Do you remember when you use to fly coach because you did not know any better?
Dec 2, 2006, 8:16 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Lahaina, Hawai'i
Programs: HA Pua. Platinum WP, PR, QF, UA, AA, DL, NW Prince Preferred
Posts: 4,786
But check this out:
Hawaiian Airlines will upgrade any pax, on any coach ticket, across the Pacific to Hawai'i, for $250.00 one way, on day-of-departure, if available.
No elitism here!
Last edited by kaukau; Dec 2, 2006 at 1:06 pm Reason: I forgot something.
Dec 2, 2006, 8:44 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2006
Programs: DL Plat, CRC, Hhonors Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Silver, Priority Club Gold
Posts: 206
I'm not subsidized by taxpayers
I'm sure some on FT are subsidized by taxpayers; however, I am not.
I've edited my previous comments to avoid sounding haughty. I share my miles with my mom, sisters, husband & children. Without my status & travel there's no way I'd spend the money to travel the world.
Travel Safe!
I've edited my previous comments to avoid sounding haughty. I share my miles with my mom, sisters, husband & children. Without my status & travel there's no way I'd spend the money to travel the world.
Travel Safe!
Dec 2, 2006, 9:12 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 3,083
I don't pay for FC, but [almost] always fly FC. There was an instant about 12 years ago when I realized that.
In hindsight I could have found that out maybe 15 years ago or 3 years earlier if I had known any better.
Dec 2, 2006, 11:06 am
#19
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 775
I've only flown first class once in my life.
I just don't fly enough to earn elite status. I wish I did, but I just can't afford to, either in time or money. And my business travel is strictly in coach.
I guess I should clarify: Mileage runs sound tempting, and they are affordable, but they come at times when I can't travel for other reasons, usually because of obligations with the family or work.
And I do occasionally get my mileage balances high enough to get a first or business award, but my personal philosophy is that I'd rather get two trips than one, even if the two trips are a little less comfortable. So I go for two awards in coach rather than one in first. But that comes from the fact that I don't travel that much to begin with, so for me a trip in coach is still something special.
This month I'm going to Europe for the third time this year. That, for me, is a record.
Ed
I just don't fly enough to earn elite status. I wish I did, but I just can't afford to, either in time or money. And my business travel is strictly in coach.
I guess I should clarify: Mileage runs sound tempting, and they are affordable, but they come at times when I can't travel for other reasons, usually because of obligations with the family or work.
And I do occasionally get my mileage balances high enough to get a first or business award, but my personal philosophy is that I'd rather get two trips than one, even if the two trips are a little less comfortable. So I go for two awards in coach rather than one in first. But that comes from the fact that I don't travel that much to begin with, so for me a trip in coach is still something special.
This month I'm going to Europe for the third time this year. That, for me, is a record.
Ed
Last edited by suranyi; Dec 2, 2006 at 11:20 am Reason: Added clarification
Dec 2, 2006, 11:16 am
#20
Guest
Posts: n/a
Surely I am not the only person who finds this question arrogant and obnoxious.
I fly coach because I work in the public sector, don't fly enough to qualify for an elite program and am not subsidized by taxpayers to fly in business class or first class. But your post has given me confidence in the contempt that I feel for those who do sit in first class and lord it over everyone else.
I fly coach because I work in the public sector, don't fly enough to qualify for an elite program and am not subsidized by taxpayers to fly in business class or first class. But your post has given me confidence in the contempt that I feel for those who do sit in first class and lord it over everyone else.
Dec 2, 2006, 11:17 am
#21
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,422
I find this surprising given you spend time in both US & NZ. As you know, no first class on any direct routing. QF does have F between Australia and US, but they wont op-up, paid F is really expensive and award F hard to obtain. I guess that means you fly UA?
Dec 2, 2006, 12:32 pm
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,297
I dont fly for business.
It is all leisure travel, yet about 10% of my travel is up front
I ve never paid for C/J, except one time on Malaysia between Kota Kinabalu and Brunei, where a 20 minute flight was $5 more in C. I could not justify to myself spending $5k for 8 hours of flying to Europe for example, where that same money could buy me 10 $500 trips.
Face it, most people in the world have no idea about airline status, upgrades, or even frequent flyer accounts.
Thanks to a place like FT, we know how to maximize the rewards we get from the systems in place.
It makes me cry when my friends travel to places like Asia and Europe frequently and dont have an account
Its not an accomplishment to pay $10000 to fly in F, its an accomplishement to pay 10x less, and get an upgrade by being knowledgeable on how to work the system of frequent flying.
It is all leisure travel, yet about 10% of my travel is up front
I ve never paid for C/J, except one time on Malaysia between Kota Kinabalu and Brunei, where a 20 minute flight was $5 more in C. I could not justify to myself spending $5k for 8 hours of flying to Europe for example, where that same money could buy me 10 $500 trips.
Face it, most people in the world have no idea about airline status, upgrades, or even frequent flyer accounts.
Thanks to a place like FT, we know how to maximize the rewards we get from the systems in place.
It makes me cry when my friends travel to places like Asia and Europe frequently and dont have an account
Its not an accomplishment to pay $10000 to fly in F, its an accomplishement to pay 10x less, and get an upgrade by being knowledgeable on how to work the system of frequent flying.
Dec 2, 2006, 12:55 pm
#23
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Somewhere today, somewhere tomorrow!
Programs: Delta DM
Posts: 6,768
And I do remember becoming an elite for the first time... A UA 2P when I was right out of college, my college girlfriend and I wound up in different cities and I flew out to see her many weekends. All I knew was that I got to board early, which I thought was cool because I could be assured of overhead space. And I gradually learned about the other benefits.
People don't don't know about upgrades?~?~?~ wow that was one of the things that pushed me to pick and fly a certain airline. It makes a difference to sit up front.
Just scored a 777 ALT-JFK Biz seat upgrade for my flight. It's always fun to take a big bird somewhere close by.
Dec 3, 2006, 7:36 am
#25
Join Date: Jul 2006
Programs: Skymiles SM
Posts: 305
My first upgrade was after 9/11, before I had never enrolled into an FF program despite flying enough to qualify for elite status(something I did not know back then).
It was kinda funny seeing the look on some peoples face when they called up my name(Born in Turkey, living in Belgium) to hand me my new boarding pass.
Some people looked as if they expected me to be taken of the flight.
It was kinda funny seeing the look on some peoples face when they called up my name(Born in Turkey, living in Belgium) to hand me my new boarding pass.
Some people looked as if they expected me to be taken of the flight.
Dec 3, 2006, 9:01 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: SPI
Programs: AA Gold, UA LT Plat, Mar LTT
Posts: 18,147
Originally Posted by stinky123
I fly coach because I work in the public sector, don't fly enough to qualify for an elite program and am not subsidized by taxpayers to fly in business class or first class.
Originally Posted by stinky123
But your post has given me confidence in the contempt that I feel for those who do sit in first class and lord it over everyone else.
Best, Dave
Dec 3, 2006, 10:29 am
#27
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 526
We ALWAYS fly 1st or Business. We don't fly very often and it is always for vacations - maybe 2 to 3 times a year. I use my FF credit cards diligently. Groceries, gas, clothes, etc. etc. etc. Was having a drink with some friends and they almost fainted when they saw me bring out cash lol!!! I was only checking for the valet as they don't take credit cards. We buy cheap flights and upgrade or use FF for the whole thing. Linda
Dec 3, 2006, 10:31 am
#28
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: QDF
Programs: AA EXP (2MM), Marriott Tit
Posts: 1,036
I definitely remember my first time in F. American Express rebooked me on the day of travel because of a weather-related cancellation, and I ended up in the front cabin on a NW flight from DTW to Lansing, MI (a 20 minute flight). I was very proud of myself for managing to drink 3 beers on that flight. 
To the OP - How would you suggest traveling from DFW to LIT?
To the OP - How would you suggest traveling from DFW to LIT?
Dec 3, 2006, 4:01 pm
#29
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UGS, AA CK
Posts: 212
I can fly whatever class I want, but frequently will fly coach for shorter flights because I don't find the marginal utility of first on those flights to be better than the investments I can make with the price difference. Everyone has their priorities.
At the same time, I would never fly coach on a flight over a few hours because then the comfort does make a difference.
At the same time, I would never fly coach on a flight over a few hours because then the comfort does make a difference.
Dec 4, 2006, 7:33 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: New Orleans
Programs: DL GM
Posts: 47