first or business travel advice
 

The older I get, the more uncomfortable I am on my rare flights to Europe. Is it possible that some of you savy travellers can advise me on how to manage business or first-class travel on a economy-class income? Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Some airlines will allow you to purchase un-restricted tourist class seats and upgrade to business class with frequent flier miles. It takes a bunch of miles, and you pay more for the tourist class ticket, but you do get the upgrade without paying $5000 or so out of pocket.<BR><BR>Having a frequent flier credit card helps accumulate the needed miles, because it is something like 40,000 miles per ticket, depending on your frequentl flier plan.<BR><BR>The only other way I know is to show up and beg for an upgrade.<BR>But that is risky; many others try the same ploy.<BR><BR>

One option to consider is Economy Plus on UA. True - it is not business class but it does have extra legroom and amenities - but is more expensive.<BR><BR>AA has more legroom in "regular" coach than any other airline, and at regular fares.

topping

ttt please and thank you

On United, it's 20,000 per ticket to upgrade from the US to Europe. I'm doing this for a trip in August. To Belfast, my fare from DC for economy was about $900. For full fare econonmy, the price was about $1,300, plus the 20,000 miles for the upgrade to business class. To me, it's well worth the extra money.<BR><BR>You can also do it one way, for 10,000 miles. I find that the return flight is usually the worst, as it's longer and I know I have to go back to work the next day.