Originally Posted by
ZSTWHK
Hi all,
Looking to buy a cash a ticket in business class HKG-DOH-LAX end of the year as opposed to upgrading with Avios. Since AM is only reserved for paying J passengers, in my mind it feels like AM access is something you pay for so I'd like to get some value out of it. Currently the layover durations are 2 hours (which I feel is really short to enjoy the lounge but also the most expensive option), 8 hours (11pm-7am) or 20 hours. My question is how long would you stay in AM without getting bored, or is it worth it to buy a cheaper ticket to enjoy the lounge a bit more?
For what its worth, when I'm in a lounge I normally order some food (not a fan of breakfast options though), get some sleep, and I do some work so I can keep myself busy if I need to.
Hopefully you'll be fed rather well, and have an open bar on both the flight into Doha and the following one to Los Angeles. And given on-board lie-flat seats offer a better sleep-inducing environment than Z-chairs or couches, the lounge might offer a poor alternative to getting home in the speediest way.
"Doing some work" is one of the activities I promise for down-time, but seldom deliver; however, I recognise others are much more conscientious
I feel the rational approach is to enjoy lounge benefits to the extent you suggest only when a longer connection is dictated by schedules. Trading cheaper tickets against longer connections drives an interesting analysis, but it would take a significant discount to get me to accept an eight hour wait rather than two hours.
However, your 20-hour option is an interesting one. It presents the opportunity to leave the airport, get a proper bed for sleeping, time to sit a desk to do whatever work you choose to do, indulge in relaxing showers and laps of a pool, and maybe a walk around the souq. With the cash saving on the ticket funding the very modest costs of taxi and QR-subsidised hotel, there's your answer. Thirty quid should cover those costs.
Taking this option you then control how much time you devote to lounge-pleasure on your departure progress through the airport.