Is Business Class Really Worth It?

[kamchatsky]

Well well well ...... Ben certainly didn't think so if he has to pay for it ......

Flying business class worth it? | Ben Groundwater | The Backpacker

 

[straitman]

Well well well ...... Ben certainly didn't think so if he has to pay for it ......

Flying business class worth it? | Ben Groundwater | The Backpacker

What to say :?:

Nothing really. He is envious of those who can and choose to afford to pay for business class.

Do I believe that really :?:
No I don't :!:
Is he trying to help sell (news) papers :?:
Yes he is.

... and there folks is the real answer :!: :shock:

 

[harvyk]

Meh, another "writer" there to sell newspapers, nothing more.

 

[JetLagged]

The comments by most other readers are more worthy than the article itself - even if some a bit off-centre!

 

[cove]

Anyone who looks at the retail price of a business class fare domestically say Perth-Sydney return gets a real shock at the sticker price.
Many of our members just go 72000 points cost plus a small booking fee in Classic redemptions and often the price/cost is very close to a pay for an economy flight with Qantas.
Then we have members doing Qantas JASAs to get an Any Seat in J that earns them points and status credits.
The real cost to our members who do this is only about $600 and I still remember paying about $900 more than a decade ago for a booking close to the fly date in Qantas economy.
The article was a weak bit of journalism because it was not researched correctly.

 

[Blackadder]

The worth of something varies from person to person, personally domestically I would only classify East Coast/West Coast or vv as "worth it".
Internationally Long Haul most definitly "worth it"

 

[Dave Noble]

Anyone who looks at the retail price of a business class fare domestically say Perth-Sydney return gets a real shock at the sticker price.
Many of our members just go 72000 points cost plus a small booking fee in Classic redemptions and often the price/cost is very close to a pay for an economy flight with Qantas.
Then we have members doing Qantas JASAs to get an Any Seat in J that earns them points and status credits.
The real cost to our members who do this is only about $600 and I still remember paying about $900 more than a decade ago for a booking close to the fly date in Qantas economy.
The article was a weak bit of journalism because it was not researched correctly.

That some people travelling business class are using frequent flyer does not detract from it at all. Most people ( I suspect ) travelling business and 1st are actually paying for it. When I travel , I tend to use business or 1st ( or on some long haul routes if using a carrier that has premium economy I may use a premium economy on day flights ) and generally am paying for it

What has surprised me , is making a booking for a cpl of weeks time on SYD-MEL , just about every flight I looked at on the days I want to travel had D class available which didn't used to be the case

 

[futurism]

At huge risk of going against the grain of this forum, I am going with not worth it.

I have flown australia to uk 4 times in the last year for work, who offer to pay business class and I decline it every time. The price difference seems unreasonable to me, I would be prepared to stand up for the 24 hours before paying the business class fare.

I have used my points to upgrade once, and did get the old first class bed once on LHR to HKG on an op up and I still didnt think it was worth paying for.

I prefer to keep my points and take some extra holidays in economy, which I have done a few times now.

But I can appreciate theres some people for whom its going to be totally worth it as well.

 

[SimonM]

You then wheel your stylish roller luggage up to a magical part of the airport I had no idea even existed: the airline lounge.

Disingenuous. Is there really a travel writer who wouldn't be aware of airline lounges?

 

[drron]

Domestically only fly J when it is an add on to an international ticket.If paying it is Y.
Internationally always D-a DONE or Circle fare.When you travel with mrsdrron it is this or you dont go.So for me is worth it.

 

[cove]

Keeping in good with the other half is a pretty good long term investment in the future.
Sometimes it pays to shut off all your senses about getting something at a wholesale price and " just do it".I think J flights together and jewellery fit into this ticked box.

 

[Sequel]

I have flown australia to uk 4 times in the last year for work, who offer to pay business class and I decline it every time.

While I agree that it is hard to justify paying for it yourself (only because I have other things I need to spend money on like a mortgage and the kids education - if I could afford it I would!), if someone else was offering to pay for it, especially work, there is no way I would be knocking them back!

 

[drewbles]

Disingenuous. Is there really a travel writer who wouldn't be aware of airline lounges?

Well it is labeled 'The Backpacker'.

I call shenanigans, but then again, this isn't a Journalist as people have said he's just there to sell newspapers.

 

[straitman]

At huge risk of going against the grain of this forum, I am going with not worth it.

I have flown australia to uk 4 times in the last year for work, who offer to pay business class and I decline it every time. The price difference seems unreasonable to me, I would be prepared to stand up for the 24 hours before paying the business class fare.

I have used my points to upgrade once, and did get the old first class bed once on LHR to HKG on an op up and I still didnt think it was worth paying for.

I prefer to keep my points and take some extra holidays in economy, which I have done a few times now.

But I can appreciate theres some people for whom its going to be totally worth it as well.

Where I worked for the last really long time, there would be a please explain as to why business class travel was not taken. The company has a really entrenched set of business policies that are put in place for a reason and therefore it is a requirement to follow them. The expectation of travelling business class is to ensure that people arrive as refreshed as is reasonably possible. In this instance the $12,000 airfare was considerably cheaper than the training course which was the real reason for travelling.

 

[serfty]

"Big fat, juicy prawns"

While I have travelled in business class on Qantas and have indeed been served Prawns, I have yet to receive any that could be described as "Big" or "Fat"'!

"Juicy"? maybe ...

 

[straitman]

"Big fat, juicy prawns"

While I have travelled in business class on Qantas and have indeed been served Prawns, I have yet to receive any that could be described as "Big" or "Fat"'!

"Juicy"? maybe ...

You'll just have to continue flying with Qantas until they get it right then :!:

 

[Dalescott]

Wife's family are from UK, and when her Mother, and later her Uncle were dying. She flew back three times a year. For two years in a row, and the family paid for it. So she flew business class, then when we had to fly there for a holiday, there was no question that we would fly business. Is it worth it YESSSS!!. The Emirates lounge at Tulla, is right above the plane terminal, you drink Champs, and eat big fat juicy prawns (Oz prawns not Viet prawns). While everybody waits to board the plane you cruise past, the first thing you get is a cold drink (Champs of course). Then as you are sitting there waiting, all the cattle file past, and there is you, Champs in hand. On the cattle a look that is worth every cent that you have paid, and you can read their minds. Yes we may be what their thinking, but we are comfortable, and they are all in cattle class. Suffer

 

[straitman]

Wife's family are from UK, and when her Mother, and later her Uncle were dying. She flew back three times a year. For two years in a row, and the family paid for it. So she flew business class, then when we had to fly there for a holiday, there was no question that we would fly business. Is it worth it YESSSS!!. The Emirates lounge at Tulla, is right above the plane terminal, you drink Champs, and eat big fat juicy prawns (Oz prawns not Viet prawns). While everybody waits to board the plane you cruise past, the first thing you get is a cold drink (Champs of course). Then as you are sitting there waiting, all the cattle file past, and there is you, Champs in hand. On the cattle a look that is worth every cent that you have paid, and you can read their minds. Yes we may be what their thinking, but we are comfortable, and they are all in cattle class. Suffer

Dalescott,

Well put though I guess the analogy applies with most airlines and not just Emirates.

 

[Moody]

Interesting that most people are criticising his description of the prawns, lack of knowledge of discount business fares, and transparent ignorance of airline lounges. No one has mentioned the core theme that he found the whole elitism thing a bit embarrasing.

 

[harvyk]

At huge risk of going against the grain of this forum, I am going with not worth it.

I disagree, if I was on my once yearly flight, then yes I can put up with 24 hours in Y as it doesn't happen often, but as far as I'm concerned, the novelty of flying has long sinced past.

I spend a lot of time in planes (ok not as much time as some here) so I want the extra's. I want the comfy seats and the extra attention.

Whilst I can't afford to purchase J seats outright, I'll use points for J upgrades where ever possible. (The one exception was when I needed to go on a trip but the money was tight, thus I booked a Y seat using points)