Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 11:45     Subject: People who pay for business class
My parents are late 70s and only recently started travelling business class. It was that or never fly again. They only take about two trips that require flying per year. Net worth is tens of millions--so even when they could well afford it, they still flew economy until the last couple of years.
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 11:41     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:Why do people with money get off on being so cheap? Flying sucks. I have a high HHI and fly business alll the time.. I mean, I guess I could hoard it, but I'd rather spend my money on being comfortable. Spent too many years poor and miserable. Oh wait...here come uthe inevitable " you won't stay wealthy spending money on frivolities like flying."

Fine then. In the meantime, enjoying the legroom


It's all about choices of what to spend on. I'd rather drive a 7 yo car and travel business than have a new one every 3 years.
So it really matters if you have prepared for retirement/college for all kids/house paid off/etc. Once you are set for "retirement and college" you get to choose how to spend.
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 11:39     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most people are using points aren’t they?


This


Not us, we pay the full fare.

I'm not sure how anyone knows the percentages of passengers who pay personally in cash, who use points, who are upgraded due to status with the airline as very frequent flyers, or whose tickets are purchased by someone else like an employer, a conference host, etc.


this !! Been to Europe 3 times in business class in last 4 months. Half of business class is 60+ and I suspect paying full fare. We do and are only 50s. can't take the $$ with you, might as well enjoy while you can.
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 11:37     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most people are using points aren’t they?


Correct, not OP, but I like the topic of who the heck is actually paying full retail? I think that distinction needs to be made vs. points/upgrades etc.


Plenty of us. We started paying 99% of the time once we hit $20M+ NW, college was fully funded and retirement was set and mortgages were paid off.
For us, it makes sense


Thanks for actually answering the question!
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 11:37     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most people are using points aren’t they?


Correct, not OP, but I like the topic of who the heck is actually paying full retail? I think that distinction needs to be made vs. points/upgrades etc.


I am paying full retail x4. Flying to Europe in the summer is a zoo. Business class gets us into the club and allows us to really sleep overnight. The whole experience starts the vacation from IAD. Yes, it's a privilege and a splurge, etc. but at over $10M NW and in our mid-50s, now is the time.


+1

We are 9-10 hours to Europe and nothing better than getting 5-6 hours of good sleep and arriving refreshed to start the trip. You get to hit the ground running and enjoy immediately.
If you can afford it, why not?
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 11:35     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most people are using points aren’t they?


Correct, not OP, but I like the topic of who the heck is actually paying full retail? I think that distinction needs to be made vs. points/upgrades etc.


Plenty of us. We started paying 99% of the time once we hit $20M+ NW, college was fully funded and retirement was set and mortgages were paid off.
For us, it makes sense
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 11:25     Subject: People who pay for business class
Paying for biz to Europe or continental US isn't worth it.
6, 7, 8, 9 hour flights are easy. It's really when you push the 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 hour threshold on longhaul flights that it is worth it. Sitting in economy from NYC to Singapore on a direct flight it utter torture.
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 11:20     Subject: People who pay for business class
We are wealthy (20M) but I still need to haggle with DH over paying for direct economy flights to Europe and Asia instead of doing the discount tour in a sardine can with stops. We started out quite poor, and apparently he can't figure out that a direct economy plus seat for the whole family is very much within our means!!!

I don't think I could ever get him to pay for business, OP. And forget about first, that doesn't exist in his mind

Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 11:20     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:$290k HHI.

We paid $1200 extra each for a biz class upgrade. It was to Asia on 15+ hour flights. Entirely worth it to not be tortured. We use miles. We go out of our way to purchase everything on our airline credit card. And go out to restaurants only when they have bonus miles being offered. Of course we pay off the credit card every month. It takes discipline.


Sorry, this was also for round trip upgrades for the both of us.
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 11:19     Subject: People who pay for business class
$290k HHI.

We paid $1200 extra each for a biz class upgrade. It was to Asia on 15+ hour flights. Entirely worth it to not be tortured. We use miles. We go out of our way to purchase everything on our airline credit card. And go out to restaurants only when they have bonus miles being offered. Of course we pay off the credit card every month. It takes discipline.
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 11:14     Subject: People who pay for business class
Anonymous wrote:I'll give you the inverse. HHH is about 1.5 and I would never pay for business out of pocket. Points for a long international trip but cash? No way. I can put up with anything for five hours. Also I routinely travel with my three small children. Obviously I'm not paying for five business class tickets and when I'm not with them I could sit in the middle seat in the back row and it would feel like first class on Emirates.

To each their own though, I spend money on stupid shit that I'm sure confuses a lot of people.


This 1000%. everyone gets to choose how to "spend their money". At $1.5M HHI, I would spend on business if just the two adults, but no way for the kids. We are at $25M+ and our 20 something kids get priority select/comfort plus most of the time we pay, if business is only a bit more we might splurge for them.
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 11:12     Subject: People who pay for business class
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.


We started paying when our net worth hit $25M+. Before that, we only paid if it was "worth it". And now, we fly whichever major airline has the best times and prices, since loyalty doesn't matter much if you are flying business (but we dont' fly budget airlines)
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 10:31     Subject: People who pay for business class
It’s just priorities. Like another PP, I can put up with anything for some hours. We fly coach unless we can make it work with points. But DH and I will also spend a ton of money on restaurants. I’m sure some on this thread don’t do that but fly business.
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 10:28     Subject: People who pay for business class
HHI $350k and NW around $3-4M. I keep a slush fund of money I earned from side hustles (consulting gigs) and use this, plus interest from a small inheritance. With status I can some times do it for $500 plus miles (I travel a ton for work) but I will pay up to $2000ish out of pocket to upgrade myself on long-haul overnight trips (my work only allows reimbursement of economy fares). It's my one big indulgence in life.
Anonymous
Post 07/20/2025 10:24     Subject: People who pay for business class
DH and I have enough miles from work that we can often upgrade with them or buy business class mileage tickets. We only do this for international...though due to status I usually get upgraded to economy plus domestically.

I recently paid cash for business class for a milestone trip. And for other international travel, I will generally buy premium economy nowadays.

HHI ~$1-1.5M depending on bonuses. NW ~$3M excluding home equity and 529s.