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

[Anonymous]

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

I’m a NP but I’m not sure I could survive this flight in economy lol.

[Anonymous]

The bigger issue for most people seems to be the time change. It's a big reason why I prefer travel to latin America. It takes me almost a week to feel normal. If you are young and healthy, maybe it's more manageable.

[Anonymous]

I have flown to asia multiple times on business class on points. Would not pay cash 6k for a flight. The OP is really rich with 5 M in savings. If I were that rich, would look into online mileage brokers that book biz and first class for you on points. You will pay a lot less than 6k for the same seat. The teens need to stay in economy.

[Anonymous]

We just did this in December, but we stopped over in Tokyo for a few days on the way there and Osaka on the way back, all flying in economy with 4 kids, including 2 very tall teenagers in economy. And, to make it even more fun, DS1 started getting very sick on our flight to Tokyo and was sick much of the flight.

We all survived and would do it again (not the getting sick part). I don't think $6K per ticket is going to be worth it. Stop on the way there and spend some of that money seeing a second destination instead to break things up.

FWIW, It was much cheaper to book tickets to Tokyo (we flew American) and then fly on an Asian airline to Bangkok. Flights within Asia are generally pretty inexpensive, including business class.

[Anonymous]

A few years ago we did New Zealand with young teens and economy. I am frugal generally, and I just could not mentally spend the kind of money needed for upgrades for us. The flight was really just fine shockingly. Dc to San Francisco then New Zealand. There was not much sleep at all for me and 1 son, but we recovered fairly easily. I would do it again

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t splurge for business at 3x more. I make the trip longer by a couple of days so we have adequate time to rest when we get there.
None of us sleep on flights. It’s hard but you’ll recover z

[Anonymous]

I have done trans-Pacific a few times in Economy Plus, starting as a college student. I do not recommend it. Sleep was virtually impossible for me. By time we landed, I was wiped out and tired. It took 2 days to recover.

Later, I found out my back actually had been injured (due partly to a previously hidden / unknown back problem) on the return flight.

These days I either fly trans-Pacific in business or I don't take that trip.

YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Is there anything like economy + or can you pay to get exit row seats? My DS is 6’4”. He literally doesn’t fit in some economy seats.

[Anonymous]

Look into flights on either EVA Airlines or StarLux originating at JFK/EWR with a plane change at TPE. Or on Air Canada via YYZ and TPE.

EVA has very transparent pricing and business can be cheap (visibly lower than $6k) if one buys far enough out. The AC flights via TPE are operated by EVA.

[Anonymous]

I have never flown business class and have traveled the world. Sure, I look with a little envy at the bigger seats but I get there just fine. Including trips that are 20 hours of travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there anything like economy + or can you pay to get exit row seats? My DS is 6’4”. He literally doesn’t fit in some economy seats.

United and Delta have sort of 4 cabins:

Regular Economy
Economy Plus/Comfort Plus
Premium Economy
Business

Only business has flat beds. The 3 others vary in leg room and recline and cost.

[Anonymous]

I've done it many times. Hopefully you are spending at least 3 weeks there? Week 1 is terrible, terrible jet lag.

I stop before continuing on. So I do some jetlag recovery in Tokyo (which is a city I know very well so don't need a fast-paced schedule).

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe you just listed out your equity and brokerage and retirement holdings to ask about airplane tickets.

[Anonymous]

I did it when my kids were like 10 and 12. It was fine. That said, if I were sitting pretty with $5 million in my retirement account, I would upgrade for the two adults. Teenagers will be fine in economy.

[Anonymous]

I would take Cathay to Hong Kong, spend a couple of nights and then hop a Thai airline flight