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

[bonvoyage]

Yes all in our tickets i had a heart attack this morning pushing the buy button and spending like $50k i'll be honest. I've never done it before. But it's xmas. I have now more money than time. I spent longer than probably needed being frugal said chatgpt. Die with zero?

yeah - it's difficult the first time you pay your own hard-earned money for an expensive ticket. I still remember the first time I paid $5000 for two business class tickets to London back in 2018. I was a nervous wreck after clicking the buy button. But it does get easier with time. I didn't have any qualms about paying $8000 for plane tickets for our recent trip to Italy.

 

[Anovice]

There’s no way anyone will pay unlimited amounts purely for comfort.
For some people, the limit may be $1K. For others, $5K or even $100K.

That proves my point: at some stage, regardless of the added comfort, your bank account becomes the deciding factor. Even below that level, the decision is still driven first by what you can afford and only second by the perceived enjoyment or comfort.
So when someone asks why I pay more for something, my answer is simple: because I have the money.
I don’t care how much you spend; it’s your money. If anything, the more people pay for expensive seats, the more likely it is that my seat price stays the same or only increases slightly.

BTW, I have several airline CEOs on speed dial. I’m texting them right now to double first-class prices based on my "highly" scientific research.

You are 5'8" tall. My husband is 6'5" and I am 5'11". I understand that flying business class may not have much value for you, but there is significant value for us in upgrading for the added comfort

 

[pdxgal]

I see there are many posts here, so maybe someone has already mentioned, but if not....

...a friend just told me of an 'upgrade' she was offered at the last minute. She could pay $150 to reserve (claim) the empty middle seats next to hers, since they hadn't been sold to passengers. She chose to do it and was thus guaranteed the opportunity to lie down on them to sleep (she's 5'0' and was quite comfortable).

Made me wonder if flight attendants would (or do?) actively prevent you from lying across multiple seats if you just took your chances and didn't pay to 'reserve' them. That seems like it would be crossing some sort of line, but the way things are going in the industry I could see it happening.

 

[Anovice]

I see there are many posts here, so maybe someone has already mentioned, but if not....

...a friend just told me of an 'upgrade' she was offered at the last minute. She could pay $150 to reserve (claim) the empty middle seats next to hers, since they hadn't been sold to passengers. She chose to do it and was thus guaranteed the opportunity to lie down on them to sleep (she's 5'0' and was quite comfortable).

Made me wonder if flight attendants would (or do?) actively prevent you from lying across multiple seats if you just took your chances and didn't pay to 'reserve' them. That seems like it would be crossing some sort of line, but the way things are going in the industry I could see it happening.

My sister was a flight attendant with Delta Air Lines for 35 years, based out of Atlanta. At least as of a couple of years ago, flight attendants did not care if you lay across multiple seats, as long as you were not inconveniencing other passengers. In fact, this was common on transatlantic flights.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

I see there are many posts here, so maybe someone has already mentioned, but if not....

...a friend just told me of an 'upgrade' she was offered at the last minute. She could pay $150 to reserve (claim) the empty middle seats next to hers, since they hadn't been sold to passengers. She chose to do it and was thus guaranteed the opportunity to lie down on them to sleep (she's 5'0' and was quite comfortable).

Made me wonder if flight attendants would (or do?) actively prevent you from lying across multiple seats if you just took your chances and didn't pay to 'reserve' them. That seems like it would be crossing some sort of line, but the way things are going in the industry I could see it happening.

I'm hearing a lot of complaints on a Southwest subreddit that they are not letting people switch seats, even within the same row, even when the plane is mostly empty. They don't seem to be adapting well to the switch to reserved seating.

 

[frank05]

Airlines are aggressively selling premium upgrades over providing them as upgrades to their high mileage flyers. Twenty years ago, on US flights, frequently half the seats were free upgrades to premium flyers, now it is frequently less than 10% on the big airlines. You can sometimes find a cheap upgrade to first at the last minute.

 

[RetiredHappy]

You are 5'8" tall. My husband is 6'5" and I am 5'11". I understand that flying business class may not have much value for you, but there is significant value for us in upgrading for the added comfort

We are both 5 ft 6 inches and only fly business class. It is of tremendous value to us. If we cannot afford business class seats, then we just won't fly.

 

[FD1000]

My sister was a flight attendant with Delta Air Lines for 35 years, based out of Atlanta. At least as of a couple of years ago, flight attendants did not care if you lay across multiple seats, as long as you were not inconveniencing other passengers. In fact, this was common on transatlantic flights.

We were lucky enough to do it most times.

 

[FD1000]

You are 5'8" tall. My husband is 6'5" and I am 5'11". I understand that flying business class may not have much value for you, but there is significant value for us in upgrading for the added comfort

Sure, your money, your choice.
The main reason is that you can afford it. If you were 20 with much lower assets, you probably wouldn’t make the same decision. When I overspend, I don’t try to justify it; I do it mostly because I can. Of course, I could come up with reasons too.
On the other hand, I know people with relatively limited assets who still fly first class.

Many people who are under 5'10" still choose to buy first-class tickets.

 

[chemEguy]

Posting this whilst on that cross country flight. Comfortably in First, breakfast was good, enjoyed an iced coffee after, seat is nice, and daughter is online doing test prep next to me while nursing a cocktail and texting one of her friends.

It’s a nice way to travel.

 

[RetiredHappy]

On the other hand, I know people with relatively limited assets who still fly first class.

Many people who are under 5'10" still choose to buy first-class tickets.

Didn't you keep arguing not too long ago that people only buy first/business class seats because they are driven by a large bank account?

 

[chemEguy]

Funny story about our flight yesterday. The flight was almost fully booked. Everyone had checked into First. Boarding is pretty much done. The seat behind me in First is open, I’m guessing somebody missed a connection.

Out of no where a guy walks up the aisle and asks the attendant in First if he can move up to the empty seat behind me (he’s further back in the plane). Attendant clarifies if he means open seat in his section. He points to the empty seat in First.

Flight attendant quickly shuts down the conversation and asks him to return to his seat and get buckled.

 

[explanade]

There's no calling shotgun on first/business seats.

At least not these days.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

Funny story about our flight yesterday. The flight was almost fully booked. Everyone had checked into First. Boarding is pretty much done. The seat behind me in First is open, I’m guessing somebody missed a connection.

Out of no where a guy walks up the aisle and asks the attendant in First if he can move up to the empty seat behind me (he’s further back in the plane). Attendant clarifies if he means open seat in his section. He points to the empty seat in First.

Flight attendant quickly shuts down the conversation and asks him to return to his seat and get buckled.

Sounds like someone who hasn't flown in over 20 years! Remember when they used to upgrade people to fill the available 1st and business seats?

 

[marko]

Funny story about our flight yesterday. The flight was almost fully booked. Everyone had checked into First. Boarding is pretty much done. The seat behind me in First is open, I’m guessing somebody missed a connection.

Out of no where a guy walks up the aisle and asks the attendant in First if he can move up to the empty seat behind me (he’s further back in the plane). Attendant clarifies if he means open seat in his section. He points to the empty seat in First.

Flight attendant quickly shuts down the conversation and asks him to return to his seat and get buckled.

Great story! One time I was in my usual 2B and during boarding this guy comes in and very gruffly tells me to "get out of my $%#% seat!!".

We go through the usual sorting out. He insists that he's in 2B and that I had better move.

Flight attendant comes over and informs Mr Smooth that he's in row 22 C and the "2B" on his boarding pass is the gate number not the seat number. I almost spilled my Bloody Mary laughing.

 

[camfused]

On a flight I was on a few days ago, we were boarding and a young woman a couple rows back pushed the call button and a flight attendant came over. The passenger said it was the first time she has flown and she is freaking out. The flight attendant asked her to collect her belongings and marched her forward. She then sat her in 1A, which was empty. I suppose she did this to keep an eye on her, but skeptical me was thinking what a great way to get a free upgrade to first.

 

[Fermion]

Why would moving someone to a different seat make them freak out less about first time flying? This was obviously some hack.

 

[chemEguy]

Well, while we were waiting to board they started calling the usual pre board folks. My daughter and I were sort of milling about a little ways back from where people were lining up.

An older woman comes up to me and asks if I’m in line. I responded with, “not just yet.” She quickly pushes in front of us along with a bunch of others.

My daughter looked confused because she did the same math I did, there were at least 30 plus people pushing forward in anticipation of Group 1 being called. Only five or six rows in First so…??

Group 1 is called and…not one of group 1 gate crashers was sitting in First.

 

[chemEguy]

Sounds like someone who hasn't flown in over 20 years! Remember when they used to upgrade people to fill the available 1st and business seats?

Oh, there were 20 people on the upgrade list. It’s a fully filled flight going coast to coast. I’m guessing they didn’t move anyone because the missing passenger missed a connection.

 

[Chuckanut]

There is a thread in Flyer Talk that is called something like DYKWIA - Do You Know Who I Am?. It’s about self-important, legend in their own mind, flyers who try to throw their weight around usually at some other person’s expense. They can be quite funny to say the least.

 

[Lorenzo]

There is a thread in Flyer Talk that is called something like DYKWIA - Do You Know Who I Am?. It’s about self-important, legend in their own mind, flyers who try to throw their weight around usually at some other person’s expense. They can be quite funny to say the least.

I like the term they use on the FT forum for the people who mill around close to the gate waiting for their boarding group to be called: gate lice.

 

[breakaway]

Do what pleases you.
I purchased 2 economy tickets to London for $4000. Decided to pay the $1000 extra, price when I booked, for the direct flight.

 

[The Cosmic Avenger]

Heck, I was just happy the AA app offered me a $76 upgrade to first class for my upcoming trip! It's only a 2h15m domestic flight, but that was cheap enough I decided it was worth boarding first and getting a (slightly) nicer seat.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

I'm recalling the days of frequent air travel in the 1980s. Megacorp used to always book full fare coach (Class Y). Delta frequent flyers could upgrade to first for $20 (worth about $60 in today's money). I also recall flying L1011 planes with five across in the center. Usually a late evening flight and it was common to be able to find an entire empty row, put the armrests up, and fall asleep. Those were the days!

But now, I'm very willing to pony up for business class on overseas trips. I'm leaving on one next week and I'm sure glad I booked it last fall. It was definitely a blow that dough expenditure but now it's roughly triple the price.

 

[planuntilthefisthits]

I'm recalling the days of frequent air travel in the 1980s. Megacorp used to always book full fare coach (Class Y). Delta frequent flyers could upgrade to first for $20 (worth about $60 in today's money). I also recall flying L1011 planes with five across in the center. Usually a late evening flight and it was common to be able to find an entire empty row, put the armrests up, and fall asleep. Those were the days!

But now, I'm very willing to pony up for business class on overseas trips. I'm leaving on one next week and I'm sure glad I booked it last fall. It was definitely a blow that dough expenditure but now it's roughly triple the price.

I did the empty middle row on United 747s for years on 8-10 hour overnight flights. It was great!