Has anyone here *never* been in Business or First?

[AnonymousCoward]

Some people do not like facing backwards in a car or train so why endure 9+ hours facing backwards on an aircraft. Not one of the best designs in my opinion.

I agree with the other posters here. I can't say that I noticed the fact that I was sitting facing backwards in BA J except during takeoff and landing. And facing backwards does provide a different view to what you'd normally see out the window whilst taxiing.

 

[NM]

Good thing about BA F is that there is one less row of centre seats than QF, and the herringbone arrangement (with an additional row) gives it a lot more private secluded feeling.

That's good if you are travelling alone, but for two people travelling together your choices are reduced by 33%. I know some people like to travel as a couple in 1A and 1K, but to me that is not travelling together - you are actually facing apart and have to talk over a wide gap. And the window seats leave you seated further away from the window making it harder to see outside. So its a matter of swings and roundabouts - some good things and some worse.

 

[Reggie]

That's good if you are travelling alone, but for two people travelling together your choices are reduced by 33%. I know some people like to travel as a couple in 1A and 1K, but to me that is not travelling together - you are actually facing apart and have to talk over a wide gap. And the window seats leave you seated further away from the window making it harder to see outside. So its a matter of swings and roundabouts - some good things and some worse.

Mmmmm hadn't thought of that, my wife hates flying. Hard enough to get her on a flight SYD-PER in J, there is zero chance of her flying on a longhaul international, so never crossed my mind. Only time I travel with someone else is my boss, and I certainly dont want to be sitting next to him for a 12 to 14 hour flight.

 

[serfty]

Isn't it meant to be safer facing backwards?

Not if the aircraft gets 'rear ended'! :shock:

 

[serfty]

Done this three times; facing the rear is fine for me.

Although, I had those rear facing end cabin window type seats (e.g. 14K) where you actually have a mini cabin with a window.

 

[Keith009]

Done this three times; facing the rear is fine for me.

Although, I had those rear facing end cabin window type seats (e.g. 14K) where you actually have a mini cabin with a window.

Booked 64K for SIN-LHR.

Now keeping an eye out on checkmytrip in case I get bumped out by BA seat shifters...:-|

I actually don't mind facing backwards and it's also rather enjoyable when I get said mini cabin. The Club World arrangement also makes the cabin seem more luxurious, like a club lounge rather than the herringbone which sorta resembles a hospital dormitory (been on the VS version). Privacy is better on the latter though, then again I haven't been on NGCW yet. Can't I have my cake and eat it too dammit?!

Getting 'rear-ended' notwithstanding...:shock:

 

[QF WP]

Jenelle (taking the topic back on-topic), your time should come.

I remember joining the original Qantas FF program back in Feb 1989 and taking my first flights. Generally I went on holidays to UK or US every year with the ocassional flight to AKL to visit friends. As a humble Silver member back then (equivalent to Gold now), I thought I would never get to fly in J or F.

These were the days prior to me learning about bulletin boards like AFF and Flyertalk.com - and I knew nothing about the intricacies of tickets, seating, etc.

Then I started flying for work and l had joined AFF and FT. Wow, I was listening to people like NM and Dave Noble learning how I could maximise my FF points and status credits.

I have been fortunate enough to have flown a (paid) RTW in F, together with Concorde flight BA1 LHR/JFK in August 2002. A treat to myself for surviving cancer. Not something that I forget (either the trip or the cancer) - I still recall things about those flights, being a mixture of QF, BA, CX and AA.

Until you get your first upgrade or paid flight, live vicariously through us that have had the pleasure.

 

[littl_flier]

Jenelle (taking the topic back on-topic), your time should come.

I remember joining the original Qantas FF program back in Feb 1989 and taking my first flights. Generally I went on holidays to UK or US every year with the ocassional flight to AKL to visit friends. As a humble Silver member back then (equivalent to Gold now), I thought I would never get to fly in J or F.

These were the days prior to me learning about bulletin boards like AFF and Flyertalk.com - and I knew nothing about the intricacies of tickets, seating, etc.

Then I started flying for work and l had joined AFF and FT. Wow, I was listening to people like NM and Dave Noble learning how I could maximise my FF points and status credits.

I have been fortunate enough to have flown a (paid) RTW in F, together with Concorde flight BA1 LHR/JFK in August 2002. A treat to myself for surviving cancer. Not something that I forget (either the trip or the cancer) - I still recall things about those flights, being a mixture of QF, BA, CX and AA.

Until you get your first upgrade or paid flight, live vicariously through us that have had the pleasure.

Lindsay, how inspirational. Very well said.

Well, I too have never flown anything but economy, but at 18 with a middle class background, not anything unexpected. I have only been travelling over the last 18 months, quite a lot with work but the odd bit of leisure travel (strangely with Air NZ and JQ). Since I have discovered AFF, I have been amazed by some of the travel that takes place and feel so insignificant. Making QF Silver was exciting for me. Now though, I am contemplating my first DONE4 mid-next year and can't wait for the promotion (about 4 years away) that entitles me to fly J class long-haul. Yay! I think for all us junior members, we tend to idolise Kiwi Flyer, NM, Yourself and Simongr who are constantly tripping in J and F. Thanks for all your advice and those trip reports.

I am hoping to have my first J experience next Sunday by paying the difference between the D seat and the YY seat (that work pays for ). For $60, I think this is much better upgrade than an ODU.

 

[QF WP]

littl_flier, I wan't much older than you in 1989 and the same background. I lived vicariously through my godfather (who was a CL member) and my uncle (who flew everywhere in J, but now retired and flies in F).

NM...who [is] constantly tripping in J and F

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: I'm not sure NM would agree with the word constantly ... more like irregularly :shock: (knowing NM as well as I do).

Well, time for me to wake Mrs LW to feed mini-LW again and head to bed to nurse a [slight] hangover tomorrow (the joys of having friends around for lunch who leave late and encourage me to crack a couple of bottles from my cellar fridge)

 

[littl_flier]

I have been fortunate enough to have flown a (paid) RTW in F, together with Concorde flight BA1 LHR/JFK in August 2002.

What was the Concorde flight like? Is is true that the cabin was quite noisy? If there were two things I could do in the past, it would be a Concorde flight and drink at the top of Windows of the World, the bar at the top of the World Trade Centre.

 

[Keith009]

For $60, I think this is much better upgrade than an ODU.

Indeed - and you get the increased points and SCs that come with a D accrual.

 

[QF WP]

What was the Concorde flight like?

Well, to help you and others who haven't seen the inside of Concorde, refer back to my post in the Concorde thread. Noise-wise, yes it was a little nosier (particularly on take-off) than a 744 and certainly had you pushed back into the seat. I remember moving to the window seat (nobody in 9A next to me), just to get an idea of the speed. Much, much faster. Was the only time I've drunk Krug and got a (full) bottle as a momento from the lovely crew (who asked was it a special ocassion flight for me, which it was - a 35th birthday present to myself).

When we were at cruising altitude, it didn't seem that we were going very fast. But the curvature of the earth could just be seen.

I think for all us junior members, we tend to idolise Kiwi Flyer, NM, Yourself and Simongr who are constantly tripping in J and F. Thanks for all your advice and those trip reports.

I missed the reference to me in your previous quote. I'll have to chuckle at the "constantly" reference to me as well - all of my J flying since 2002 have been through the use of QF or AA points. Gee, I haven't even flown since November 2006 - but I'll finally break the drought in 2 weeks. Yes, I love doing Trip Reports and have a couple still to finish or create. The only person who should idolise me at the moment is mini-LW.

 

[NM]

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: I'm not sure NM would agree with the word constantly ... more like irregularly :shock: (knowing NM as well as I do).

Chuckle indeed. I have had at least one paid business class ATW trip each year for the past 6 or 7. Some years its been multiple (I think 6 might be my record) and some years just one.

At least I have been reasonably successful in scoring upgrades on most of my economy trips, resulting in mostly J travel. I have not had any paid F travel, but have been successful in upgrading multiple long-hauls to F and the off op-up to F on CX (never on QF, AA or BA).

 

[winetraveller]

Once you manage you first premium cabin experience, there is not turning back. Beware the devil you create the first time you experience First or Business Class travel :evil: :evil: .

Agreed, I flew Y this morning, granted it was only MEL-SYD, but once you get used to flying at the pointy end. Next international trip, I've used eVouchers to upgrade to first from Bangkok to Frankfurt, and from Munich to LAX, and might use some points to upgrade from LAX to MEL. In that way I generate more points, and once you reach a certain level, it doesn't really take that much to upgrade frequently.

That said, I don't pay for my fares, but it's necessary to fly Business as I spend up to 30 weeks a year O/S, and if I miss a flight it throws out a tight itinerary, and flying BUS or First ensures the airline will give a s&*t about getting you there. I do like to be spoiled a bit too.

 

[Keith009]

Agreed, I flew Y this morning, granted it was only MEL-SYD, but once you get used to flying at the pointy end.

Bet it wasn't as jarring as flying SQ Y long haul 2 weeks after coming back on LH F and TG C...:shock:
Was hoping to upgrade one segment out of an SQ Y itinerary in August with points but no space in I on the flight I wanted (SQ227).

 

[simongr]

Lindsay, how inspirational. Very well said.

I think for all us junior members, we tend to idolise Kiwi Flyer, NM, Yourself and Simongr who are constantly tripping in J and F. Thanks for all your advice and those trip reports.

Sadly I am back in whY hKG-PEK this afternoon - going to load up on bubbles on the F seat SYD-HKG help me cope

 

[littl_flier]

Sadly I am back in whY hKG-PEK this afternoon - going to load up on bubbles on the F seat SYD-HKG help me cope

Probably tough after the F segment you lucky thing . Enjoy the F and grin and bear the whY! Its only a relatively short segment.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I think for all us junior members, we tend to idolise Kiwi Flyer, NM, Yourself and Simongr who are constantly tripping in J and F. Thanks for all your advice and those trip reports.

Hmm I also travel a lot in economy but tend not to report on those flights as much. Coincidentally I am writing up a report on my latest trip around the world in under 60 hours, which was mostly in economy.

 

[trooper]

And a very interesting read it is too! The very thought of doing something like that had never occurred to me.... but now that the idea has been absorbed I can feel an "itch" starting that will probably only be "scratched" by getting off my duff and doing something broadly similar!!!



I can think of ONE advantage to being a "newbie" on FT... the availability of all those UNREAD trip reports!! Good stuff!

 

[littl_flier]

Hmm I also travel a lot in economy but tend not to report on those flights as much. Coincidentally I am writing up a report on my latest trip around the world in under 60 hours, which was mostly in economy.

Yes, I noted you started and can't wait for the rest. Keep them coming Kiwi Flyer.