Do you pay for J class for leisure trips?
Oct 8, 2015, 8:12 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Club Accor Silver, AC 75K
Posts: 264
Do you pay for J class for leisure trips?
I know many of us have companies that pay for PEY and J, but do you normally pay for J on family trips or for leisure? Just curious because flying from YYZ-HKG-YYZ, I see a lot of leisure travelers willing to fork over the very high premium for J, often times a ticket can be well over 7k USD. Not to mention, J is constantly full, rarely have I ever encountered it being empty. Not to mention most companies based in Canada like to ride on AC instead of CX.
Oct 8, 2015, 8:18 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Boston; DC
Programs: AA EXP/2mm; UA 1k;
Posts: 673
there are a lot of ways to fly J for leisure which don't invovle paying high fares...in addition to upgrades, consolidators will often book tickets at substantially below published fares--this is a form or price discrimination.
Oct 8, 2015, 8:40 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP
Posts: 1,799
I used to book some I/D ex-TPE tickets when Y tickets SIN-HKG were regularly over $600 SGD and there were less competition and sales. ex-TPE I tickets were only about $800 with a HKG stopover in-bound, and so I basically get a business class ticket, and add in Taiwan as a destination as well.
Haven't done that for a while though, there are much more Y sales fares, and ex-TPE fares aren't what they used to be.
Haven't done that for a while though, there are much more Y sales fares, and ex-TPE fares aren't what they used to be.
Oct 8, 2015, 8:54 pm
#4
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
I did that for my daughter, but not on CX/KA. She suddenly wanted to fly to TPE last December to see a friend, but she already had her SFO-HKG-SFO ticket issued. We checked on the web, and found CX's HKG-TPE-HKG in Y is about the same fare as BR's HKG-TPE-HKG in J (BR Y is about HKD1000 cheaper). I decided to buy her BR J instead.
Oct 8, 2015, 8:58 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: 1A
Programs: Elite Diamond Purple Dot Gold Silver Titanium for life
Posts: 1,822
I practically wrote the book on airline CRM pricing. You can read an extract with real examples of how it's used by airlines today: http://bit.ly/1Vjo4Nw
As for me personally... I'm always in J................ (54 J that is
)
Oct 8, 2015, 9:00 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Club Accor Silver, AC 75K
Posts: 264
I understand there are ways to upgrade and such, but when my peeking eye sees boarding passes often times they have no status. Not to mention many of them have children, or clearly leisure travelers because they have no carry-on and just wear "juicy couture" sweats. I don't mean to discriminate but business travelers tend to have carry-ons, status, and dress decently. Unless this is a new breed of business travelers that I'm not aware of.
Oct 8, 2015, 9:37 pm
#9
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Marriott Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 5,269
Yes, we pay for J (& F) tix for all leisure travel. Using points or cash, whatever is the best option for that particular trip. Haven’t flown long-haul/medium haul Y since 2001. Not going to start now 
Oct 8, 2015, 9:57 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
Depends on the fare offered.
(if they are higher, I will redeem for U class, if they are lower, I will pay for a revenue ticket.)
(if they are higher, I will redeem for U class, if they are lower, I will pay for a revenue ticket.)
Oct 8, 2015, 10:57 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Club Accor Silver, AC 75K
Posts: 264
I usually don’t pay for J, I try to upgrade or redeem if possible. I have sat in long haul Y for many years and with good seat mates I find it bearable. However since flying in J for work, its hard to go back to Y.
Oct 9, 2015, 1:39 am
#14
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: BAEC, A3 M&B
Posts: 268
The good thing about leisure travel is that (your other half nonwithstanding) you have more freedom over whether, where, and when. Once you feel how nice it is to arrive rested and ready after a longhaul flight, you don't really want to go back. I'll go to a place I always wanted to go to if and when there is an I fare. If I'm really keen and the bank allows, a D fare. But C or J, no thank you!