Is Business Class Really Worth It?

[serfty]

... No one has mentioned the core theme that he found the whole elitism thing a bit embarrasing.

I call BS on that - the guy is a "Backpacking Themed" reporter and has his cred to project/protect.

 

[clifford]

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

I'm with him. It's a complete ripoff if paying out of your own pocket.

However, I do fly around the world regularly in business class, just not paying for it.

 

[JohnK]

Business Class is only worth it if you can afford it and even then it is overpriced on most airlines.

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

....

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

Exactly my feelings. If I am going on holidays I could not care less if I arrive at my destination refreshed or not.

My budget for a 10-14 day holiday to Thailand is ~AUD4000 (which is roughly ~AUD1500 on airfares and ~AUD2500 on accommodation and golf) and this means that I can go on holidays 3-4 times a year. A return business class airfare would cost from AUD3000+.

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

To each their own....

 

[Dave Noble]

Whether it is worth it depends on a lot of things; personally when doing my trips to UK I happily purchase Ek 1st class tickets for the trip and have found it well worth the $6500 I have paid for them and pre-EK the similar amounts I paid for first on other airlines.

The journey to UK is a long trek and have no real desire to do it in economy if I don't have to. I don't care about the wines/spirits et al nor really the food since rarely eat in flight... as long as they don't run out of sparkling water Im happy. For 48 hours of r/t travel I am happy to pay the extra to have the suite onboard plus the car transfers at each point en route

For someone backpacking, generally may have a lower disposable income than average and paying for premium travel may be a much higher percentage of disposable income and for some even economy may be more relatively harder to afford than for others

Dave

 

[dajop]

All depends on the price point, and in turn the price point that appeals or not an individual, which of course depends on their circumstances.

When I have my frequent flights back to MEL, about 2hrs into the flight I often think how nice it would be to be in J .... but then about an hour later I've settled in and actually don't mind being in Y.

First time ever last year I bought a business class fare out of my own pocket, somewhat status motivated but nevertheless I thought good value ($380 AUD for SIN-BKK ... same distance as MEL-BNE .... return on CX). At the time of purchase Jetstar, Air Asia, Tiger were selling flights for around $310 AUD return, so really the extra $70 made it well worth it. This year, I'm looking at some good J class fares on CX to Europe from a couple of Asian ports, that are about 1.6x Y fare, so again think it will be worth it. But at 4xeconomy, I'd rather spend the money on better hotels... or more trips!

 

[samh004]

Well that article was an interesting, but BS, read. There was a news dot com dot au article on a similar subject recently I recall, where a reported was unexpectedly upgraded. Same outcome.

 

[NYCguy]

I call BS on that - the guy is a "Backpacking Themed" reporter and has his cred to project/protect.

Agreed... You can see his crows-feet even in the tiny avatar photo. How old is he, 30? 33? And still backpacking? I call either LOSER, or BS artist on that.

He has about as much in common with the average 19yo backpacker as my Butler does.

 

[medhead]

For someone backpacking, generally may have a lower disposable income than average and paying for premium travel may be a much higher percentage of disposable income and for some even economy may be more relatively harder to afford than for others

Dave

Without having, actually, read the story (I will in a second). I would have thought that this was the key point. Backpackers don't have money, so rather than selling papers (except indirectly) I would assume the story is about making backpackers feel ok about being down the back. An affirmation of their budget travel characteristics, versus they feeling of wanting to be in the seats up the front as they walk past. (I can admitted to those feelings).

I also think that the question is not if it's worth it but if you can afford it. If you can't afford it then it's not worth it. If you can afford to travel J of course it is worth it.

Read it now. I don't get this bit:

Now, like Derek Zoolander, who can't turn left, I find it very difficult to get to the plane door and turn right.

He hates business but he has difficulty turning right, towards Y?

Oh and J pax pay 4 times as much but their experience is completely undeserved?

But the rest of the flight is all wine lists, prawn entrees, a selection of main courses with the chefs' names listed next to them, cheese plates, movies on demand, first off the plane and first bags around the carousel. All in all, a completely different - and completely undeserved - experience to those in the back of the plane.

 

[drron]

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.

Elitism embarrassing?Now there is a new concept!

 

[kamchatsky]

For me, I won't pay for J/F. It costs me too much money, and I can do a lot of things with the money I save.

However, I would try to spend all money on credit card and rack up points, which I will burn them in J/F. Now that is much cheaper way to get to J/F.

Now that I am VS G and BMI *G, the benefits of flying J is becoming less for me, given that even if I fly Y, I can still access to lounges, extra luggages, quick checkins etc for qualifying flights, the only difference is really the seat/service/food on the plane. For me, I don't mind flying Y, if the airline is good, such as SQ, where the food/service/IFE is great even in Y. I would just stuff myself at the lounge instead

Too bad Diamond Club is ending soon, it has been a great way to redeem J. I still have 60K to burn before it becomes M&M.

 

[serfty]

I have only ever paid once directly for long-haul Business class* - that was an $8K DONE4 ex CMB purchased in 2005.

*I do not consider JQi StarClass to be business class; in any case I have only employed very inexpensive "promo" fares ith such travel.

Aside from a PE special to HKG earlier this year every other long-haul booking I have made has been for an economy fare (even the PE trips were upgrade to Business).

How often do I travel long haul in economy? Around 20% of the time.

It's through knowledge and networking gained on AFF that I am able to do this.

 

[Flashback]

Without having, actually, read the story (I will in a second). I would have thought that this was the key point. Backpackers don't have money, so rather than selling papers (except indirectly) I would assume the story is about making backpackers feel ok about being down the back. An affirmation of their budget travel characteristics, versus they feeling of wanting to be in the seats up the front as they walk past. (I can admitted to those feelings).

Geez! Now you're making me feel bad about flying over to Europe first class and then backpacking around :shock:

 

[medhead]

Geez! Now you're making me feel bad about flying over to Europe first class and then backpacking around :shock:

Why? you could afford to fly first (by points or however) and I'm going to be affording to fly towards the front as well whenever possible Thanks to AFF (largely)

 

[Flashback]

Why? you could afford to fly first (by points or however) and I'm going to be affording to fly towards the front as well whenever possible Thanks to AFF (largely)

Indeed, we have learnt much from AFF and are now reaping the benefits

 

[Justinf]

I guess the article has exacted 34 responses talking about it (35 now) so it has done its job.

 

[serfty]

Indeed, we have learnt much from AFF and are now reaping the benefits

Havn't you guys come across Flashpackers? :shock:

 

[Flashback]

Havn't you guys come across Flashpackers? :shock:

It's funny you say that actually! I showed a friend of mine a website on Flashpackers about a week ago, and he agreed that is more likely me..... :mrgreen: Backpacking, with a touch of style. It will be quite funny actually flying in first class, then hitting the hostels! (at least till I get to London and find a more permanent place to live, anyway).