How do people afford first class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I each come from generational wealth. We're very lucky.

Check your privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I each come from generational wealth. We're very lucky.

Check your privilege.

Huh? New poster. The question was asked and someone answered with a legit answer. For us, we are either upgraded for domestic flights because we have high status with the airlines or pay for it for European flights. It’s very expensive, but we also have our own and inherited wealth and if I don’t use it, my kids will so…especially while we are traveling as a family, I want us to enjoy the trips as much as possible.

[Anonymous]

Points and credit card things are still money. You’re still paying for it if you use points. I get that if you get the points from work travel it can be kind of a side door benefit. But you still have the option to liquidate them.

[Anonymous]

I don’t get why people even do this – it’s like 10 hours of your life at most for a long flight. Is that worth $10,000?

I get spending a lot of money on a house where you spend the majority of your time, but first-class flights make no sense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get why people even do this – it’s like 10 hours of your life at most for a long flight. Is that worth $10,000?

I get spending a lot of money on a house where you spend the majority of your time, but first-class flights make no sense to me.

I am with you on that but everyone gets to decide how to spend there time and funds. I have a relative who chooses to travel very high end. She once said...I do not understand how anyone can just sit at the gate for an hour before a flight (because she is in the club). I silently laughed.

[Anonymous]

United Visa points for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get why people even do this – it’s like 10 hours of your life at most for a long flight. Is that worth $10,000?

I get spending a lot of money on a house where you spend the majority of your time, but first-class flights make no sense to me.

You should check out Ramit Sethi on his podcast or Netflix series. It’s all about figuring out what makes you feel rich. Then you pare back everything that doesn’t and you can splurge on what does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Frequent traveler here. On most flights, airlines set aside just 1-3 seats as award seats for use with FF miles. Most people you see in business class paid for it.

Tickets are rarely $15k. OP used an example of flying to Istanbul. You buy a ticket right now to fly 7/22-7/30 from Dulles to Istanbul in busienss class for $4,400 on Qatar Airways via Doha. The nonstop (on Turkish) is $5,800.

I fly a lot for business class for work, but I know my meetings a few months in advance. I'm flying to India later this year for $4,100, and going to Asia for $4,000. I used to be able to fly to Asia for about $3,300 pre-Covid, but prices have gone up.

You just need to look around, plan, and be willing to have a connection.

Business class to Istanbul is $4k but first class is literally $14k. Op’s post is about first class, not business class. There is a major difference

[Anonymous]

I would never do first but business is well worth it for me on overnight flights (and we do premium economy in daytime flights.) what I don’t understand is choosing first over business!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get why people even do this – it’s like 10 hours of your life at most for a long flight. Is that worth $10,000?

I get spending a lot of money on a house where you spend the majority of your time, but first-class flights make no sense to me.

PP here who actually posted prices. I fly business class a lot, and I've never spent $10k or close to it. My next work trip to Asia came to about $4,500 and I'll be sitting in planes for a bit more than 20 hours. That's worth it productivity-wise to be able to work and rest well on the flights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get why people even do this – it’s like 10 hours of your life at most for a long flight. Is that worth $10,000?

I get spending a lot of money on a house where you spend the majority of your time, but first-class flights make no sense to me.

PP here who actually posted prices. I fly business class a lot, and I've never spent $10k or close to it. My next work trip to Asia came to about $4,500 and I'll be sitting in planes for a bit more than 20 hours. That's worth it productivity-wise to be able to work and rest well on the flights.

BUSINESS CLASS IS NOT FIRST CLASS. stop writing about business class, the post and question is about first class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get why people even do this – it’s like 10 hours of your life at most for a long flight. Is that worth $10,000?

I get spending a lot of money on a house where you spend the majority of your time, but first-class flights make no sense to me.

PP here who actually posted prices. I fly business class a lot, and I've never spent $10k or close to it. My next work trip to Asia came to about $4,500 and I'll be sitting in planes for a bit more than 20 hours. That's worth it productivity-wise to be able to work and rest well on the flights.

BUSINESS CLASS IS NOT FIRST CLASS. stop writing about business class, the post and question is about first class

OP probably meant business class, as international first class is rarely offered. US airlines phased out first class years ago. Turkish airlines (the only airline that flies direct to Istanbul from DC), used in OP's example, does not offer first class. Qatar Airways is phasing out first class. It's a dying breed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get why people even do this – it’s like 10 hours of your life at most for a long flight. Is that worth $10,000?

I get spending a lot of money on a house where you spend the majority of your time, but first-class flights make no sense to me.

PP here who actually posted prices. I fly business class a lot, and I've never spent $10k or close to it. My next work trip to Asia came to about $4,500 and I'll be sitting in planes for a bit more than 20 hours. That's worth it productivity-wise to be able to work and rest well on the flights.

BUSINESS CLASS IS NOT FIRST CLASS. stop writing about business class, the post and question is about first class

On international flight business is first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t get why people even do this – it’s like 10 hours of your life at most for a long flight. Is that worth $10,000?

I get spending a lot of money on a house where you spend the majority of your time, but first-class flights make no sense to me.

PP here who actually posted prices. I fly business class a lot, and I've never spent $10k or close to it. My next work trip to Asia came to about $4,500 and I'll be sitting in planes for a bit more than 20 hours. That's worth it productivity-wise to be able to work and rest well on the flights.

BUSINESS CLASS IS NOT FIRST CLASS. stop writing about business class, the post and question is about first class

On international flight business is first.

Depends on airline. This is sometimes true but not always. I can't remember if it was air france or air china, but one of them I was in business with fully horizontal reclining seat, 12" screen, large table to eat on, etc. First class a few seats up had like 50% wider seats, 50% larger tables, telescoping 14" screens that go wherever you want, etc. etc. Still a pathetic waste imo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH and I each come from generational wealth. We're very lucky.

Check your privilege.

She admitted her privilege. What more do you want?