Only if you get those prices
 

I agree with you. At those prices, that's a steal. However, I don't think MUC-BKK is a very popular route. That route April 13 to April 20 in Emirates first is only $5500. The same dates SFO-FRA is $14,000 on Lufthansa, United, or British Airways. These are airlines with true 3-class configuration first class, not the continental business/first combo (which is much cheaper at $3800).

So the route that you're flying is also very important. SFO-FRA first class happens to be a very expensive one, and MUC-BKK is priced very differently.

You're right. MUC-DXB-SYD can be had for 6,000 Euros for the dates I'm looking for, so the TG rate isn't THAT inexpensive in comparison. You have to figure in, though, that that ticket will net me 60,000+ miles in BD's program which will get me another business class ticket to SE Asia (with a small co-pay), so that's how I justify it ;-)

actually I bet Bill Gates has his own jet.

If you think F or C is too decadent while "people are dying of hunger", then isn't ANY international travel just as decadent? That $1K for your Y ticket could feed the hungry too.

And anyway, international F and C are not "a little bit more leg and elbow room". They are an ENORMOUS amount of more leg and elbow room compared to Y.

I don't feel bad about traveling up front when I get the chance. Perhaps if I was flying many times a year or month it would be differnt. But for one big trip a year to the other side of the world I am going to be comfortable.

Gates and Buffett both have their own private jets.

I dislike the homespun myth about the wealthy (at least the really wealthy, not everyday wealthy), that they got their wealth by saving and living frugally, which is rarely true.

Long haul F is cheap compared to a comparable private jet.

But the real question is does he get the business fares on southwest where one is guaranteed to be in the first boarding group? Or is he flying on the state of CA fares which are fully refundable but put you in with the rest of the crowd? And does he have someone check him in at precisely 24 hours to get into boarding group A? And does he stand in line in order with the rest of the crowd? Inquiring minds want to know.....

I used to fly southwest to the bay area but now I'm more inclined to take my chances with UA and the UDU lottery (and enjoy E+).

I might have mentioned this upthread somewhere (apologies), but my dear old Dad said "Rich people don't stay rich by wasting their money.".

That I do not know. I cited the LA Times article, so you can read it for yourself.

Personally, I do not like Southwest. I will do anything to avoid them.

(See, I really am a snob in my own special way.)

Free is different.. I would jump all over the incentives if I actually paid for tickets and earned segments. I fly for free using FFP points, so I noticed that they upgrade our family to e+ on United the last 4 trips.. did I refuse the extra leg room.. of course not. Would I pay for it.. of course not. If first was offered no charge, would I refuse? Of course not. The point is even on ffp points, I'd rather take two round trips in Y, than take one round trip on F.

This is true.. and those who were rich, like Mike Tyson, Michael Jackson, and Nicolas Cage, tried to keep up with the Movie Star Joneses, and where did they end up?.. Owing more than what they're worth and going bankrupt. Rich don't stay rich by being stupid.. There was a study done "Mind of a Millionaire" that found that the rich prefer a burger and a beer, to caviar and cabernet. The rich is more likely to bargain for the best deal when buying a car, then say a regular consumer. Penny saved is a penny earned.

recently was flying BKK_DEL on a company business ticket on THAI airways ..for $300 got an upgrade to First.. took it.on my own money .. 3 hours in lounge one hour Thai massage sauna jacuzzi. 2 glasses of Royal Salute scotch and excellent dimsum and canapes. Dom Perignon Champagne on board and a flat bed, and a superb 5 course meal with caviar. Priority baggage came in 5 minutes at delhi and into airline limo to destination (free).

At the price it was worth it for me. I had fun , the most important thing in life!

I try to budget it like this...

flights under 3.5 hours, anything, even Y is fine
NYC-LHR, NYC-CDG length flights J is fine
Anything 9-10+ hours it's really beneficially to be in F

That being said...I would NEVER pony up 12-15k USD for F, that's absolutely outrageous. I save my miles/AMEX points for F redemptions on the super long hauls and pay for the Y and J tickets on the others and hope for the best. I think it's a good strategy.

Then again, last summer we flew on points to Venice and back from Athens on Swiss. Business was 100,000 miles while First was only 25,000 miles more. If you transfer from Starwood, that's only 20,000 more.

Of course it all depends on how many points you have but using cards for business purchases, buying with a 100% bonus from US Air - all these things made it a no-brainer for me.

Everyone is different and I don't think we can make any generalizations or determinations simply by what cabin someone flies in!

I hate flying in Y and love flying in C. There's no in-between for me. Well, I guess Premium Economy on ANZ wasn't bad.

For me it's F>>C>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Y.

If I was super rich I'd fly private. Otherwise C is good enough for me, especially with a lie flat product and the decent sevice of an Asian airline.

Paying full fare business or first is not worth it and the price difference between Y and C let's say is way too much to justify it. Offseason though you may find some very good deals in business (ie in the middle of the summer). Guess that's why you got upgrades. I personally upgraded for cash with Delta Airlines LAX-HNL 225 bucks, cause I was way too tired after travelling all the way from Oslo. Atleast they served a good dinner and I thought it was quite lovely. I even upgraded for 50 bucks Hilo-Honolulu. Tried the lounge, but that was very basic. Anyway a nice place to kill time as I took a taxi with another guy who was going on an earlier flight back to HNL. But I got a nicer view there though so I could take more pictures.