Is Business Class worth it??

[macgirl]

I am flying Sydney / Perth / Sydney - is it worth paying the extra for Business Class so I am more comfortable on the longer flights??

 

[Kieran2274]

I am flying Sydney / Perth / Sydney - is it worth paying the extra for Business Class so I am more comfortable on the longer flights??

It depends on aircraft type - check the seat maps to see whether you're getting a pseudo J seat or a real one. As comfort goes, that's mostly what you are paying for. Which carrier, by the way?

 

[macgirl]

Flying with VA and have checked that the flights I want are the A330 so its the better business class option with them.

 

[Kieran2274]

Flying with VA and have checked that the flights I want are the A330 so its the better business class option with them.

VA's Coast to Coast service on A330s is great - just be aware that XFA/B (the old EK birds) also can be scheduled onto this route and that seating/ICE isn't as good. It's has 2-3-2 seating in J, so you should be able to pick it quickly when booking (you can select seats before payment) and therefore change to different times if you want.

 

[11sjw]

Not for that duration of flight. Anything 10 hours plus and I'll try and upgrade via points.

 

[cove]

macgirl are you working flat out on making frequent flyer points on a favourite carrier of your choice?
There are always good sign on bonuses so I suggest you do some homework to improve the quality of your flights by having points for upgrades.

 

[Grooba]

I am flying Sydney / Perth / Sydney - is it worth paying the extra for Business Class so I am more comfortable on the longer flights??

I guess everyone values products like this differently. Personally I have no problem on the trasncons and never use points or pay to upgrade anywhere domestically.

Absolutely the J experience will be better, so the question is if it's worth it to you.

 

[erkpod]

Based on other threads here, just because there's a new config on the seat map doesn't mean that it won't be Awful or Broken on the day of flight.

 

[Steady]

I have no experience with the VA product but I fly MEL - PER - MEL regularly in economy on QF and occasionally upgrade with points as a treat. I now find I only consider requesting an upgrade when all of the criteria I want align, I am sure they are different for everyone but for me the 3 main ones are;
1. It is an afternoon / evening flight so I get to sample the nicer red wines followed by a Muscat or similar and a meal that isn't breakfast
2. I am travelling West as the flight time is usually 30 to 60 minutes longer
3. I am not travelling on a B737 - I much prefer an Airbus - even better if it is one with sky beds

I think the best example of when not to request an upgrade is an AM East bound flight on a 737

I can also say that on the rare occasion that everything does come together I don't loose any sleep if the upgrade doesn't come through.

 

[eastwest101]

All prices/points being roughly equal then:

If a VA A330 then yes
If its VA XFA/XFB then a maybe
If a VA B738 then maybe no unless afternoon evening

If a QF A332 then no (due to 2-3-2 J class seating)
If a QF A333 International config then yes (pretty unlikely)
If a QF B763 domestic config then maybe (and yes if an International J class B767)
If a QF B738 (pretty unlikely) then maybe no unless afternoon/evening etc

 

[mannej]

All prices/points being roughly equal then:

If a VA A330 then yes
If its VA XFA/XFB then a maybe
If a VA B738 then maybe no unless afternoon evening

If a QF A332 then no (due to 2-3-2 J class seating)
If a QF A333 International config then yes (pretty unlikely)
If a QF B763 domestic config then maybe (and yes if an International J class B767)
If a QF B738 (pretty unlikely) then maybe no unless afternoon/evening etc

Don't forget there are 4 x 332's with the international sky bed product.

 

[eastwest101]

Don't forget there are 4 x 332's with the international sky bed product.

I didn't realise that - thanks. But goes to show how many different variations of J class seating there is on transcon routes! So amended to:

All prices/points being roughly equal and the advantages of evening and if travelling west with the longer flight times then:

If a VA A330 then yes
If its VA XFA/XFB then a maybe
If a VA B738 then maybe no unless afternoon/evening etc

If a QF A332 international config then yes
If a QF A332 domestic config then no (due to 2-3-2 J class seating)
If a QF A333 International config then yes (pretty unlikely)
If a QF B763 domestic config then maybe (and yes if an International J class B767)
If a QF B738 (pretty unlikely) then maybe no unless afternoon/evening etc

YMMV. There could be more combinations/permutations for transcon J class - I wonder if someone has done a flow chart for all this?

 

[mannej]

Don't forget EBM/N have 2-2-2 J seats (they are similar to the domestic 767's but with IFE)...

 

[serfty]

VA's Coast to Coast service on A330s is great - just be aware that XFA/B (the old EK birds) also can be scheduled onto this route and that seating/ICE isn't as good. It's has 2-3-2 seating in J, so you should be able to pick it quickly when booking (you can select seats before payment) and therefore change to different times if you want.

not really, VA [-]seashells[/-] seatmaps only show 2-2-2 until check in [-]poems[/-] opens, then if it's to be XFA/XFB only then does the seat map change to 2-3-2.

 

[Deleted member]

Horses for Courses. I always fly in J (if possible) regardless, either by JASA or points upgrade etc.
that doesnt mean anyone else who chooses not to any less right about their choice.

 

[jmillard]

I fly Perth - East Coast regularly
I rarely upgrade with points as I prefer to collect and use on International holidays - doing RTW in J in October

 

[rhjames]

Not for that duration of flight. Anything 10 hours plus and I'll try and upgrade via points.

I agree. For such a short flight - 5 hours -, it's not worth upgrading. I also usually only upgrade on 10 hour plus flights also. Sydney to Perth upgrade would cost around $170 per hour. Flying economy instead of business may be the easiest $900 you'll ever make.

 

[oldies on tour]

jmillard - given your upcoming trip, do you have any tips for booking a RTW in J, with regard to how far in advance to book and ease of available seats? We are looking at same in a year or so using Qantas points. Thanks - Deb

 

[serfty]

jmillard - given your upcoming trip, do you have any tips for booking a RTW in J, with regard to how far in advance to book and ease of available seats? We are looking at same in a year or so using Qantas points. Thanks - Deb

I suggest you see this thread:

* www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/...ogram/oneworld-award-140k-280k-420k-8228.html

 

[cove]

Well our family members aren't on the free list but we travel in J using cheaply earned frequent flyer points so the cost to do that is not $900 to go coast to coast and back.