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

[drron]

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.

Wouldn't work for me.Mrsdrron gets J,F on points AND lots of shoes.

 

[bismarck]

Wouldn't work for me.Mrsdrron gets J,F on points AND lots of shoes.

I am sure that will come later but as a young couple of limited means I will take advantage of this as long as I can before she wises up to the fact that she can demand both!!

 

[JessicaTam]

For the price I will fly Y. Even to the extent of MEL-SIN-FRA next year. Why, because it is cheap and there are two of us flying. However I am using AA to come back (hopefully) in F to round out six weeks away.

If the Y flights weren't as cheap, or I had more points to use I would migrate further forward on the a/c. For me it comes down to the $ and the points.

JohnK, if you have the points and are likely to continue to accrue them, then travel in J and enjoy the flight that little bit more. A bit more room, a better seat and food. And better luggage allowance.

You can't take them with you!

 

[boomy]

My rule is simple, domestic always Y and international always J using points accumulated from my domestic flights.

I look at flying J as an enjoyable experience. It starts at MEL/SYD F lounge and ends when I arrive to my destination refreshed after a good sleep

 

[MartinMemo]

I agree 100% unless it's my birthday or its a massive domestic trip like this Xmas/NY doing MEL-OOL/BNE-TSV/TSV-SYD/MEL

 

[dajop]

I think it's a quantity vs quality argument, for those with restricted means (points or money). Say you can do one trip every 2 years in J to say, BKK, or would you rather do one a year in Y (or whatever frequency).

I faced a similar issue coming back from CDG to SIN ... it was 29,750 KF miles in Y or 68,000 in J. On this occasion we stuck with Y, despite enjoying TG F on the way to Europe (thanks to NZ pts)! Y is survivable, especially if you can secure an exit row, and certainly helps if it is a day time departure. It's also a lot about mindset, if you go into a long Y flight thinking it's going to be terrible, you will indeed find ways in which it is terrible. I also never actually try to sleep, even on overnights. Once I try to get comfortable and sleep, it won't happen and it will be very unenjoyable. If I have the mindset of staying awake, watching movies etc, usually I can fall asleep just fine . A

 

[Grooba]

I agree 100% unless it's my birthday or its a massive domestic trip like this Xmas/NY doing MEL-OOL/BNE-TSV/TSV-SYD/MEL

Massive trip? that looks more like a regular week!

 

[MartinMemo]

Massive trip? that looks more like a regular week!

Massive as in drawn out 2 weeks of family, friends, food, and too much booze means I have to sit up front in 1A while everyone else can fend for themselves! It'll be my only moment of solitude.

 

[get me outta here]

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.

Hvr very kindly guested me into the BKK lounge on this same flight yesterday, and it was a pleasure to meet him in the lounge. Like him, I too was in Y, but without a shadow and have lowly LTS status and the flight was chockers, so like Hvr, I too can only see positives.

 

[casanovawa]

I've only recently started flying J thanks to USDM and so the novelty hasn't worn off and hope it never will.. I do like flying and the flying up the front makes it that little more interesting to me, and hopefully for some of the pics i post that my friends see, hopefully they will get it that they can as well... I do also fly say 20-30 sectors in a big middle of the year trip overseas then don't fly hardly any for the rest of the intervening 12 months and I'm also different to other people in that once i hit the ground its usually backpackers for me as i don't spend much on accommodation...

And flying around Australia or to Bali etc its always LCC as is flying intra-US or Europe, LCCs or just Y on airlines as that distance is often fine in Y, its only the long haul, backbone parts of my trips that i need, or am willing to spend points/miles on getting J... Want to try F sometime soon as well...

But this year i had to cancel a USDM J class redemption RTW and fly back because of a death in the family, and on short notice booked a QF Y flight LAX-BNE-PER and after having recently enjoyed LH and TG J that was once again a bit of an eye opener, foil container with just peas, carrots and corn and some meat, instead of a 4 course meal... And yes the Y seat and sitting next to my sister and her 1.5 year old, quite different to the recent J experiences... So while i never want to become so blase i don't enjoy J, if i have the money to be able to do it i will spend a little extra to get the J awards for the long legs of my trips...

 

[JohnK]

My view is when travelling Y the holiday begins at the destination. When travelling J or F the holiday begins when I enter the lounge in Sydney. When travelling with the 3 kids the trauma begins many hours before leaving home...

LOL!

My holiday begins well before the destination or even the lounge heading to the destination.

My golf commitments are very heavy throughout the year (and it varies year by year) so I need to plan my vacations to Thailand almost 1 year in advance if not more taking into consideration other things such as seasonality (avoid Songkran etc), airfares and accommodation. I get great satisfaction from planning every trip.

I do not mind travelling in economy (within reason though as it has to be a reputable carrier but I also look for value to maximise number of trips I can take), I can easily stay in budget hotels without worrying and try to play as much golf as I can. I do also travel on a relatively strict budget but again these are the fun things of travel.

At the end of the day I believe I get great enjoyment out of travel otherwise I would not be on 100+ sectors for the year.

 

[MartinMemo]

LOL!

My holiday begins well before the destination or even the lounge heading to the destination.

My golf commitments are very heavy throughout the year (and it varies year by year) so I need to plan my vacations to Thailand almost 1 year in advance if not more taking into consideration other things such as seasonality (avoid Songkran etc), airfares and accommodation. I get great satisfaction from planning every trip.

I do not mind travelling in economy (within reason though as it has to be a reputable carrier but I also look for value to maximise number of trips I can take), I can easily stay in budget hotels without worrying and try to play as much golf as I can. I do also travel on a relatively strict budget but again these are the fun things of travel.

At the end of the day I believe I get great enjoyment out of travel otherwise I would not be on 100+ sectors for the year.

I recently read a '10 ways to be happier' post on cracked that said planing travel can not only make you as happy as travel, but happier. And if you're ever in a horrible mood just plan an epic trip - whether you go on it or not. I will try it. Bit I get it. Most of my travel is planned 10mths in advance if not more but I just love knowing where I'll be, spending time picking the perfect hotel, the best things to do Etc Etc. At the same time I love a spontaneous trip that you plan drunk one night and fly out the next morning. To me it all makes me feel good. Sure I'd rather be in J or F the whole time bit Y can be as satisfying a lot of the time.

 

[fersea]

JohnK, if you have the points and are likely to continue to accrue them, then travel in J and enjoy the flight that little bit more. A bit more room, a better seat and food. And better luggage allowance.

You can't take them with you!

No but I am hoping to use them to upgrade my trip to my final destination!!

 

[JohnK]

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.

I am able to sleep upright and don't have too many issues. Occasionally I may lean my head forward if I am too tired.

I used to laugh at mum and dad falling asleep upright on the lounge chairs at home while watching TV. But I am now able to do the same thing and it is satisfying.

 

[drron]

I also get great pleasure out of planning trips but I still prefer J or F flights.
In fact having tidied up our plans for 2014 now we are firming up our travel plans from December 2014.We will be celebrating Christmas and NYE 2014 in Myanmar.June 2015 and Murmansk and Archangel are pencilled in plus driving around Scandinavia.And hopefully Cuba will make it on to the list for 2015.

 

[mono88]

I used to laugh at mum and dad falling asleep upright on the lounge chairs at home while watching TV. But I am now able to do the same thing and it is satisfying.

One of the benefits of getting old...

 

[HarryB]

I love traveling and love it more when I sit up the front. Like others have mentioned, I want the holiday to start when I arrive in the lounge and not when I get off the plane. Premium seats are a luxury for me as almost all overseas travel is with the family and self funded so any chance I can get to get myself up front I will take. Therefore, they are a bit of a novelty and I can't get bored of them.

If I ever do I know I've made it!

 

[JohnK]

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.

My goodness that was a long time ago.

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.

Excellent idea. I never did request for status mtach via TK?

If I book this award flight in economy then now would be a good time to request a status match to Star Alliance. I should already have lounge access via VA Gold so only baggage allowance to consider.

 

[dajop]

If I book this award flight in economy then now would be a good time to request a status match to Star Alliance. I should already have lounge access via VA Gold so only baggage allowance to consider.

If you are VA Gold, one of the published benefits on SQ is additional baggage:

• 1 piece additional checked baggage of 23kg when flying to/from the US and Canada
• Additional checked baggage up to 15kg when travelling to other international destinations

 

[JohnK]

If you are VA Gold, one of the published benefits on SQ is additional baggage:

Even better idea.

So I book economy on SQ for only 21,250 Amex MR points and I get lounge access and extra baggage allowance with my VA Gold status! I knew VA status was going to come in handy one day.

So now I can afford to spend the money and request exit row seat.