• _number8_@lemmy.world
    74·
    1 year ago

    i love even on the dinkiest little flights they make a big deal out of closing the little curtain between 1st and 3rd class

  • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
    62·
    1 year ago

    If you’re in coach and hear the attendants kiss ass in business, then immediately change their tone with the plebs… It’s somewhat amusing, somewhat eye-rolling.

    • flyte@feddit.uk
      14·
      1 year ago

      I flew from Detroit to Heathrow in business class, then back the next day in Economy (ridiculous work reasons for the short trip), where I had the same crew on the same plane. The difference between the treatment I got in Economy vs business class was remarkable.

  • aCatNamedVirtute@lemmy.world
    4012·
    1 year ago

    I totally don’t get how people waste their money on things like that. You spend hundreds of dollars to sit a tiny bit more comfortable for a few hours? Wtf?

    • stevehobbes@lemmy.world
      281·
      1 year ago

      Lots of people fly overnight flights places… it makes a pretty big difference to overall comfort to have your own space and something that turns into a bed.

      I’m going to guess there’s a lot of things in your life where you spend more money for something that is better, more comfortable or more convenient.

      But the value of money is relative. Spending another $2,000 to sit in business class feels unthinkable when you make $50k/year. When you’re making $500k/year it doesn’t seem like such a big deal.

      Also, lots of people get a lot of frequent flier miles from working jobs with travel, so the actual cost might have been lower.

      • Jimbob0i0@lemmy.world
        11·
        1 year ago

        My ex-wife is American and we’d fly to the US (I’m in the UK) once a year when we were together to go see family.

        We’d usually fly premium economy for the extra luggage allowance and slightly nicer seating.

        When her father passed away the trip over tete had 1st class at only a modest increase from premium, I’m guessing due to a desire to fill the seat at short notice.

        Given the situation I decided to get the upgrade, and it was absolutely worth it.

        • stevehobbes@lemmy.world
          3·
          1 year ago

          100% the go to move. I do business class on the overnight and premium economy on the day flight on the way home (if it’s a lot cheaper, anyway).

          If it’s <100/flying hour from economy that’s my threshold for “worth it”.

          • Dozzi92@lemmy.world
            1·
            1 year ago

            That’s it. I can sometimes get that on flights from Denver to EWR (or close enough), and it’s always worth it. Plus, I try to drink the money back in beer and wine.

      • chic_luke@lemmy.world
        7·
        1 year ago

        The overnight ones are those that I deem worth it. A night spent in confort and living the day after with some restful sleep behind is totally worth it, if it’s an occasional thing.

    • bitsplease@lemmy.ml
      233·
      1 year ago

      Me and my wife always fly business if the flight is more than an hour, I think it’s totally worth it.

      For one thing, im a big dude, the difference in comfort is more than slight when you’re 6’4". Business vs economy is the difference between arriving at my destination ready to start the vacation or sore, tired, and grumpy.

      We only fly maybe once or twice a year, so spending the extra cash on business means we can enjoy our limited vacation time from start to finish, instead of spending the first and last portions miserable

      You may as well say you don’t understand why people waste money on hotels and restaurants on vacations when there are hostels and fast food available. The point of a vacation is to enjoy your self - and so if you can afford them, luxuries arent a waste at all

      • TrismegistusMx@lemmy.world
        169·
        1 year ago

        The capitalist trap. Live a miserable life and spend what money you have to make it a little more comfortable.

          • TrismegistusMx@lemmy.world
            39·
            1 year ago

            Cool, maybe you can afford to send somebody else on vacation, or are you satisfied having fulfillment while single mothers and disabled people live in squalor?

            • bitsplease@lemmy.ml
              21·
              1 year ago

              Talk about your nonsequitor lol

              I’m not rich, I just make enough to give myself and my family a comfortable happy life - in absolutely no way am I diminishing or dismissing the hardships of others who - through no fault of their own, wound up less fortunate. Don’t take your frustration at the system out on regular people like me.

              be mad at the people flying around in private jets, not the people who can swing an extra $400 once or twice a year to upgrade to business class lol

              • TrismegistusMx@lemmy.world
                33·
                1 year ago

                I’m not mad at all. I’m just pointing out the hypocrisy in defending the system that exploits all of us just because YOU are comfortable.

    • XTornado@lemmy.ml
      18·
      1 year ago

      I am telling you if I had the money I would do it every single time.

      I hate every single minute of flying in the shitty normal seats, any improvement I would pay it.

      Well I already do for the extra space, first rows seats and so on…I haven’t but sometimes I have been tempted to buy the seat next to me as well… but it would require to put somebody else details I guess and they probably with my luck simply fill the seat anyway if the passenger doesn’t appear.

      • stevehobbes@lemmy.world
        11·
        1 year ago

        On most airlines you can book the adjacent seat - technically for people with musical instruments like cellos or for “passengers of size”, most will let you keep the seat. If the plane is full and they’re trying to get a friend on board they might try to take it away. Tell them you’re worried about covid.

        On United, I believe you book the ticket under the name ExtraSeat Lastname.

        If you’re traveling with a cello, Cello Lastname works on a lot of airlines.

        More complicated for international flights, but domestic is fine.

    • vettnerk@lemmy.ml
      181·
      1 year ago

      As someone who flies a lot as part of my job, I mostly use airline miles to upgrade my seat to business class. On a few occasions I cover the upgrade myself if the price is reasonable.

      Why? Because as a somewhat tall guy, when I have a 10 hour flight a coach seat makes me ache for days. And if it’s an overnight flight, a business class seat actually enables me to sleep.

      On business trips that only last a couple of days, the project managers sometimes approves business class tickets, so that we’re actually fit for work when arriving.

      Any flights longer than 5-6 hours is usually when I begin to consider upgrading. Because then I have a chance to actually get some rest onboard instead of just sitting there, waiting.

      EDIT: Business class comes with lounge access, and for some that’s also a plus, but my frequent flier level already gives me lounge access all over the world, even when flying riffraff-class. Plus business class also comes with extra luggage allowance, but I have that by default too.

    • OhmsLawn@lemmy.world
      181·
      1 year ago

      I did it last spring. I was against the upgrade. The lady said I couldn’t understand until I tried it, and (to my mild embarrassment) paid for our upgrade as a gift. This was SFO-MAD, on Swiss, open-jaw, returning from Zurich almost a month later. The round-trip upgrade was less than $2000 over premium economy.

      It was 100% worth it.

      The price, on a trip that long, wasn’t really noticable. The value was. What you get for the money is about the same as you would pay to eat lunch, dinner and breakfast at a nice restaurant (we don’t drink, but drinks included), along with a night at an expensive hotel.

      This is exactly what we received.

      We arrived early, had a three-course meal at the (stunning) lounge, we were served fancy soda as soon as we boarded, we were treated kindly and attentively for 12 hours, We were served two more very attractive meals (on ceramic plates with real cutlery) we slept comfortably in the lay-flat seats, and arrived refreshed and very happy.

      Added to that basic summary are uncountable little details, like good soap and facial refreshing spray in the bathroom, little swiss chocolates, etc., that made the experience far more memorable and enjoyable.

      I’m not set on flying that way from now on. However, I do now consider it to be a reasonable, attractive indulgence, rather than an obvious waste of money.

    • shadowspirit@lemmy.world
      11·
      1 year ago

      Felt the same way … until I was upgraded one day now I look for business class sales. I’m a prudent snob now? 😁

      • Obi@sopuli.xyz
        1·
        1 year ago

        I had a phase where a few well timed personal flights on top of business flights I was still doing at the time where my frequent flyer program had big bonuses after covid got me into the gold tier and I did a few business class flights and kept access to the lounge for a couple of years.

        It was definitely super nice and a really big difference, but yeah now that I’m flying less I’ve lapsed out of the gold tier and don’t think I’ll ever try to go for it again, it’s just not worth it financially and I want to reduce my flying to the minimum necessary anyway.

    • SCB@lemmy.world
      41·
      1 year ago

      Business class is generally not hundreds of dollars more expensive.

  • grey
    61·
    1 year ago

    Is it really that much nicer? I’ve never been on a plane, but everyone says how misrible planes are.

    • momtheregoesthatman@lemmy.worldEnglish
      7·
      1 year ago

      It’s one of those “once you do it, it’s hard to go back” things. Priority boarding, roomy seats (or lie flat on many business international flights), free food and drinks (no food on short hops), etc. I find it worth it, if you can financially swing it.

    • 【J】【u】【s】【t】【Z】@lemmy.world
      61·
      1 year ago

      Especially if it’s a transoceanic flight. Talking about sleeping flat on a reclining bedchair after eating a meal off bone porcelain dishware, single malt scotch from a glass tumbler.

      Mask off, they put the best looking and most charismatic flight attendants up there, men and women, too. Pay them more, even.

    • SexyTimeSasquatch@lemmy.world
      4·
      1 year ago

      Usually, yes. Coach or economy class really crams everyone in. In nicer classes you get more room, better perks, food, booze, etc. It’s it worth the extra money? Depends. I got the upgrade once, it was a whole different experience, quite pleasant to fly.

      • TWeaK@lemm.eeEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        When you get lounge access included along with unlimited food and alcohol, then it really starts to seem worthwhile. Particularly if you get delayed.

    • heird@lemmy.ml
      3·
      1 year ago

      Planes are miserable in coach on cheap airlines, it’s pretty decent on nicer airlines like Emirates, Asna or Qatar.

      Business you basically get a recliner sofa with lots of space for your legs a bigger screen and a restaurant level of meals.

    • Floey@lemm.ee
      2·
      1 year ago

      It is a significant upgrade but as someone who has taken numerous long cramped car trips I would not willingly pay for that level of comfort for a few hours.

    • ICE_WALRUS@lemmy.world
      21·
      1 year ago

      For flights under 4 hours I don’t personally see the bennefit, but the longer you’re in the air the more worth it becomes. On international flights business class can be the difference between being crammed in for 12 hours and being able to lay down like a bed.

      • 1luv8008135@lemmy.world
        569·
        1 year ago

        Get the fuck outta here with logic, reason and a balanced view. This here is Lemmy, the land of knee jerk reactions, holier than thou attitudes and tall poppy syndrome.

        How dare this mum try and joke with her kids using her own money. The comment above makes it sound like she put the kids in the fucking cargo hold while she traveled business. Goddamn people

          • stevedidWHAT@lemmy.world
            12·
            1 year ago

            Hey man idk if you got the memo or not but we’re all supposed to be misinterpreting everything each other says cuz we’re like enemies and the only valuablr option, cleeeeearly, is to just shit on each other and wonder why lemmy smells like dog shit. Ur not allowed to laugh or have fun anymore it’s only War now

            /s

        • kamenLady.@lemmy.world
          92·
          1 year ago

          We still haven’t agreed upon which shitty nursing home she’s going, we need to focus…