Flying Business Class

Question

Assuming the criteria below, how much would you be willing to pay for a biz class upgrade?

*You are 6 feet+ (181cm)

*You have to fly for 10+ hours non-stop

*You get claustrophobic easily

 *You enjoy the semblance of quietude

*You simply CAN NOT sleep sitting upright

*You need to deplane bright eyed and bushy tailed

*You don't qualify for any corporate discounts and can't write off the expense

*Coach/Premium Coach seats are sold out

**Mileage points are not applicable

johnnyx9 · Answer

GMATT73,

I'm guessing you're talking about your flight from Japan to the US? Last Februrary I flew to visit my friend in Osaka (boston to detroit to osaka) and I'm 6'5" so I'm usually uncomfortable on planes anyway, but I was thinking with a 12 hour flight I'd probably be paralyzed from the wait down by the end of the flight. I looked at upgrades, first class tix were 10K a pop, ridiculous. 

I found this great website called seatguru.com where they have most airlines listed, and for each airline they have the exact way that each airline configures seats on the different types of aircraft in their fleet. And then each seat has a rating and description. So I was flying on Northwest on a Boeing 747-400 and checked out the seating chart and found a regular coach seat that happened to be positioned near a bulk head which meant extra leg-room. Northwest lets you select your seat online so I was able to get a coach seat with lots of legroom. You should check it out. 

But wouldn't it be great to be able to afford one of those first class seats that recline into a bed? Some day.

GMATT73 · Answer

The reason I ask is because United offers a somewhat reasonably priced b-class upgrade option during the final boarding call, provided the seat is available.

dukes · Answer

I'm also 6'5 and at $300 I'd be tempted. On past flights I've taken a steady dose of Advil to keep my back from locking up and to make sure I can walk upright when I get off the plane.

GMATT73 · Answer

Right you are johnny boy! Factoring in the pacific trade head winds, I'm really suprised that you made it to Osaka from Detroit in less than 15 hours. There always seems to be a 2~4 hour differential depending on the route and season. As much as I would love to stretch out on one of those United first class "suites," the closest I will ever get (Pre and probably post-MBA) is salivating over the picture posted below :cry:

You do make a valid point about the bulkhead row though. Problem is, many US bound flights departing from KIX are codeshared with ANA and originate from Okinawa. No offense to any fellow enlisted men out there, but guess who jumps at those emergency exit rows first? The 6'10" 270 lb. sergeants and lieutenants on leave from Kadena. I actually do have enough accumulated JCB alliance mileage points to sport the upgrade, but was planning to hold off on using those until I book that final one way flight (hopefully) later this summer.

johnnyx9 · Answer

I actually do remember a bunch of servicemen on my return flight. It probably was more than 12 hours, I forget exactly how long, but I took a sleeping pill and a couple glasses of wine right after take-off which was a good way to shave 8 hours off the flight.

Well good luck, hopefully you can at least get an aisle seat.

aaudetat · Answer

i love being under 5'3". Sure, I can't ever reach anything, and I look like I'm twelve, but I'm never uncomfortable on planes. (and the one time I did fly first class -- Moscow to Chicago -- it was a total waste. The food was better, but I was no more comfortable than I would have been in coach.)

rhyme · Answer

As a person over 6 feet myself, i voted $600.

lepium · Answer

Business class is the difference between being able to nap/sleep or agonizing with back pain. I guess the question is: is an extra day worth 600$ to you? Without business class you'll have to use that day to recover. With business class, not so much.

I voted 600$.

sm176811 · Answer

The best business class I have traveled on was on Singapore Airlines. Their Space Beds are just stunning - https://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/c ... demo1.html

GMATT73 · Answer

Yeah, you'd think that would be enough to knockout even Akebono {who incidentally has to purchase an entire bulkhead row and sleep on the floor in front of all three seats- one of my clients from Dentsu flew with (behind) him over to Tokyo a couple years ago}. I can handle one or the other, but if I wash down an Ambien with a couple glasses of cab sov, then I actually begin to hallucinate. 

Then again, at 6'5" you're clearly a bigger guy with probably a higher tolerance.

GMATT73 · Answer

After picking a ground staff's brain for 30 minutes, here is her advice on how to significantly increase our chances of getting bumped into biz class (just in case anybody still cares).

1. Sign up for economy plus and always check in late. If EP is sold out or overbooked you will be automatically upgraded to biz. The fee is about $300 p/year. On the flight over, I sat next to a woman from Chicago who happened to have an EP membership. She mentioned that she gets bumped to biz about 25% of the time because people like myself buy EP seats at check in and they fill up fast. EP members are never downgraded to standard coach seats. 

2. Dress appropriately. Passengers who are upgraded usually wear business attire and are well groomed. 

3. Fly consistently with the same airline and mention that your company has a corporate account. Frankly, United service sucks, but the seats are inexpensive and upgrades are available at check-in for $200~500.

4. Be nice, a little persistant, but don't overdue it. Mention something like, "I would do almost anything for a good night sleep before tomorrow's meeting." Leave your boarding pass with the ground staff agent you personally buttered up and be patient until she calls your name prior to boarding. This gives her more time to figure things out and possibly squeeze you in. 

5. Don't buy a "Y" class ticket. I was  almost  upgraded to biz on the flight back to Japan, but the staff straightforward said that it is against company policy to upgrade Y tickets without paying the on site fee.

darren1010 · Answer

I'm 5'5, so I voted for 0.
Why you guys are so incredible tall....

GMATT73 · Answer

I have also noticed that several members in this club are 6 ft+ (Rhyme, Johnny, Pelihu, Dukes, Matt...)

Tajik4GMAT · Answer

I travel outside US every summer. I am 6'1 and never had any trouble

darren1010 · Answer

hey, I wish I were 6'. Maybe we should trade our bodies.

kidderek · Answer

You are a fat guy's dream on the train. Fat people always gravitate towards the skinny.

rhyme · Answer

You look like your 12? 

LOL

aaudetat · Answer

Well, I now have about a half-dozen gray hairs, so perhaps 16.

GMATT73 · Answer

Pulled out my first two grey hairs yesterday. Must be related to all the pre-matriculation stress. Yuck!

Flying Business Class

How much would you be willing to pay for a business class upgrade on a 10+ hour flight?

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