We are looking to fly Delta from BOS to HNL. We have enough miles to fly round trip coach. Delta has a promotion running through the end of the year where you get a 50% bonus on miles that you purchase, so we have to decide on this idea soon.

In a nutshell, we have never flown first class. We can upgrade our flight back (only) to first class for about $300 (total for both tickets). My thoughts are: we're leaving Hawaii and heading back to work... let's at least enjoy the flight back. I'm thinking the leg room and seat widths would just make it significantly more comfortable.

You thoughts on doing this? I welcome all comments, but would especially like to hear from people who have had longer flight times such as this, and from people who fly INfrequently.

Thanks in advance,
jkbnh

The return flight is most likely a night flight so you will probably be sleeping. Free booze in first class; does it matter? If my charge cards are not paid off, I would vote no on this.

Have you checked that first class is indeed available for redemption? Also what kind of routing?

Depending on your precise route, the flight from Honolulu to Atlanta/Minneapolis/wherever (for the plane change) is roughly the same length as a flight from Atlanta or the east coast to Europe, often farther.

And because of the time change, your HNL - xxx - BOS flights will probably be overnight. So again, comparable to a flight to Europe. How well do you sleep sitting upright in a narrower-than-average phone booth?

So sure, I'd upgrade. Truth be told, I'd probably wangle it to fly up front both ways.

If the return flight is overnight flight, I definitely would. I always have a hard time sleeping on red-eye/overnight flights, and at least it's more comfortable up front.

My question is, "why wouldn't you" for that price?

I would upgrade this flight, but only if I connected through MSP, DTW, or ATL. The planes on these routes will be internationally-configured planes with a significantly better seat than coach. The planes that fly from the West Coast will be standard domestic first class seats, in which case I would suck it up. Remember, though, that you also need to buy up to a higher fare class, in order to use the miles.

I'm assuming the OP is planning to redeem a mixed coach/first award.

IN a heartbeat. it is a long flight and the comfort is worth it. I fly First Class/business class whenever it is within reason $ wise and your price is within reason IMHO - overnight or not I'd do it.....

Yes, I certainly would upgrade a 5,000-mile flight for only $300 for two pax. I think it would be an excellent bargain.

But, I suspect it is costing the OP $300 plus some number of miles.

As far as opinions from INfrequent fliers I can tell you about a couple of coworkers who I got upgraded about a year ago at practically no cost to me (just a couple of 500-mile certs). One co-worker/friend loved riding up front on a United 757 LAX-DEN-LAX.

Got the second co-worker an upgrade on DEN-LAX and said the seat was comfortable and roomy and he had never been so pampered (his words). By United. On a domestic flight of 800 or so miles. The difference, to him, of the change from coach to first was quite significant.

Thanks for the replies so far. To answer some of the questions:

1. We have enough miles to fly coach both ways.

2. We do not have enough to fly first both ways.

3. We also do not have enough to fly coach out and first back. However, we were looking at purchasing the miles necessary to get this third option. Thus the $300 price (it's for miles).

4. If we do first on the way back, it is HNL-MSP-BOS. Planes are Airbus 330-300 and Airbus 320 (will have to learn more about these), and is overnight.

5. If we do first on the way out, it is multi-stop (three planes total), which is not a preferred option.

@travelgourmet: You stated, "Remember, though, that you also need to buy up to a higher fare class, in order to use the miles." What does that mean? I am aware that I need to use more miles for a mixed class RT ticket than coach both ways. (In Delta's case, it goes from 80k to 115k.) Is that what you are referring to? Are there other (read 'hidden') costs that I should be aware of. Essentially, we are already fully expecting to have to pay fees/taxes and baggage charges.

Once again, thanks for the feedback.
jkbnh

I believe travelgourmet means if you're planning to upgrade a paid economy ticket with miles you would need to purchase an eligible (higher) fare class on this route in order to upgrade (and there has to be upgrade availability as well). But since you're redeeming a straight award ticket, this wouldn't apply.

BTW given what you've indicated, I would definitely go for it on the return. The A333 will have internationally configure business class seating.

Yeah, thought you were using miles for an upgrade.

If it is $300 to buy the miles for a redemption and they have availability on the HNL-MSP flight, then GO FOR IT!