Premium Economy v Business?

[bitchstewie]

I have a business trip to the Far East in a few weeks time.

Whilst work are paying and I'm "entitled" to go business class due to the distance, it seems it makes a massive difference to the price to the point where I'm considering Premium Economy or maybe even "plain" Economy.

I haven't been on a flight beyond Europe for a good number of years now. The last international flight I took was Economy and I lived.

I've got a couple of days before the work stuff starts so it's not as if I'm stumbling off the plane and into a meeting, ditto coming back.

Is there that big of a difference between the classes these days?

I presume the airline and type of plane may make a difference too?

[miniman]

Stretch your legs out and enjoy.

[B17NNS]

If work are paying why would you even consider downgrading?

Loads of reviews of Youtube. Just type in the airline and business class.

[GT03ROB]

if you want a half way decent nights sleep, business all the way. Premium or economy forget it.

Business should be lie flat seats, even premium will feel like you are upright.

[bitchstewie]

Don't get me wrong, if I can go business I will.

This trip is sort of optional though and whilst I don't fly much I've noticed a jump in fares from a couple of weeks back when I was looking to get budgetary costs.

So by the time I'm able to book, if the options are don't go because business class costs have rocketed v go but "slum it" I'll slum it, but would like an idea what it's like and thought I may get a little more insight here v YouTube.

Hope that makes sense

[HOGEPH]

Business class
Limo to airport
Lounge
Lie flat bed
Attention
Good food
Bar on plane
First off plane

Premium economy.

None of the above

[Puggit]

Business class is worth flying for the points alone. If someone else is paying!

[HotJambalaya]

business class.

If you're sensitive to price on your employers behalf (they dont deserve you), is this price through the corporate travel agent or just online, if it isn't could you choose a different airline which would come in cheaper?

[bitchstewie]

HotJambalaya said:

business class.

If you're sensitive to price on your employers behalf (they dont deserve you), is this price through the corporate travel agent or just online, if it isn't could you choose a different airline which would come in cheaper?

It's not entirely altruistic. If the choice is go to Asia or don't go for the sake of a "grade" in ticket I'll drop a grade. Didn't realise fares shifted so much what feels a long way away from the dates.

[Contract Killer]

If flight is more than 2 hours i wouldnt entertain economy.

[halfpenny43]

bhstewie said:

Don't get me wrong, if I can go business I will.

This trip is sort of optional though and whilst I don't fly much I've noticed a jump in fares from a couple of weeks back when I was looking to get budgetary costs.

So by the time I'm able to book, if the options are don't go because business class costs have rocketed v go but "slum it" I'll slum it, but would like an idea what it's like and thought I may get a little more insight here v YouTube.

Hope that makes sense

Like you I am entitled to fly business for more than 8 hours but when it comes to paying more than EUR4k for a plane ticket is difficult to swallow. I would not do this personally so why would I do it just because the company is paying.

Last week I was in Hong Kong and flew out during the night in bus and back during the day in premium eco. Have done this both with KLM and Cathay. Week before I was in the US and flew there and back premium eco with Delta.

I'm 5' 7" and slim build, don't drink alcohol when flying, rarely eat and don't sleep particularly well on an airplane - I generally recline the seat a little and work. Maybe watch a movie on the aircraft system or my iPad.

You can certainly be more comfortable, have more personal space and rarely have someone next to you in business class. There are fewer people in the cabin, so the bathrooms are more accessible.
Premium economy is just like regular economy except you have slightly more legroom, maybe more recline, same small pillow and paper thin blanket, and sometimes a separate cabin from economy.

For me - going to the US for 6-8 hours in economy or premium is ok. 12+ hours to Asia ? I would always prefer business just for the reasons I mentioned about more comfort and more personal space.

[crofty1984]

I've flown all around the world for work in economy. Go business class.

[flight147z]

Premium Economy isn't really much better than economy. Business is brilliant and is the only way I can sleep properly on a plane

[EddieSteadyGo]

bhstewie said:

I have a business trip to the Far East in a few weeks time.

Whilst work are paying and I'm "entitled" to go business class due to the distance, it seems it makes a massive difference to the price to the point where I'm considering Premium Economy or maybe even "plain" Economy.

I haven't been on a flight beyond Europe for a good number of years now. The last international flight I took was Economy and I lived.

I've got a couple of days before the work stuff starts so it's not as if I'm stumbling off the plane and into a meeting, ditto coming back.

Is there that big of a difference between the classes these days?

I presume the airline and type of plane may make a difference too?

It's good (for the company) that you are thinking about how much your flight is going to cost. But I would argue that companies set travel policies for a reason. If your company thought economy was acceptable, that is the type of travel they would mandate.

There is a big difference between business and premium economy. So my view would be, enjoy the experience, and report back if you liked it

Edited by EddieSteadyGo on Saturday 18th August 21:13

[Evanivitch]

Premium Economy varies hugely.

I've flown Premium Economy with Air New Zealand to LAX and it was almost Business Class Lite in terms of seating. Others just give you an extra few inches of space here and there.

Sounds like they might have dropped it now.

https://onemileatatime.com/air-new-zealand-premium...

[schmalex]

I fly to Asia every few weeks and always go Business or First.

Depending on who you fly with, the costs aren’t that different. Typically, a BA Premium seat will be around £1,600 - £1,800 return. An Emirates / Etihad / Qatar business seat will be around £2,200 - £2,400 return.

BA PE is utterly shocking. The seats are agony, the food is awful, there is no lounge access.

Any of the ME3 will give you a very comfortable journey in business. You’ll get a shower half way through the trip, the food will be pretty decent (Emirates’ Mezze is always worth choosing), the seats will be decent (if you’re lucky on Qatar, you’ll get a flight with Q Seats - they are like First cabins in Business).

Once you get to the destination, many Asian airports have a “business / first only” priority lane through customs which can save a huge amount of time.

If there’s a choice, for a few quid, I wouldn’t contemplate PE over business.

Edited by schmalex on Sunday 19th August 07:47

[85Carrera]

Premium economy is for mugs. If you can’t afford business, just go economy (or, preferably, don’t go).

[trickywoo]

Does anyone else think airlines make economy deliberately st to encourage more people to upgrade?

I know the space will always be limited, packing them in is how money in made / saved. However, the seats and general environment could be made a lot nicer / more comfortable with very minimal effect on ticket price.

[blueg33]

bhstewie said:

Don't get me wrong, if I can go business I will.

This trip is sort of optional though and whilst I don't fly much I've noticed a jump in fares from a couple of weeks back when I was looking to get budgetary costs.

So by the time I'm able to book, if the options are don't go because business class costs have rocketed v go but "slum it" I'll slum it, but would like an idea what it's like and thought I may get a little more insight here v YouTube.

Hope that makes sense

Use inprivate browsing when getting budgets, otherwise the website knows you have been there before and prices are adjusted upwards

[Puggit]

trickywoo said:

Does anyone else think airlines make economy deliberately st to encourage more people to upgrade?

I know the space will always be limited, packing them in is how money in made / saved. However, the seats and general environment could be made a lot nicer / more comfortable with very minimal effect on ticket price.

They do this to cut costs. Number 1 criteria for choosing flights is price.