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Originally Posted by deniah
(Post 30475549)
There's also many more people who also need to get from A to B, who can't reasonably outlay (not splurge) the cash for J, who will and do suffer in Y.
If we're talking broadly we need to look at the significant population, not the cherry-picked outliers. Years ago I occasionally found my younger self riding in the front via mileage upgrades, but I wouldnt say mine was the representative case in that cabin. But, if you look at the entire population of travelers in J cabin, a lot are middle income earners, and no they are not outliers. That's where we disagree, in my opinion. |
I'm retired and fly internationally three or maybe four times a year. I always fly business in lay flat seats. It makes my trip more enjoyable and eliminates jet lag since I get to sleep six or seven hours and wake up ready to go. I look for the least expensive gateway city and then fly there from MSP on a separate ticket since Delta charges thousands more to fly from MSP on one ticket. I'm not rich but this is my one extravagance. I rarely pay more than $3500 even when I travel to Asia or Australia.
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Originally Posted by joejones
(Post 30475608)
One time, a partner at a big Bay Area law firm -- someone who likely made well over $1 million a year -- told me he had to fly from SFO to SYD in economy for a business trip.
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Originally Posted by enviroian
(Post 30476322)
Was he going to band camp in Sydney?
:D |
Originally Posted by civicDuty
(Post 30471209)
In my line of work, flying business is considered by many to be poor form. I’m in science, and specifically in a field where most people know climate science, and the carbon footprint of premium class is something many take seriously. That said, I am not unusual as a scientist and research prof in making about 20 RT trips a year, on average four transoceanic. I just got tenure and plan to cut way back. There’s generally a move to do this in the field. On top of the carbon, much of my research is taxpayer-funded, so we’re generally forbidden from flying premium. I make over $200k/year but just don’t see the point of throwing money into premium when it can go to so many better things. It is awful to arrive tired and jet lagged and then give talks and go to meetings, but it is something I’m now practiced in. I probably should learn better how to upgrade cheaply, if possible—I don’t have an assistant and get overwhelmed with all the travel. Strangely the only time I flew business was when I was a postdoc and the WHO was inviting me over. My science is now better but next week I’m flying 15 h in coach to Asia. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, take the bus or train to/from the airport instead of a taxi. |
Originally Posted by joejones
(Post 30475608)
One time, a partner at a big Bay Area law firm -- someone who likely made well over $1 million a year -- told me he had to fly from SFO to SYD in economy for a business trip.
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Originally Posted by joejones
(Post 30475608)
One time, a partner at a big Bay Area law firm -- someone who likely made well over $1 million a year -- told me he had to fly from SFO to SYD in economy for a business trip.
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you can fly from Brisbane(BNE) or Sydney(SYD) to LAX or San Fran return from about AUD$800 return in low season. (that's roughly USD$600)
From Fiji Airways thread ... you can bid on upgrades sector by sector. Flights BNE or SYD to Fiji are just on 3 hours & if connecting with flight to LAX or SFO are in daylight hours. The long haul Fiji to LAX or SFO around 9-10 hours is overnight. On top of AUD$800 return fare the minimum bid is around AUD$865 (around USD$648), if your bid is successful, so for a grand total of AUD$1665 or USD$1248, you can fly the short haul Australia to Fiji in economy & one of the sectors Fiji to West Coast USA or vice versa. These prices are within the reach of almost anyone. Catch is, the more that know about the bidding for upgrades, the higher the bid will need to be to be successful. |
Originally Posted by civicDuty
(Post 30471209)
I make over $200k/year but just don’t see the point of throwing money into premium
when it can go to so many better things. It is awful to arrive tired and jet lagged and then give talks and go to meetings, but it is something I’m now practiced in. I probably should learn better how to upgrade cheaply, if possible—I don’t have an assistant and get overwhelmed with all the travel. |
Originally Posted by OZFLYER86
(Post 30478522)
maybe he made nothing that year. Law firms go broke just like airlines, many of which are going under in Europe right now.
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To me it's not a question of $ value so much as % of income. Most people would pay 500 dollars for a F seat because that's generally cheap for the market, 500 dollars is 1% of your 50k income and that's not terribly significant. If you make 100k, then a 1000 ticket is the same value to you as 500 is to a 50k person...1%. Or should be. Then it only comes down to what, subjectively, a persons needs and tastes are.
Some would be hugely offended at spending 1000 for a seat and seek the cheapest fares. Others have no problem and see it as a small price to pay for a more comfortable experience. |
Originally Posted by joejones
(Post 30475608)
One time, a partner at a big Bay Area law firm -- someone who likely made well over $1 million a year -- told me he had to fly from SFO to SYD in economy for a business trip.
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My company allows full fare business class flights over 10 hours followed by a 24 hour rest period, and rightly so. They recognize the value in having their employees arrive in a less ragged state. It's a small price to pay for making sure our international business goes as smoothly as possible.
I hate how reverse snobbery is making it into the corporate world, and that it's poor form to travel in anything above premium economy. |
Originally Posted by catcher1
(Post 30477910)
He "had to" fly in economy?
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some of us are crazy and spend crazy amounts (vs income/worth - if you have it in bank, not debt) but why not.. cant take it with you, not everyone has kids etc
almost everyone on FT spends above average on travel, even if doing awards |
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