When I first saw this thread a few days ago, I assumed that the OP was a joke post of sorts (i.e. crafted to poke fun at ourselves). Whether or not this is the case, I personally don't think sitting in a small space for 12 hours is the end of the world. Sometimes, I spend 12 hour stints (with bathroom/food breaks) at a desk, which does give me more room to stretch, but the core activity is still the same: sitting.

Why are you here at flyertalk with your whining about first world probs.

He's not whining about anything.

This prescription might do a lot of people a world of good.

Airplane food, no matter how good, would never be served at a high-end restaurant.

Seats, no matter how lie-flat, would never be used as a bed in a high-end hotel.

If premium IFE was the bees' knees, then nobody would have a TV larger than 24" at home.

If airline travel was not preferable, no one would take an 8 hour air conditioned flight in Y over a 30 day ride in a non air conditioned sailing ship, complete with scurvy, to get from New York to Europe. You all feel free to remain in 1714. I’ll take the jet.

3. A true sophisticate is able to make him/herself comfortable and cheerful in any situation, and does not tip his gauche hand by complaining loudly about anything save the very bestest best.


Couldn't agree more, well said.

Different people have different perspectives. If one has a bad back, I assure you it will probably feel like the end of the world by the end of those 12 hours. And when, in addition, you are only flying because you have to be at a business meeting in a few hours after landing to make a presentation, and the person behind you was kicking your seat the whole way because they didn't want you to recline (on an overnight flight!), or the poor person next to you had been traveling for days previous without washing, or there was a belligerent drunk arguing with everyone next to them (all of which I have experienced), then a reasonable person might start thinking that spending a little effort to get upgraded would be a wise idea. And there is also the greater protection of business class in the event of IRROPs (which has saved my agenda more than once) and showers in the arrival lounge.

Sure, 12 hours in economy might not kill you. I did it when I was younger. But if the point of the trip is to meet some business objective, and doing so will make it harder for you to achieve that objective, then you should perhaps reconsider whether that is the best choice.

If flying physically hurts you, perhaps you should not be flying for work.
You should perhaps reconsider whether that line of work is the best choice.

Why, when it is simpler to manage the flying and travel so my back feels fine? Or just to be better rested to give a more coherent presentation a few hours after landing? I don't need to prove that I am tough enough to sit in a chair for 12 hours and give a presentation on no sleep for 24.

Flying doesn't physically hurt me. But flying in Coach for 10-15 hours does. So I pay for business. No need to change my line of work.