Thank you for the responses. There are both economy and business tickets available for sale from LHR-ATH for the flight I need. In fact, there are at least 9 business tickets for sale on this flight making my somewhat optimistic they’ll release space ...

The business tickets are $1,500 USD per from LHR-ATH. Maybe I’ll just bite the bullet, but it seems like a terrible waste. Economy is only about $250 per person. I just hate the idea of my parents having to fly economy for this 3.5 hour flight. My Dad had a bad experience once flying economy from Rome back to the US in a middle seat with my Mom on one side and a several hundred pound individual on the other. The only way I was able to get him to agree to go on this trip is promising it in a premium cabin.

The question about luggage raises a good question on forwarding in LHR. If I have two separate bookings on BA (first from LAX-LHR and economy or business from LHR-ATH) will they have to re-check their luggage in LHR? Or can they have the agent at LAX set it up so their bags will automatically be transferred onward to ATH?

If it was your trip, what would you do: (a) first class from LAX-LHR and economy from LHR-ATH or (b) business class the entire trip? Obviously choice (c) first from LAX-LHR and business from LHR-ATH would be everyone’s first choice and maybe that’s where I’ll end up.

Keep in mind there is only a two hour layover in LHR so access to the Concorde Room is not terribly beneficial.