Am i just cheap, or does it seem like FT'ers are elitists?!
So- i've travelled on both international biz and first class (some miles, some paid for by company), but when traveling nyc-hkg on my own dime i have absolutely no issues flying in economy. In reviewing a lot of threads about the classes available, it seems as though the majority of FT'ers would rather give up their first borns before flying in cattle class...So i'm trying to understand what is so bad about economy?
I'm 5'10", and luckily have the ability to fall asleep standing if need be- and while the food may be better, or i'm more comfy laying flat, if i'm paying 1K+ for an econ return ticket, that's already a lot. I'd rather not spend the 6-8k in Biz, or the 15k+ in first..nor could i afford it. Likewise, when using miles i'd rather pay 32.5k each way vs. the 65-70k for bf/first....
Am i really an anomaly here or is FT full of rich elitists?!?!
(no offense to anyone...i'm seriously trying to understand!)
A portion of it is value. Biz class is 2x econ points, and first class is nominally more. International biz class is typically >2x of an econ class fare (sometimes much more, especially with free stopovers or an open jaw). That and the ability to get miles for cheap, I always prefer points redemptions in premium cabins.
A portion of it is value. Biz class is 2x econ points, and first class is nominally more. International biz class is typically >2x of an econ class fare (sometimes much more, especially with free stopovers or an open jaw). That and the ability to get miles for cheap, I always prefer points redemptions in premium cabins.
I definitely understand the first class sell (5k more on saver award vs biz)- but from econ to biz on points= double.
Very few posters here would pay $6k - $8k out of their own pocket to purchase a business class ticket, and even fewer would pay $15k for a first class seat.
FT is just full of people with the knowledge to obtain one of those vaunted seats, and who will go to unnatural levels to obtain one for the lowest outlay possible. Very few "rich elitists" around here.
I pay with my own nickel and I'm in the I'd rather not travel than fly in the back camp. I'm 6'3" and don't have great knees. I just find flying in economy and even domestic F to be very uncomfortable and debilitating. I'll probably do close to 500k BIS miles this year. If I only flew long distance every few months, I wouldn't mind economy, but with the amount of travel I do, if I couldn't ride in the front I would change my work and life style and just stop flying.
And as others have noted, I think most of us who fly on their own nickel figure out how to optimize the use of miles and UGs in order to reduce the cost of flying up front.
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OP - as noted, we would never "pay" for that upgrade with cash, and hence why we bemoaned the loss of the "fare class" data, and the short-dating of GPUs.
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So- i've travelled on both international biz and first class (some miles, some paid for by company), but when traveling nyc-hkg on my own dime i have absolutely no issues flying in economy. In reviewing a lot of threads about the classes available, it seems as though the majority of FT'ers would rather give up their first borns before flying in cattle class...So i'm trying to understand what is so bad about economy?
I'm 5'10", and luckily have the ability to fall asleep standing if need be- and while the food may be better, or i'm more comfy laying flat, if i'm paying 1K+ for an econ return ticket, that's already a lot. I'd rather not spend the 6-8k in Biz, or the 15k+ in first..nor could i afford it. Likewise, when using miles i'd rather pay 32.5k each way vs. the 65-70k for bf/first....
Am i really an anomaly here or is FT full of rich elitists?!?!
(no offense to anyone...i'm seriously trying to understand!)
You're not alone, I also don't mind Y (though I def enjoy C and F )
It is worth noting that many here fly primarily for work on contracts that call for business class when crossing an ocean, or when a flight is greater than a specified time/ distance. Some even get paid F through work.
If someone is flying a lot of paid biz for work, and uses their UG's to have a taste of F now and then that is how you get a website full of people with this experience, knowledge, and taste for the best.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5khours
..... I'm 6'3" and don't have great knees. I just find flying in economy and even domestic F to be very uncomfortable and debilitating. .....
+1
While economy may be fine for those of average height / girth, great health and ability to sleep anywhere -- that is not the description of all. Bad backs, hips, knees, ... difficulty in sleeping upright, ... issues with jet lag ... plague many folks plus the need to be functional on arrival is just some of the reasons to considering permium cabin seating essential -- either by $$$ or by upgrades.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jacklee
I'm 5'10", and luckily have the ability to fall asleep standing if need be- and while the food may be better, or i'm more comfy laying flat, if i'm paying 1K+ for an econ return ticket, that's already a lot. I'd rather not spend the 6-8k in Biz, or the 15k+ in first..nor could i afford it. Likewise, when using miles i'd rather pay 32.5k each way vs. the 65-70k for bf/first....
Ten or 15 years ago, flying in First or Business class was far out of my reach. FlyerTalk has allowed me to take what was previously unattainable and make it a regular occurrence.
So, no, I don't have the $6-8K to spend on a Business class ticket. But with the knowledge I've gained here, I can spend the same $1K that you did, yet I can fly in Business class much of the time.
I have no issues flying long haul in Economy class (although I prefer to break up a long trip between NYC and HKG, even when flying in Business or First), but using what I've learned, there's little need to.
And if you have as little vacation time as I used to have (before I retired), it made sense for me to use miles to fly in Business or First, because even though I might save miles by flying in Economy, I didn't have time off to take more trips, anyway.
Huh? You fly international C for $1k? Mexico/Canada doesn't count
Quote:
Originally Posted by mikew99
So, no, I don't have the $6-8K to spend on a Business class ticket. But with the knowledge I've gained here, I can spend the same $1K that you did, yet I can fly in Business class much of the time.
I would harly call someone who makes 1K for <$2K elitist. Most of FT is about optimizing benefits or $$. i.e. getting more for less, not what I call elitist (efficient, practical, or even obsessed, yes)
I personally fly ~1,000 hours a year for the last few years. Flying TPAC in Y is not something I would do anymore, though I have done it. Personal (vacation) travel I either fly holidays for cheap C (next week IAH-->FCO paid C <$2K, upgraded with SWU to F); if no cheap C then I use miles for C/F (saver only) or lastly I stay home or go somewhere else.
When booking vacations availability of cheap C (or W ups at booking with GPU), or saver C/F inventory drives where I go. I usually start with a list of 6-10 maybe places then look at flights (something that expert mode is essential for BTW).
So if saying for example "Honey, looks like Rome, not Asia for the holidays, no good flight availability to Asia" is elitist, then maybe. To me, its not.
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