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But I'd pay anything to avoid baggage collection at Gatwick!
Don't think I've ever flown business and used hold luggage, just take it all as hand luggage. No issue with over crowded over-head bins in business / first.
and that's a euphemism for.. ?
#driveby
I've been doing rather a lot of 24 - 30 hour journeys this year. That's pretty brutal in cattle class with no lounge in the lay-overs. I would definitely go business or first if I could sensibly afford it.
🙂
Don't think I've ever flown business and used hold luggage, just take it all as hand luggage. No issue with over crowded over-head bins in business / first.
business class (often) has enough luggage to take your bike with you for free (certainly does on both BA and Virgin). Which makes work-based trips which are day-trippable to Sedona and Flagstaff much more enjoyable. Might be tricky taking that in carry-on 🙂
Flew business on Emirates A380 to Singapore in March with work.
Got in at 11pm after 17 hour journey, then presenting to the Customer at 0900 the next day. Very grateful for the extra comfort as a result.
Its really very, very pleasant. Some fabulous food - a quite delicious chicken biryani, amongst lots of highlights. Emirates Firts has the onboard shower, a bigger telly and a private "cabin" as per that vid linked above.
Not sure I'd ever pay for it with my own money - especially as Emirates economy is pretty good.
TM
business class (often) has enough luggage to take your bike with you for free
Most proper airlines do this tbh. I've done it many times for free.
Might be tricky taking that in carry-on
Fold up bike 🙂
molgrips - Member
business class (often) has enough luggage to take your bike with you for free
Most proper airlines do this tbh. I've done it many times for free.
Not any more, most of them are putting it down as part of the allowance now.
I've never flown 1st class and probably never will, however I do sometimes travel Business Class on long haul flights (although never when I've been paying!) and that is indeed nice. In fact the likes of Ethihad or Emirates are nice enough in Business Class I'd struggle to see how the big jump in price to a 1st class ticket could be justified.
Not any more, most of them are putting it down as part of the allowance now.
Oh I see, you meant in addition to your allowance.
I once had a whole airliner to myself. I can't remember how I got a ticket but it was the last charter flight of the season going out empty to Geneva to pick up returning skiers. It wasn't first class by any means but I did feel a bit special.
During the SARS outbreak in 2003 (?) we flew to China with work, had a whole plane between about 7 of us. Could lie acorss an entire row of seats and go to sleep.
which companies fly their staff in 1st class? where should I send my CV?
We can fly business for intercontinental travel (which I've not done yet) and if you do more than 3 long-haul flights in a 12 month period you can fly business on all future flights if the flight is over 8 hours.
Frequent fliers have been upgraded to first on occasion, and have all said they'd 100% do it for their own travel if money were no object.
1st class = XTR
Only offered to make the "lesser" product look affordable.
Just thinking, when I go on hols I like to sit and chat to my wife - are all the first class seats individual pods???
Just thinking, when I go on hols I like to sit and chat to my wife - are all the first class seats individual pods???
It varies. Some, such as BA, let you eat together at a dining table for example. Some are more 'sociable' in terms of seat layout, like Air France, or Lufthansa. Some are very cocoon like, though.
Privacy is important for more premium cabin fliers, so that's why they're designed that way.
I suppose it is all relative. When you get the to level of Saudi prince, the main section is just an extension of the luggage hold:
[img] 
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/saudi-prince-buys-plane-tickets-for-80-hawks/
We flew first class once. It was on Garuda though so it may not quite compare.
Having flown monarch the other day manchester - alicante i would pay to be segregated from the stag and hen parties. Tbh at 50 quid door to door you get what you pay for.
Top tip, avoid thursday afternoon travel to any feeder airports to party resorts, nightmare, hens are worse than the guys.
edlong - Member
We flew first class once. It was on Garuda though so it may not quite compare.
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2016/12/30/garuda-indonesia-first-class-review/
Apparently very, very good these days! And they serve my favourite rosé champagne, too!
First class is mental money. There are a lot of people who have mental amounts of money.
I personally love the fact that you can fly 12000 miles for less than £1000 and they feed you.
There are very few airlines that have First Class nowadays.
Most only have Business.
I have never flown First but done a fair bit of business, the best was a Singapore Airlines A380, the seat turned into a 3/4 sized bed. The cabin was almost empty as well.
How good the First on that thing must have been!
Due to the state of my industry, it's hard turning right on the plane nowadays.
Premium seats up-top are the best middle ground.
Big leather chair, more space, free G&T, knife & fork and you only share toilets with 20 people max.
Flew Virgin upper class to Sydney via Hong Kong and back a few years ago for NYE... All for free thanks to an ex who worked the flight (Her name was Louise, she turned to be mental) beds weren't too comfy, but 'spose can't complain
Her name was Louise
😯
There are very few airlines that have First Class nowadays.
Apart from BA, Cathay, Air France, Emirates, Singapore, American, Etihad, ANA, Qantas, Qatar, Garuda, Malaysian, Swiss, Etc. Yeah, apart from them.
Yeah, apart from them.
The majority of long haul aircraft are 2 cabin configurations.
JAL cattle class is great. Loads of space, good food, plenty to drink, kids have plenty of entertainment too.
Finnair cattle class? Get me the stun gun, please. Long haul had no leg room, the food was... Um, foodish. Kicked in the back the whole way. Could smell what the couple in front were doing under the blanket. They also reckoned so far back you couldn't get anything off the floor and had to make them move to go for a pee. People picking their toes and their noses all around. Urgh. My eldest was also travel sick for the first time on a plane, so we added to the aroma too.
Short haul was fine though. Twice the leg room...
Never done business/first, and in the real world i never would.
If i had an 8 figure bank balance on the other hand, there'd be no hesitation.
Can myself and mrs_oab go first with the kids in [s]the hold [/s] cattle?
Certain family members would travel 1st while the nanny would travel cattle with the kids. They would be allowed a visit, once! Nice.
civil service rules used to be another over 4hrs was business. Not sure if that's still the case.
It's not. Maybe if it's a night flight and you're accompanying a minister.
Can myself and mrs_oab go first with the kids in the hold cattle?
On one flight a couple of years ago Sweajnr, Sweamrs and I were all travelling together in Premium Economy but I was on a separate ticket to sweamrs and sweajnr.
At the gate I was delighted to learn that I'd been upgraded to business 😯 but decided to turn them down to avoid marital strife. 🙁
For my own flights I fly premium economy as I think it's worth it especially when I'm also juggling a toddler and then hiring cars etc. The extra rest / relaxation is worth it.
My stepdaughter & her bloke are off to Jamaica this year. Dave is an expert at flights & booked some with BA for 3.5K return for them both, (dunno what class that was,) but he went to upgrade & paid £35 more to go 1st class! Some glitch or another was involved & Dave noticed it, I think it shouldv'e been another 3.5K. The ****.
I've flown business (BA) a few times, paid for from my own pocket (with money, not airmiles or anything), and absolutely would again. 6foot beds alone are worth it on a 9hr+ flight
The whole experience of flying, from the moment you arrive at the airport, is miles better (I like flying/planes, despise airports).
Not sure I'd pay the extra for first, yes you get nicer wines and food, a nicer, more luxurious lounge, but I'm not sure that means [i]that[/i] much to me, over business.
Not sure I'd pay the extra for first, yes you get nicer wines and food, a nicer, more luxurious lounge, but I'm not sure that means that much to me, over business.
I certainly wouldn't pay, either my own or company money. As you say, it's all a little better, but not enough better. Oh, and I get the more luxurious lounges anyway, through flying too much!
I've flown business on a number of occasions (Emirates and BA) and in my opinion it's not the luxurious and glamorous experience it is made out to be. It is clearly much more comfy than flying cattle class, but spending several £k to sleep in a crappy small bed, watch a film on a small rubbish screen, and eat food that is clearly still airline food isn't something that I aspire to. Ok, the booze is ok, but certainly no better than I'd drink at home.
For me, the best compromise is premium economy - a bit of extra space, but not too much extra ££
I suppose 1st or even business class is nice, as long as you don't do what I do, go to sleep with the Bose sound cancelling headphones on for the entire flight. Longest I've slept for is only 8 hours though, so proper long haul may be worth the extra.
My business partner and I recently figured out a charter on a private jet is often equal or cheaper than both of us flying business.... now that is the only way to travel
I ride a singlespeed, doubt I'd notice the extra luxury of 1st. 🙂
it's not the luxurious and glamorous experience it is made out to be
Agreed there. It isn't all that luxurious or glamorous (With the exception of the Pier First Class lounge at HKG!). It is, however, much, much more relaxing.
As an illustration, I booked some flights today. Long haul, business class, on a Monday. I get to my hotel (with luck!) at around midnight. First meeting at 0800 on the Tuesday, then in meetings pretty much back to back until I fly home again on the Thursday. I'll get back to LHR at around 0630 on Friday morning, home by 0900 or so hopefully. That's a busy, busy week. I'll be more relaxed, more rested and, crucially IMHO, far less resentful of having to spend time away from home for work. So, I'll be more productive.
So, I'll be more productive.
That's what coke is for.
Amateur.
As an illustration, I booked some flights today. Long haul, business class, on a Monday. I get to my hotel (with luck!) at around midnight. First meeting at 0800 on the Tuesday, then in meetings pretty much back to back until I fly home again on the Thursday. I'll get back to LHR at around 0630 on Friday morning, home by 0900 or so hopefully. That's a busy, busy week. I'll be more relaxed, more rested and, crucially IMHO, far less resentful of having to spend time away from home for work. So, I'll be more productive.
This might be a naive question but in this modern era of telecommunications would it not be possible to do most of this shizzle with a phone or a video conference? Flying human beings around the globe to talk to other human beings with all the economic and environmental impact it has seems so 20th century.
It's a bizarre thing Business class and even more so first class. It's really a huge expense for the time spent.
I can fly business class on any flight if I want to book for the business but I only do this for flights over 5hrs or on flights if I want to do a good deal of work on the flight. Otherwise it's not worth it on short haul. Also I won't fly business if my colleagues aren't also flying business.
First class is quite an experience (I've been upgraded) and I have sat there calculating how many high End bikes I could get for a few flights!
It is clearly much more comfy than flying cattle class, but spending several £k
The trips I've taken have been return to Vancouver, cattle class was £1250 plus £120 for bike, business was £1900 and I fitted a mates (who was flying econ) bike into my luggage allowance (3x 32kg) as well, saving him £120, minus the cost of a nice meal he paid for to say thank you.
So £500 for a nice, quietish lounge with comfy seats, nice food, free, decent enough, booze, a seat/bed with more legroom than I am tall (seatguru.com to tell you the best seats for this), priority check in and, of course, that smug feeling. Worth every penny.