FlyerTalk Forums - What is the most important factor of a premium cabin to you?

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What is the most important factor of a premium cabin to you?

Hi!

I was just curious, as I was having a chat with my travel agent about upgrades. I mentioned sleeping, and how that is the main benefit of business class for me. He laughed, and said of course it isn’t, it’s the ‘free’ champagne! I laughed and said I had a 13 hour shift when I landed so my patients may disagree.

However, he did seem to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder too. He quoted me the upgrade price and I said ‘oh that’s actually cheaper than I thought’ and he scoffed and said ‘well, it depends who you are I suppose, it wouldn’t be cheaper if you saw my bank account!!?’ As someone who doesn’t fly premium cabins often and considers this a very big treat that I’ve worked extremely hard to pay for, he made me feel very uncomfortable. As if this privilege just fell on my lap or something. I won’t waste too much time worrying about it though!

I was curious though if other people value other things about flying premium and maybe it’s wasted on me!

This is more suited to the TravelBuzz forum as it's not EK specific.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz-176/

However, on EK :-

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...06bb35f058.jpg

You should get a new TA (or stop using one and book direct).
Can't think of what specifically it is for me but primarily the space/privacy/comfort

The wine for me (on EK).

also not having to queue or sit next to anyone

Privacy, sleep and space... the EK soft product is definitely a huge bonus but I've flown some terrible J soft products before (AA, BA) and still got a ton of value out of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by skywardhunter (Post 30714552)

You should get a new TA (or stop using one and book direct).
Can't think of what specifically it is for me but primarily the space/privacy/comfort

Yeah, I think I will take that advice! I have always booked direct but usually fly in Y so can afford to pay the full whack. Doing it through a TA let me spread it over a few months. In hindsight, it’s extremely frustrating and I should have just booked economy flights and then paid to upgrade as I could afford. I was worried there wouldn’t be the opportunity to do this but this forum has been useful and I’ve discovered expert flyer.

Another thing that pissed me off about the TA was that he spent a lot of time speaking down to me, trying to sell me trips and experiences, and trying to frighten me that I wouldn’t be able to get around Japan without a constant guide (which of course, he could arrange) ‘you don’t want to be muddling through when you have an autistic child with you, Madam’. I politely explained that I have always been an independent traveller, I’m not afraid to get lost or figure things out, I would not put myself or my son in any situation I felt he couldn’t handle, and that I will be doing my research before I go, as I do for any country. What do I know though. Silly woman ��

(sorry for not posting in the appropriate forum though, possibly proving my TA right that i’ll Get lost and [mess] up) ��

Quote:

Originally Posted by DYKWIA (Post 30714497)

This is more suited to the TravelBuzz forum as it's not EK specific.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz-176/

However, on EK :-

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...06bb35f058.jpg

i am looking forward to this experience! 3 of our flights are on the 777 but Dxb to NRT is on an a380!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyingmedic (Post 30715381)

i am looking forward to this experience! 3 of our flights are on the 777 but Dxb to NRT is on an a380!

If you're good at mixing drinks you can even bartend... I made off-menu drinks for a few people. Of course, cabin crew was watching to track how many and who :)

To know I can drink a bottle of Hennessy Paradis if I so desire :) ... I never do as I prefer Chivas Royal Salute or DP.
Seriously, its the comfort level, Shower before I land fairly decent bed.

The comfort of the seat/bed without a shadow of a doubt!

No waiting around, acceptable seat/bed, storage space for everything.

Hard product, and the ability to easily look out the windows. Some of the new configurations out there aren't great for the latter....

The extra room and the opportunity to get a reasonable amount of sleep on a long haul. Priority boarding is nice too but if you are in J it doesn't make much difference because there is lots of overhead space. Don't care about the rest of the trappings.

Fundamentally, it's legroom. And the longer the flight, the more it matters. Also, the need to be able to sit beside someone and still not have to pull my arms in and worry about armrests etc like we do in E.

Everything else is a bonus to me. Boarding early, priority bags, lounges etc are nice, but fundamentally it's the physical comfort I am after and it makes a HUGE difference to my trips on long haul flights because it means the difference between arriving refreshed and arriving as a total wreck.

Domestic first class: the wider seat, and knowing there will be room for my carryon in the overhead bin.

International business class: the wider seat, knowing there will be room for my carryon in the overhead bin, plus the ability to actually get some sleep on the plane.

I'm not a sardine, and I don't appreciate being pack in like one. It's worth it to me to either pay more or to use miles in order to get a better travel experience.