Business Class flight to Australia.

SW17

zagfles wrote: »

Don't get me wrong, I'm not making a point, I'm asking a question. I really am truly baffled as to why anyone would think it's worth that sort of money to them.

Seems like you are asking the question so that you can make your point. People do it for all sorts of reasons, if you are determined to say that decision is only valid on an objective cost breakdown (while conveniently attaching little value to the real estate), you will remain baffled.

zagfles wrote: »

I personally would value it at around £100 or so, and would pay that sort of amount extra.

An economy return to Australia costs £700-1100, so you are saying that business class is only worth a 10-15% premium on that (when the airline could fit at least 2, maybe 3, economy seats into the same space, on top of the quality improvement). I see no logic to that argument, but even if that's your price point, many others will be willing to pay more. People are paying far more than you appear willing to pay for business class to fly premium economy. Personal choice.

zagfles wrote: »

I've done that, decades ago, several times. I wouldn't do it now, which is why I recommended the transit hotel earlier on. I think that's a better option than BC as you get a private room, not a "dorm" with potentially others snoring around you.

Not saying your idea is bad, it may be good for many people and is great to put forward as an option, but not the only way to do it.

zagfles wrote: »

If you look to book a flight to Aus/NZ most airlines will come up with options for a long (8-12 hours) layover on flights to Aus/NZ.

My point here was that the transit hotel is an option for Aus/NZ, for other (i.e. those that could be done direct in a single sector, but can be done indirect) long haul journeys it makes less sense, at least to me.

As to why I would (and do) fly business class? Not losing time and preferring the comfort. I know I could do it cheaper, I choose not to and I'm satisfied with the value I get. Everyone's reasons will differ.

blindman

I think an important point has been overlooked here

Not all Business class products offer the same comfort\perks etc. for the money.

I would not Rate BA's product for starters.:eek:

So, to the OP, look at reviews for airlines Business class product before you splash out (if that's your choice).

My choice

I would start from Ex-EU (Oslo\AMS etc) to cut the business fare down to a near economy ticket price.

if that was not feasible then the economy + transit hotel option sounds Ok. IMHO

EssexExile

blindman wrote: »

Not all Business class products offer the same comfort\perks etc. for the money.

I would not Rate BA's product for starters.:eek:

That's a very good point. My experience with BA last year was awful, I think that was partly because BA are awful & partly because business class in general isn't as far above economy as it used to be.

silvercar

I would rate BA on long haul but not short haul.

For those trying to put a value on business class, I think the difference is suffering a long haul economy flight or enjoying a business class flight.

For my last holiday it was a choice between 7 nights in destination plus 2 night flights in business class - so a 9 night holiday. Or 7 nights in destination with a painful experience at both ends.

zagfles

SW17 wrote: »

Seems like you are asking the question so that you can make your point.

Not at all - sorry if it's coming across that way. There is no "point", I have no moral or ideological objection to people paying thousands extra for something I consider worth maybe £100, I'm just puzzled as to why

People do it for all sorts of reasons, if you are determined to say that decision is only valid on an objective cost breakdown

The decision is "valid" on whatever grounds people want to make it valid, just as I could burn £2000 in cash on my bonfire if I wanted to. But if I were to start a thread saying "is burning £2000 in cash a good idea to get my bonfire going", and some people said "yes" with no reason, others would be puzzled as to why!

(while conveniently attaching little value to the real estate), you will remain baffled.

An economy return to Australia costs £700-1100, so you are saying that business class is only worth a 10-15% premium on that (when the airline could fit at least 2, maybe 3, economy seats into the same space, on top of the quality improvement).

You need to distiguish between the value to the individual and the cost of providing the service. It may well cost more than 10-15% extra to provide the service, but I don't see much value in a bigger air gap. Maybe some people do, but up to now nobody's given that as a reason. I've had some very interesting chats on planes with people sat next to me - I think I'd find a bigger gap more of a disadvantage! Though I can understand the contrary view - even if not the monetary value of it.

I see no logic to that argument, but even if that's your price point, many others will be willing to pay more. People are paying far more than you appear willing to pay for business class to fly premium economy. Personal choice.

Of course. But in a thread where the OP is asking "is it worth it", the reasoning behind that personal choice is helpful so he can make an informed decision. Otherwise why bother contributing to the thread?

Not saying your idea is bad, it may be good for many people and is great to put forward as an option, but not the only way to do it.

My point here was that the transit hotel is an option for Aus/NZ, for other (i.e. those that could be done direct in a single sector, but can be done indirect) long haul journeys it makes less sense, at least to me.

Right - but there are similar options, eg take a daytime flight, or have a few drinks on the flight to help you sleep (I find that works quite well ), or sleep as best you can and recover the next day - most people can do with the occasional rubbish night's sleep and catch up the following night.

As to why I would (and do) fly business class? Not losing time and preferring the comfort. I know I could do it cheaper, I choose not to and I'm satisfied with the value I get. Everyone's reasons will differ.

And discussing those reasons is helpful to the OP! As I've tried to do, and you to some extent. But not many others...

richardw

If you are time rich it's easy to fly long haul in economy on day time flights, with sleep in hotels at airports, if you are time poor it's easy to fly long haul with a mixture business class on the sleep sectors and economy/ premium economy on the non sleep sectors.

Don't forget premium economy, economy extra and economy extra legroom seating is becoming more common on many airlines. If the Middle East carriers start Premium Economy they'll be even more choice, tremendous options for money savers could be available.

zagfles

silvercar wrote: »

I would rate BA on long haul but not short haul.

For those trying to put a value on business class, I think the difference is suffering a long haul economy flight or enjoying a business class flight.

What is it you find so bad about long haul economy? I've done at least 40 long haul economy flights and other than one charter flight to Florida (which was a bit like Ryanair for 8 hours) they've all been great. I've never "suffered" even on night flights. Free food and drink, frequent trolley runs or just press the call button if you want something in between, good in-flight entertainment, opportunity to stretch legs, wonder down the galley to chat with the staff, easily enough legroom (I'm nearly 6 foot).

For my last holiday it was a choice between 7 nights in destination plus 2 night flights in business class - so a 9 night holiday. Or 7 nights in destination with a painful experience at both ends.

OK if you're pushed for time. Luckily I'm in a job where I can buy extra leave if I need it, or move my shift around if necessary - which means I'd far rather take a couple of extra days and fly in the daytime rather than try to sleep in a dorm.

richardw

richardw wrote: »

.... If the Middle East carriers start Premium Economy they'll be even more choice, tremendous options for money savers could be available.

Emirates confirms introduction of Premium Economy
https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2016/12/08/emirates-set-launch-premium-economy/

dickydonkin

zagfles wrote: »

What exactly do you get that's really worth 2 grand? Surely you could waste that 2 grand on the ground and get far far more enjoyment from it. You could eat in Michelin 3 star restaurants every night for a week!

Why would some people pay thousand of pounds to eat in Michelin restaurants every night for a week?

I wouldn't, but I respect those people who place a high value on fine dining.

Can't you see you have blown your argument out of the water?

You don't have to pay thousands more than economy to fly business class.

I place a value on comfort, space and privacy for long haul flights and with options of flying ex EU, redeeming avios and some great prices available from the ME airlines, you don't have to break the bank to do it.

I like a bed when I am flying and I appreciate some people prefer pretentious food offerings so each to their own I say and nobody should be critical on how people "waste" their hard earned - let alone attempt to justify why they are wrong in doing so.

zagfles

dickydonkin wrote: »

Why would some people pay thousand of pounds to eat in Michelin restaurants every night for a week?

I wouldn't, but I respect those people who place a high value on fine dining.

Can't you see you have blown your argument out of the water?

You don't have to pay thousands more than economy to fly business class.

I place a value on comfort, space and privacy for long haul flights and with options of flying ex EU, redeeming avios and some great prices available from the ME airlines, you don't have to break the bank to do it.

I like a bed when I am flying and I appreciate some people prefer pretentious food offerings so each to their own I say and nobody should be critical on how people "waste" their hard earned - let alone attempt to justify why they are wrong in doing so.

Not again!! Let me take this slowly for you.

The OP is asking if it's worth spending £2k extra to fly BC.

Most people are saying "yes" but not giving much in the way of reasoning. That is not really very useful to the OP, or indeed others who may be thinking the same.

It's not about people justifying how they spend their money, there's no intended criticism of people who choose to spend their money in this way, I even apologised in an earlier post if it sounded like that. It's about providing a useful answer to a good question. I tried to make that clear above. If people don't want to give the OP a useful answer, why bother posting to this thread?

We've already discussed the "bed" - the only really useful part of this thread - I suggested a private room with private facilities at a tiny fraction of the cost - a cheaper and IMO better solution, particularly if privacy is important to you, time allowing of course. Others pointed out that some people are "time poor" eg they only had 7 days off, so that's not an option. All useful discussion. But there's more to BC than a dorm bed surely.

A friend of mine regularly dines in Michelin star restaurants paying £200+ per head. I asked him whether it's really worth it. He spent ages raving about how good the food and wine and service is giving lots of detail. Detail that was useful to me in deciding whether to try it myself or not. He didn't just say "yes" and then get all huffy when asked why.