This was published 1 year ago
Is flying business class worth the cost? Not this year
By Lee Tulloch
Business class from Sydney to San Francisco in October with Qantas was more than $24,000 return.
Prices for premium seats on planes are sky-high right now, meaning turning left, not right, for your seat will cost you thousands of dollars - sometimes tens of thousands - more than sitting further back in the plane.
A friend was looking at airfares from Sydney to San Francisco in October with Qantas and was astounded to discover it was more than $9000 return for premium economy. Business class was more than $24,000. You could get an economy seat for about $2700.
He wasn't going to treat himself to an upgrade this time.
Qantas says there's high demand for premium cabins and, like all airlines, the cheapest seats sell out first. If my friend was to fly in November, the cost of business class would be half that, about $12,000.
That still represents a considerable chunk of his travel budget spent on a couple of sleeps across the Pacific.
One of the perennial decisions for travellers with enough discretionary income to stretch their budgets to business class is whether to dish out for a comfortable seat and the perks this brings, or whether it's better value to fly economy and save those dollars for a splurge on the ground - a swankier hotel, a few more meals in lauded restaurants or a memorable side trip, perhaps.
You could do a lot in San Francisco if you chose the second option. With $20,000 and change, for instance, you and three guests could stay in the ritzy Cambridge Suite of the landmark Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill.
For some fortunate people it's not either-or. They can afford five-star all the way. But for most, a business class seat is a serious investment. Given that you only occupy it for 24 hours or less, it doesn't seem all that great value on the surface of it. Nor does business class protect you against flight delays or cancellations, although it should give the cushion of extra service when things go wrong.
And yet a good sleep on a lie-flat bed can make all the difference to how you start or end a trip. You want to arrive at your destination fresh and ready to take it on. I've had countless bad flights in economy with little sleep where it has impacted the first few days after arrival. Business travellers have long successfully argued that arriving refreshed and with clear minds justifies the corporate expense of premium seats.
There are those who are tall or large, in poor health, suffer from DVT, or have challenges with mobility, who find it impossible to fly in the cramped confines of economy. Until airfares return to normalcy, they're probably not taking long flights right now.
I've always been in two minds about this dilemma. Whenever I fly business class it makes a huge difference to my wellbeing. I won't lie. I find the personal attention calming. I like the comfort. I like the lounges and the priority boarding. I enjoy a formal meal service. I like the big TV screens. But what I mostly do in business class is take advantage of the bed and get a good night's sleep, which means I sleep through many of the perks.
On the other hand, the economy cabins of many airlines have become so much more comfortable. Yes, I do think some squeeze in more seats, but the planes are better, the choice of entertainment far superior to the old days. I remember the days when the airline would project a film on a central screen in the cabin. It was Top Gun or nothing.
Good airlines these days put more thought into meals and the psychology of keeping customers passive for the long haul. But choose the airline carefully. Economy on some airlines can be as comfortable as business class on others. (Tip: read Traveller's airline reviews before you book.) Business class is more "worth it" on airlines that really pull out the stops to keep their premium customers happy.
Then there's the option of premium economy. Where it's only a little more expensive than economy, it's worth considering. Right now, it's probably out of reach for many. Economy airfares have certainly gone up, but proportionately not nearly as much as the premium seats. And flying economy means you leave a lighter carbon footprint.
So 2022 is probably not the year to upgrade yourself. But if you've decided on the splurge and book ahead, you might be sitting pretty in 2023.
lee.tulloch@traveller.com.au
See also: The new must-have feature for business class seats
See also: Eight Australian airport lounges you can enter without flying business class
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