Airfare upgrade, I just can’t, but would you?

[chemEguy]

I have a 6 hour cross country flight with my oldest in a few months. Paid $2800 for two round trip in United First, about $600 premium per person over coach.

Total no brainer.

My wife thinks I’m acting spoiled but what’s the point of having a bit of money if not to make yourself a little more comfortable? Comfy seats, decent breakfast, Bloody Mary, and indifference to any sitting on the tarmac? Check, check, and check.

Update…

Those first class United tickets I paid $2800 total for two? Now up to $6800 for two.

Nice.

Breakfast is sirloin, omelette, and crispy potatoes.

 

[Koolau]

Update…

Those first class United tickets I paid $2800 total for two? Now up to $6800

I guess jet fuel must really have gone up in price!!

 

[audreyh1]

Raising ticket prices to recoup costs is all very well, but it will also stop a lot of people from flying.

Those of us who bought tickets in Feb are feeling very lucky but still knocking on wood.

 

[CO-guy]

Raising ticket prices to recoup costs is all very well, but it will also stop a lot of people from flying.

Those of us who bought tickets in Feb are feeling very lucky but still knocking on wood.

Totally agree. I have 8 trips booked between now and December. I just checked and the prices for all of them are up between 25-80%. Feeling good about planning early.

 

[Koolau]

Raising ticket prices to recoup costs is all very well, but it will also stop a lot of people from flying.

Those of us who bought tickets in Feb are feeling very lucky but still knocking on wood.

We booked in early April for a mid May flight. Out tickets cost $10 more than the same trip cost last year. We felt VERY good about that.

 

[bonvoyage]

Totally agree. I have 8 trips booked between now and December. I just checked and the prices for all of them are up between 25-80%. Feeling good about planning early.

My family is scattered around the world so we will have a lot of people flying to the US for my daughter's wedding later this year. I think we may have some cancelations once they see how much airfares have risen.

 

[CO-guy]

My family is scattered around the world so we will have a lot of people flying to the US for my daughter's wedding later this year. I think we may have some cancelations once they see how much airfares have risen.

That could be a serious issue. Price of airfare aside, I have family in the Caribbean that is now avoiding US travel. Earlier this year a family friend was denied entry on his way to a weekend shopping trip in Miami with his family. He's been back and forth to the US 3-4 times a year for decades and two of his kids are actually US citizens. No reason was given and it cost him thousands in lost airfare and a prepaid hotel.

 

[Dtail]

That could be a serious issue. Price of airfare aside, I have family in the Caribbean that is now avoiding US travel. Earlier this year a family friend was denied entry on his way to a weekend shopping trip in Miami with his family. He's been back and forth to the US 3-4 times a year for decades and two of his kids are actually US citizens. No reason was given and it cost him thousands in lost airfare and a prepaid hotel.

Yup, these are the small nasty stories that in general the public is not aware of.

 

[Lorenzo]

A few weeks ago after much searching we booked economy tickets to Europe on United for around $2000 each. If we did not have family that we make a point of visiting every summer we would have stayed home. I can't imagine what the better seats costs--I didn't bother to look.

 

[marko]

A few weeks ago after much searching we booked economy tickets to Europe on United for around $2000 each. If we did not have family that we make a point of visiting every summer we would have stayed home. I can't imagine what the better seats costs--I didn't bother to look.

Made me look. Boston to Paris, First Class, non-stop, mid August. $6500 per person. Pricey, but I'd (reluctantly) pay it.
BTD!

 

[flyingaway]

Similar questions have been asked many times. My reaction has always been: is the trip worth the money? I could charter a flight from DC to New York if it were very important, but I always buy the cheapest tickets if a flight is just optional, such as sightseeing, tourism travels, etc.

 

[junkanoo]

One of the frequent comments to those who are being too frugal and not enjoying their money is to upgrade to business or lie flat seats when they fly.

I am flying one way to New Zealand next month and business is more than10 times the price of economy. 10x!!!!! That price is for domestic business for the first two flights and a lie flat seat for the 13.5 hour flight from LAX to AKL.

I ended up purchasing Delta premium economy a few months ago at $1,500, when plain economy was priced at $500, and business class was $7000. I can upgrade just the LAX to AKL like to a lie flat for an additional $4300, or about an extra $300 an hour above and beyond what I’ve already paid.

I just can’t do it. I have the money, but I just cannot bring myself to cave into Delta’s ridiculous pricing.

I mean, you have to draw a line somewhere right?

I missed this thread while traveling this winter (irony-tag).

Rather than a direct flight LAX to Auckland or from JFK to Auckland (yes, there is one). We did NYC to San Fran (golfed in Monterey), SFO to Tahiti/Bora Bora, Tahiti to Auckland (all economy class). This not only broke up the segments, it was also destinations we actually enjoyed and on our bucket lists. On the way back, we did Melbourne to Fiji, Fiji to Hawaii, Hawaii to Las Vegas (Grand Canyon) and then home. Four months, 24 flights.

Other times, we find routes where it is much cheaper to break up business class flights in segments or go business class for the longer segment and then economy for the shorter segment. There are also regional hubs in Europe, where you can find pretty cheap flights out of. Lisbon, Reykjavík, Dublin, Milan come to mind.

 

[chemEguy]

I may have just gotten lucky with timing of booking. I didn’t think flying roundtrip east coast to SFO for $1400 per person in first was bad at all.

Given the crazy jump to $3400 per person, I feel good about the decision.

 

[rodi]

My typical planning has me setting up Google flight alerts as soon as I know my dates. If I see a dip in price, I pounce. Scored biz seats LAX to Fiji for 2500 each on a dip. Shorter trips I'm less anxious about working a deal.

Our fall trip this year involves several flights. I had Google alerts for the entire multi city itinerary and for individual flights. The multi city dipped, I pounced. Since that trip includes travel to the middle east I sprung for full refundable.

 

[Tetto]

Update…

Those first class United tickets I paid $2800 total for two? Now up to $6800 for two.

Nice.

Breakfast is sirloin, omelette, and crispy potatoes.

We flew United first class to Seattle from CT, $3200 for both R/T. It was worth it to me

 

[Tetto]

My typical planning has me setting up Google flight alerts as soon as I know my dates. If I see a dip in price, I pounce. Scored biz seats LAX to Fiji for 2500 each on a dip. Shorter trips I'm less anxious about working a deal.

Our fall trip this year involves several flights. I had Google alerts for the entire multi city itinerary and for individual flights. The multi city dipped, I pounced. Since that trip includes travel to the middle east I sprung for full refundable.

I will have to try google alerts. Never thought of that

 

[audreyh1]

I will have to try google alerts. Never thought of that

I think you have to select an itinerary via flights.google.com and turn on tracking, then Google will alert you as prices change up or down. You can set up multiple itineraries.

 

[Tetto]

I think you have to select an itinerary via flights.google.com and turn on tracking, then Google will alert you as prices change up or down. You can set up multiple itineraries.

Thank you- big help!

 

[FD1000]

I hope the biggest airline CEOs are reading this thread. If "it's worth it," they should raise prices for first class by at least 20% more....every year.

 

[Tetto]

I hope the biggest airline CEOs are reading this thread. If "it's worth it," they should raise prices for first class by at least 20% more....every year.

Why?

 

[audreyh1]

I hope the biggest airline CEOs are reading this thread. If "it's worth it," they should raise prices for first class by at least 20% more....every year.

Airline CEOs are already well aware of the demand for first class and the resulting price sensitivity. And it doesn’t take much to change that either - fewer people traveling due to international events, or an economic slowdown, it can turn on a dime, and they know that too.

 

[FD1000]

Why?

Why not?
If people are already willing to pay 6–8 times more, why not 10–12 times? At the end of the day, it’s all about supply and demand.

Generally airlines have raised first-class or business-class fares by a higher percentage than economy fares over the past decade, though it varies by route, carrier, and market conditions.

 

[Koolau]

Why not?
If people are already willing to pay 6–8 times more, why not 10–12 times? At the end of the day, it’s all about supply and demand.

Generally airlines have raised first-class or business-class fares by a higher percentage than economy fares over the past decade, though it varies by route, carrier, and market conditions.

All the traffic will bear??

 

[Tetto]

Why not?
If people are already willing to pay 6–8 times more, why not 10–12 times? At the end of the day, it’s all about supply and demand.

Generally airlines have raised first-class or business-class fares by a higher percentage than economy fares over the past decade, though it varies by route, carrier, and market conditions.

That makes no sense. If they raise it ridiculously high, the obvious result will be only the truly wealthy will utilize it. If I have to pay $28000 to fly first class, I will not do it. Those much wealthier than I perhaps will not blink. I’ll be out.

 

[Koolau]

That makes no sense. If they raise it ridiculously high, the obvious result will be only the truly wealthy will utilize it. If I have to pay $28000 to fly first class, I will not do it. Those much wealthier than I perhaps will not blink. I’ll be out.

It makes all kinds of sense. I just assume the airlines will sell the seats at the highest price they can possibly extract - especially from "rich" people. As long as rich people will pay the price, it w*rks for everyone.