Who can afford First Class prices?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:US to Europe business is typically $3k to $5k depending on the route and time of the year. The expensive first class tickets are to the Middle East, Japan, and Oceania.

IAD to EDI next month is $12,000, United Polaris nonstop. A couple months ago it was $9,000.

Because there is only one flight and no competition and you are pricing this out so close to travel date.

It's currently $4170 next month in Business on JetBlue connecting in BOS or JFK, from IAD.

Yup, OP said "major US East Coast city to major Euro city". Edinburgh is a nice place, but as airports go not a major city.

And the PP pooh-poohing JetBlue doesn't know anything about their lie flat product, which is excellent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This seems like an odd thing to “budget” for. Either you can easily afford it or you can’t.

I imagine when people mean budget they just mean they plan to save/invest less those months.

[Anonymous]

We use points and the seats often go on sale

[Anonymous]

We buy economy plus seats (usually around $2000) and then do the cash upgrade or the points plus cash upgrade. For London that is typically $400-800 pp. Have gotten the upgrade both ways on 4 trips this year plus one random actual upgrade that we didn't pay for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:US to Europe business is typically $3k to $5k depending on the route and time of the year. The expensive first class tickets are to the Middle East, Japan, and Oceania.

IAD to EDI next month is $12,000, United Polaris nonstop. A couple months ago it was $9,000.

Because there is only one flight and no competition and you are pricing this out so close to travel date.

It's currently $4170 next month in Business on JetBlue connecting in BOS or JFK, from IAD.

Yup, OP said "major US East Coast city to major Euro city". Edinburgh is a nice place, but as airports go not a major city.

And the PP pooh-poohing JetBlue doesn't know anything about their lie flat product, which is excellent.

Also United runs this on a 757, that's not a "real Polaris" seat. It's a 2-2 configuration.

[Anonymous]

I didn't know jet blue had lay flat seats - I'll check it out.

[Anonymous]

We use credit card points and transfer them out of the portal. For the four of us to Europe next summer cost us $550 per person and 150k Amex points/person round trip.

[Anonymous]

That’s for business class FYI

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know jet blue had lay flat seats - I'll check it out.

JetBlue mint is an outstanding product, especially if you snag a throne seat.

[Anonymous]

We are flying to Europe in Polaris for $7500 each this fall. It’s a special trip for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This seems like an odd thing to “budget” for. Either you can easily afford it or you can’t.

By budget for I mean we accept as part of the cost of travel. We do a lot of 3-4 trips to Europe as a couple. So it isn’t a nice or twice a year expense. We didn’t 10 round trips to Europe last year. DH did a total of 14.

He is 6’4 240 lbs, he will only fly in business or first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We use credit card points and transfer them out of the portal. For the four of us to Europe next summer cost us $550 per person and 150k Amex points/person round trip.

600k Amex points is still a lot of Amex points. That’s 200-300k of spending or several credit cards worth of sit up bonuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We use credit card points and transfer them out of the portal. For the four of us to Europe next summer cost us $550 per person and 150k Amex points/person round trip.

600k Amex points is still a lot of Amex points. That’s 200-300k of spending or several credit cards worth of sit up bonuses.

Different PP here, yeah that's why we play the sign up bonus points game, to be able to do similar trips to that one. One we save some points (and cash) is by booking economy on the return daytime flight. Business less necessary during the day, we are just watching movies and shows. Get it down to say 110k points/person and $400 in fees/taxes.

[Anonymous]

600,000 points is for peak travel to Europe on business. You’re never gonna get a great redemption then. But if each of us get one or two credit cards per year, the sign up bonuses cover it. We also put absolutely everything on credit card (estimated taxes, tuition, etc), so we accrue a lot of points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:600,000 points is for peak travel to Europe on business. You’re never gonna get a great redemption then. But if each of us get one or two credit cards per year, the sign up bonuses cover it. We also put absolutely everything on credit card (estimated taxes, tuition, etc), so we accrue a lot of points.

PP said that was for 4 people, 150k/person roundtrip both directions in business is a pretty solid redemption to Europe, especially in summer- that's 75k each way.

We paid 90k/person for one way business to Europe last summer and were happy with that considering the other options (120-200k).