an aisle seat. She wants to pay the $56 for seat selection for Melbourne Doha flight. I am not too fussed but guess I will fork out the extra money for seat selection. My main interest is having a spare seat next to me. In the past I have found that the back middle section of the plane is least populated.
Just wondering if anyone has any tips for seat selection for the least populated area of plane.
If you do not pay for seat selection do you have any option to select seats at checkin or do you just have to take what you are given? TIA

Others might know exact numbers but most flights are going out pretty darn full currently so I’m not sure there is going to be any areas less populated than others.

 

[CaptJCool]

My Y international travel days are probably behind me

A couple of tricks deployed
one was using the taxmans conference travel ruling to my advantage this tax expensing a fair chunk of costs against the annual professional allowance (around $1,700). So PLUNGED cash for PE and J tics.

as for the future, some juicy superannuation tax cuts in play will in theory fund the F lie-flat bed (no issues in spending the inheritance)

PS the mixed fare (J to Middle East and Y from there to Europe) is a decent compromise but suspect not currently available

THE CORKER
Getting a PAID foot massage at Changi airport while in transit to Europe. Came out feeling divine and SLEPT in SQ Y like a peaceful baby ! In the scheme of things, this was a small cost for a practical service solution when I had no lounge accesses.
also a couple of Complimentary lounge massages before Y travel to the USA was good but nothing like the foot rub

 

[lepetitprince]

I have been fortunate enough to fly J (mostly on points, sometimes on cash) the last few years. Recently, in December, we went on a holiday overseas - MEL - KUL - BKK. It was a late decision, so flights were full (we anticipated that flights will be full given first fully open school holiday season). It was busy everywhere - airports, check in, customs, passport et cetera. We only managed to get Y tickets (family of 3). I have to say that it was not bad as likely although J was an 'alternate reality' for us, somehow haven't completely gotten used to it! We all slept solidly both ways. Y is nothing like J; any day I would prefer J, but unlike some here, I wouldn't say it triggered anxiety or PTSD and such like and am still alive!

4 days after this post, I flew J on a QF airbus330! I definitely have to say I enjoyed the experience deeply and I’m deeply grateful to the unknown for the experience. (Have to say QF service was patchy. Will stick to SQ).