Business class for travel

[achaius27]

Why choose business class flights to Europe over economy class? What advantages make the upgrade worth it for travelers?

[LimaDelta]

I mostly travel BA or AF/KLM within Europe. Benefits include; fast-track check in, security and boarding, lounge access, no fighting for overhead storage bins, empty seat next to you (depending on cabin configuration/aircraft type) - this was a big selling point during covid, complimentary drinks, decent (well, better than economy) on-board food, fast-track customer service desk, better standard of overnight accommodation in case of cancellation.

[shirt]

Obvious Bot is obvious

[mikey_b]

Business class also exits first from the plane. Now you may be unlucky and get to the immigration hall 10 minutes after a 777 has unloaded into it, but more usually, being first out the plane means a much shorter queue to get your passport stamped, and then out to a still-full taxi rank. At a smaller airport you can be sitting in a cab within 20 minutes of touchdown. I think my record is 15, at Edinburgh a while back.

[LimaDelta]

mikey_b said:

Business class also exits first from the plane. Now you may be unlucky and get to the immigration hall 10 minutes after a 777 has unloaded into it, but more usually, being first out the plane means a much shorter queue to get your passport stamped, and then out to a still-full taxi rank. At a smaller airport you can be sitting in a cab within 20 minutes of touchdown. I think my record is 15, at Edinburgh a while back.

Sadly, I travel with a check-in bag. The luggage carousel is the great equaliser.

[psi310398]

LimaDelta said:

mikey_b said:

Business class also exits first from the plane. Now you may be unlucky and get to the immigration hall 10 minutes after a 777 has unloaded into it, but more usually, being first out the plane means a much shorter queue to get your passport stamped, and then out to a still-full taxi rank. At a smaller airport you can be sitting in a cab within 20 minutes of touchdown. I think my record is 15, at Edinburgh a while back.

Sadly, I travel with a check-in bag. The luggage carousel is the great equaliser.

As is the transit bus to and from the tarmac to the actual airport at some third world airports - I’m looking at you Heathrow and Malpensa.

[Kateg28]

We always book Bus Class down to Naples but do it in the sales and then the increased fare is not too much and becomes worth it for the extras (lounge, fast track etc) however this trip was RyanAir due to flight times and booking outside of sales. Not looking forward to flight home this evening.

[Steve Campbell]

I wouldn't as it's generally not worth it pound for pound (unless you get a great deal / sale)...however this is from someone who already has a BA silver card which allows seat choice, fast pass and lounge access...so all I get is a bit more elbow room and a crap in flight meal on short haul.

However, I have booked it for a summer holiday to Greece simply because it tips me over the points to maintain my silver card for another 18 months....so in that case it's worth it for the seat choice, fast pass and lounge access for multiple future flights.

First off the plane.....only valuable if you are going to an airport with crap security and long queues.......but then it's only likely to save you 10 or 15 minutes anyway.

[Griffith4ever]

shirt said:

Obvious Bot is obvious

Indeed. I did grin. Though "wind up", not bot is what I assume. Seeing that there are often arguments on here about the perceived benefit of short haul business (let alone long haul)

[shirt]

It’s too random a question for a single post account. I do think some bot aims are to assess opinions and views to be used elsewhere.

Which is a shame as like most phers I love an opportunity to say I fly business

[Timberwolf]

shirt said:

Obvious Bot is obvious

I like the ability to ride my own giraffe to and from the aircraft rather than have to sit on the bus with all the economy passengers. Getting fast-track access to the Mysterious Cube is also a boon at airports which have it.

I think the biggest advantage for travellers is not having to get out half way through the journey and complete the trip on Space Hopper, which can be especially tedious if it's raining or your flight route is mostly over ocean.

[Tim330]

shirt said:

It’s too random a question for a single post account. I do think some bot aims are to assess opinions and views to be used elsewhere.

Which is a shame as like most phers I love an opportunity to say I fly business

I only fly business, short haul included. Important to get a window over aisle seat in case an economy traveller touches you on the way to the back and gives you some lurgy.

[PF62]

LimaDelta said:

I mostly travel BA or AF/KLM within Europe. Benefits include; fast-track check in,

I flew back on Wednesday on BA from Tenerife. There were four check-in desks open, three for Business Class and priority status passengers, and one for everyone else.

Despite the fact that the 'everyone else' queue was three times as long as the three individual queues for the Business Class check-in desks (no idea why they had three separate queues and not one queue to the three desks), but the people in the Business Class queue were getting really huffy that the 'everyone else' queue was moving far faster than their three queues, and that most of the 'everyone else' had been checked in long before all the Business Class passengers had been.

[Soft Top]

Timberwolf said:

shirt said:

Obvious Bot is obvious

I like the ability to ride my own giraffe to and from the aircraft rather than have to sit on the bus with all the economy passengers. Getting fast-track access to the Mysterious Cube is also a boon at airports which have it.

I think the biggest advantage for travellers is not having to get out half way through the journey and complete the trip on Space Hopper, which can be especially tedious if it's raining or your flight route is mostly over ocean.

For me all of the above is the reason I always fly business as well - especially short haul. Once the giraffes were all couped up with COIVD17B+ and were replaced by a mixture of zebras and gazelles. The zebras were a bit of a let down but the gazelles horned all the economy class travellers and we all laughed heartily!

One of my favourite things is not being shouted at for eating the headrest of the passenger in front. Ryanair and EasyJet will fine you for doing so, (perhaps BA does in economy), but in business you can do what you want.

I have to say I do miss my space hopper days though. Generally I travel with my own now so that I can finish my journey, (well ahead of the economy monkeys), from the plane and through passport control. Due to travelling in business one can even get the cabin crew to blow it up for you.

[StevieBee]

LimaDelta said:

I mostly travel BA or AF/KLM within Europe. Benefits include; fast-track check in, security and boarding, lounge access, no fighting for overhead storage bins, empty seat next to you (depending on cabin configuration/aircraft type) - this was a big selling point during covid, complimentary drinks, decent (well, better than economy) on-board food, fast-track customer service desk, better standard of overnight accommodation in case of cancellation.

All this!

Plus, for most European flights, the premium isn't too bad. So for a solo traveller it's often more affordable compared to Business Class on longer haul flights. Splash out on short term parking and you have yourself as close to stress-free air travel as you can get for the money.

My only gripe is that airlines put you on the plane first. I've long thought that the premium option would be to board last.

[//j17]

LimaDelta said:

I mostly travel BA or AF/KLM within Europe. Benefits include; fast-track check in, security and boarding, lounge access, no fighting for overhead storage bins, empty seat next to you (depending on cabin configuration/aircraft type)...

One major bonus you missed when it comes to BA is that a business class ticket automatically gets you 2 hold bags (in addition to both overhead and under seat carry-on bags).

If you need 2 hold bags, on European short hall flights at least, there's often not much difference in price between economy + extra hold bag and business class, if booking well in advance. By the time you've had (and pocketed) some food and drink in the lounge and had your free food and drink on the plane vs. buying stuff in the airport you're well through that price difference...

[Bill]

Soft Top said:

Timberwolf said:

shirt said:

Obvious Bot is obvious

I like the ability to ride my own giraffe to and from the aircraft rather than have to sit on the bus with all the economy passengers. Getting fast-track access to the Mysterious Cube is also a boon at airports which have it.

I think the biggest advantage for travellers is not having to get out half way through the journey and complete the trip on Space Hopper, which can be especially tedious if it's raining or your flight route is mostly over ocean.

For me all of the above is the reason I always fly business as well - especially short haul. Once the giraffes were all couped up with COIVD17B+ and were replaced by a mixture of zebras and gazelles. The zebras were a bit of a let down but the gazelles horned all the economy class travellers and we all laughed heartily!

One of my favourite things is not being shouted at for eating the headrest of the passenger in front. Ryanair and EasyJet will fine you for doing so, (perhaps BA does in economy), but in business you can do what you want.

I have to say I do miss my space hopper days though. Generally I travel with my own now so that I can finish my journey, (well ahead of the economy monkeys), from the plane and through passport control. Due to travelling in business one can even get the cabin crew to blow it up for you.

You should really make the stretch to First. It's worth it for the unicorn transfer alone but the freshly squeezed marmot juice as you board is the icing on the cat.

[Collectingbrass]

//j17 said:

LimaDelta said:

I mostly travel BA or AF/KLM within Europe. Benefits include; fast-track check in, security and boarding, lounge access, no fighting for overhead storage bins, empty seat next to you (depending on cabin configuration/aircraft type)...

One major bonus you missed when it comes to BA is that a business class ticket automatically gets you 2 hold bags (in addition to both overhead and under seat carry-on bags).

If you need 2 hold bags, on European short hall flights at least, there's often not much difference in price between economy + extra hold bag and business class, if booking well in advance. By the time you've had (and pocketed) some food and drink in the lounge and had your free food and drink on the plane vs. buying stuff in the airport you're well through that price difference...

Especially if you also need to pay the leg room tax as well. Which is my justification for what is really my "I've worked for it, might as well treat myself with it" view of my disposable income.

[Freddie Fitch]

Timberwolf said:

I like the ability to ride my own giraffe to and from the aircraft rather than have to sit on the bus with all the economy passengers. Getting fast-track access to the Mysterious Cube is also a boon at airports which have it.

I think the biggest advantage for travellers is not having to get out half way through the journey and complete the trip on Space Hopper, which can be especially tedious if it's raining or your flight route is mostly over ocean.

Another vote for large animal transit.