Opinions on upgrading to business class

[Dznypal]

Unfortunately the last 3 trips we were on didn’t turn out to good.
The first was a cruise out of England This was sept of 2023. Coming home I literally didn’t have any room. The first in front reclined as far back as she could. I couldn’t even pulled my tray all the way cause it was in my gut.
Next was Hawaii in oct 2024. We were stuck on the plane for 2.5 hrs and then a 7 hr flight. Also this was the only flight I couldn’t upgrade the seats
Ladt was just in Jan. We were 2.5 hrs late heading for fl. Then it rained and was cold the first 4 days we were there. When the weather finally got better DH got sick so I spent the last 3 days on my own
Sorry this got so wordy but now I’ll get into what I need opinions on

We have another cruise booked for the end of aug. I’d love to upgrade to business RT
But it’s very pricey. I do have the money saved.
So after 3 not the best trips woukd you splurged on business class.
I would love to surprise DH with these seats.
on the 2 trip I kept checking our booking and got a special coming home 700$ for the 2 of us in business class. Lounge access great food and lay flat seats.
That was fun..
Not sure how we were picked but this happened just a few days before we left.
Thanks for any advice or opinions

 

[starry_solo]

Which airline are you booked through? Some will send emails with bids for upgrading.

 

[Dznypal]

Oooh good thought. I’m looking into
American or British thanks

 

[kathy884]

Business class with the flat bed seats is amazing, but too expensive for me. What I did on my last trip to Europe (Sept. 2023) (this was expensive too), but I had the extra in my budget and figured this was probably going to be my last long haul trip ever was upgrade to Premium Economy which is like the old first class -- more width and extra leg room.

For this RT -- Coach was $1000, Premium Economy was $1600, and Business Class was $6000 -- approximate numbers. I could splurge for the $1600 but Business class would have meant I wouldn't have even considered doing the trip (too rich for my blood). I was doing the trip with my son and gave him the choice of the money or premium economy too and he picked premium economy too.

Interestingly enough on the way over we had a airplane configuration change and we were upgraded to business class for free and those lie flat seats which we both loved. Still though, I was only able to sleep maybe an hour and a 1/2, so I am so glad I didn't pay for those.

Coming home the Premium Economy worked great -- I didn't feel cramped at all and I know how on my last trip to Hawaii how cramped I felt in coach.

Anyway, just saying you might want to consider premium economy.

I've just been to Hawaii twice. The first time I had a free upgrade to First Class (And this is the same as premium economy today). This is back in 1990 when at least on the plane I was on there was no such thing as a flat bed seat. The second time was 2014, and I flied coach. It's amazing how relaxed, comfortable, and refreshed I felt arriving the first time. And how cramped and ready to get off the plane I was on the second time. My experience with the premium economy coming home from Europe was similar too. This wasn't a flight I needed to sleep on and I was really comfortable.

I'm fine with coach on most flights that I take which are almost always four 1/2 hours or less, but boy is the premium economy upgrade nice on the longer flights.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I wouldn’t make a splurge that big without talking to DH first unless you have a his and hers separate money situation. It sounds like you’re trying to justify the purchase due to bad luck on previous trips which doesn’t make sense, just own up to you want this when you have the discussion.

You should look at Premium Economy, read the reviews for the airline and type of plane you are looking at to see if they have a proper premium economy. These are not generally found domestically but on international long haul routes. They include things like wider seats, more room, more recline & better food. Compare pricing for economy extra legroom, premium economy and lie flat business.

 

[Cynt]

If you have the money go for it. Im headed to Europe in May and upgrading to Premium or Business class is definitely on my radar. I barely made it through our 5 hour flight to Maui in coach.

I've been watching my Europe flights.
$1466 main vs $3295 premium vs $6766 1st class to Europe.

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.

 

[Dznypal]

Right there with you cynt
In answer to another poster about accounts
We of course have joint accounts for paying bills and everyday things but I also have a separate account for vacations that’s funded with bank bonuses bingo winnings eBay. Anything like that so trips are paid in full before we leave
Thanks for all the opinions

 

[starry_solo]

Unless you’re a frequent flyer, most US based airlines won’t have the bidding option to upgrade to a higher fare class for a discounted price. I’ve seen it on Swiss Airlines and Al italia (Italian airlines)

 

[cedricandsophie]

We go to aulani from chicago at least once a year. I usually go for business but get economy plus (I get two economy plus seats free on United because I’m a million miler). Then I wait a few weeks and see if I can upgrade to business for less than it would have cost initially. Usually I can. Last year I had enough miles for one way business for 4 of us. And then bought one way business on way home. I just can’t do economy for a 10 hour flight. Although economy plus isn’t horrible. In fact if it was between economy plus and premium economy I would not waste the money on Premium. We flew in premium to Europe last year. It felt tight. The seat didn’t recline much. It was 3 across in middle. The food was awful. I’d rather buy the food in economy plus. The best things were the foot rest and the free alcohol.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Traveling overseas is when I see the financial worth of booking economy premium or higher. Four or more hours in one seat needs to be comfortable whether it’s more legroom, wider width or a flat bed.
British Airways, is a good deal with World Traveler Plus/Premium. Air France, has a number of different seating configurations that might serve your needs plus the food is better than most.
There is no US based airline that I currently use for international travel.

 

[kevtlas]

My opinion is US-EU is absolutely worth an upgrade since flying overnight. EU-US for me is a waste since I won’t sleep anyway. If I’m just going to sit and watch movies, I can do it just as easily in the cheapest seat as I can in the most expensive.

 

[Cynt]

My opinion is US-EU is absolutely worth an upgrade since flying overnight. EU-US for me is a waste since I won’t sleep anyway. If I’m just going to sit and watch movies, I can do it just as easily in the cheapest seat as I can in the most expensive.

Thanks for pointing that out. My first time to Europe. I'll definitely keep your thoughts in mind.

 

[jmasgat]

I like Business class when I go to Europe. I have recently done premium economy and honestly felt like it wasn't worth the spend. Is Business Class a value product? Nope. But if I'm not doing it very often, I splurge.

I would check the plane types you are likely to fly on your chosen airline--not all business class seats are the same. And BA had an annoying habit of charging to select even business class seats in advance--which is head-smacking.

I missed if you mentioned what route you are flying. But if you do book AA, then you can sometimes score really good deals on Business Class if you book a package with a partial hotel stay--AA was 3 nights I think. When I went to Venice a few years ago, it saved me a pile of money. I've also seen the same thing on 3rd party sites (e.g. Orbitz) when you book a package--even with 1 night. (But haven't looked for a while)

 

[DCLMP]

Right there with you cynt
In answer to another poster about accounts
We of course have joint accounts for paying bills and everyday things but I also have a separate account for vacations that’s funded with bank bonuses bingo winnings eBay. Anything like that so trips are paid in full before we leave
Thanks for all the opinions

How long is the fight. I just flew to Japan in business class. I used miles. I don't think I could do a 12 flight in a regular seat. I have flown PE to Rome on AA. If you book early enough and can get the bulkhead seat it's a good value. I was able to recline and put my feet up on my back pack it was decently comfortable. The food was a slight step up from coach, but not great.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Some airlines, like Delta, will continue to drop the upgrade price depending on availability.

When I fly long haul, I pay attention to the equipment type and seating configuration. For example, most airlines now seat 10 across on the 777 when it use to be 9. I have big, broad shoulders and the decrease in space is most notable there, making it very uncomfortable. A few airlines, however, still have 9 across.

Last October, we flew from Washington Dulles to Istanbul to Singapore on Turkish Airlines. That’s nearly 11.000 miles each way, taking just shy of 24 hours to complete. We did it in economy…. And it was t bad. Turkish’s Sears on the 350 are fairly comfortable, and they provide a nice blanket and pillow.

Also look at Norse. We flew Premium Economy LAX-London for about $300 each. It’s very similar to old school business class and was a bargain. Regular fare was $129, but we got a carryon and meals in ours (must pay on them).

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Premium Economy is pretty much domestic first class. Better than the cattle car but not by a ton. As I get older I’m more inclined to do that on cross country flights, whereas I’m too old to fly to Europe unless I’m in business class.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Premium Economy is pretty much domestic first class. Better than the cattle car but not by a ton. As I get older I’m more inclined to do that on cross country flights, whereas I’m too old to fly to Europe unless I’m in business class.

True premium economy is found only on long haul configured aircraft. It is way better than domestic first class — very comparable to long haul business class products of years past.

All of the domestic airlines except Southwest (which will join them very shortly) sell a domestic premium economy product. It’s a standard economy seat but closer to the front, with a couple or more inches of legroom and (on some airlines) upgraded snacks and drink. Note that this means a banana or bag of chips in lieu of peanuts or pretzels.

I use to book those seats, but it’s not uncommon to see them sell for several hundred dollars more on short flights - and you’re not getting much. But we live in an Instagram era…

 

[AgentMama]

Guess we're an outlier. We almost never upgrade out of economy, regardless of the length of the flight. And we've done a fair amount of long haul flights. We just have a hard time justifying the cost when it's so much more than a regular seat. I think we have our habits for how to survive and just make the best of it.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

True premium economy is found only on long haul configured aircraft. It is way better than domestic first class — very comparable to long haul business class products of years past.

All of the domestic airlines except Southwest (which will join them very shortly) sell a domestic premium economy product. It’s a standard economy seat but closer to the front, with a couple or more inches of legroom and (on some airlines) upgraded snacks and drink. Note that this means a banana or bag of chips in lieu of peanuts or pretzels.

I use to book those seats, but it’s not uncommon to see them sell for several hundred dollars more on short flights - and you’re not getting much. But we live in an Instagram era…

I’m familiar with the difference between premium economy, which as you say is only available on certain configurations, and economy plus (or extra legroom) and even the preferred seats that are exactly the same as normal ones only slightly closer to the front. The joys of being a 1K on United.

The OP was referring to a transatlantic flight which is likely to have this configuration.

To be sure you are getting the right kind of seat, check the plane’s seating chart. You should see fewer seats across that row vs the back of the plane.

I stand by my statement that these seats are similar to what you would fly if you are in a “normal” domestic first class seat. I have flown these several times from NY-CA.

I’ll also add that this is nicer than whatever many of the European airlines consider to be first class for short haul flights within Europe, which is an economy seat but no one sits in the middle. I’ll only fly short haul first class in Europe when I’m upgraded for free.

 

[Frwinkley]

Guess we're an outlier. We almost never upgrade out of economy, regardless of the length of the flight. And we've done a fair amount of long haul flights. We just have a hard time justifying the cost when it's so much more than a regular seat. I think we have our habits for how to survive and just make the best of it.

Any tips for surviving?

Planning our first transcontinental in about 15 years...and we're 15 years older.