Is premium economy worth it?

[Slats7]

My father and I are flying MEL-LAX-MEL in May.

Qantas have their 90 hour sale that ends at midnight tonight so we want to book today!

Premium economy return is around: $2,800 and economy return is about: $1,150

So is it worth forking out the extra money and requesting an upgrade to J class? Or save some dollars and stick with Y class?

Cheers,

Slats.

 

[Sprucegoose]

My father and I are flying MEL-LAX-MEL in May.

Qantas have their 90 hour sale that ends at midnight tonight so we want to book today!

Premium economy return is around: $2,800 and economy return is about: $1,150

So is it worth forking out the extra money and requesting an upgrade to J class? Or save some dollars and stick with Y class?

Cheers
Slats.

Yes, chop chop

 

[Slats7]

Yes, chop chop

Thanks for the prompt reply

 

[gumpy]

that's an iffy one...

I usually buy prem econ when it's 50% to 100% more than econ like on Syd to BA. at 1.6k more I think i'd rather burn that money on an awesome food and hotels in the US...

at the same time 2,8k return to LA isn't bad... just that the econ seat is so cheap right now...

 

[Sprucegoose]

that's an iffy one...

I usually buy prem econ when it's 50% to 100% more than econ like on Syd to BA. at 1.6k more I think i'd rather burn that money on an awesome food and hotels in the US...

at the same time 2,8k return to LA isn't bad... just that the econ seat is so cheap right now...

You arrive in better shape - what value?

 

[Jamie R]

Most definately worth it ! You will arrive feeling human (or at least as much as anyone can being in the air that amount of time) and won't spend your holiday dreading the return flight.

 

[docjames]

$2800 is a good price for Y+ to LAX and well worth it.

I paid $3k for the same in September. You arrive in much better shape. If you have the budget, go for it.

 

[gumpy]

You arrive in better shape - what value?

Again hard to put a value on it (some people pay for J or even F which many can't justify even if they can afford it), when I arrive if I booked into a better hotel with the saving and then used part of the saving to go get a full body massage... arguably you're in a decent state... and you still have money to burn...

Look 2.8k is a good price i've acknowledged that but 1.2k for econ... 1.6k in the US goes very very far these days...

if I were the OP i'd pull strings and try for econ the way there and Y+ the way back at the discount fares... You just need to find the right person at the QF call centre who is also prepared to pull strings...

 

[anat0l]

I can't chime in on advice as to whether $2.8k for Y+ is a good deal or not, but on a completely uneducated face value judgement, it seems rather good.

Y is always cut-throat cheap; can't escape that. You also can't upgrade from it, although Y+ sale fares may not allow either? Y+ will guarantee you a comfy seat for the premium, cf. Y unless you have status.

Speaking of status, unless your status is high (i.e. pref WP), I wouldn't hold my breath for an upgrade to J (whether you are upgrading from Y or Y+). So make a decision and content yourself with whatever you bought. If you register for an upgrade, you may consider it a bonus if it clears. Just don't consider it as a waste of time if it doesn't clear.

 

[JohnK]

Definitely not worth it at those prices. Personally I would not pay more than a 50% premium for premium economy.

My father and I were in premium economy seats SYD-LAX last year (albeit with economy service) and they are nothing special. If the person in front reclines it is difficult to get out of the seat especially if you are in a window seat.

 

[anat0l]

Definitely not worth it at those prices. Personally I would not pay more than a 50% premium for premium economy.

At that benchmark you will probably never ever pay for a Y+ seat unless all the low bucket Y seats are gone.

 

[JohnK]

At that benchmark you will probably never ever pay for a Y+ seat unless all the low bucket Y seats are gone.

You are probably right although BA used to price premium economy at that benchmark before QF came along with their new product.

I do not believe the premium economy product is worth that much (but obviously people are paying for QF to justify high prices) and I would rather spend the money on the rest of the holiday.

 

[GCC]

Very much a personal choice as you can see from the posts here, & really depends on how much you detest or are indifferent about flying in Y.
As I'm in the former group, $2800 for Y+ is a good fare to me. If have you do have status your chances of an upgrade to J are better, so you end up with best case scenario J seat and worst case scenario y+. If you buy a sale Y fare, best case scenario is a Y seat.
QF Y+ on the A380 is far superior to the Y+ on 747, especially if the cabin is full. So try to get a flight that operates A380 if you can.

 

[Justinf]

DOn't forget that you couldn't even fly to LAX in Y for much less than $2k a while back, so I would consider $2800 good value for Y+.

 

[Alanslegal]

At a savings of over $1,600 per passenger, I know which one I would be taking.

If needed, the spare change could buy you a big LED 3D TV for Christmas 2010

 

[Alanslegal]

Just to spin the price comparisons a little bit further;

It cost $1,600 extra per person to fly in premium economy, so at 2 pax, that's $3,200!

The flight time, say, is 14 hours long. So for enjoying the Y+ seat, that's $229 per hour more than flying Y. **edit, its $114.50 ph, sorry, divide by 2 given its a return.**

 

[Ewing]

If needed, the spare change could buy you a big LED 3D TV for Christmas 2010

I already have a 55" one of those in the living room, so I'll take PE thanks

I actually look at it from another perspective - I used to fly international J because it's very difficult for me to get away for more than a couple of days, and I don't want to spend time recovering when I arrive at my destination.

PE is good enough for that. I can sleep, and arrive in reasonably good condition. Good enough that I can fly on QF12 LAX-SYD, have a shower, jump on QF787 SYD-CBR and be in the office at 9:30am for a full day.

 

[trooper]

At that price I'll add to the "grab it" chorus...

I fly NZ, not QF... but I recently booked a slightly better Y+ fare (2600-ish) with them and thought it was an excellent deal. I didn't hesitate on that one.

Like others here I remember when 2000-2200 was a normal price in Y....:shock:

I'd also apply for the upgrades.. but then that's just me....:mrgreen:

 

[Slats7]

So I ended up booking Y+ for the both of us return. I've never flown Y+ and never been to LAX so it will be a whole new experience! We are both bronze members so the chances upgrading I know are slim. We have between us nearly 1 million QF points though so we will use them at some stage!

 

[zig]

So I ended up booking Y+ for the both of us return. I've never flown Y+ and never been to LAX so it will be a whole new experience! We are both bronze members so the chances upgrading I know are slim. We have between us nearly 1 million QF points though so we will use them at some stage!

Good decision. Enjoy the trip and we look forward to your report back as to the 'value' of PE.