flying economy to thailand, with teens, how was it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking into a winter trip to thailand. Looks like aorund 24 hours of travel. While I have flown to asia a handful of times, its always been business/for work purposes. I am trying to figure out whether to buy b class tickets or not, we are in our 50s with teens. Regular tix cost about 1700 and bclass around 6k each. We are generally moderate budget travelers (and spouse is fnaturally rugal, so sometimes I dont tell him, for example, that i spent 350$ each on hamilton tix!!! but that's a splurge for us, not 6k plane tickets).

I used up a ton of miles last year for a trip to europe, so would have to do cash upgrade if we tried that route.

Financially, we could do it, but as a blue moon type of thing, not regularly. If its helpful, our HHI this year will be around 370k, and we have around 4.5m in 401k/brokerage (excluding college, fully funded), 650k in equity but 650k in mortgage, and plan to retire in about 5 years, will also have a moderate pension.

If you did a 20 plus hour flight in economy (we are looking at Air Emirates), how was it?

It blew chunks of dead chicken through a straw. But most long flights do in economy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here, flying at Xmas so the most expensive time, of course. Wondering if we could find a layover that would allow us a real break too.

12/22-1/5 is $5500 via Tokyo on ANA. Great service.

Or if you don't mind heading to Newark, it's coming in at $5241 via Tokyo. Both are only a one stop in Tokyo.

[Anonymous]

As someone who has never flown business...it's a seat. It gets you there. I do not need a day to recover (57 and petite). True I do not know what I might be missing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who has never flown business...it's a seat. It gets you there. I do not need a day to recover (57 and petite). True I do not know what I might be missing.

I promise the seats feel very different if you’re tall and at all broad shouldered. No clue what OP’s teens or husband are like but I’ll never fly to Asia again in economy.

[Anonymous]

6k per person on Emirates business is a good deal I would buy it asap

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:do stopovers really ease the pain? ofc if you want to see the place fine but I feel like it is better to just get where you are going and start trying to adjust. For bangkok I think from DC you have to decide if you land in bangkok in evening and try to go to bed or early morning. Counterintuitively I like the early morning arrival as it helps you get on time zone more.

I don't think stopovers help. You end up spending more time in airports and security lines, plus packing and unpacking. No thanks. Just get me there ASAP.

We did a stopover in Doha and the first flight from DC you ate a meal, watched a movie or two, slept, had breakfast and you were there. Then we walked a bunch in the airport to stretch out legs. On the next flight we had another meal, slept and woke up to breakfast with a movie. Then we were there. It wasn't that bad. With the morning arrival make sure you can get into a hotel room to shower, change and repack your day bag.

I recommend the Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai in Bangkok. It's right on the metro line so super easy to get to from the airport. And it has several amazing swimming pools that feel even more amazing after a long flight.

[Anonymous]

Flying to Thailand is two stops over 23-30 hours of flying unless you are a poor person you should take business class it's also better for your health

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:do stopovers really ease the pain? ofc if you want to see the place fine but I feel like it is better to just get where you are going and start trying to adjust. For bangkok I think from DC you have to decide if you land in bangkok in evening and try to go to bed or early morning. Counterintuitively I like the early morning arrival as it helps you get on time zone more.

I don't think stopovers help. You end up spending more time in airports and security lines, plus packing and unpacking. No thanks. Just get me there ASAP.

We did a stopover in Doha and the first flight from DC you ate a meal, watched a movie or two, slept, had breakfast and you were there. Then we walked a bunch in the airport to stretch out legs. On the next flight we had another meal, slept and woke up to breakfast with a movie. Then we were there. It wasn't that bad. With the morning arrival make sure you can get into a hotel room to shower, change and repack your day bag.

I recommend the Eastin Grand Hotel Phayathai in Bangkok. It's right on the metro line so super easy to get to from the airport. And it has several amazing swimming pools that feel even more amazing after a long flight.

Sorry, that should say layover in Doha. We didnt spend the night, but just a few hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flying to Thailand is two stops over 23-30 hours of flying unless you are a poor person you should take business class it's also better for your health

It can be one stop.

[Anonymous]

Sounds horrid. The teens fly economy. Adults fly business class. What is so special about Vietnam that flying 24 hours makes it worth it? Are you staying a month?

[Anonymous]

We only do business class for international

[Anonymous]

I think with emirates there is no extra cost to do a long layover in Dubai.

Personally, I no longer like flying such long distances in economy...but as a kid we traveled economy overseas all the time. Id base it on your comfort, not your kids'.

[Anonymous]

Just do the math - what is an hour worth to you? $50? $100?

Life is short - everyone has their price to either enjoy the experience or tolerate it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have teens, they will survive in economy class. Is this a real question?

+1 we recently did an Asian trip with much younger kids. I guess I don't see what the big deal is? I went as a kid lots of times. Screens, books, sleep, food. Teens don't even get aches and pains like adults from sleeping in weird positions.

Obviously if you have $$$ then upgrading is nicer for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Flying to Thailand is two stops over 23-30 hours of flying unless you are a poor person you should take business class it's also better for your health

Why is it 2 stops? It's not that exotic and there are 1-stop options. People in this thread are acting like it's the moon. 30 hours??

Yes I have been.