What do you look forward to more - the Flight or the Destination?

[MathNerd]

As the title says - my wife and I (newly married) have had this discussion plenty of times since our SQ Suites experience on SQ218 from MEL to SIN last month. 7 hours just isn't enough to fully appreciate the awesomeness that is First Class travel (especially being Suites in an SQ A380).

This was our first ever premium travel experience - all other travel has been in whY, and on a variety of airlines (chosen purely due to the economics of cheapest price wins). Having stashed a bunch of MR, I booked our 2 Suites tix as a surprise way to start off our honeymoon in MLE.

Ever since then, all I've been doing is reading, reading and reading even more about SQ Suites and the routes they fly. We're heading to Europe this December 2019 for a proper honeymoon, but only managed to get confirmed tickets on SQ J. SQ F is Waitlisted.

I've been talking only about the flights, not the destination. The wife is the opposite. I'm looking towards (hopefully, fingers crossed tightly that waitlist clears) smashing out 14+ hours in Suites on the SIN-LHR leg, and she doesn't get why I'm anticipating that, as after all "it's just a plane ride".

Anyone else experience the same?

 

[LadyC]

I definitely enjoy the flight but the destination too (hopefully). The Gentleman enjoys it too but probably not to the same degree I do. For him, he wants to get from A to B in comfort (he is 6 ft 4 so doesn't want to be crammed in Y). I love everything about it and will look up reviews for long sector flights I am catching to get a feel for what to expect (sometimes it is just about hosing down expectation!). I have travelled SQ F Suites and they were fabulous. I would also love to travel LH F and experience their lounge in Frankfurt as well as La Premiere with Air France.

 

[MathNerd]

I definitely enjoy the flight but the destination too (hopefully). The Gentleman enjoys it too but probably not to the same degree I do. For him, he wants to get from A to B in comfort (he is 6 ft 4 so doesn't want to be crammed in Y). I love everything about it and will look up reviews for long sector flights I am catching to get a feel for what to expect (sometimes it is just about hosing down expectation!). I have travelled SQ F Suites and they were fabulous. I would also love to travel LH F and experience their lounge in Frankfurt as well as La Premiere with Air France.

Too right LadyC. I think in this points/award game we all play here at AFF, it's easy to get lost in the awesomeness of the transport part of the travel itself (which is clearly what's happened in my case), as opposed to enjoying the destination, which would be proportionally a larger part of the entire trip.
However, it's understandable why it's so easy to get caught up in the luxury of J or F travel, which is hard to shake off.
A fine line indeed to balance!
It definitely is quite sad stepping off a flight when in J or F, the only wish is that the flight were longer! On our first flight of our mini honeymoon, the leg is meant to be 7 hours 40 minutes, it ended up being 6 hours 50 minutes or thereabouts. Had to literally get asked by the flight attendants to leave, I don't think were any other pax left on that plane.

 

[Forg]

I’ve done F once, on EK, at a huge discount (110% of full-price Y) ... return SYD-AKL.
Definitely not long enough to properly indulge in it!

Generally though, I look forward to the excitement of the flight, but by about 3hrs into it I’ve had enough. J (which I’ve now done twice) made it better, but I was still really happy to get off at the other end.
So I’d say it’s the destination I enjoy more than the flight.

 

[Buzzard]

Whilst I enjoy the destination(s) I get more excited by the flight.
I have some flights booked this year, the destination just happens to be where the flight goes.

 

[MathNerd]

I’ve done F once, on EK, at a huge discount (110% of full-price Y) ... return SYD-AKL.
Definitely not long enough to properly indulge in it!

Generally though, I look forward to the excitement of the flight, but by about 3hrs into it I’ve had enough. J (which I’ve now done twice) made it better, but I was still really happy to get off at the other end.
So I’d say it’s the destination I enjoy more than the flight.

That's interesting. I think if you do a lot of flying (whether it be J or F) then the novelty could wear off quite quickly.
SYD-SIN return in F at a 10% surcharge over full fare Y is amazing.
Maybe I won't be as excited after my next Suites flight (no idea when that could be)...
Though I do massively envy those that jet around for work, my job keeps me pretty grounded haha!

 

[MathNerd]

Whilst I enjoy the destination(s) I get more excited by the flight.
I have some flights booked this year, the destination just happens to be where the flight goes.

I feel like my thoughts echo yours

 

[cvmceg]

Travel for work: Flight
Travel for leisure: Destination.

 

[MathNerd]

Travel for work: Flight
Travel for leisure: Destination.

J or F for work?

 

[Matt_01]

I accendently voted for flight in error and cannot seem to undo that. I am all in favour of the destination but also fly way to much. A flight is a flight, but I am also fortunate that most flight over 3 hours are in J or F.

 

[cvmceg]

J or F for work?

Y for me sadly, unless it's long distance then it's J

 

[MathNerd]

Y for me sadly, unless it's long distance then it's J

Out of curiosity, what does your work clarify as "long distance"? I've heard of some employers classify a BNE/SYD/CBR/MEL - PER trip long distance, whereas the same treatment for others would need a minimum of a MEL - SIN/KUL/HKG/BKK etc.

 

[cjd600]

Haha, sounds familiar.

We went to Maldives for our 10th anniversary last year, SQ new suites to SIN, and 'old' suites on the return to SYD
I think I took all my pics on the flights, and she took all her pics at Maldives.

Currently planning a 280k J where her destinations will see me engineering routing to obtain the best flights/carriers/aircraft.

 

[kileskus]

For leisure, sometimes the flights are part of the destination. Some of the passengers will be from the destination region, the destination's language might be used in the announcements, the food might be in their cuisine, and of course you see it from above. So I've always treated those flights as part of the cultural experience when to/in foreign countries. (Even if I had the means to fly J, I'd probably still opt for Y for that reason - the other passengers will likely be more representative of the population of the area I'm going to, and you can eavesdrop better.)

For uni, definitely the flights.

 

[Himeno]

both (except the return leg. That's just coming back to the hell that is work and family)

 

[serfty]

[Moderator hat]

Due to responses herein, a third option has been added. Also, for a limited time, you will be able to change your vote.​

[/Moderator hat]

 

[Denali]

I enjoy the planning. The going, not so much. Once there I can enjoy but I'm already thinking/researching the next one, because I enjoy the planning

 

[LadyC]

I enjoy the planning. The going, not so much. Once there I can enjoy but I'm already thinking/researching the next one, because I enjoy the planning

I enjoy the planning too. So much so that I plan holidays we don't even go on! Just in case that emergency holiday requirement pops up!

Planning the flights is the easy bit. I spend a lot of time stalking flight availability. Unfortunately I tend to get analysis paralysis on accommodation - I think because there are so many more options. With flights options are more limited, it's more a question of availability.

 

[luxury-lizard]

I'm also voting for the planning as being an intrinsic part of the travel (vacation) experience but of course the destination is key too. Part of planning is the search for award seats in the pointy end or finding that great fare. The actual flights are important particularly the pre-departure champagne which really signals "we're off and running" - after a few hours I'm over the flying bit.

 

[harvyk]

I enjoy the lot, the planning, the waiting at the airports, the flight itself and the destination.

Whereas my wife sees everything short of arrival as a necessary evil before the holiday itself. (Hasn't stopped her enjoying the lounge though)