Anonymous
Post 12/24/2024 13:26     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
Anonymous wrote:I’m considering business class to Rome this summer for my family of 6 (2 adults, 4 middle and high school age kids). We’ve flown plenty of times before but not usually so far. I’ve looked at the cost of business class and objectively it seems insane but we’ve accumulated a sizable net worth so it is subjectively less insane.

The question therefore becomes, how do people usually manage this? Just pay for the tickets outright. Buy economy tickets and upgrade? Direct flights or a layover?

Please educate me.


Rome this summer is going to be batshit insane, you know. People are being warned to stay away. Are you going for the jubilee?
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2024 13:24     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
We always fly business or first and pay outright. Every now and then will use some Amex points but otherwise cash.
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2024 13:22     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Buying economy tickets and upgrading using moleson overseas flights isn't a real possibility, unless you are very high level status- the type of person who flies 100k miles a year.

Most people are probably either:

1. High level elites who have a lot of miles or do the upgrade
2. Rich people
3. Slightly less rich people who buy economy and take a cash upgrade offer- usually cheaper than just buying the business class direct, but not always available.
4. People who use miles from credit cards and bonuses, and spend a good amount of time scoping out reasonably priced award tickets.



We are Global Services on United and I would never plan on getting upgraded in this situation (even domestic upgrades are getting scarcer). We buy our transatlantic tickets.


Yeah didn't add the details here, but this was assuming using PlusPoints or similar upgrade instrument.
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2024 13:13     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
Anonymous wrote:Buying economy tickets and upgrading using moleson overseas flights isn't a real possibility, unless you are very high level status- the type of person who flies 100k miles a year.

Most people are probably either:

1. High level elites who have a lot of miles or do the upgrade
2. Rich people
3. Slightly less rich people who buy economy and take a cash upgrade offer- usually cheaper than just buying the business class direct, but not always available.
4. People who use miles from credit cards and bonuses, and spend a good amount of time scoping out reasonably priced award tickets.



We are Global Services on United and I would never plan on getting upgraded in this situation (even domestic upgrades are getting scarcer). We buy our transatlantic tickets.
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2024 08:39     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
I would definitely put the kids in a lower class, and I can afford not to. Young bodies can handle the flight no problem.

Business and first class service perks are fine and nice and whatever but a terrible value. What we’re all paying for is our aching bones and struggling sleep management. Kids don’t need the seats and they will bounce back from the sleep. They’ll be fine in economy or economy plus. And they can write a college essay about the hardship or whatever.
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2024 08:32     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
OP consider Premium Economy. It’s a separate cabin on BA, Virgin and United and is like what business class used to be. Wider seats with more recline(but not lie flat), better food, higher luggage allowance, etc. We only do that now, although will do the last minute bus. class upgrades at the check in desk if they are under $1000.

We are reasonably HNW but I can’t justify $7-10k tickets. I don’t sleep that well even in business class, although I do really like the arrivals lounges.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2024 16:20     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Buying economy tickets and upgrading using moleson overseas flights isn't a real possibility, unless you are very high level status- the type of person who flies 100k miles a year.

Most people are probably either:

1. High level elites who have a lot of miles or do the upgrade
2. Rich people
3. Slightly less rich people who buy economy and take a cash upgrade offer- usually cheaper than just buying the business class direct, but not always available.
4. People who use miles from credit cards and bonuses, and spend a good amount of time scoping out reasonably priced award tickets.



I have lifetime status from many many years of this, plus current status from flying 100k+ miles. Even then, it's about 30% of the time my upgrades clear.


Yeah the airlines are getting much better about fully monetizing business class- I am not a frequent traveler by any means, but can't imagine it's worth chasing status much anymore.

https://viewfromthewing.com/airlines-gutted-first-class-upgrades-but-a-premium-seat-explosion-could-change-everything/


Status is good for other reasons, like lounge access, special check-in lines, and early boarding. I travel a lot for work, and these can be big time savers depending on the airport.


Yeah if traveling on someone else's dime, go for it. Not worth being loyal to an airline if they are more expensive/worse routing on a personal flight.

And at this point the single most valuable perk from status is priority in rebooking with delays, etc.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2024 16:04     Subject: Re:Business class to Rome this summer
Direct is most important.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2024 14:55     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
Europe really isn't that long a flight, especially the nonstops there. And if you have any ability to sleep even a little in economy, I've found that I prefer the upgrade on the way back going west so that I can actually enjoy the extra space and service. It is a longer flight and I can sleep fine in planes, no matter the cabin.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2024 14:44     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Buying economy tickets and upgrading using moleson overseas flights isn't a real possibility, unless you are very high level status- the type of person who flies 100k miles a year.

Most people are probably either:

1. High level elites who have a lot of miles or do the upgrade
2. Rich people
3. Slightly less rich people who buy economy and take a cash upgrade offer- usually cheaper than just buying the business class direct, but not always available.
4. People who use miles from credit cards and bonuses, and spend a good amount of time scoping out reasonably priced award tickets.



I have lifetime status from many many years of this, plus current status from flying 100k+ miles. Even then, it's about 30% of the time my upgrades clear.


Yeah the airlines are getting much better about fully monetizing business class- I am not a frequent traveler by any means, but can't imagine it's worth chasing status much anymore.

https://viewfromthewing.com/airlines-gutted-first-class-upgrades-but-a-premium-seat-explosion-could-change-everything/


Status is good for other reasons, like lounge access, special check-in lines, and early boarding. I travel a lot for work, and these can be big time savers depending on the airport.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2024 13:48     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Buying economy tickets and upgrading using moleson overseas flights isn't a real possibility, unless you are very high level status- the type of person who flies 100k miles a year.

Most people are probably either:

1. High level elites who have a lot of miles or do the upgrade
2. Rich people
3. Slightly less rich people who buy economy and take a cash upgrade offer- usually cheaper than just buying the business class direct, but not always available.
4. People who use miles from credit cards and bonuses, and spend a good amount of time scoping out reasonably priced award tickets.



I have lifetime status from many many years of this, plus current status from flying 100k+ miles. Even then, it's about 30% of the time my upgrades clear.


Yeah the airlines are getting much better about fully monetizing business class- I am not a frequent traveler by any means, but can't imagine it's worth chasing status much anymore.

https://viewfromthewing.com/airlines-gutted-first-class-upgrades-but-a-premium-seat-explosion-could-change-everything/
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2024 13:04     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why in the world would anyone do a connecting flight just to get Business class, instead of just taking a direct flight?

The only reason to mess around with connecting flights, when there are direct flights available, is if you are trying to fly as cheap as possible.
Connecting flights just increases the chance of something going wrong (delayed flight on your first leg and missing the second leg, luggage getting lost, etc.) I avoid them whenever possible. I've even traveled (by car or train) to Newark to get a direct flight instead of connecting flights out of DC.


Two reasons:

1. There is no direct flight so you'll have to connect regardless. Not true for DC-Rome, but true for DC to Venice, Berlin, Manchester.
2. You can guarantee getting a decent sleep (albeit not a full 8 hours) in busines class.


Well, if there are no direct flights, then of course that's a different story. But I said in my post "when direct flights are available."
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2024 12:54     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
Anonymous wrote:Turkish Airlines recently had an amazing sale. We are flying to Rome in BC for $2500 each. There is a 3 hour layover on the flight over but I heard their lounge is amazing.


Yeah the lounge is great. Added bonus is the flight to Istanbul is 9-10 hours so there's enough time to get a proper sleep.

We've flown that way a few times to get to Europe. Yes, you end up backtracking but business class on Turkish is really top notch, especially the food.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2024 12:51     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
Anonymous wrote:Why in the world would anyone do a connecting flight just to get Business class, instead of just taking a direct flight?

The only reason to mess around with connecting flights, when there are direct flights available, is if you are trying to fly as cheap as possible.
Connecting flights just increases the chance of something going wrong (delayed flight on your first leg and missing the second leg, luggage getting lost, etc.) I avoid them whenever possible. I've even traveled (by car or train) to Newark to get a direct flight instead of connecting flights out of DC.


Two reasons:

1. There is no direct flight so you'll have to connect regardless. Not true for DC-Rome, but true for DC to Venice, Berlin, Manchester.
2. You can guarantee getting a decent sleep (albeit not a full 8 hours) in busines class.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2024 12:29     Subject: Business class to Rome this summer
Anonymous wrote:I got upgraded to Business class to Germany once (work travel points) and meh? It's not bad but I don't think it's worth the price at all.


This. I'm the PP with many years and miles of travel, almost all of it in first and business thanks to work. I fly economy plus on my dime because I don't think it's worth it unless I'm flying to Asia, Middle East, or Australia. Definitely not to Europe, that's a fairly short flight (for me). Never domestically unless it's an upgrade. That's definitely not worth it.