Anonymous
Post 07/23/2025 16:55     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:Having recently flown first class domestically and business class to Asia, I'm here to say that first class on a domestic flight is not worth any added cost. However, business class to Asia is so worth it. I'd spend that money again without any reservations.


Sure it's worth it. It's 2-2 not 3-3 and much larger seats. You are not packed in like sardines and if you are traveling with someone you are not truck sitting packed like sardines with a stranger.

When my spouse reminds me "that first domestic might not be worth it" I remind them "well fine then next time I will take the aisle and you can take the middle seat". And then we end up in first class because they don't want to sit in the middle
Anonymous
Post 07/23/2025 14:10     Subject: People who pay for business class
Having recently flown first class domestically and business class to Asia, I'm here to say that first class on a domestic flight is not worth any added cost. However, business class to Asia is so worth it. I'd spend that money again without any reservations.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2025 19:11     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is your HHI?
What is your net worth?

I am specifically looking for people who pay and not use points that they accrues from credit cards or work travel.


For those of us who upgrade, usually the choice is entirely independent of HHI and independent of net worth. I have been doing it since I was 25 and underpaid - in the civil service - no inherited wealth.


You might regret that when you are 65 and cannot afford to pay your bills and need long term care at $10K+/month.



Not PP, but I’d rather die early than pay for long term care at $10k+/month. That’s why I’m enjoying life now.



The thing is, you don’t get to decide. We don’t put humans to sleep when they get expensive. I keep telling my elderly mother this and she is in total denial.


Yup! I bet the PP figures they will be happy in a medicaid facility when they run out of money (oh, but those won't exist anymore...)
THere's a difference between saying "I need 10M to get me thru until I die" and planning to have a $500-750K for LTC for each spouse
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2025 19:09     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:Points? No. Frequent upgrades from prime economy seats to business/first because of elite status? Sure.


The upgrades don't happen anymore on United or Delta. used to but not anymore. I've flown to Europe with empty business class seats (3 times so far this year) and I can assure you there has to be someone who has elite status back in premium economy/comfort + that would have taken the upgrade if offered.

Anonymous
Post 07/22/2025 19:07     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:1.2m hhi, At our income you would think we would be flying first class or private but we are frugal and only book business class in cash. Points don't work anymore as everyone is paying for business class or higher and planes are always full and over sold.


Couple things- yes you can get business class using points still, but its not easy and definitely can be time consuming to figure out how to do it well. But "points don't work anymore" is simply wrong.

Second, most airlines now only have business class for international flights, so it's not being "frugal" to book the most expensive cabin on the plane. We are flying Air France business (on points) shortly, and their new A350 to Paris doesn't have first class at all. They are phasing it out of most of their fleet except for a subfleet of 777-300s. No US carrier has international first class anymore, and even premium airlines like Qatar have mostly phased it out in favor of really nice business class.


I have flown to Europe 4 times this year and all times i couldn't use my Lufthansa points status or even United to upgrade. I tried to do it on United and was rejected and I should have paid. You might be able to use points to book business but you will have a hard time getting upgrades with points or status anymore


It's been 5-7+ years since getting upgraded on United or Delta was possible for international, and not much better for domestic (and we were Global Services United and same on Delta, then downgraded to Platinum after first year). It's just not offered much---go ahead and try to use a Global Upgrade certificate on a route that is well flown---even if you buy 11 months ahead and there are seats, they won't let you. If you want business you need to pay with points or cash when you book.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2025 18:03     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is your HHI?
What is your net worth?

I am specifically looking for people who pay and not use points that they accrues from credit cards or work travel.


For those of us who upgrade, usually the choice is entirely independent of HHI and independent of net worth. I have been doing it since I was 25 and underpaid - in the civil service - no inherited wealth.


You might regret that when you are 65 and cannot afford to pay your bills and need long term care at $10K+/month.



Not PP, but I’d rather die early than pay for long term care at $10k+/month. That’s why I’m enjoying life now.





The thing is, you don’t get to decide. We don’t put humans to sleep when they get expensive. I keep telling my elderly mother this and she is in total denial.


Assuming you aren't stuck in a hospital, you do get to decide.
Anonymous
Post 07/22/2025 17:28     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What is your HHI?
What is your net worth?

I am specifically looking for people who pay and not use points that they accrues from credit cards or work travel.


For those of us who upgrade, usually the choice is entirely independent of HHI and independent of net worth. I have been doing it since I was 25 and underpaid - in the civil service - no inherited wealth.


You might regret that when you are 65 and cannot afford to pay your bills and need long term care at $10K+/month.



Not PP, but I’d rather die early than pay for long term care at $10k+/month. That’s why I’m enjoying life now.



The thing is, you don’t get to decide. We don’t put humans to sleep when they get expensive. I keep telling my elderly mother this and she is in total denial.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2025 23:03     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:1.2m hhi, At our income you would think we would be flying first class or private but we are frugal and only book business class in cash. Points don't work anymore as everyone is paying for business class or higher and planes are always full and over sold.


Couple things- yes you can get business class using points still, but its not easy and definitely can be time consuming to figure out how to do it well. But "points don't work anymore" is simply wrong.

Second, most airlines now only have business class for international flights, so it's not being "frugal" to book the most expensive cabin on the plane. We are flying Air France business (on points) shortly, and their new A350 to Paris doesn't have first class at all. They are phasing it out of most of their fleet except for a subfleet of 777-300s. No US carrier has international first class anymore, and even premium airlines like Qatar have mostly phased it out in favor of really nice business class.


I have flown to Europe 4 times this year and all times i couldn't use my Lufthansa points status or even United to upgrade. I tried to do it on United and was rejected and I should have paid. You might be able to use points to book business but you will have a hard time getting upgrades with points or status anymore


United is usually a pay or points plus $ to upgrade now. Points only seem to work for buying the original ticket. The points plus $ is a good deal to Europe - it's been $425 plus 20k points when I've done it this year. United points have become kind of useless so I don't mind burning points to upgrade.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2025 18:27     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:1.2m hhi, At our income you would think we would be flying first class or private but we are frugal and only book business class in cash. Points don't work anymore as everyone is paying for business class or higher and planes are always full and over sold.


1.2M HHI isn’t flying private $ unless you’re taking a Cessna you fly yourself


exactly its not that wealthy its really upper middle class lifestyle of the 80s


Yeah flying private you really start over at the bottom. Even though you’re paying way more than first class tickets you’re on a tiny plane with maybe a bag of suspiciously warm Fritos and on your way there, you have to walk past the gulfstreams in the new “first class.”
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2025 18:18     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Retirement net worth 5 million. AGI around 350k. We pay business class for a family of 3. Worth every penny for flights longer than 5 hours.


Interesting. We have higher income and NW and have never paid for business class on personal travel.


You figured out how to take it with you then! Let the rest of us know your secret please.


DP

Who says I want to take it with me? My responsibility is to future generations, not to spending down my income. What a strange way to think - we have different values for sure.


Yes, we have different values. You think it is OK to be a sanctimonious douche to a stranger on the internet and I think it is OK to be a sanctimonious douche to people like you.

Meaning, you totally missed the point.

/DP
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2025 17:39     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:1.2m hhi, At our income you would think we would be flying first class or private but we are frugal and only book business class in cash. Points don't work anymore as everyone is paying for business class or higher and planes are always full and over sold.


Couple things- yes you can get business class using points still, but its not easy and definitely can be time consuming to figure out how to do it well. But "points don't work anymore" is simply wrong.

Second, most airlines now only have business class for international flights, so it's not being "frugal" to book the most expensive cabin on the plane. We are flying Air France business (on points) shortly, and their new A350 to Paris doesn't have first class at all. They are phasing it out of most of their fleet except for a subfleet of 777-300s. No US carrier has international first class anymore, and even premium airlines like Qatar have mostly phased it out in favor of really nice business class.


I have flown to Europe 4 times this year and all times i couldn't use my Lufthansa points status or even United to upgrade. I tried to do it on United and was rejected and I should have paid. You might be able to use points to book business but you will have a hard time getting upgrades with points or status anymore


Yes the only way to play now for business class is to book business awards directly. That's why it's hard- tough to find good redemptions, have to check consistently and be ready to book.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2025 17:24     Subject: People who pay for business class
Points? No. Frequent upgrades from prime economy seats to business/first because of elite status? Sure.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2025 17:20     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:1.2m hhi, At our income you would think we would be flying first class or private but we are frugal and only book business class in cash. Points don't work anymore as everyone is paying for business class or higher and planes are always full and over sold.


Couple things- yes you can get business class using points still, but its not easy and definitely can be time consuming to figure out how to do it well. But "points don't work anymore" is simply wrong.

Second, most airlines now only have business class for international flights, so it's not being "frugal" to book the most expensive cabin on the plane. We are flying Air France business (on points) shortly, and their new A350 to Paris doesn't have first class at all. They are phasing it out of most of their fleet except for a subfleet of 777-300s. No US carrier has international first class anymore, and even premium airlines like Qatar have mostly phased it out in favor of really nice business class.


I have flown to Europe 4 times this year and all times i couldn't use my Lufthansa points status or even United to upgrade. I tried to do it on United and was rejected and I should have paid. You might be able to use points to book business but you will have a hard time getting upgrades with points or status anymore
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2025 17:18     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:1.2m hhi, At our income you would think we would be flying first class or private but we are frugal and only book business class in cash. Points don't work anymore as everyone is paying for business class or higher and planes are always full and over sold.


1.2M HHI isn’t flying private $ unless you’re taking a Cessna you fly yourself


exactly its not that wealthy its really upper middle class lifestyle of the 80s
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2025 17:01     Subject: Re:People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:We are retired and almost always travel business or first class. We have a very high net worth and while we are pretty thrifty on most things being comfortable in a plane is now a high priority. Yes, it is a big premium but we search for the best fares. When you reach age 65 and your children and grandchildren are well provided for you begin to spoil yourself.


Well done. I will never be near the wealth you guys have achieved, but if we're I would do exactly and you guys. I'm sure you have had a challenging career and now you deserve to spoil yourself. Enjoy your retirement.