Is business class really that much better than coach?
Jun 5th, 2004, 12:41 AM
#41
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Tracy
Before you imagine your legs fuly strretched out and predeparture champagne, remember that not all fares are eligible for upgrades. Many airlines require a full coach fare (y or B) to upgrade or double those miles for other fares (like M, H).
When the company pays for my tickets, their rule is any flight 6 or more hours gets business class, under 6 is coach. I have adopted that policy for my own personal travel as well. It is not so much the on board experience, as it is the lounge before hand (nice when you have to be there 2 hours prior to departure) pre-boarding or separate lines for boarding and disembarking! The smaller business class cabin mean the attendant to passenger ratio is higher, you get your meal faster and the bathroom lines are shorter.
However, now many coach seats each have their own TV screen where you can choose your own movies, that is a big plus. And if you order a special meal (vegetarian or whatever) you will get it first in coach.
I love the priviledge of traveling business class, and if you do, try not to get yourself hooked if you can't do it all the time!
Tough call.
Before you imagine your legs fuly strretched out and predeparture champagne, remember that not all fares are eligible for upgrades. Many airlines require a full coach fare (y or B) to upgrade or double those miles for other fares (like M, H).
When the company pays for my tickets, their rule is any flight 6 or more hours gets business class, under 6 is coach. I have adopted that policy for my own personal travel as well. It is not so much the on board experience, as it is the lounge before hand (nice when you have to be there 2 hours prior to departure) pre-boarding or separate lines for boarding and disembarking! The smaller business class cabin mean the attendant to passenger ratio is higher, you get your meal faster and the bathroom lines are shorter.
However, now many coach seats each have their own TV screen where you can choose your own movies, that is a big plus. And if you order a special meal (vegetarian or whatever) you will get it first in coach.
I love the priviledge of traveling business class, and if you do, try not to get yourself hooked if you can't do it all the time!
Tough call.
Jun 5th, 2004, 01:42 AM
#42
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You know, I'm not 100% sure I would spend the money or miles to upgrade to business class, but if my main goal is comfort on a 12 hour flight, i just might. My sister in law and I got upgraded to business class once and it was such an experience that we had to take pictures of ourselves eating off the real china and all that. OK OK I know that makes us look & sound like hicks but it was such a treat! If you can rack up the mileage fast enough, then cashing them in for an upgrade may be worth it.
Jun 5th, 2004, 03:22 AM
#43
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Something is only "worth it" if you are satisfied in the end. I try to always fly business class to Europe because of the overnight flight but of course 4 times out of 5 my trip is for work and I often need to be ready to go as soon as the plane lands.
Some advice: Check out Virgin's Business class (premium economy), the cost is reasonable and about the best I've flown. Sometimes they have even upgraded me to First. Another option, they also now offer several daytime flights to Europe.
Some advice: Check out Virgin's Business class (premium economy), the cost is reasonable and about the best I've flown. Sometimes they have even upgraded me to First. Another option, they also now offer several daytime flights to Europe.
Jun 5th, 2004, 04:47 AM
#44
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One warning on AAFrequentFlyer's comment on luggage tagging. Yes, your luggage will be tagged as priority and MOST of the time that works to get it off early, but not always.
Depending on the destination baggage handlers may or may not be your airlines employees and may or may not understand the whole priority thing.
In Rome a few years ago Priority luggage was the LAST luggage off the plane!
Depending on the destination baggage handlers may or may not be your airlines employees and may or may not understand the whole priority thing.
In Rome a few years ago Priority luggage was the LAST luggage off the plane!
Jun 5th, 2004, 08:50 AM
#45
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Since I cannot afford business class and I don't accumulate that many miles, I have decided that only the hoi polloi ride business class these days, she said with a sniff.
Seriously, my philosophy is to use miles when you can. Free trips sound great, but just try getting the seats.
Seriously, my philosophy is to use miles when you can. Free trips sound great, but just try getting the seats.
Jun 5th, 2004, 02:51 PM
#46
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Melissa I don't think it made you look like hicks, I think it made you look like you were having fun! Poo Poo to anyone who thought otherwise! It is nice to fly upper class and it's nice to hear you enjoyed it!
I agree with Sue, I use miles (or upgrades) whenever I can because it's not always easy to do so why not do it when you can?
I agree with Sue, I use miles (or upgrades) whenever I can because it's not always easy to do so why not do it when you can?
Jun 5th, 2004, 03:03 PM
#47
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Language note (from a first-generation Greek-American):
<i>Hoi polloi</i> means "the many" in Greek, and it would actually refer to those of us who sit in the back, not the lucky few.
(By the way, saying "<u>the</u> hoi polloi" would mean "the the many," which is probably not your intent.
<i>Hoi polloi</i> means "the many" in Greek, and it would actually refer to those of us who sit in the back, not the lucky few.
(By the way, saying "<u>the</u> hoi polloi" would mean "the the many," which is probably not your intent.
Jun 5th, 2004, 03:13 PM
#48
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My daughter flew her first flight with me on first class. The next flight we flew coach. The first thing she asked was how come the flight attendant didnt get her drink when she sat down and why was she all crammed in her seat without the television. When the food came, she wondered what it was she was eating and asked if we could go back to the other plane and sit in the front. Even a young one sees the benefits of flying first class.....
Jun 5th, 2004, 06:03 PM
#49
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I have flown business class to paris and london on each trip. i took two trips this past feb and mar and flew coach. the only thing that saved me was that I was able to spread across 2 seats and sleep. coming home wasn't an issue since i wanted to stay up and get back on chgo time.
my next trip back to europe will be business class using miles. it is the better way to fly. plus my sister also likes all the wine she can drink.....lol
my next trip back to europe will be business class using miles. it is the better way to fly. plus my sister also likes all the wine she can drink.....lol
Jun 5th, 2004, 06:22 PM
#51
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Does anyone have Citimiles? Can they be used for upgrades. It takes forever to get miles but there is no expiration date like FFs, from what I have heard. I'm new to flying so This thread is helpful for me.
Jun 5th, 2004, 07:00 PM
#52
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Robespierre
Hey, I'm always glad to discuss words.
I found this reference: "Some urge that since 'hoi' is the article 'the hoi polloi' is redundant..." [ I see you subscribe to this view] "....but the general rule is that articles such as "'the' and 'a' in foreign language phrases cease to function as such in place names, brands, and catch phrases except for some of the most familiar ones in French and Spanish, where everyone recognizes 'la' for instance as meaning 'the. "The El Nino" is redundant, but 'the hoi polloi' is standard English. "
'hoi polloi' can mean 'the common people' and my use was with an eye to taking the 'common people' as 'the common herd.' Thus I was suggesting (facetiously of course) that only the common herd ride business class, hence my wish to avoid them by choosing economy class. (This is, of course, nonsensical, but then making sense wasn't really my objective, but rather making a little fun of my own inability to have the choice to fly business.)
Hey, I'm always glad to discuss words.
I found this reference: "Some urge that since 'hoi' is the article 'the hoi polloi' is redundant..." [ I see you subscribe to this view] "....but the general rule is that articles such as "'the' and 'a' in foreign language phrases cease to function as such in place names, brands, and catch phrases except for some of the most familiar ones in French and Spanish, where everyone recognizes 'la' for instance as meaning 'the. "The El Nino" is redundant, but 'the hoi polloi' is standard English. "
'hoi polloi' can mean 'the common people' and my use was with an eye to taking the 'common people' as 'the common herd.' Thus I was suggesting (facetiously of course) that only the common herd ride business class, hence my wish to avoid them by choosing economy class. (This is, of course, nonsensical, but then making sense wasn't really my objective, but rather making a little fun of my own inability to have the choice to fly business.)
Jun 5th, 2004, 08:39 PM
#53
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Free trips are great and I have never had a problem getting a seat. I would never pay $1000 or $2000 to fly to Europe. $42 and $45 RT is worth using FF miles. I don't consider the flights from CA to Europe while in coach to be long or miserable.
Jun 5th, 2004, 09:21 PM
#54
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we upgraded to world traveller plus for $150 each RT to Italy and back 2 years ago. What a difference..we could actually recline. We're spending plenty of miles to upgrade to Business class to and from Paris (SFO) in October. I can't imagine it won't be worth it. Anyone have experience with United's business class?
Jun 5th, 2004, 10:19 PM
#55
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Pam, since you have the miles to use, that is nice to upgrade to business class from SFO-what a long flight so it'll be worth it I'm sure. Thinking about cattle class from SFO to anywhere in Europe makes me cringe.
Jun 6th, 2004, 12:39 AM
#56
Is business class really that much better than coach? Absolutely. No question. Without a doubt.
We travel internationally several times a year, and use our miles to upgrade whenever possible. Our travel usually involves two back to back long haul flights, and one short flight. Just upgrading one of the long haul flights makes a world of difference.
Personally, I'm okay in coach for flights less than 5 hours, but for anything longer, those business class seats are a real godsend.
Sure the food is usually better - (however that was not the case on a United business class flight I took two days ago from Chicago to Frankfurt), but the comfort and breathing room is why I choose to upgrade. It's travel as it should be, and I almost feel human after sitting on a plane for 9-12 hours.
We travel internationally several times a year, and use our miles to upgrade whenever possible. Our travel usually involves two back to back long haul flights, and one short flight. Just upgrading one of the long haul flights makes a world of difference.
Personally, I'm okay in coach for flights less than 5 hours, but for anything longer, those business class seats are a real godsend.
Sure the food is usually better - (however that was not the case on a United business class flight I took two days ago from Chicago to Frankfurt), but the comfort and breathing room is why I choose to upgrade. It's travel as it should be, and I almost feel human after sitting on a plane for 9-12 hours.
Jun 6th, 2004, 03:23 AM
#57
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It's far better, the people, and of course the seating/sleeping arrangement is far superior. I can rarely sleep on a plane due to the engine noise, I prefer not to take sleeping tablets in case something awful should happen.
However, if it's a short flight I'll suffer economy class and the people it attracts, and either save the money for something else or spend in on a superior room/suite.
If you're doing the transatlantic route, and can afford to stay at a five star deluxe property then by all means fly business or first. However, if you're flying business to a three or four star hotel, you have confused priorities. One last a matter or hours, the other can last for days and days on end.
However, if it's a short flight I'll suffer economy class and the people it attracts, and either save the money for something else or spend in on a superior room/suite.
If you're doing the transatlantic route, and can afford to stay at a five star deluxe property then by all means fly business or first. However, if you're flying business to a three or four star hotel, you have confused priorities. One last a matter or hours, the other can last for days and days on end.
