Why doesn't travel in premium cabins excite me as much as it should?

[lovestotravel]

Which airline

Qantas, but the same would be on any other airline!

 

[eric2011]

Qantas, but the same would be on any other airline!

I was honestly thinking you were describing JQ or one of the other LCC not an airline that is meant to be full service. As I said in my post earlier I dont fly Y class on anything over 2 hours so have not flown QF on an international flight in many, many years. I now see another reason why I dont

 

[lovestotravel]

I was honestly thinking you were describing JQ or one of the other LCC not an airline that is meant to be full service. As I said in my post earlier I dont fly Y class on anything over 2 hours so have not flown QF on an international flight in many, many years. I now see another reason why I dont

ha ha - Yep I know what you mean!

QF in J/F on the A380 is fine, another else is pretty poor

I only did this flight MEL-SIN-MEL as it was about $400 and it served a purpose, I have another one in a few weeks and another one in Dec and then March, but not sure I'll actually go...

My neck and back had never been so sore when I got home, I have no idea how people sit for 10+ hours and try to sleep in Y.

You'd be better off staying awake and not sleeping on a totally wrong angle for your body!

 

[straitman]

I do more travel than this but I too absolutely love travelling in premium cabins. I love flying full stop but being a little bit pampered, even in domestic is absolute bliss to me. I don't think I will ever get jaded of the experience.
I am however completely over long haul economy and if I never fly it again I won't be the least bit upset

I totally agree with Princess Fiona on this.

My personal limit is I will fly MEL-SIN in Y and maybe even MEL-HKG but any further is outside what I consider as my normal these days and I would avoid it unless it was an absolute necessity.

While AA miles and that are great, it's VERY hard to redeem on QF due to AA awards being available 10ish days behind

Still works well if travelling to Europe.

 

[lovestotravel]

MEL-SIN - Day flight Yes in Y I guess IF I have to
SIN-MEL - Night flight J or above ONLY

Just don't know what to do with those other cheap Brazillian fares I have booked to SIN now....

 

[Flying Fox]

I fly Y regularly and hence anything non-Y is a thrill & treat.

My personal rule is Y up to 10 hours is OK but beyond that, premium cabins please.

 

[anat0l]

Maybe premium cabins don't excite me much because I've flown so many of them (relative to my family, friends and colleagues, present company excluded). Habit is a dangerous thing for the Gen Y (or me, a straddler to Gen Y) youngster.

I remember you telling me JohnK years ago over drinks that once I start it'd be tough to go back, and I might be ruined. You were right.

That said, I just simply can't afford to travel in J or higher all the time. Domestic is probably where I have to pay for Y and live with it. For me, if I have to travel in Y I want to travel with a reasonably good airline whose Y I know I can put up with. Fortunately, unlike some present company, I have found it is possible to sleep in a non-fully-flat position. (Years of sleeping on a bus in a seat probably have helped) I might not be a spring chicken when I get off the aircraft after being in Y for 13 hours compared to being in J or F, but I know I won't need therapy or hospital treatment afterwards.

The reason why my Y travel isn't amplified more is because my travel has been substantially less over the past few years. I would not have enough points to sustain premium travel for longhaul on all my flying if I had more regular travel booked. Some of those trips would have to be in Y. I know that and I'd accept that. I would rather fly Y than not fly at all.

And let's be honest, unless you really can't bear Y any more, in some cases for economic reasons it is much cheaper just to fly Y than J. Short flights, regional international flights, intra-Europe.

The way I see it all is that the first time you ever fly premium - assuming you aren't completely overhyped by someone else's "exciting" account - is the most exciting one. Every subsequent flight afterwards is less exciting until you hit a plateau. That plateau of "excitement" varies from person to person. For some, it's still goosebump territory, and for others, it's just Tuesday (so to speak). When you are at the plateau stage and you are put next to someone who has just tried it for the first time, the contrast between the two of you will tell you how much you think you're not excited by premium travel any more.

For you, JohnK, there are other ways of getting a larger baggage allowance than just flying a premium cabin. Have you considered a *A status match, e.g. with TK? If you get matched to Star Alliance Gold, you are entitled to 20 kg (weight concept) or 1 extra piece (piece concept) on top of your gazetted baggage allowance.

 

[anat0l]

I only did this flight MEL-SIN-MEL as it was about $400 and it served a purpose, I have another one in a few weeks and another one in Dec and then March, but not sure I'll actually go...

My neck and back had never been so sore when I got home, I have no idea how people sit for 10+ hours and try to sleep in Y.

You'd be better off staying awake and not sleeping on a totally wrong angle for your body!

And here we have a perfect example - greed blinding the principle. But at the same time, economics will make people take that option.

How do people do it? Quite simple, actually. And although I'm likely younger than you (I'm taking a big guess here!), I haven't had to see a chiropractor yet for all the sleeping I have done in a Y seat. And, I have never, ever, ever had to take a sleeping pill - and I think I never will if I can help it.

 

[lovestotravel]

And here we have a perfect example - greed blinding the principle. But at the same time, economics will make people take that option.

How do people do it? Quite simple, actually. And although I'm likely younger than you (I'm taking a big guess here!), I haven't had to see a chiropractor yet for all the sleeping I have done in a Y seat. And, I have never, ever, ever had to take a sleeping pill - and I think I never will if I can help it.

Yep it does come down to cost at times, but for the MEL-SIN-MEL trip it was just to earn some more FF points and SC for a bargain price. $400 to earn 16000 points is pretty good, plus a F lounge visit, the SIN lounge etc etc

I have never taken a sleeping pill for a plane, and I can sleep anywhere, and while I am fit and young (let say 30) sleeping on a flat bed is always going to be more comfortable than upright in a small restricted aeroplane seat

 

[Hvr]

Having just done BKK-SYD-MEL in Y I can only see positives in premium cabin travel. I had a WP1 shadow beside me and was well looked after by the cabin manager, but... I am exhausted.

 

[lovestotravel]

Indeed, even having 2 x CSM's really look after me, Y travel is just too hard for more than a few hours

 

[anat0l]

Yep it does come down to cost at times, but for the MEL-SIN-MEL trip it was just to earn some more FF points and SC for a bargain price. $400 to earn 16000 points is pretty good, plus a F lounge visit, the SIN lounge etc etc

Which goes to show that people can complain about Y travel all they like but they will rationalise it if they want to. And if they want to rationalise it as such, then they must have understood what they are in for, otherwise by principle they would strike out the option. So how do people do long haul Y travel? That's how.

Some people extend that theory then to justify why Y travel seems to be enough for them / J travel is excessive (or a waste of money). Yes, there are people out there who go on the record to say that premium travel is a waste of money.

I have never taken a sleeping pill for a plane, and I can sleep anywhere, and while I am fit and young (let say 30) sleeping on a flat bed is always going to be more comfortable than upright in a small restricted aeroplane seat

I don't disagree with you there, but the point is that it is possible to sleep in such a position for so long (or even in bursts) without needing to immediately go see a chiro after you land.

As for your age... well, looks like I'm just a shade behind you (about to turn 30), and I have no hesitation in assuming you are much fitter than I am!


I would posit that the more you are able to sleep comfortably in Y, the more you are likely to justify to yourself that J is not worth the extra effort or expense. Hence the lack of excitement.


I guess one other main reason I like premium travel is that I like to try new premium experiences, try different airline products and routes, and see what they are like. To many people, that's a ridiculous reason to attempt to fly premium, let alone a ridiculous method to organise travel.

 

[amaroo]

Horses for courses.

Short haul premium is not a priority for me.......rather spend the coin on better hotels.

We often mix it up. In Dec/Jan we are doing QF11 / QF107 / QF8 in J however, flights like LAX-LAS-LAX / DCA-YYZ / YUL-MIA / MIA-DFW are all whY. Of course if we left the kids at home we could do it all in F

 

[lovestotravel]

No idea why you are ranting on again about a chiro

 

[LadyC]

I love, love, love flying premium. I still find it very exciting as I only travel for pleasure, so the journey is part of the holiday. Luckily for us, the gentleman and I travel on points, so keeping up our habit is more financially viable than for most people. I'm happy to plan well ahead and take some indirect routes to get where we need to if it means the travel will be more comfortable. Trying out new airlines and working out the best lounge to visit is something I really enjoy.

Adding to the premium equation is that the gentleman is rather tall, meaning any time we are in economy, he automatically encroaches on my space. And considering how little room there is in economy seats generally, this makes for an unpleasant trip for both myself and him.

I am looking forward to my SYD F Lounge visit in a fortnight!

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Just tuned into this thread. Quote below has me laughing, what else would u expect? Its like going to a public golf course and expecting country club service. Economy is basic on every airline around the world, hence the name economy. Hope u killed a few reds in your plastic cup!

[QUOTE

Basic food
Basic wine
Plastic wine glass
Foil container
Limited recline
Small seat
Sitting very close to another random person
etc etc[/QUOTE]

 

[lovestotravel]

Just tuned into this thread. Quote below has me laughing, what else would u expect? Its like going to a public golf course and expecting country club service. Economy is basic on every airline around the world, hence the name economy. Hope u killed a few reds in your plastic cup!

Basic food
Basic wine
Plastic wine glass
Foil container
Limited recline
Small seat
Sitting very close to another random person
etc etc

Wasn't expecting anything more, but it was more of a comparison of why J/F is so much better/exciting than Y

Having been spolit for the past few years it was a "shock" to see what it's like down the back again

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

All good mate, maybe they should move the premium cabins to the back, so people have to walk thru cattle to get to nirvana

Im in Y from Chennai to KL to Singapore tomorrow, day flights, leaving at 1130a, into SG at 830p. Have an exit row seat and some good MH IFE on the seat back. Pity the plonk will be bad no matter glass or plastic! But dinner in SG will be over the top good as usual.

I'm more concerned with what I do at my destination versus how I get there. Plus, I do enjoy giving the F and J seats to my wife and kids, let them enjoy. We are off to NYC, WashDC and LAX over Xmas/New Years, we are all going out via QF in premium economy, wife and kids back in J, me in premium economy. I buy tickets ex USA and with prem economy sales its rarely more than 20% above ex Aus economy.

Wasn't expecting anything more, but it was more of a comparison of why J/F is so much better/exciting than Y

Having been spolit for the past few years it was a "shock" to see what it's like down the back again

 

[burmans]

Having not travelled in medium-long haul Y for more about 8 years, over the weekend I was in Y MEL-SIN-MEL

It was by far the worst flight I have experienced in years in terms of comfort

Basic food
Basic wine
Plastic wine glass
Foil container
Limited recline
Small seat
Sitting very close to another random person
etc etc

Last time I flew SQ Y

Food was good actually
Wine - average but frankly while I do love my wine I do manage to survive most days without a glass of wine during the day so not really so sure why it is a requirement for a flight (nice to have sure but not a necessaity)
Wine Glass was glass from memory
Foil container - yes but then I quite frequently get my lunch in foil containers, I dont eat in restaurant every day either
Limited Recline - in relation to J/F absolutely but my seat at work has limited recline too (much more so) and I manage to get though 8 or more hours every day fine
Small Seat - well I'm 6" 4, clearly I prefer J/F here but I cant really say I was uncomfortable, it just wasnt very comfortable
Sitting very close to another random person - well that was my daughter

Worst flight, not even close, so I would have to disgree with lovetotravel and suggest airline does matter a fair bit. Actually worst flight was CX Y with one of those shells that didnt really work, now that was uncomfortbale trying to sleeep.

 

[bismarck]

SWMBO is definitely one of the people who can't understand the appeal of J travel.....and has done it quite a few times in the past.

In her view, she is never ever able to sleep on planes (and is a nervous flyer) so all she really needs is an ongoing supply of wine and a plentiful IFE system. She's quite petite so space is not a big problem. Hence, she's pretty happy to sit in Y.

In fact, we now have an arrangement whereby she can choose between a destination shopping allowance or J seat.....needless to say she always chooses the shopping allowance!

Works for us. She gets more shoes and I get to fly J guilt free and more frequently with the points saved.