If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would you?

[Pleb Status]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

Technically you should pay income tax on the earnings (as you actually have to do something to get the money) so after Julia and Wayne take their cut you are left with $53.50/hr.

Still not worth it a $100.00/hr particularly if you were the one paying the fare.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

We have paid 2k for a nights accommodation, although not that often, but often $1 k to $1.5 and that doesn't include any food. We tend to get suites, because Mr FM and I seem to end up with very different sleeping patterns when travelling. I guess I am at an age where I am constantly hearing of acquaintances who have died, so our philosophy has become very much to enjoy life while we can. We have no desire to leave money to the 3 kids and do donate to charities, but after that we are happy to enjoy what we have earned. (Neither Mr FM or I came from affluent backgrounds, so all earned via ourselves). I guess going back to the original question, no amount of money would make me swap to a Y seat internationally. I would rather not fly. I think you get to a point t where you don't actually cost it all out rationally - you just pay the asking price....However when we were younger and poorer we often flew Y and I didn't find it a problem. Whether that was younger bones, or I didn't know there was anything better I am not sure. The first time we flew F in 1989. There were still no flat beds, just bigger seats with a much better incline - I thought they were heaven

 

[Cynicor]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

Interesting question and similar to something I had thought about before.

How much do people who fly business/first pay for a night at a hotel?

Let say a J flight return to USA is 6k... so 3k each way... or say 2k each way more than a Y ticket. So you're paying 2k for one nights accommodation and a couple of meals... Would you pay 2k for a nights accommodation in a fancier room/hotel (diff in comfort between Y and J?)

Same question applied between J and F... Lets say F is 10k return/5k each way.. thats 2k diff each way compared to J... would you pay 2k for the extra food/comfort in a hotel equivalent between J and F?

I think comparing the flight to accommodation is difficult at best. The difference in space between Y and J is probably only a factor of 2-3, and I wouldn't pay 2-4k more for a room 3 times the normal size. BUT... it is the marginal benefit in flying that improves the value proposition. If we say you can sit in a cramped space and barely more, stretch your legs for 14 hours vs plenty of room to lie flat, sleep, eat comfortably then you may alter people's choices. In a hotel you are not confined to your room/bed, you are somewhere where you have plenty to do.

If I was in a city that only had capsule hotels, and had to spend 14 hours in one versus the only normal room available at $2k, then I would pay the $$ and "upgrade". Then I'd get to the airport ASAP.

J to F is much more marginal, and probably why most people don't pay for F. To my mind, F is about luxury, J about comfort and Y about travelling.

Oh, and to answer the OP question, no, I would not on any flight longer than PER-SIN. Min for me would be about $200/hr in hand (post tax) as I'd rather work a couple more shifts and fly J than cramp up in economy and risk recliners, smells, rude seatmates etc. (and yes, these exist in J but the space available limits the impact somewhat)

 

[paultiffen]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

You don't get taxed on the money you pay for fare difference so consider it after tax income

Technically you should pay income tax on the earnings (as you actually have to do something to get the money) so after Julia and Wayne take their cut you are left with $53.50/hr.

Still not worth it a $100.00/hr particularly if you were the one paying the fare.

 

[paultiffen]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

Ok so maybe let me put it another way. If someone offered that they would donate a million dollars to charity, would you? I'm wondering if I'll ever get to the point you are at where I've become so accustomed to the higher level that I couldn't go back.

I think comparing the flight to accommodation is difficult at best. The difference in space between Y and J is probably only a factor of 2-3, and I wouldn't pay 2-4k more for a room 3 times the normal size. BUT... it is the marginal benefit in flying that improves the value proposition. If we say you can sit in a cramped space and barely more, stretch your legs for 14 hours vs plenty of room to lie flat, sleep, eat comfortably then you may alter people's choices. In a hotel you are not confined to your room/bed, you are somewhere where you have plenty to do.

If I was in a city that only had capsule hotels, and had to spend 14 hours in one versus the only normal room available at $2k, then I would pay the $$ and "upgrade". Then I'd get to the airport ASAP.

J to F is much more marginal, and probably why most people don't pay for F. To my mind, F is about luxury, J about comfort and Y about travelling.

Oh, and to answer the OP question, no, I would not on any flight longer than PER-SIN. Min for me would be about $200/hr in hand (post tax) as I'd rather work a couple more shifts and fly J than cramp up in economy and risk recliners, smells, rude seatmates etc. (and yes, these exist in J but the space available limits the impact somewhat)

 

[medhead]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

You don't get taxed on the money you pay for fare difference so consider it after tax income

But you would have to pay income tax on any cash payment from your employer.

 

[Cynicor]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

For a million to a charity of my choice, sure. Especially if I could claim a deduction but regardless, it's a good deal. I don't need my comfort that much.

 

[Kangol]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

Interesting question and similar to something I had thought about before.

How much do people who fly business/first pay for a night at a hotel?

Let say a J flight return to USA is 6k... so 3k each way... or say 2k each way more than a Y ticket. So you're paying 2k for one nights accommodation and a couple of meals... Would you pay 2k for a nights accommodation in a fancier room/hotel (diff in comfort between Y and J?)

Same question applied between J and F... Lets say F is 10k return/5k each way.. thats 2k diff each way compared to J... would you pay 2k for the extra food/comfort in a hotel equivalent between J and F?

I don't know where that comparison is coming from - travel vs accommodation.. seems null and void.

Does staying at such a hotel transport you to the other side of the world?

Also, since when does a standard revenue J return flight to the USA cost 6k?!

 

[shellthom]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

given the hotel vs travel comparison and the no status credits or points... I would probably now just tell my employer I will cruise to the destination for half the price because my accommodation and travel is now linked and I can enjoy the trip albeit much longer but hey its a hypothetical world so why not. I might even travel for free (leave with out pay) as long as i get my $50 per hour that the flight would have been and the cruise is paid for.

If work was going to pay me $100 an hour in compensation for not buying me a J ticket ... as long as I had more than 2 seats in economy, preferably the row, to myself its a great deal. Most of the J flights I have been on are the only J seats so not that impressive. And yes there is a bit more service on the flight but I am happy to stretch across a couple of seats in economy and sleep and find that more comfortable than reclining an extra 2.5 inches in a seat where I can't lift the arm rest.

 

[ashleyn]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

Hi,

Thinking about this from a behavioural economics type perspective. If you were travelling in J to Europe and the airline or your work offered 100 per hour to sit in Y would you take it?

I've used this framing to make peace with a few crazy itineraries but interested to see different points of view. Especially as I'm young and can get through a flight in Y.

Would it make a difference who paid for the flight?

Interesting thread. One thing I think you are missing is that many folks (maybe not AFF members) have never flown J and don't know what they are missing/gaining so couldn't answer the question.

 

[shellthom]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

Interesting thread. One thing I think you are missing is that many folks (maybe not AFF members) have never flown J and don't know what they are missing/gaining so couldn't answer the question.

But they may be the ones that place the most value on it - something they wouldn't pay for themselves ... is it worth $100 an hour to miss out on something you always dreamed of doing??

 

[ReLoad]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

I think it comes down to what you are doing the day you land in LAX. A rest day to acclimatise? Or direct into work?

I'm a whY traveller (when not using points) get a good seat 80A, self medicate, and arrive in LAX feeling 100% I always have a day to myself, spa treatment, shopping and a brilliant dinner as compensation for not paying for J.

However it gets murkier when the destination is in Asia and its work straight off the plane. Not only is J cheaper and better, but due to work arriving fresh is needed, no time for a treat to adjust.

Just my .02 cents

 

[steph_vz]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

Now that I have had the taste of J - no thanks. I'd much prefer to walk off the plane in more comfortable state and enjoy the holiday.

However, if it entitled me an extra ($ free) week on the ground to get over the flight, I would seriously consider!

 

[freepyjamas]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

If my company had paid, I'd take $100 per hour long haul provided I got 80A or the equivalent.

Stick me in a lousy Y seat, and my price goes up to $150 an hour.

If I'm paying, then I'd want you to make up the fare difference plus add the $100 per hour.

If I'm in J and the person next to me is boorish and bloated, you can put me in Y for free if you can guarantee a half-attractive woman or a good male conversationalist is my seatmate. An attractive female with excellent conversation skills, I might just start paying YOU for the downgrade.

Either way, I'm assuming I'm scoring bubbles from the front end of the plane.

 

[Katie]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

If I was in J it wld be because I was paying for it, so no, I would not accept $100/hr to sit in Y.

If it was a work trip, I would be in Y (BFOD policy) anyway.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

I would consider an offer of $100 an hour to fly economy class if my employer was looking to save money. But there would be a trade off. I'd be happy to fly MEL-SIN return in economy (currently $699 QF) and combine that with Sri Lankan business class SIN-Europe (currently around $1800 return, full flat bed). Total cost to company 699+1800+ let's say $1000 cash in hand for flying MEL-SYD return = $3500 compared to $6-7K outright in business. They save and the travel would be bearable.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

No (filler required for posting requirements)

 

[JohnK]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

If I paid for business class and did not receive compensation for the difference between business and economy then $100/hour is nowhere near enough.

If someone else was paying for me to travel and they offered $100/hour for me to sit in economy I would definitely do it without a second thought.

For my own personal travel I am more than happy to sit in economy, stay in 1-2-3 star hotels and plan as many trips as possible. For me it is all about quantity not quality....

 

[MH_fan]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

No.

An easy example is this:

SYD-LHR-SYD = 40 hours
Cheap Y price: $1800 or $45/hr
Cheap J price: $8000 or $200/hr

These look like Qantas versions of "cheap". Cheap as per a Southeast Asian airline would be $1500 in Y and $6000 in J.

Anyway, in answer to the question, I am definitely a no. I will never fly in long-haul Y again.

 

[Pleb Status]

Re: If you had a flight booked in J and were offered 100 per hour to sit in Y. Would

If you swapped the question around and it was 'Would you pay $100.00/hr for an upgrade to J with full J FFP and SC?', I would most likely pay this cost for any long haul overnight flight.

The QF upgrade cost to J for LAX-SYD is 72000 FFP. At a nominal value of 2.0c/FFP, this is a nominal cost of $1440.00 for the upgrade. Flight time the long way (from LAX) is 15:00, giving a nominal cost of $96.00/hr for the upgrade (without J FFP or SC).