Business Class / First Class
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: somewhere underneath 3rd rock
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I won't fly Y for more than 8 hours/sector with a decent break between FINAL. You can just about manage this RTW, but it's painful.
As to paying for business/first, I have. The first time, at the time of booking, the cheapest Y I could get from UK to Australia was ~1600 pounds (quite late and over christmas). The best business deal I could find was Emirates at ~1900 - not a difficult decision (other than cancelling the trip).
When I moved from the UK to Australia, I checked all the deals I could find. Again Emirates came up with the best deal. This time 1st at just 50 pounds more than business (company were paying for the business fare, I paid the upgrade !)
Just back from Prague, and the business fare (Austrian) was less than double the economy fare needed for a fully flexible ticket. Ok, the company pays, but the difference is not always as big as it looks when comparing the airlines "list" for business and the cheapest (very restricted) Y available.
As to paying for business/first, I have. The first time, at the time of booking, the cheapest Y I could get from UK to Australia was ~1600 pounds (quite late and over christmas). The best business deal I could find was Emirates at ~1900 - not a difficult decision (other than cancelling the trip).
When I moved from the UK to Australia, I checked all the deals I could find. Again Emirates came up with the best deal. This time 1st at just 50 pounds more than business (company were paying for the business fare, I paid the upgrade !)
Just back from Prague, and the business fare (Austrian) was less than double the economy fare needed for a fully flexible ticket. Ok, the company pays, but the difference is not always as big as it looks when comparing the airlines "list" for business and the cheapest (very restricted) Y available.
Prof. Airport Engineer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Australia (mostly)
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The annual income of customers who pay for tickets themselves and fly long haul in first class has to be lower than those flying business class.
Why?
Taxation. The income of the super-rich is diverted into family estates and trusts and offshore accounts and the like (unlike poor suckers such as me who pay tax on a salaried income). They probably earn very little. Personally. On paper.
Why?
Taxation. The income of the super-rich is diverted into family estates and trusts and offshore accounts and the like (unlike poor suckers such as me who pay tax on a salaried income). They probably earn very little. Personally. On paper.
Fixed+Rotary (aircraft, not washing lines)
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Peak District, Yorkshire, UK
Age: 56
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I would have thought that the truely rich would charter a personal jet, but for the rest of us that have to slum it in First/Business:
There are the very top earners who either have made their pile and now are leading a lifestyle they have become accustomed to.
Then those whose business are paying at cut down negotiated rates.
Those who have hunted high and low and booked months in advance on a very good deal.
Or those using their air miles.
I've not much personal experience of 1st but once did ORD->MAN on AA and there were only 3 of us in the cabin when business was quite full. So obviously the price for most people wasn't attractive enough (the company was paying for me).
Another time I did LHR->SFO and all 14 seats were taken both outbound and return, and I'd say about 1/2 of those were business people (the laptop gives it away), or individuals and couples just travelling and making it look like they did this regularly. The LHR->SFO return in 1st at that time was about £10,500 on the web site. A staggering amount of money, but there is obviously a market for it.
Probably the most interesting point on 'how much' came from the Concorde days. During the 80s, after privatisation IIR, the marketing team asked the business passengers how much they thought the ticket cost, or, more importantly how much they thought it was worth. As most of the bookings were done by the travel department the execs never actually new the cost of the fare. It turned out that BA were 'undercharging' and so simply raised the fare and increased the profits...
There are the very top earners who either have made their pile and now are leading a lifestyle they have become accustomed to.
Then those whose business are paying at cut down negotiated rates.
Those who have hunted high and low and booked months in advance on a very good deal.
Or those using their air miles.
I've not much personal experience of 1st but once did ORD->MAN on AA and there were only 3 of us in the cabin when business was quite full. So obviously the price for most people wasn't attractive enough (the company was paying for me).
Another time I did LHR->SFO and all 14 seats were taken both outbound and return, and I'd say about 1/2 of those were business people (the laptop gives it away), or individuals and couples just travelling and making it look like they did this regularly. The LHR->SFO return in 1st at that time was about £10,500 on the web site. A staggering amount of money, but there is obviously a market for it.
Probably the most interesting point on 'how much' came from the Concorde days. During the 80s, after privatisation IIR, the marketing team asked the business passengers how much they thought the ticket cost, or, more importantly how much they thought it was worth. As most of the bookings were done by the travel department the execs never actually new the cost of the fare. It turned out that BA were 'undercharging' and so simply raised the fare and increased the profits...
