What determines your cabin choice if paying?

I was pondering on what determines my choice of cabin if I am paying hard cash for flights and not using miles. And wondered what other peoples choices were determined by (other than having the cash to buy a flight in the first place of course!).

I fly economy, premium economy and business (never First as that is out of my league without miles, but I am working on that with Avios).

For me, if short haul flying, I choose economy, medium haul up to 6-8 hours (East coast USA usually) premium economy and long haul I choose business. With day flights I am never that worried about lying flat as I would not sleep, so a recliner seat suffices to watch f,ms or read.

Certainly with BA European business seats seem a waste of money for short trips, where I neither need the enhanced food service or luggage allowance. The seats seems almost identical to economy.

I have gambled on a BA Economy seat to Boston on a morning flight later in the year as the WT+ seats were way over-priced. Hope I do not live to regret it! WT+ coming back, in the day again (partly why I chose BA over VS). Luckily I have One World Sapphire status to enable lounge entry and an extra case for the shopping

What influences your choices? I appreciate for some of you it is UC or nothing

Hi Maximus,

Our choices would be very similar to your own, we have travelled in most classes. Having done UC 2 years ago it sets the bar very high, only done all on reward tickets or M and upgraded, never paid full price. IN the old days economy was just the norm and as they introduced extra leg room mainly on Thomson flights we paid the extra for that anything over 4 hours. Went with First Choice and Monarch to Florida and paid for Premium then as well. Our last flight in February this year Thomson charged us £350 for their extra, extra legroom seats 34 ins as it was a 7hour flight we paid up. It was over charged in our opinion but the best we could get, as we are both very tall and getting wider by the year(age thing) we want comfort now. Hubby also has osteoarthritis.

Like you have started collecting Avios and have just managed to book our first reward seat with them WT+ out Club back to Calgary in May. Have also just qualified for a 2-4-1 voucher looking out for 1st availability for that.

We would not pay out the fullprice for any Business, UC or First flights we simply could not afford to do it, but with reward seats it brings it all within reach of something I could only dream of before.

historically since using Virgin I've had two UC using miles to upgrade and the one trip I paid for we went Premium.
If I could get upper at a sale price of £1500 I'd probably splash out and pay it.
Mrs D already has enough points for 2016 and our 2015 is already booked and paid for so hopefully I'll have enough points as well and we'll use mile to upgrade to UC.
All flights to Orlando, but will consider Atlanta in the future if the price is right.

Also done little red to Edinburgh a few times but that's a one class.

Dick D

[honey lamb]

I fly economy, premium economy and business (never First as that is out of my league without miles, but I am working on that with Avios).

Never say "Never"! When researching flights to LAS earlier this year, BA First was cheaper than Club World and also VS Upper Class and even went down in price when there was a sale on!

For me, I fly UC but only if there is a sale on or upgrading from an M fare or else, the ex-AMS trick

For me, it's a balance of distance flown, day or night flight, just me or taking the family and whether I need the tier points!

For example, your comment re BA within Europe is a fair one, but this I have taken club europe previously just to make sure I requalify for BAEC AG status - as I think it's well worth

If it's just me travelling, then provided I get the lower fare classes, I will look for business for overnight flights every time, and during the day if possible.

If I'm taking the family, the cost differential mounts up as you can imagine, and the choices are harder - albeit, my daughter gets most upset these days if we're not in club.

Another example was a year or so back. I wanted to travel back from BGI in Club at least, but the outbound was a prohibitive price (when multiplied by 3), and the only really affordable option was to travel WTplus in both directions.

However, I managed to get WT outbound and Club on the return which turned out to be cheaper than WTplus in both directions - result, I got my club on the overnight flight and kept the holiday within my budget.

And there you have some of the factors that I weigh up when choosing flight classes...having.

If I don't have enough points, and it's my JNB trip, its my own dosh in UC via AMS

If I don't have enough points, and it's my JNB trip, its my own dosh in UC via AMS

I'll be honest, I only travel on my own cash a few times a year.
The disadvantage of that is you get used to Business Travel.

Like others my choice is made up of distance, time of day, number of people. Flying back from somewhere like NYC / Boston will always be PE on my own money, not sure UC really has true value on the shorter flights, flying back from Vegas that will be UC but very much hoping for a sale when booking. Never done the AMS trick, not sure I will but never say never.......
If I have the whole family budget dictates a whole lot more.....

Sorry for the double post above

It's my money or miles (earned from my money). It's UC or CW or nothing (less). I'm not a good flier, I need space, calm and alcohol.

It's my money or my miles too, no business money paying for us.

Our flights are almost all to NY to see family over there twice a year. I know many of you think that's too short a flight for UC but when you've spent those hours (as we have on a number of occasions) sitting behind someone who reclines fully for the entire flight, then UC beckons, thankfully with a reward seat upgrade.

I also confess to a great liking for the peace and tranquillity of the CH - no it's not just the fizz, honestly, no really it's not, it's not I tell you.

Always our own money, or miles.
Any flight over 5 hours UC or equivalent. Our march flight in economy on ethiad was great but it's just to cramped so we said never again.
We like the space and being middle aged women with drink problems we enjoy the flow of alcohol that comes with a UC ticket!
Oh and I feel it really makes a holiday more special when flying UC!

At the moment it's (in)frequency of such trips, having paid off the mortgage, having self sustaining offspring and health that lead to my current principle "if it's not within Europe, it's J". If I had CH access status, it would become more marginal with East Coast USA being a candidate for PE. But I don't, so it isn't. I'm peering over the precipice of a declining number of days left compus mentis on this earth, and I don't like the idea of frittering a day enduring rather than enjoying travelling.

Anything over 9 hours I make a point of either an S/W FARE on PE then up to UC on miles (if available), or UC if a client is paying for it. The rest (>9 hours) is economy with extra leg room/exit row. My work takes me East which causes issues trying to keep to VS flights or FC partners (few and far between for decent mileage earnings)

On my own cash/points will only fly Business or First. I have been lucky enough to not travel more than 2.5hrs in less than business, so have just gotten used to it. Rather annoyingly UC has lost its shine, on our recent flight to MIA it just felt like a means to an end. That was a bit diasapointing.

I do the NRT-LHR return route a couple of times a year. If I'm paying, I go out PE and come back UC (don't get me wrong, the Narita Clubhouse is well staffed, but it's wayyyyy too cramped and not as nice as the open plan terminal area > https://flic.kr/p/9cuqje )

If clients are paying they usually stump up a PE ticket so I use miles to upgrade.

I NEVER upgrade at the airport as NRT has the worst prices to upgrade (160000 yen from PE to UC one way, when an actual ticket online costs 150000...., er, no thanks).

I'd happily fly PE both ways if I didn't have the miles, I think it's still the best.

Fly Economy ! OMG sleepless nights, sweating, dry mouth, full of dread for the whole trip.... need I say more.

We were treated to PE returns to CPT by daughter's company in 2012 - that did it for us. We fly to YVR most years and have now found that Air Transat's Club is pretty good, only 12 seats in the cabin for about £550 more each return and direct from MAN - YVR - easily worth our hard earned £££s.
so now, we take less holidays, but long ones, and fly PE, paid for the seats once with all cash and used Amex upgrade offer once. but have just received an email to say we have earned it again.

also booked UC miles upgrade from M's for Jan 2014 MAN-LHR-CPT returns. Just boosted miles + 20% offer for that trip.

earning miles is a priority, or we won't be doing flights over 4 hrs in PE or Club. so Black Amex, all spend when possible via Shops Away, pay it off every month.

The journey is part of the holiday when flying PE or Club. I hate queues - who doesn't. I Like that first drink when still on the ground, the nibbles - would need counselling if had to fly E now. Shame on me !

We are usually a 1-2 holiday a year family and are dual income no kids at moment, so with both of us on a very good salary it can pay for some luxury at times - that said, we havn't yet paid for a fare UC yet for both of us - but we do plan to when we need to - just havn't needed to yet.

The rule is I'll typically fly Y/PE classes on personal travel - but base on distance and cost. If I can get another holiday by avoiding even PE - I'll always do it. When PE is double or triple Y as it is sometimes, we'll not use it. If a upgradable Y fare is ridiculous it's the same, we'll be happy in back of bus. But for 2-300 pp each extra it's well worth it in PE (on a milege upgrade). We like many treat the flight as part of holiday, but another holiday would always trump comfort for what is 24 hours of a 2 week period. UC has serious benefits on west-coast and Asia Routings, less on Caribbean and east coast.

This year we're having/had 3 holidays (2 short haul, one long), all in Y - but could have has 1 UC holiday as a whole for same sort of total outlay as the total price for all 3. But as we decided on 3 (2 week) holidays, we decided against. We are talking about a 4th week in LAS or orlando - but it's no means set in stone, that will be short-notice in Y as well, and depends on the prices we can get on the flight. At moment being a lot more than what we deem a good price (£800 pp in Y) on the dates we desire, it's likely to not be considered.

Next year we decided on one super-long holiday, so we're on G's to LA, so we don't need to budget for lots of flights and had the miles. Mileage to pay for this was earnt 25% from flying, 75% spend on cards etc. We may do a week in Orlando to complement - in Y - if I can get non-paid leave granted, which is no guarantee. The flight savings in this case are paying for some very nice hotels vs middle of road across the west of US. I would add we would have paid for Z's if we couldn't have found the reward here which is why I mention this. We are quite willing to book trips around flight availability though, so getting rewards on any airline hasn't proven an issue in past.

The rules we follow:
Short-haul, we'll fly the cheapest non-O'leary airline possible - ditto mid haul. Must take baggage etc, as the wife likes to take bags. Last year that meant Easyjet - this year it's BAx2 (short and mid haul) - and VS x1 on personal travel. We won't pay for European business as it's not worth it - only for TP hunters, and have no need for those.

Long-haul - The rule is scheduled airline only usually, with direct being worth 100 pounds more than non-direct - ie if it's > 100 less for the non-direct New York connection, I'll take it.. I will consider Thomas cook airlines or other bucket/spade airlines only if they considerably cheaper (ie 200 less than scheduled). As an example on thomas cook they were selling trips to Orlando at ~ 200 quid return pp over easter including baggage and taxes for 1 week, that would represent the value that would make us say - yes, lets go for a week via TCA (though we spotted these fares on holiday elsewhere so couldn't book!).

Allowing for the fact that I am not normally flying VS.

My money. And I am an aged pensioner.

My ABDs to Australia over the last two years + have featured

3 returns in J (all on EK, and very nice too..there is a miles upgrade to FIRST among that lot, and never have 57500 Skywards miles been so well spent!!)

2 returns in Y (again on EK)
1 return in Y (VS)
2 returns in Y (one done, one in September, on EY)

The frequency of my trips has meant I have necessarily gone cheaper, going more frequently is MUCH more important than less frequently with a bed.

On each of the 2 EK trips in Y and on the one EY trip so far, I have upgraded to J for cash the Middle East to OZ legs. It helps me get the zzzzzs that mean I am functioning reasonably on arrival.

I have absolutely no problem doing long hauls in Y, I find that I sleep OK despite or perhaps because of my antiquity! The food and booze is what it is although, in fact, both EK and EY produce good product. It helps having lounge access of course.

When I am going away I am so excited about the adventure that I just want to get there, how doesn't matter much. I am in smiley mode.

And my next ABD, after September, ABD9 at Christmas, is not yet booked but again will be on EY in Y.

The food and booze is what it is although, in fact, both EK and EY produce good product. It helps having lounge access of course.

That and having a well recognised status too....

That and having a well recognised status too....

I tend not to use my title when travelling!!!


Indeed, the gold card. As I said in my TR, I was so well looked after on my Y return from Brisbane in May, the most spoiled I have ever been on a plane. Goodness, I even had to refuse champagne.

Generally PE, but miles based (full or upgraded) to UC for 10 and over hr flights.

NH

[honey lamb]

Goodness, I even had to refuse champagne.

*Faints dead away*

Perhaps in this we should include our general disposition......by that I mean I'm 5'10, Mr marshy is 6'3 and Junior (15 almost) is less than half an inch behind him. We are all slim, but definitely need the 'length' not offered in Y.

Personally if I cannot fly CW or UC I will forgo the trip.

Our situation is similar to that of starquake's, in that we are a couple currently with no kids, and both with good jobs. We are also looking to have a number of holidays per year, generally including 2-3, a city break and a week or so in a "tropical paradise", eg Hawaii, st Lucia, Grenada.

As I can sleep pretty much anywhere, and the hubby has never slept on a plane, we are fine with y usually. Another factor is that my work would only pay for y on all business travels, so I've got to get used to y. That said, having had a couple of op-ups on vs and other airlines, I am finding Y increasingly uncomfortable.

We have recently started paying for PE on overnight flights, and having now got silver status with a few miles, and a black credit card, we are looking to do some m-g for summer next year. I'm not sure if we will ever pay for J in a non-sale situation, or not using the AMS trick, but never say never!