Travel Forum / Travel Types / Air Travel / April 2005

It depends on the value you place on things. How would you answer the
question: Can someone please tell me why there is such a huge difference
in price between a ten year old Nissan and a new BMW? The seats look
more comfortable and I suppose it drives a little better, but not to the
extent of thousands of dollars.

There was quite a detailed discussion of this very subject on
rec.travel.air recently.  I'm sure someone will remember things I have not
but a quick summary:

In business class you get wider seats which generally recline more
(sometimes to a flat bed), more legroom, more comfortable seats, more
amenities, use of lounges and other business class facilities during
transit, more cabin crew per passenger, nicer meals, better entertainment,
priority check in, more hand and checked baggage, more FF miles, no
queueing, and so on.

I've flown business class longhaul and I'll tell you
- when I can afford it this *is* the way I'm going.  The difference is
outstanding.  Even in premium economy - which is normally 200+ more round
trip - there's a big difference.

If you can afford it, then go business.  There are good business class
specials at various times of year - I know Lufthansa have some great ones
for the summer time just now.  Or split the difference and fly business
oneway and economy the other.

If you can't afford business class, then pick an airline where you already
get more legroom and premium service in economy.  Emirates, Singapore,
Cathay, Thai all spring to mind as excellent in economy.  Avoid BA/Qantas
as their service/legroom combination is not as good.

Hilary

Because they can....

Interestingly, if you look at business class prices on the more touristy /
less businessy routes the difference is significantly lower.

Partly because those that use it can afford to pay those prices. But like
economy there are those like me who don't pay the full price. There are
discount business class fares the same as most people do not pay the full
economy class fare.

I agree with the comments Hilary made. I fly to the west coast of the States
quite frequently. Whenever possible I either buy a discounted business ticket
or buy a full price economy ticket and upgrade it with air miles. The reasons,
the much better food, the vastly more comfortable seat, especially on a flight
lasting 11 hours. The fact the service on board is so much better, little
things like water always being refreshed, snacks in the galley to go and help
yourself. The quality of the food and wine is so much better. A lounge with
refreshments on a stopover, or before a flight. No-one bats an eyelid if I
turn up with over weight baggage. Things like, and I know it doesn't have any
monetary value, Cheyenne a purser on United coming around and greeting you by
name at the start of the flight and then at the end thanking you in person for
flying with the airline. But perhaps just the fact the flight is enjoyable and
not a feat of endurance. Why do people stay in 5* hotels instead of a B&B ,
they can afford to, or their employer can afford for them to. 11hours in a
metal tube is bad enough, business class makes it so much more tolerable, and
1st class even more so.

Is it worth the difference in cost, I guess in truth not really, why do the
airlines charge that much extra because one way or another people will pay
that much more for the comfort. Personally I consider myself very fortunate to
be able to do so.
-  
Lansbury
www.uk-air.net
FAQs for the alt.travel.uk.air newsgroup

I do London-Cape Town for work, flight gets in around 08:00, I am
expected to go to the hotel, change and go in and do a days work. Not
reasonable if you have sat in the back of the plane for 12 hours, bit
more reasonable if you have had a reasonably comfortable flight on a BA
flat bed.