Is flying business class worth it?

You can fly one-way from New York City to Barcelona, ​​Spain for as little as $250 in basic economy. A direct economy flight will cost almost twice as much, at $450.

What if you want to go business class? The lowest price is around $900, and if you want a direct flight, it’s a whopping $3,000.

Yes, for those who have done the math, that’s a 7.5x increase going from the economic sector to the corporate sector. A question arises: Does flying business class give you more than 7 times the price of a regular economy seat?

There are a lot of them, but they are surprisingly difficult to quantify.

Which business classes are included?

Comparing the different classes shows that you can really benefit from a business class ticket.

Check-in and screening

Before you get anywhere near your flight, you can get some exciting perks. Your first two checked bags are free. Some airlines even allow extra carry-on baggage for free.

Checking your bags may also be easier. Most airlines provide priority check-in lanes for business class passengers. Depending on the airport and airline, you may be able to go through priority security.

before flight

Once you’ve checked in, you can hover over your gate or enjoy the airport lounge before your flight. Most international business class passengers also have free access to airline (or partner) lounges.

Once your flight is ready, priority boarding will give you a seat at the front of the line.

on the plane

The shipboard experience is where there is a lot of value for most of us. First of all, business class has dedicated overhead bins, so you usually don’t have to worry about finding space for your bags.

And there are seats. Honestly, this is the real story. All of the best business class cabins include, as the name suggests, spacious, fully lie-flat seats that fold flat into actual beds. It’s not exactly a queen size memory foam mattress, but it’s much better than any mattress you’ll get in other cabins. If you usually toss and turn on long-distance buses and have back pain, a completely flat seat is perfect for you.

Oh, then there are in-flight meals too. On long-haul flights, two proper meals are provided (usually both dinner and breakfast on overnight flights). Dinner will undoubtedly include several courses, including appetizers and desserts. And food often comes from a separate menu from the rest of the passengers. These are usually premium menus carefully selected by celebrities or other people.

Evaluating the benefits is not so simple.

Some of the ones listed above are relatively easy to value. For example, your first checked bag typically costs around $30. The second bag is more expensive, usually around $40. (And ironically, you’ll pay a lot more for checked bags on “discount” airlines.) So the base value of the two free checked bags you get when you book business class is about $70.

But not everything is so cut and dry. You can put a price on lounge access, but that’s just a price. For example, a one-day pass to the American Airlines Admirals Lounge costs $79. However, not all lounges allow you to purchase day passes, and many lounges limit day passes if crowding is an issue (which they often are). This means that the access included in your ticket may be higher than face value.

Most of the perks that come with business class are impossible to evaluate in the same way. It will happen sincerely Depends on what you do personally Cherish your privileges.

If you’re someone who can sleep anywhere, having a lie-flat seat probably isn’t as valuable as it is for someone who can’t sleep on an airplane. And depending on what you need to do when you get off the plane, just getting a good night’s sleep could be worth the extra $1,000 to upgrade to business class.

Likewise, people who aren’t picky about what they eat or who prefer to pack their own snacks won’t get as much from the upgraded food selection in business class than those who are pickier eaters. (Food isn’t the only reason to upgrade, but there is real value in the better quality and quantity of food served to business passengers.)

TL;DR: The decision is up to you

In the end, the bottom line is this: That doesn’t cover the cost of checked baggage upgrades and other easily calculated savings. It depends on how much you value all the perks involved, and whether they’re worth the (much) higher cost of a business class ticket.

Or you can just use your points and skip the whole thing. Pay $3,000 a pop nonsense.

Airline frequent flyer rewards programs allow you to use airline miles to pay for flights, including business class flights and upgrades. You don’t even have to fly to earn airline miles. Many great travel rewards cards let you earn points and miles on everyday spending.

One or two large credit card welcome bonuses, if used wisely, can easily cover a one-way business class flight to most places. Of course, learning how to use travel rewards takes some research, patience, and diligence. But with a savings of $3,000 per ticket, you could essentially travel for free.

Not all of this is saying that Everyone You’ll love business class and think it’s worth every penny. As mentioned above, if you’re the kind of person who can sleep anywhere on the plane, you can (and probably should) skip the upgrade and save money. Have fun at your destination!

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