Yes this is definitely a one way redemption. Just checked same ticket a few days back. My father has done that route in first, business and coach and Ive never seen a grown man so close to tears after the flight in coach. If u are just going one way, definitely try to arrive in style! Biz on SAA is fully lie flat which they codeshare with UA. Also chevk redemptions via Europe on Swiss, austrian, LH and u might be able to find business class easier.

No, then there's no difference. I just wanted to make sure that you were actually looking for a one-way and not misreading the price of the award ticket. I agree with using 60K miles for business! It's so worth it!

Thanks!
 

Okay, I've decided to go ahead with the 60K ticket. I don't think I will regret it!

Thank you all so much for your helpful advice. I really appreciate it^

I came across Milewize last week and have to say its a great tool for people like yourself starting out with this sort of question. After a while you start internalizing the best and worst redemption rates so not as useful, but still a good way to see what value you are getting for your points and whether cash is an option.

This is certainly a legitimate perspective, and a good way to look at the decision. But other perspectives are legitimate as well. Another way of looking at it would be to ask what you would do with the 20k miles saved by obtaining an economy ticket, and to decide if the advantages of business class on a very long flight outweigh how the 20k would otherwise be put to use.

A few posts in here have stressed that business is the better value because its cents per mile is higher. I can't stress enough that this is really the wrong way to look at it. What the airline charges is irrelevant. I could charge $2000 for a hot dog but that doesn't mean its a screaming deal at $500.

The much better question is how much extra are you willing to pay to sit up front? And really only the passenger can determine this. If its $1000 each way then yes business is clearly the way to go. If its $200 then business is not the way to go.

To many Ft'ers that number is like $3000 but I doubt that represents much of the country.

Yeah, I understand what I originally wanted to know, and now I'll just have to give it some more thought..

Thanks to everyone!

At the same time, South Africa is likely 2 long flights from US (one flight US -> Europe, another flight Europe -> S Africa). Would I pay 10K miles to upgrade a coach ticket to business on a 7-8 hour segment that's likely an overnight one? You bet I would.

I agree.... but many of us have a lot of points or have intentions of getting many, many more. ... or have the funds to pay for the ticket without issue.

I agree with hindukid. I booked some vacation flights that would have been more comfortable in business but economy hooked me so I didn't have to use as many points.

And thank you for posting because all these terrific and experienced comments help others in the same boat!

I wa running this through on a different trip, and a couple other things for consideration are:
- would you prefer 2 business class trips to SA or 3 in coach? For me I'd pick business but for you if you are on a really tight budget I could see the appeal of coach.
- are you hard up for miles? Paying cash on a cheap flight (as long as it isn't a half miles ultra-discount fare) could yield 16k miles (I think united?)
- how do you sleep in coach? If you have an empty plane you could get a row to yourself