Why fly business? I don't see the value?

[BadgerBoi]

...For the right price, J is IMHO how flying should be for long haul. Peaceful check-in, peaceful boarding, nice flight with good service and for me, no long lines for the toilets. I tend to consume a little too many fluids (mmm bubbles) pre flight, pre take-off, during the flight. I hate lining up for toilets. And I really hate the person kicking the back of my chair - oh that gets to me. Or getting on board to find no overhead space. Or an extra large person that spills over into my seat. The list goes on.

I wish you'd posted this weeks ago, this really sums it up for me.

 

[Reggie]

I fly J when work pays, and I fly J when I pay, I fly Y when using points (but would fly J if I had more points)

I have a situation that has come up today, Mrs Reggie's Dad passed away in the UK yesterday. Its summer in England, and School Holidays start Friday.

We have arrangements to make at this end before we can leave to look after Reggie Jnr and other things, so flying out tomorrow is not an option. Funeral date is still not booked due to coroner, and Mrs Reggie can't(won't) be without our son for more than a week, so we need a degree of flexibility.

No flights with QF(OW) available ex Perth for the next 5 days. Very very few options, feel free to have a look. EK has a flight out Thursday for $2700ish, but after that nothing.

In the end I decided to spend the extra and fly J on EK for $7800, it gives us a better chance of hitting the ground running and making the most out of such a short and emotional trip, and more importantly gives us flexibility at the worst time in the year to be trying to book and fly at short notice to the UK out of Perth.

You only live once, and you can't take it with you. I have made mistakes before with family and the passing of family members in the past and won't do it again. It may cost me an extra $10K but I certainly see the value in this case. YMMV.

 

[cove]

You are making the correct call Reggie. Sorry to hear about your loss and the school holiday travel struggle that we face out of PER.

 

[rechoboam]

I think in that setting the space and privacy (and a decent whisky) all combine to make the experience an opportunity for reflection and communication, rather than several days of sleep deprivation and general torture. Condolences.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Thanks for your reply on making points so you can travel. You have it as a bit of an art form!

Well I like to think of it more as a science.....plus understanding marketing theory allows one to "encourage" promos and being targeted for them.


Forums like this assist greatly too.

Opportunities will arise. One never knows where or when. The trick is to pounce when they do.

 

[Chatterbocks]

For short haul J is a waste of time (unless I was a millionaire and money was no object).

But for long haul the main reason I would fly J is when I fly Y for long haul (mind you it has been a few years) I dread the trip. This takes away the pleasure of looking forward to an overseas trip as I keep thinking about that horror leg.

My other reason - I would hate to be say, 80, and on my deathbed with a big bank balance because I flew Y my whole life.

 

[Justchecking]

Just as soon as my finances will allow it, I will fly J self-funded every single time. On one level a part of me wants to encourage the existence of something other than the cut-down offerings of budget air travel. But basically its about being as comfortable as your wallet will allow. And if your wallet allows it then.....Why fly Y, I don't see the point? ​becomes the pertinent question.

 

[Flying mermaid]

My other reason - I would hate to be say, 80, and on my deathbed with a big bank balance because I flew Y my whole life.

This is some of our rationale as well. We have given our 3 kids a good start - paid their Hecs at Uni, bought them cars and helped one to buy their first home and promised the other two similar help. After that we have told them they are on their own and the only way they will inherit any money is if we die before we can spend it all on traveling..... It is a family joke, that they expect to have to pay our airfares once we have run out of money

 

[cove]

Flying Mermaid is that how you can get boys to leave a cushy home? We thought we might have to leave to see what happens with the maid and butler service turned off. Boys don't seem to get the message!If they travel overseas they use our points unless it is Qantas where they use their own.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Flying Mermaid is that how you can get boys to leave a cushy home? We thought we might have to leave to see what happens with the maid and butler service turned off. Boys don't seem to get the message!If they travel overseas they use our points unless it is Qantas where they use their own.

Yes exactly!! Master FM was causing chaos at home with a live in gf and Mr FM and I were feeling like we were living in a shared house, as well as providing maid service plus the two Ms FMs were getting very scratchy. We really love the gf, but we took Master FM aside, said it was time for him to go and then cushioned the blow by saying we would help him buy his own place. It worked really well and he now has become a very good cook (and often brings us cakes to try) and is getting quite good at washing clothes etc. I try not to visit, as I can't stand the chaos but he is trying. So I would really recommend it as a strategy for easing them out I do have friends who became so desperate they sold their house and moved into a 1 bedroom unit...

 

[Wan1dap]

Because we can. It's better in every sense. This life is not a rehearsal. You don't see the value in J, I observe the value in Y and I prefer to let others "enjoy" it.

 

[HardieBoys]

I think the key word is value: how much the Business ticket costs, what the difference between Business and Economy fares would buy you either at home or at your destination, and perceived benefits of the extra space. I'm 6' and 100 kg, and find Economy seats really uncomfortable beyond an 8 hour trip.

I tend to buy the cheapest Economy fare I can get if I'm travelling to Asia, because I figure that the $4000 difference more than covers the other costs associated with the trip. For 8 hours, I'm happy to grin and bear it, especially with an iPhone and noise-cancelling headphones.

For North America, Europe and RTW fares, I'll look at Business fares, especially if they're on sale, and if I'm writing it off against tax, am more likely than not to pay. For leisure trips, I've tended to pay Premium Economy, because I don't feel cramped at the end of 24 hours' travel, and will get a reasonable sleep.

Each to their own, I guess. That's what's so great about travel.

 

[JohnK]

Redeemed BMI award for BKK-SYD return in business class and it was thoroughly worth it as the cost over economy was marginal.

By the looks of things will get to try out business class on a TG A340-600 and SQ A380.

 

[cove]

Sounds very nice use of your resources JohnK!

 

[prozac]

So many good / great responses why people choose to fly or not fly 'J'. On my infrequent trips within Australia I would tend to fly Y. Many years ago I would sometimes score the odd local J for company travel, but otherwise I look back over years of Sydney-London, J'burg-Ams, etc in Y as an adventure suitable when you are younger. Besides planes were often half empty or worse back then and you could score 6 middle seats (or often any seat you liked) on a QF 747 for a nice sleep.

Then this year I flew 'J' on Singapore, SYD-AMS-SYD. First leg on an A380. Wow, I never want to go back to the other end of the plane. I arrived in AMS at 0730 relatively fresh, and committed to a very physical first day, hitting the hay after midnight, and up again at 0500 for a swim and another big day. I can tell you I would never have accomplished that flying whY. Best of all I payed for the entire flight using Amex points......160,000 only, and it would have been less (127,500) had I opted instead for a non A380 aircraft SYD-SIN.

If just to have more productive days at your destination I reckon 'J' is worthwhile.

 

[hoch86]

Many years ago I would sometimes score the odd local J for company travel, but otherwise I look back over years of Sydney-London, J'burg-Ams, etc in Y as an adventure suitable when you are younger.

Totally agree...as a young person i figure that in order to appreciate J to its fullest I need to 'suffer' some pretty crumby Y fares first.

+imagine what the response would be at the youth hostel when you arrived having flown in J, lol

 

[straitman]

+imagine what the response would be at the youth hostel when you arrived having flown in J, lol

Not a problem as they would not believe you anyway :!:

 

[hoch86]

Not a problem as they would not believe you anyway :!:

exactly. It's just not possible to backpack around the world and fly J, unfortunately

 

[casanovawa]

I've flown Y to Europe and RTW and backpacked the last couple of times, i reckon J and backpacking sounds just fine...

 

[michaely]

So many good / great responses why people choose to fly or not fly 'J'. On my infrequent trips within Australia I would tend to fly Y. Many years ago I would sometimes score the odd local J for company travel, but otherwise I look back over years of Sydney-London, J'burg-Ams, etc in Y as an adventure suitable when you are younger. Besides planes were often half empty or worse back then and you could score 6 middle seats (or often any seat you liked) on a QF 747 for a nice sleep.

Then this year I flew 'J' on Singapore, SYD-AMS-SYD. First leg on an A380. Wow, I never want to go back to the other end of the plane. I arrived in AMS at 0730 relatively fresh, and committed to a very physical first day, hitting the hay after midnight, and up again at 0500 for a swim and another big day. I can tell you I would never have accomplished that flying whY. Best of all I payed for the entire flight using Amex points......160,000 only, and it would have been less (127,500) had I opted instead for a non A380 aircraft SYD-SIN.

If just to have more productive days at your destination I reckon 'J' is worthwhile.

I agree with your succinct summary 100%.If you are immediately productive and do not fade at 1500hours on your day of arrival, it is worth the cost to your company or your own business. Thanks for the clarity !!
Michaely