Many, many variables...hard to give a straight answer.

If I have an airline elite status, then I take an exit row coach seat and a first-class hotel.

If I have a hotel elite status with lounge access and maybe a room upgrade, I take a first-class air seat and I'm good with the midscale hotel.

If I have no status whatsoever, and I'm flying a nonlegacy carrier, I'm good with coach flights and a first-class hotel.

If I have no status whatsoever, but I have to fly the Legacy Six, I want F privileges and I'll take a midscale hotel.

If it's a trip to a beach or ski destination, I'm more apt to be picky on the hotel. If it's a trip to a major city, I'm probably going to be less picky on the hotel.

If it's one of the scenarios where I have no hotel status, I'll look for a boutique property where no one has elite status, regardless of whether I'm going super-luxe or a 2-star pensione.

Maybe it's only because I dont' fly first class (domestic or int'l, though I've had a couple of op uprades on short flights to domestic first), but I'd much rather have the hotel. If I'm flying somewhere, I'm likely going to stay there a few days. If I'm taking a *long* flight somewhere, then I'm definitely going to be staying a week or so. Now, I might not stay in the same location the whole time, but even so I'm spending enough time in most rooms that it makes a difference to me, much more time than I'm spending on the planes. Yes, much of that time is with my eyes closed, but after a few days even the waking time in the hotel room would surpass the time spent on the flights.

The other reason I say hotel is because in general it is more attainable for me. I can get a nicer room, even for multiple nights, for a more reasonable cost than I can get a nicer airline seat/service particularly on an international journey.

BTW, isn't there a technical term (possibly now outdated) "first class hotel" which is really not a top of the line place? I seem to recall that from a decade or so ago.

International travel, I'll take the premium class flights, for domestic travel, I can live with UA's E+ anytime and splurge a little on the hotel.

Ditto here. We don't "do" international Y. Can live with E+ for short-medium domestic hops if need be.

I'd lean toward the hotel over the flight even if I were single, but since my elective travel usually includes more than one person, the hotel would win for sure, since I can get an upscale experience for at least two people, and possibly for the whole family of 4 by paying the same as I would for just myself (whether in cash or points), whereas on the flight I'd have to pay an additional multiple for each person.

When I consider paying my own money or miles for a business class international seat, I keep thinking, "I could make two (in the case of miles) or TEN (in the case of cash) trips for the same amount," and I always want to preserve the chance to make more trips than to make a single trip a little more comfortable. That said, though, I'm small enough that Y seats are probably within the bounds of the Geneva convention for me, even on a lengthy flight.

duplicate post resulting from hitting the "reply with quote" button instead of "edit." Sorry.

If I spending my own money on a vacation, then definately first class hotel and cheap seat. On international or domestic business-cheap hotel, first class seat.

Hotel for me. I still sleep better in a nice bed with nice sheets and down comforter than I ever have in a first class seat...even the lie flat seats!