How far are you willing to fly in economy?
Nov 30, 2015, 10:15 pm
#46
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PEK
Programs: CA Gold, EY Silver HHons Diamond
Posts: 373
Anything longer than 2.5hrs in Y is a literal pain in the @rse for me due to sciatic problems. My last LH Y saw me standing in the galley for about 6 out of 9 hours.
Also, to be brutally honest, heading back down the back would give my ego a battering!
Also, to be brutally honest, heading back down the back would give my ego a battering!
Nov 30, 2015, 11:06 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: EY - Gold, BA - Gold
Posts: 512
I wouldn't fly in economy these days unless it was less than an hour, maybe slightly longer if it saved a lot of money.
I'm 6ft 5, and economy legroom gets smaller each year. It's bad enough that the head rest offers no support once you're over a certain height but when the person in front then reclines...
Also heard that they're making the bins bigger and lower. That'll be great, because economy doesn't feel claustrophobic enough as it is.
Medium haul (i.e. to Egypt) on Thomson/Thomas Cook is unbearable. 28 inch legroom. I've done that many times when poorer and booking package holidays, when invariably all the exit rows are taken. I'm pleased to say that those days are behind me.
I'm 6ft 5, and economy legroom gets smaller each year. It's bad enough that the head rest offers no support once you're over a certain height but when the person in front then reclines...
Also heard that they're making the bins bigger and lower. That'll be great, because economy doesn't feel claustrophobic enough as it is.
Medium haul (i.e. to Egypt) on Thomson/Thomas Cook is unbearable. 28 inch legroom. I've done that many times when poorer and booking package holidays, when invariably all the exit rows are taken. I'm pleased to say that those days are behind me.
Nov 30, 2015, 11:28 pm
#48
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Geneva/Sydney
Programs: Mucci; BA, LT GGL; QF, platinum; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 926
I was going to agree 100% with Sebastiansw3 but then realised that I'm on a Qantaslink Dash8 for a 2 hour flight to Lord Howe Island tomorrow - hell!!!
Nov 30, 2015, 11:47 pm
#49
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: BA Gold, AA Lifetime Gold 1.8mm, IC Spire Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, SPG Gold et al
Posts: 4,350
I wouldn't deprive myself of the joy of visiting somewhere I really wanted to go because I could only do so in Economy so my criteria aren't distance based.
Nov 30, 2015, 11:59 pm
#50
Join Date: May 2015
Programs: BAEC back to silver, Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 406
I did AMS-LHR-BKK on BA in economy not so long ago (back in CW) and had a bulkhead seat on the aisle in the long-haul portion and it was perfect to be honest. I even managed to get some sleep.
Dec 1, 2015, 12:12 am
#51
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 74
A couple years ago I would probably answered that question with: "anywhere". since i started to fly some LC carriers especially in china I tend to say "nowhere". But the through now is a bit of a mix, if I know the airline, their Y product and the offer is good, I still don't mind to fly it. Obviously i prefer J or F.
Dec 1, 2015, 12:16 am
#52
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: HKG
Programs: BA GGL & CCR
Posts: 600
A little over an hour... maybe 2 if there's no business class available on the route. Luckily American and Asian short haul business hard product have not been enhanced away, and the train is a good option for Europe
Different people have different needs and tolerances.
I'm rugby prop with a triple XL size chest and shoulders, who has to sit at an angle elbows tucked in and one shoulder dipped at angle and gets smacked in the shoulders if he falls asleep and the cart comes down the aisle.
So yes sir, total wussie... Good to know if I'm ever stuck in back there's some hardened, rugged individuals back there. Crew might forget to open the can of coke and these butter soft hands can't risk chipping a nail...
Different people have different needs and tolerances.
I'm rugby prop with a triple XL size chest and shoulders, who has to sit at an angle elbows tucked in and one shoulder dipped at angle and gets smacked in the shoulders if he falls asleep and the cart comes down the aisle.
So yes sir, total wussie... Good to know if I'm ever stuck in back there's some hardened, rugged individuals back there. Crew might forget to open the can of coke and these butter soft hands can't risk chipping a nail...
Dec 1, 2015, 12:39 am
#53
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Canada
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,254
I would travel any distance in economy. Difference is that in economy I'd be dreading the journey, whereas in CW I would look forward to it as part of the holiday.
*I travel almost exclusively for personal reasons
*I travel almost exclusively for personal reasons
.
Dec 1, 2015, 1:25 am
#56
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
About two hours of actual air time is my max flying solo or flying in a three by three configuration with my wife (and even then, would adjust times to get an exit row or similar extra legroom seating). I would strecth that a bit for a decent two seat configuration if traveling with my wife (or someone else). Would be ok with Citiflyer's Greek services in Y but definitely would never do LHR-ATH in Y.
Dec 1, 2015, 1:34 am
#57
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,635
I was very much spoilt as a child as all my flying was in first class, as odd as it may sound I really wish it hadn't been as when I left home and had to pay for my own flights it was a bit of a wake up call flying in Y 
Nowadays, if I'm paying myself (which I am 9 out of 10 times) I tend to travel LH in J, or F if there's a good deal on and always if it's a longer flight, saying that I also fly ex-EU now (purely thanks to FT) as it brings the J price down to W and the F down to J etc.. If my clients are paying for me to go LH it is usually WT+ but I will AUP.
SH I'm much less of a diva and can easily cope a couple of hours, but like many people I prefer to fly in exit rows etc.
Nowadays, if I'm paying myself (which I am 9 out of 10 times) I tend to travel LH in J, or F if there's a good deal on and always if it's a longer flight, saying that I also fly ex-EU now (purely thanks to FT) as it brings the J price down to W and the F down to J etc.. If my clients are paying for me to go LH it is usually WT+ but I will AUP.
SH I'm much less of a diva and can easily cope a couple of hours, but like many people I prefer to fly in exit rows etc.
Dec 1, 2015, 1:54 am
#59
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: AMS
Programs: Skyteam elite, One world Emerald
Posts: 142
How far are you willing to fly in economy?
On personal trips: anywhere.
Work allows C, for trips over 6 hours anyway, which pretty much covers every flight I do. As most others, I'm expected to hit the ground running when I arrive and go straight into the office.
On personal trips with the significant other, it's a different dynamic, since we usually go for somewhere sunny and relaxing. Did AMS-SIN-DPS last year on KL in Y, and we survived. I did grab two cheap upgrades on the return, and she's wasn't too fussed about it.
In the beginning of my career I was doing TATL to the west coast at least once a month for a number of years in Y. It was fine. That's how the majority of people travel anyways.
Work allows C, for trips over 6 hours anyway, which pretty much covers every flight I do. As most others, I'm expected to hit the ground running when I arrive and go straight into the office.
On personal trips with the significant other, it's a different dynamic, since we usually go for somewhere sunny and relaxing. Did AMS-SIN-DPS last year on KL in Y, and we survived. I did grab two cheap upgrades on the return, and she's wasn't too fussed about it.
In the beginning of my career I was doing TATL to the west coast at least once a month for a number of years in Y. It was fine. That's how the majority of people travel anyways.
Dec 1, 2015, 1:55 am
#60
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Russia
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 125
Well, economy can be quite different.
I remember spending 5 hours on an Iberia aircraft overnight when I couldn't even bring my knees together! It was a real torture.
Then again what's wrong with spending even 10 hours on a day flight on let's say BA 747 if you aren't particularly tall?
I'm quite surprised with people saying "I'm not flying economy unless it is about an hour". How do you travel short-haul then if CE has exactly the same pitch as ET?
I remember spending 5 hours on an Iberia aircraft overnight when I couldn't even bring my knees together! It was a real torture.
Then again what's wrong with spending even 10 hours on a day flight on let's say BA 747 if you aren't particularly tall?
I'm quite surprised with people saying "I'm not flying economy unless it is about an hour". How do you travel short-haul then if CE has exactly the same pitch as ET?