Business class - worth the points?

[ffhound]

Hi all

I have been fortunate to have travelled is a number of times including a 140000 Qantas point redemption around the world last year.

However there is one thing I have not done and that is fly business class internationally. A lot of people on the forums rave on about how you can get a seat that normally costs several thousand dollars by using points or upgrading.

However from my perspective it means outlaying double the number of points for a trip to say Paris. I could either have 2 economy tickets to Paris or just 1 business class seat.

Putting aside the fact that business class seats are normally very expensive is it really worth double the point usage to get a business class seat? If so, why?

That aside does having a business class seat reduce the risk of dvt?

Cheers Peter

 

[juddles]

You will get many different opinions on this.

I believe that if you have travelled around the world in Y, and you still ask this question, then the answer is definitely NO for you

 

[RooFlyer]

Although I only travel business long haul, I'd have to agree with juddles. The main reason I chose business (and pay either cash or points+cash) is the space and ability to stretch out on a (usually) flat bed. Even if I don't sleep, I can wriggle around in my own space and at least be comfortable. If you can sleep sitting up, and/or aren't too discomforted by it, then I envy you and you shouldn't waste the points and cash.

Also, yes, I think anyone prone to DVT would be advantaged by having more space and the ability to get up and walk about easily, without being penned in by other pax.

 

[Daver6]

A large factor that makes it worthwhile for me is the marginal cost. Sure, it is double the points for J. However, when you book Y and then pay all the taxes, that huge amount of points for the Y ticket is sometimes only saving you about half the actual cost of a Y fare. While taxes might be a little more for J, the fact that I'm saving something like 90% (or more) of the cost of a J ticket.

Finally, once you fly long haul J, you wonder how you ever did it in Y. Then when you go back to Y it just seems so barbaric So, best thing is, save your points and go twice in Y (last comment is tongue in cheek)

 

[ashleyn]

You will get many different opinions on this.

I believe that if you have travelled around the world in Y, and you still ask this question, then the answer is definitely NO for you

Totally agree with juddles, if you are OK flying Y, stick with it. I have a number of friends who are the same, quite happy to do 13 hours in Y. Me, no way but that's just me and I pay the price to be in J.

As for DVT, if you sit in one place in J for that time as opposed to getting up and walking around the Y cabin well I would think the risk is reduced (defer to the medicos)

 

[zig]

Although I only travel business long haul, I'd have to agree with juddles. The main reason I chose business (and pay either cash or points+cash) is the space and ability to stretch out on a (usually) flat bed. Even if I don't sleep, I can wriggle around in my own space and at least be comfortable. If you can sleep sitting up, and/or aren't too discomforted by it, then I envy you and you shouldn't waste the points and cash.

Also, yes, I think anyone prone to DVT would be advantaged by having more space and the ability to get up and walk about easily, without being penned in by other pax.

Agree with RooFlyer and likewise I only fly long haul in J.
Another consideration is that flying J is not just about the seat/bed, it also includes priority checkin, often priority screening / immigration, lounge access, priority boarding, additional luggage and sometimes (if lucky) your luggage arrives first. Of course if you have status with an airline you will get these benefits anyway.

 

[bsb]

How comfortable are you in economy? Once you go J you'll never go back and as you point out, you get 2 Y for one J. Our J addiction is a very expensive habit to break. Travel J AYOR.

 

[ffhound]

Hi again

Last year I did Syd - DFW (15 hrs) on Qantas, AMS-HKG (11 hrs) on Cathay and HKG-MEL (9 hrs) on Qantas. Didn't really have much of a problem with the seating as I sit down in an office dutring the day. I didn't sleep but did get some rest.

But given how cheap it is to get points by signing up for credit cards I could be talked into trying business class on my next trip to Europe, if not first

cheers Peter

 

[vetrade]

To some degree it depends on your age and stature which determine how comfortably you travel in the confined spaces of Y. But mostly it depends on your own preferences and priorities; which to date obviously haven't included the urge to travel J. If your points take a considerable amount of time / effort to accumulate then you may well want to be more frugal in their use but a lot of people on AFF get bonus points from credit card applications etc. which can be a very cheap and easy way to get substantial points in not much time. Splashing out on a J ticket is much easier to do if getting the points didn't take much effort. And if you do a 280K RTW trip in J you certainly get great value compared to the cash price all those flights would cost you.

Like a few others have commented, we also only fly J long haul these days and if we couldn't we'd probably stay at home much more rather than put up with Y. We find that if we fly in J to somewhere like NY or London we arrive in far better shape which means we don't need any recovery time before we get into seeing the sights etc. Overall I think we certainly enjoy our trips far more because we have eliminated what was for us the biggest drawback, Y.

 

[ffhound]

After reading this thread I am becoming more convinced. I guess the only real downside is the potential to run into Jeremy Clarkson after he has drunk a few too many reds.

 

[cove]

You need to know that once you go long haul in business class there will be no going back.

 

[PLANT]

Nup not worth it..... As I want the points seat in J

 

[cove]

Who is Jeremy Clarkson?
Have been onboard with lots of celebs but I leave them alone.

 

[ffhound]

Who is Jeremy Clarkson?
Have been onboard with lots of celebs but I leave them alone.

British chap. You know - from that island near Europe who we beat at cricket all the timel.

cheers Peter

 

[Deleted member]

Someone once said "ignorance is bliss, but a little knowledge is a dangerous thing ". ..... If you like it in whY , I suspect you should stay there. If you ever get used to travelling in J (or God forbid, in F) you will become dissatisfied and disillusioned every time you are forced to sit in the back of the plane. I used to be happy enough (happy probably isn't the right word) to fly in a cramped seat, with food that was a hit and miss, and have to deal with the odd member of the great unwashed.
I no longer accept long haul in anything other than J and a fair proportion of short haul as well.

 

[ffhound]

Someone once said "ignorance is bliss, but a little knowledge is a dangerous thing ". ..... If you like it in whY , I suspect you should stay there. If you ever get used to travelling in J (or God forbid, in F) you will become dissatisfied and disillusioned every time you are forced to sit in the back of the plane. I used to be happy enough (happy probably isn't the right word) to fly in a cramped seat, with food that was a hit and miss, and have to deal with the odd member of the great unwashed.
I no longer accept long haul in anything other than J and a fair proportion of short haul as well.

Is there different food in Business? I thought airline food was the same in both Business and Economy? What's the difference. It still must be airline food?

cheers Peter

 

[bam71]

Quite different! More choice's of dishes served, usually served plated up as you would at home, not in a foil tray. Better wines in a real glass. etc etc etc .....

 

[LadyC]

Travelling J means more space, better food, priority boarding and exit. It makes the experience more enjoyable for me. It becomes a fun part of the trip rather than something to endure. But YMMV.

 

[Cynicor]

Studies of DVT show it is more likely in premium cabins, probably due to inactivity and dehydration from alcohol (I.e. You drink more of the good stuff). Like for like, assuming a non drinker and getting up as much, the risk may be marginally decreased but it's very low already.

I fly premium for several reasons- 2 Y trips to Paris instead of 1 J is as useful to me as another hole in the head if I don't have the leave. So while the theory of "I can do more flights in economy" is good practically it doesn't mean I can take more holidays.
The comfort means I always arrive fresh and happy and the trip starts from the moment I get to the airport. No dreading the flight and watching down the aisle to see if "that person" is coming to sit next to me.
Business is generally a small premium on economy, even with the various discounts and tricks. If every dollar counts then it's not worth it, but I am very fortunate to be in a position where I can spend a bit extra on the flights without worrying about having to cut the holiday itself. (Renting, no kids, no partner...)

I know theoretically I could do Asia to EU in Y, but right now I don't have to, so I don't! There's always a way if you are flexible enough

 

[Cynicor]

Is there different food in Business? I thought airline food was the same in both Business and Economy? What's the difference. It still must be airline food?

cheers Peter

Ah, I wish I didn't know about the food in business. It's really not just airline food nowadays.

You get a tablecloth, fresh bread selection, multiple courses. I quite like most of the J food I get. And in F you get things like caviar (on Thai I think I went through 8 serves in 2 flights ) and lobster Thermidor (served in the shell of the lobster).