Should I blow my bonus on business class tickets to Europe

[Anonymous]

I know this is a first word problem, but that's what this forum is largely about, right? DH and I are taking the kids(6 and 5) to Europe in the fall. Business class tickets are $20k for the four of us! There is a small one-off bonus coming my way that will be about $15k after taxes. This bonus is unexpected and won't be something that will happen again soon. Would you splurge and spend it on the tickets or would you fly coach. The kids have been to Europe before once and we flew business, but it was half the price. At that time, I thought that business class was worth it because the kids had no jet lag whatsoever. WWYD?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't. Europe isn't that far away for that kind of money.

I'd rather spend a chunk of it on food and experiences once in Europe.

[Anonymous]

Lol, no. Don't be stupid. It's not worth it to pay 2-4x more to be less jetlagged. For 10k you can extend your vacation by a few days. Kids also have a much easier time adjusting.

[Anonymous]

I would go premium economy.

[Anonymous]

I love business class, but definitely not worth 20k! Better use of that money is on experiences, upgrading your hotel or buying yourself something extra nice.

[Anonymous]

At that age for kids, it's not really worth it. I have a photo of ours when they were 4 and 6 and we traveled business class to Europe (booked in Premium Economy, airline swapped planes to one without that section, so we got upgraded). It was just really nice big recliner seats, and we haeve a photo of DD sitting in the seat with her legs fully extended and unable to kick the seat in front of her. Kids are small, they don't need all the space.

We're pretty well off and we travel Premium Economy to Europe. When I travel on my own, then it's usually business.

[Anonymous]

Also when/where are you flying that it's $5k/seat for business? Fall is shoulder season and prices aren't that high. I just booked business class to Tokyo for work for $3,800 the other day, for a trip in October.

[Anonymous]

You only live once.

[Anonymous]

No way, but also from my POV that would pay off the remainder of my student loans and this whole upcoming year of preschool tuition.

[Anonymous]

Would not spend it on especially on kids that young.

[Anonymous]

No way but it's your money

[Anonymous]

I’m wealthy and just booked business class for our family of 4 a few days ago. Worth it for me now but still difficult to swallow.

[Anonymous]

I would ask friends to upgrade you if they can. Most people sell their upgrades for a few hundred. It seems crazy to blow 20k on this. I'd rather stay in a fancier hotel or have a private driver/tour guide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would ask friends to upgrade you if they can. Most people sell their upgrades for a few hundred. It seems crazy to blow 20k on this. I'd rather stay in a fancier hotel or have a private driver/tour guide.

It's unlikely there will be 4 upgradable seats in inventory. Airilnes hold some seats back for paying customers, like last minute walk-ups.

[Anonymous]

Business class is 20k but how much is coach? Also, how comfortable are you when you have flown coach before?

I've was upgraded into business class once on a short flight, it was nice, but I'm not sure if it's worth paying extra for.