Surprising cons of always-flying business class
Flying business class on most airlines gives you benefits such as more comfortable seats, free baggage check options, and early or priority boarding. Of course it costs money, but there are definite benefits to doing so. Business class seats are typically around 3 to 4 times more expensive than economy class seats.
While there are many advantages, there are also some disadvantages to consider. Here’s a surprising drawback you may not have thought of.
One of the biggest unexpected downsides to flying business class is:
Business class travelers, by definition, spend more money on tickets than their cheaper seat colleagues. Because people who fly business class pay higher prices, it often makes sense to sign up for a credit card co-branded with the airline.
And this is where the big and surprising drawback of business class appears. These credit cards usually offer great benefits, but many of them are virtually useless if you’re already flying business class.
Cards co-branded with airlines often charge high annual fees but offer generous benefits that make traveling more enjoyable. But anyway, if you buy a business class ticket, you get many of the perks included. For example, co-branded airline cards often offer:
- Airline lounge access
- Priority check-in and screening
- First free checked baggage
- Upgrade from economy class to business class or first class
However, business and first class tickets usually already come with priority boarding and free checked baggage. Plus, you can’t upgrade your seat because you’re already sitting in business class. And if you’re flying first class internationally, you can usually visit airline lounges for free with your ticket.
Why is this such a drawback?
The duplication of benefits offered by the Elite Travel Card and business or first class seating is a major drawback as it may reduce the value of the Elite Travel Card for frequent business class travelers. Buying expensive seats.
If the card has a $695 annual fee (or something close to it, as many elite travel cards do) and you can’t use half the benefits, it’s harder to argue that the card is worth signing up for. At the same time, it’s hard to argue if you’re spending money on business or first class flights. against Sign up for the card that will give you the most bonus miles to reward air tickets purchased.
Essentially, you have to decide whether you want to give up a top credit card rewards program or pay a big annual fee just to access it. Benefits that help make the card worthwhile, although you won’t be able to take full advantage of most of them.
In the end, you’ll have to do the math and see if you’re actually getting rewards on the card. will do You can justify the card’s annual fee.
Unfortunately, even if you decide the card is still worth it, you’re stuck in a situation where you don’t get to take advantage of the benefits that others can enjoy at the price you’re paying for. That’s a downside to always flying business class that shouldn’t be overlooked.
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