Moneysaving on first class flight tickets

System

We are in Northern Ireland so either have to fly from Belfast via the UK mainland or fly from Dublin via who knows where. There's probably not much point paying for first/business/upper class from NI to GB but the main long haul would be nice.
Checking online websites I thought we would stop in San Francisco or LA and hadn't thought of Vancouver which throws up more possibilities as we have friends there and it might be nice to see them.

For those of you who use airmiles (or whatever they are now) do you think using one of the credit cards which allows you to collect them would be a good idea over the next year.

Oh and Blindman yup we like gardening

callum9999

Pam17 wrote: »

We are in Northern Ireland so either have to fly from Belfast via the UK mainland or fly from Dublin via who knows where. There's probably not much point paying for first/business/upper class from NI to GB but the main long haul would be nice.
Checking online websites I thought we would stop in San Francisco or LA and hadn't thought of Vancouver which throws up more possibilities as we have friends there and it might be nice to see them.

For those of you who use airmiles (or whatever they are now) do you think using one of the credit cards which allows you to collect them would be a good idea over the next year.

Oh and Blindman yup we like gardening

It's unlikely it will make any difference to this trip. Definitely worth doing - particularly as combined with the airmiles you'd earn from these flights you'd have a reasonably large stash of them to use in the future, but you'd have to spend a hell of a lot to earn enough to use on a business class flight to Hawaii.

Mands

Caz3121 wrote: »

I second blindmans point about standard varying between airlines
I have been fortunate enough to fly business and first on a number of occasions (thanks to miles) and, for example I would pick Air New Zealand Business Class (they don't do F) over United F any day of the week

And I'll third it :-)

I used to fly AA First for business; earlier this year I was flying BA transatlantic I got a gate op-up from WT+ to Club. I'd take the BA product over AA any day.

Not all airlines are equal
Mands

malkie76

Fly ex-EU and save thousands.

Standard J fare to LAX is about £3.5k, and F is about £7k. Fly ex-EU (ie start in AMS) and you'll be about £4k for an F to LAX on BA.

F is definitely worth it on such a long flight Ground experience at T5 in the CCR is outstanding, and on board is a big step up from business.

dzug1

Pam17 wrote: »

For those of you who use airmiles (or whatever they are now) do you think using one of the credit cards which allows you to collect them would be a good idea over the next year.

It's unlikely to make a noticeable difference, really

What you can do is join the airline's frequent flyers club. It might well get you a free or nearly free trip to somewhere in Europe once you get back.

blindman

Pam17 wrote: »

We are in Northern Ireland so either have to fly from Belfast via the UK mainland or fly from Dublin via who knows where. There's probably not much point paying for first/business/upper class from NI to GB but the main long haul would be nice.
Checking online websites I thought we would stop in San Francisco or LA and hadn't thought of Vancouver which throws up more possibilities as we have friends there and it might be nice to see them.

For those of you who use airmiles (or whatever they are now) do you think using one of the credit cards which allows you to collect them would be a good idea over the next year.

Oh and Blindman yup we like gardening

APD from Belfast is ZERO so I'd have thought going from there would be cheaper in business class\First?


You can get a load of Avios if you play the AMEX PLAT or BA Premium Plus CC game-Look at Headforpoints for how to do this.

Then buy a BA Club World [Ba speak for Business] seat and upgrade to First with the points (if possible).

I'm not a fan of BA business TBHO (or the airline :cool:) but have flown Air Canada (good) Air New zealand (brill!) and Virgin (excellent).

HAve fun :cool:

Doshwaster

dzug1 wrote: »

What you can do is join the airline's frequent flyers club. It might well get you a free or nearly free trip to somewhere in Europe once you get back.

I would never fly any airlines without joining their FF club. It costs nothing and it's not unknown for upgrades to be offered on your first trip as a "welcome" bonus in the hope that it will turn you into a loyal customer.

Biggles

I've had my first experience of Club World and I shall avoid it in future, compared to other Biz Class seats.

Sure, you have six feet to stretch out at night (as long as you don't mind that the last couple of feet consists of a fold-down stool!), but it's all about as wide as a plank and your neighbour is there staring you in the face, due to their space-saving top-to-toe seating arrangements. I would put it about on a par with Premium Economy.

The hospitality is good, no question about that, especially in the Heathrow lounge.

lady1964

Biggles wrote: »

I've had my first experience of Club World and I shall avoid it in future, compared to other Biz Class seats.

Sure, you have six feet to stretch out at night (as long as you don't mind that the last couple of feet consists of a fold-down stool!), but it's all about as wide as a plank and your neighbour is there staring you in the face, due to their space-saving top-to-toe seating arrangements. I would put it about on a par with Premium Economy.

The hospitality is good, no question about that, especially in the Heathrow lounge.

If you are travelling as a couple, your neighbour is your spouse, there is always the divider that can be put up though The only seats I would not book or pay extra for as a couple are the middle two in the 4 set in the middle of the cabin.

I've been fortunate to travel in CW several times and think it's a big step up from WT+, as nice as that is. The UD is the place to be if you can IMO, non status pax will have to pay extra or wait until T24 and hope there are 2 available.

Can't speak for other airlines but a trip to www.flyertalk.com should help, have a scout about the forums, see what others who fly regularly on airlines you're considering think.

Biggles

lady1964 wrote: »

If you are travelling as a couple, your neighbour is your spouse, there is always the divider that can be put up though

I wasn't. The other thing that bothers me slightly is the idea of the cabin staff passing food and drink to me over the lap of the person in the aisle seat. It does seem it has enormous potential to go messy!