To Business Class or not to Business Class.. This is the Question

[rmfai1]

I'm currently in the final stages of planning and booking flights to Euro for a holiday.

I've booked on QF points flights from MEL-HKG return J.

My main question is I'm looking at going with EK (Emirates) from HKG-DXB-MUC // EDI-LHR-DXB-HKG

I was originally looking at flying over in whY class and returning in J and it was approx. $2800 .
For some reason I looked again but all in whY and it came to $1350 AUD, so it was soo tempting, cause then I could also think about getting myself a new Macbook Air .

However It would be in whY.......

I would be stopping off in DXB on my way to MUC, but on my way back it would be EDI-LHR-DXB-HKG.

I would like anyone in put.

Thanks

 

[Hvr]

It's your call. What is important to you?

I personally value the comfort and if I can afford it fly J or even F. Short haul Y I can do but never overnight long haul Y.

Que sera sera

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'm currently in the final stages of planning and booking flights to Euro for a holiday.

I've booked on QF points flights from MEL-HKG return J.

My main question is I'm looking at going with EK (Emirates) from HKG-DXB-MUC // EDI-LHR-DXB-HKG

I was originally looking at flying over in whY class and returning in J and it was approx. $2800 .
For some reason I looked again but all in whY and it came to $1350 AUD, so it was soo tempting, cause then I could also think about getting myself a new Macbook Air .

However It would be in whY.......

I would be stopping off in DXB on my way to MUC, but on my way back it would be EDI-LHR-DXB-HKG.

I would like anyone in put.

Thanks

Now what would Dr Phil say "I believe that 80% of all questions are statements in disguise"!

With that statement in mind, I would say particularly as you're doing EDI/LHR/DXB/HKG all in one hop & you will have at least one overnight flight on an aircraft I think at the end of the day you'd appreciate the extra space. Do you really want to try & sleep in an economy seat on an overnight flight?

Remember you'll already have tasted J class MEL/HKG on the way over & it's easy to become addicted to it.

If you end up going Y on the return leg, can you choose daytime flights or stop over in DXB for a night to minimise the discomfort of flying down the back end of the bus. Maybe you can pay extra to get seats in the emergency exit if applicable.

Going via LHR is a PITA. Don't EK fly EDI/DXB or if not can you fly out of another city in Northern England direct to DXB to cut down on your travel time?

How long are you staying in HKG on the way home or are you connecting to QF same day?

IMHO it's takes longer to get over jet lag when flying from Europe back to Oz so I'd be trying to make the trip as comfortable as I could & we're not talking several thousand dollars more.

 

[casanovawa]

Oh don't bring Dr Phil into it... Or Oprah!!!

 

[medhead]

EK fly direct/non-stop GLA-DXB. Much better option, IMO.

 

[rmfai1]

Hey guys,

The reason I'm flyin out of EDI is I have a wedding and some strange reason it was cheaper to go via lhr then MAN also I can get the A380 most or all the way if I want to do the extra stoP in BKK as well. I might have a look a flights from GLA but Do they have the 777's ?

I'll be doing an over night stop in HKG due to flight time.

But I'm thinking Y&J combo could be a go, maybe a need a little more Push? Lol

Thanks so far

 

[Limewood]

You'll be very disapointed going from J to Y and you may not get the chance again for a while, I'd get the Macbook air later.

 

[mel-world]

EK do fly the 777 in a 2-class configuration GLA-DXB.

I did MEL-DXB-GLA-DXB-KUL-MEL on EK before Christmas. 777 all the way but 3 different configurations so you need to know what you are getting with this airline. All I can is you must really want to fly the 380 if you are contemplating not only a flight via LHR but also a transit stop in BKK on the way to HKG. Flying J in EK was patchy (not helped by a 4-hour technical in GLA and a 7-hour layover in DXB) - so such a long journey in Y will be even harder. I must say that I find the J seats narrow and the fact that they do not lie flat means I keep slipping down the seat and becoming very uncomfortable. Also I have never been to DXB when it has not been heaving with transfer passengers.

 

[ozmille]

I decided on pointy end 5 years ago and dread the day that I will have to go back to the back

 

[rmfai1]

I decided on pointy end 5 years ago and dread the day that I will have to go back to the back

I like your style, I always struggle with the whole whY vs J for personal travel as I'm paying for it.

However in this case I think there is not that much of a difference in money.. :mrgreen::mrgreen:

 

[rmfai1]

You'll be very disapointed going from J to Y and you may not get the chance again for a while, I'd get the Macbook air later.

I'm thinking that I'll end up doing the Combo of Y to Euro and returning J back to HKG..


Thanks for the food for thought.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

EK do fly the 777 in a 2-class configuration GLA-DXB.

I did MEL-DXB-GLA-DXB-KUL-MEL on EK before Christmas. 777 all the way but 3 different configurations so you need to know what you are getting with this airline. All I can is you must really want to fly the 380 if you are contemplating not only a flight via LHR but also a transit stop in BKK on the way to HKG. Flying J in EK was patchy (not helped by a 4-hour technical in GLA and a 7-hour layover in DXB) - so such a long journey in Y will be even harder. I must say that I find the J seats narrow and the fact that they do not lie flat means I keep slipping down the seat and becoming very uncomfortable. Also I have never been to DXB when it has not been heaving with transfer passengers.

What is the best out of the 3 777 configs & why?

Hey guys,

The reason I'm flyin out of EDI is I have a wedding and some strange reason it was cheaper to go via lhr then MAN also I can get the A380 most or all the way if I want to do the extra stoP in BKK as well. I might have a look a flights from GLA but Do they have the 777's ?

I'll be doing an over night stop in HKG due to flight time.

But I'm thinking Y&J combo could be a go, maybe a need a little more Push? Lol

Thanks so far

Is the day you fly QF HKG/MEL the A380? If so, that could be your A380 fix & you could then do the express option GLA/DXB/HKG.

How far is the drive from EDI to GLA? Are there flights for this sector?

 

[Alanslegal]

I know most of us folks enjoy letters of J and F, and very dislike anything that starts with Y .... however to me, is the 20 or so hours of Y travel worth $1,450 :?: Personally I'd be tempted to suck it up and fly Y .... after all, its only around 20 hours!

 

[rmfai1]

What is the best out of the 3 777 configs & why?



Is the day you fly QF HKG/MEL the A380? If so, that could be your A380 fix & you could then do the express option GLA/DXB/HKG.

How far is the drive from EDI to GLA? Are there flights for this sector?

I'm flying via syd to HKG and using the QF A380, but due to emirates J class being very inconsistent over their 777's is why I'd rather fly on their A380. They are all new as well.

Is there any reason to leave from GLA rather then MAN or LHR, I don't really have transport apart from flying and getting cabs or transfers. I have looked at prices and it's not much cheaper to fly out of GLA then it is to fly via LHR or MAN?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'm flying via syd to HKG and using the QF A380, but due to emirates J class being very inconsistent over their 777's is why I'd rather fly on their A380. They are all new as well.

Is there any reason to leave from GLA rather then MAN or LHR, I don't really have transport apart from flying and getting cabs or transfers. I have looked at prices and it's not much cheaper to fly out of GLA then it is to fly via LHR or MAN?

The flying out of GLA option wasn't about the cost it was about avoiding LHR & eliminating an extra stop in BKK thus making it a one stop journey which would make the trip slightly more bearable if travelling in whY.

 

[mel-world]

I'm flying via syd to HKG and using the QF A380, but due to emirates J class being very inconsistent over their 777's is why I'd rather fly on their A380. They are all new as well.

Is there any reason to leave from GLA rather then MAN or LHR, I don't really have transport apart from flying and getting cabs or transfers. I have looked at prices and it's not much cheaper to fly out of GLA then it is to fly via LHR or MAN?

This information is being provided in response to your request - of course, there is no obligation for you to accept the advice.

EDI and GLA are only 1 hour apart by train. That is the reason why GLA was suggested as an alternative departure point. You will spend over an hour just navigating your way thru LHR terminals and connections.

While accepting that the 380 is the lastest technology and a great way to fly, the EK J class seats are the same as in the 777 fleet. In fact all their long haul fleet have similar seats in my experience. Have a look at Seatguru.com to compare. IMO, they are not as good as QF or the likes of SQ.

If you choose to fly part of the journey in Y, seatguru can also provide good info on type and location of the best Y seats on the plane.

Enjoy the trip.

 

[mosanator]

While accepting that the 380 is the lastest technology and a great way to fly, the EK J class seats are the same as in the 777 fleet. In fact all their long haul fleet have similar seats in my experience. Have a look at Seatguru.com to compare. IMO, they are not as good as QF or the likes of SQ.

"Would you like cracks with that sir?"

 

[Stephen65]

I know most of us folks enjoy letters of J and F, and very dislike anything that starts with Y .... however to me, is the 20 or so hours of Y travel worth $1,450 :?: Personally I'd be tempted to suck it up and fly Y .... after all, its only around 20 hours!

$72.50 an hour to fly J instead of Y? Probably take J.

 

[spudseamus]

I know most of us folks enjoy letters of J and F, and very dislike anything that starts with Y .... however to me, is the 20 or so hours of Y travel worth $1,450 :?: Personally I'd be tempted to suck it up and fly Y .... after all, its only around 20 hours!

Have you done it before? and how old are you? me personally --have done it when I was 30 --- did it in J when 50 -- do it again ,hopefully but one thing is certain it wont be in Y

 

[kamchatsky]

Personally, I don't hate Y but I do enjoy J very much. But then again, I don't drink wine and eat that much so J for me is really the room space.

If the price difference is not much of course J is better. But then again if you have tight budget then I would just stay at Y, especially if you can fly day flight. If possible buy exit row seats etc.

Alternatively, next time when US has 100% bonus on miles you buy them and redeem them in J later.