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Why Fly International Business Class
Is it worth it?
To spend those precious travel budget dollars on an international business class flight?
From home to your hotel, lets dig into why flying business class internationally can be the perfect experience to treat yourself to.
Things are constantly changing when it comes to flying and gone are the simple days of 3 cabin classes…
First Class - Business Class - Economy
My first flight was at the age of 17 a short 1-hour domestic flight and then a 13-hour long-haul international flight followed by another 5-hour flight...
Over 24 hours of flying and layovers.
Nobody prepared me for what would happen to my body at 30,000 ft let alone how those body things would become more pronounced as I grew older.
Thank goodness I have enough flight miles under my belt now to practice some habits that make flying a much more comfortable experience.
Imagine my horror when I stepped on the plane to discover that while I had booked Business Class for a 13.5 hour long flight…
There were no lie-down beds just a wide business-class seat to recline back on…
Even worse I’m so short my feet could not reach the footrest, so my legs dangled and hovered above the floor.
That was both a physically frustrating lesson learned but also an expensive one!
First Big Tip...
Know Your Flight Experience Goal!
My goal is to rest and sleep so I hit the ground running when I reach my destination.
So the cost of a business class ticket offsets me wasting two days of valuable time and dollars feeling like a slug and out of it if I fly economy…
And wink, wink, the older I get the more important that becomes
To help you determine what your goals are think about a business class flying in three stages:
Your Pre-Flight Experience
Pre-flying is made up of two elements:
Finding & Selecting Your Flight
And…
Your Airport Experience
Finding & Selecting Your Flight
This becoming more and more complex. Take a look at this sample table below.
Please Note: This chart is for illustrative purposes only and will change over time :-)
To make your decision you will need to look at the specific airline, the duration of the flight and whether the airline deems it an international, regional or some other definition of not being a domestic flight.
As a quick guide most airlines define the duration of their flights using the following terms:
Long Haul 8-16 hours
Medium Haul 3-6 hours
Short Haul - less than 3 hours
And last but not least, it is always worth taking a look at the actually type of plane used on the day of your flight.
I use Flight Seat Guru to help me understand what types of seating and seating configuration offered on the flight:
Here is the link: https://www.seatguru.com/
Now that you have figured out what airline and type of flight/plane you require you are ready to look at the the cost of the flight.
Here are some key factors to take into consideration when assessing cost:
How long in advance you book your flight. There is a fine balance here booking too early or to close to your flight date can be more expensive.
The season, flying to a destination for their summer is typically going to be much higher than flying there in the winter
Flying over holidays is typically more expensive so be sure to check out if there are any local holidays at your destination for when you want to arrive or leave.
The day of the week you fly can also make a difference. Conventional wisdom says that flying on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday are good choices.
You will also find a lot of “chatter” about the best day to purchase your ticket but I have found that is just too much effort to try and figure out.
There are different ways to monitor and research flight prices.
There are many Apps as online Travel Gurus that you can join their membership programs.
Just be cautious before signing up for any programs. It is not going to be helpful to join a program with a US Travel Guru if you live in Australia. Any deals they have will originate from the US.
If you are looking to understand what flights, days of flights, airlines and costs then checkout Google Flights:
Here's the link: https://www.google.com/travel/flights
This is a great tool to start to narrow down your options.
It also gives you a good indication of which airlines are flying the route you want to take.
Pre-Flight Experience
The second element is your Pre-Flight Experience from the moment your feet hit the curb at the airport until you are comfortably seated onboard.
Every travelers experience is their unique experience!
Seat Selection:
Seat selection is a big thing for me traveling on my own and for being comfortable during my flight.
I like to be close to the galley and bathroom.
This means I can get up to the go to the bathroom as often as I like and my meals are served early which gives me type to bed down or freshen up before landing.
Baggage Allowance:
My international trips tend to be longer in duration and especially if I am traveling to multiple countries or taking a trip home to New Zealand to visit family and friends.
So yes, I want to make sure I can load up an extra bag on my return home with all the my favourite things that I have missed.
On business class international flights depending on the airline you are typically allowed 2-3 complimentary checked bags and the weight can vary between 50-70 lbs per bag.
And do beware of any connecting flights or code sharing with an airline as the number and weight of bag limits may be different.
Lounge Access:
Lounge access again is important to me especially if I am going to have connecting flights.
It does wonder for your body and soul if you can have a nice relaxing time in a lounge before your flight or between connecting flights.
After flying to Bangkok via Hong Kong it was bliss to take a quick shower and freshen up before boarding my next flight.
Lounge access provides a number of services that helps prepare you for a long flight and also as a respite between connecting flights.
Some international lounges as I mentioned may provide showering facilities.
The quality and standard of the lounge does depend on the airport and airline.
Lounges are increasingly becoming crowded given the different ways people can access based on class of their flight, frequent flyer status or purchase of a lounge pass.
But you can expect to find comfortable seating, food, drinks and complimentary wifi as well as a business area to work quietly if needed.
Priority Check In Line:
A priority check in line and priority baggage handling are normally part of your business class international flight experience.
If you have any anxiety or stress about flying or getting to places then a priority check in line is for you.
It all boils down to fewer people in a line and a personal service vs. checking in on a kiosk!
I do have mixed feelings about the whole priority bag tagging.
Too often I find the baggage handlers irrespective of the airline don’t seem to discriminate and its the exception not the rule that my priority tagged bags come up first.
Priority Security Lanes:
The biggest hassle at the airport is getting checked in and through security.
Your stress and anxiety can go through the roof when you face a security line that is mile long and your flight happens to be departing at a time when 20 million other flights are also departing.
Add to that a shift change or coffee break change for the security staff and bam...
The snails pace can almost grind to a halt.
So yes, having access to priority security lanes reduces the time for you to get to “the other side” where you can relax can be a life saver.
Priority Boarding:
This is another privilege that comes with that business class ticket.
This allows you to board the plane first or at your leisure through a priority lane and get yourself all settled in your seat while the rest of the plane is still being boarded.
This avoids "gate lice" a horrible term used in the airline industry to refer to the people who hover at the gate before it is their time to board.
Airline Points:
A number of factors go into how many points you will earn for a flight but you will likely earn higher points for a business class ticket...
And sometimes even receive bonus points depending on the airline points program.
Your In-Flight Experience
So now that you are onboard this is a whole slew of services come into play to make that 8, 12, 14 hour flight whizz by and by a happy memorable experience.
Seats / Beds:
As I’ve mentioned before this is my No. 1 factor for selecting a business class seat.
Now there are as you saw on the table different classes of business and first class and what they are called from airline to airline.
Some business class seats are just that seat that is wider, has more legroom and reclines further.
What I am always looking to book is a seat configuration where they seat turns into a lie down bed.
Some airlines refer to them as pods.
Not only does your seat convert to a fully vertical bed but you will also be provided with a pillow, padded cover for your bed and a blanket in good quality cotton.
First class seat configurations are also lie down bed and increasingly are completely enclosed with walls and a door. This type of first class is significantly more expensive on the airlines that offer this type of class i.e., Emirates.
Complimentary Alcohol:
All beverages including alcoholic drinks are complimentary in business class…
But a word of caution here drinking from an open bar when flying is a lot different than drinking at sea level.
💥💥💥Hot Tip💥💥💥: You absorb alcohol a lot faster due to the air pressure and oxygen levels are lower.
That means you are going to get drunk faster and have an even worse hangover before you even get off the plane.
Meals:
One of the benefits of business class are the meals and not just the quality of the food.
So first off meals are served on real plates with real cutlery and cloth napkins. It’s served at a leisurely pace so you get to enjoy your salad before your main course arrives.
The bread rolls are warm, not cold and hard as a rock ;-)
The meals are served at set times but…
You can access for your meal to be served at a different time and…
Between meals a selection of snacks are placed at the front of the cabin to help yourself to.
In addition more airlines are offering the ability to actually select your meal ahead of your flight.
Amenity Kits & PJ’s:
Due to the length of long haul international flights you are typically going to be wanting to sleep and then prior to landing you want to be able to freshen up.
In business class you can expect to receive an amenity kit and sometimes a pair of pyjamas that are yours to keep.
Note: being provided pyjamas is more common in First Class and for those airlines and may or may not be provided in business class, so do check with the airline.
The amenity kits contain typically contain items such as ear plugs, eye mask, socks or slippers, lip balm, toothbrush and toothpaste and a moisturizing cream.
The lip balm and moisturizing are from a luxury designer and/or organic.
And the kit themselves are well designed and attractive, so you can totally use them again.
Entertainment System:
You will have a full size monitor that can range from 23” with a touch screen and remote control and a full headset.
You will have a selection of on-demand movie/tv shows, games and audio as well as flight information.
Internet access is increasingly available in all cabin classes on flights. Some services maybe complimentary while others are paid services.
🔥🔥🔥Hot Tip🔥🔥🔥: I have found depending on the airline the selection can sometimes be a little dated.
So if you struggle to sleep and want to zone out on some binge watching I recommend you download movies/shows onto your iPad or Tablet and bring that onboard.
Bathrooms:
Let’s not forget bathrooms. Cue the eye roll and the dread of being trapped onboard a 14 hour flight sharing bathrooms...
But, another benefit of flying business class is the bathrooms are dedicated to business class passengers only and…
That means fewer people using them which is an overall much more comfortable and healthier experience.
And... some airlines provide toiletries in the bathrooms in addition to what you receive in your amenity kit.
Flight Attendants:
Last but not least is the service provided by the flight attendants. The ratio of flight attendants to passengers is higher than in economy class.
They are there to make your flight as comfortable as possible…
And the service is more personalized in that they get to spend more time with you and make will know your name.
They regularly come around to check on you and if you are up and about the cabin you can always find them in the galley if you need something.
Hot Tip: Do take notice of your Flight Attendants name. I have a mantra of being…
Kind, Courteous and Calm when flying…
So referring to your Flight Attendant by their name is both courteous and elevates your flight experience and theirs!
Your Post-Flight Experience
So you’ve landed isn’t it all over now?
Not so fast…
Depending on the destination you may also be treated to a dedicated a priority lane for immigration.
Remember those priority checked bags?
Well they should be the first up on the baggage carousel to get your on your way to your hotel faster.
My only negative here is that I have found increasingly that priority baggage handling is a very hit and miss affair.
You are at the mercy of the airlines baggage handles at your destination so don’t bank on those bags appearing first and you won’t be disappointed.
Wrapping up…
So now that you know all the In’s and Out’s of flying long haul international business class are you ready to go?
As I mentioned at the top of this blog, your travel experience is your unique experience.
The great thing is you get to make that choice!
If you found this blog valuable head on over to my YouTube channel, here's the link👇:
Female Travelers Over 50 By Raewyn Crist: @FemaleTravelers50Plus
And if you like what you see please consider subscribing to the channel or giving a video a like :-)
So cheers to wheels up to winging your way to your long dreamed of destination.
Flying
Why Fly International Business Class
Is it worth it?
To spend those precious travel budget dollars on an international business class flight?
From home to your hotel, lets dig into why flying business class internationally can be the perfect experience to treat yourself to.
Things are constantly changing when it comes to flying and gone are the simple days of 3 cabin classes…
First Class - Business Class - Economy
My first flight was at the age of 17 a short 1-hour domestic flight and then a 13-hour long-haul international flight followed by another 5-hour flight...
Over 24 hours of flying and layovers.
Nobody prepared me for what would happen to my body at 30,000 ft let alone how those body things would become more pronounced as I grew older.
Thank goodness I have enough flight miles under my belt now to practice some habits that make flying a much more comfortable experience.
Imagine my horror when I stepped on the plane to discover that while I had booked Business Class for a 13.5 hour long flight…
There were no lie-down beds just a wide business-class seat to recline back on…
Even worse I’m so short my feet could not reach the footrest, so my legs dangled and hovered above the floor.
That was both a physically frustrating lesson learned but also an expensive one!
First Big Tip...
Know Your Flight Experience Goal!
My goal is to rest and sleep so I hit the ground running when I reach my destination.
So the cost of a business class ticket offsets me wasting two days of valuable time and dollars feeling like a slug and out of it if I fly economy…
And wink, wink, the older I get the more important that becomes
To help you determine what your goals are think about a business class flying in three stages:
Your Pre-Flight Experience
Pre-flying is made up of two elements:
Finding & Selecting Your Flight
And…
Your Airport Experience
Finding & Selecting Your Flight
This becoming more and more complex. Take a look at this sample table below.
Please Note: This chart is for illustrative purposes only and will change over time :-)
To make your decision you will need to look at the specific airline, the duration of the flight and whether the airline deems it an international, regional or some other definition of not being a domestic flight.
As a quick guide most airlines define the duration of their flights using the following terms:
Long Haul 8-16 hours
Medium Haul 3-6 hours
Short Haul - less than 3 hours
And last but not least, it is always worth taking a look at the actually type of plane used on the day of your flight.
I use Flight Seat Guru to help me understand what types of seating and seating configuration offered on the flight:
Here is the link: https://www.seatguru.com/
Now that you have figured out what airline and type of flight/plane you require you are ready to look at the the cost of the flight.
Here are some key factors to take into consideration when assessing cost:
How long in advance you book your flight. There is a fine balance here booking too early or to close to your flight date can be more expensive.
The season, flying to a destination for their summer is typically going to be much higher than flying there in the winter
Flying over holidays is typically more expensive so be sure to check out if there are any local holidays at your destination for when you want to arrive or leave.
The day of the week you fly can also make a difference. Conventional wisdom says that flying on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday are good choices.
You will also find a lot of “chatter” about the best day to purchase your ticket but I have found that is just too much effort to try and figure out.
There are different ways to monitor and research flight prices.
There are many Apps as online Travel Gurus that you can join their membership programs.
Just be cautious before signing up for any programs. It is not going to be helpful to join a program with a US Travel Guru if you live in Australia. Any deals they have will originate from the US.
If you are looking to understand what flights, days of flights, airlines and costs then checkout Google Flights:
Here's the link: https://www.google.com/travel/flights
This is a great tool to start to narrow down your options.
It also gives you a good indication of which airlines are flying the route you want to take.
Pre-Flight Experience
The second element is your Pre-Flight Experience from the moment your feet hit the curb at the airport until you are comfortably seated onboard.
Every travelers experience is their unique experience!
Seat Selection:
Seat selection is a big thing for me traveling on my own and for being comfortable during my flight.
I like to be close to the galley and bathroom.
This means I can get up to the go to the bathroom as often as I like and my meals are served early which gives me type to bed down or freshen up before landing.
Baggage Allowance:
My international trips tend to be longer in duration and especially if I am traveling to multiple countries or taking a trip home to New Zealand to visit family and friends.
So yes, I want to make sure I can load up an extra bag on my return home with all the my favourite things that I have missed.
On business class international flights depending on the airline you are typically allowed 2-3 complimentary checked bags and the weight can vary between 50-70 lbs per bag.
And do beware of any connecting flights or code sharing with an airline as the number and weight of bag limits may be different.
Lounge Access:
Lounge access again is important to me especially if I am going to have connecting flights.
It does wonder for your body and soul if you can have a nice relaxing time in a lounge before your flight or between connecting flights.
After flying to Bangkok via Hong Kong it was bliss to take a quick shower and freshen up before boarding my next flight.
Lounge access provides a number of services that helps prepare you for a long flight and also as a respite between connecting flights.
Some international lounges as I mentioned may provide showering facilities.
The quality and standard of the lounge does depend on the airport and airline.
Lounges are increasingly becoming crowded given the different ways people can access based on class of their flight, frequent flyer status or purchase of a lounge pass.
But you can expect to find comfortable seating, food, drinks and complimentary wifi as well as a business area to work quietly if needed.
Priority Check In Line:
A priority check in line and priority baggage handling are normally part of your business class international flight experience.
If you have any anxiety or stress about flying or getting to places then a priority check in line is for you.
It all boils down to fewer people in a line and a personal service vs. checking in on a kiosk!
I do have mixed feelings about the whole priority bag tagging.
Too often I find the baggage handlers irrespective of the airline don’t seem to discriminate and its the exception not the rule that my priority tagged bags come up first.
Priority Security Lanes:
The biggest hassle at the airport is getting checked in and through security.
Your stress and anxiety can go through the roof when you face a security line that is mile long and your flight happens to be departing at a time when 20 million other flights are also departing.
Add to that a shift change or coffee break change for the security staff and bam...
The snails pace can almost grind to a halt.
So yes, having access to priority security lanes reduces the time for you to get to “the other side” where you can relax can be a life saver.
Priority Boarding:
This is another privilege that comes with that business class ticket.
This allows you to board the plane first or at your leisure through a priority lane and get yourself all settled in your seat while the rest of the plane is still being boarded.
This avoids "gate lice" a horrible term used in the airline industry to refer to the people who hover at the gate before it is their time to board.
Airline Points:
A number of factors go into how many points you will earn for a flight but you will likely earn higher points for a business class ticket...
And sometimes even receive bonus points depending on the airline points program.
Your In-Flight Experience
So now that you are onboard this is a whole slew of services come into play to make that 8, 12, 14 hour flight whizz by and by a happy memorable experience.
Seats / Beds:
As I’ve mentioned before this is my No. 1 factor for selecting a business class seat.
Now there are as you saw on the table different classes of business and first class and what they are called from airline to airline.
Some business class seats are just that seat that is wider, has more legroom and reclines further.
What I am always looking to book is a seat configuration where they seat turns into a lie down bed.
Some airlines refer to them as pods.
Not only does your seat convert to a fully vertical bed but you will also be provided with a pillow, padded cover for your bed and a blanket in good quality cotton.
First class seat configurations are also lie down bed and increasingly are completely enclosed with walls and a door. This type of first class is significantly more expensive on the airlines that offer this type of class i.e., Emirates.
Complimentary Alcohol:
All beverages including alcoholic drinks are complimentary in business class…
But a word of caution here drinking from an open bar when flying is a lot different than drinking at sea level.
💥💥💥Hot Tip💥💥💥: You absorb alcohol a lot faster due to the air pressure and oxygen levels are lower.
That means you are going to get drunk faster and have an even worse hangover before you even get off the plane.
Meals:
One of the benefits of business class are the meals and not just the quality of the food.
So first off meals are served on real plates with real cutlery and cloth napkins. It’s served at a leisurely pace so you get to enjoy your salad before your main course arrives.
The bread rolls are warm, not cold and hard as a rock ;-)
The meals are served at set times but…
You can access for your meal to be served at a different time and…
Between meals a selection of snacks are placed at the front of the cabin to help yourself to.
In addition more airlines are offering the ability to actually select your meal ahead of your flight.
Amenity Kits & PJ’s:
Due to the length of long haul international flights you are typically going to be wanting to sleep and then prior to landing you want to be able to freshen up.
In business class you can expect to receive an amenity kit and sometimes a pair of pyjamas that are yours to keep.
Note: being provided pyjamas is more common in First Class and for those airlines and may or may not be provided in business class, so do check with the airline.
The amenity kits contain typically contain items such as ear plugs, eye mask, socks or slippers, lip balm, toothbrush and toothpaste and a moisturizing cream.
The lip balm and moisturizing are from a luxury designer and/or organic.
And the kit themselves are well designed and attractive, so you can totally use them again.
Entertainment System:
You will have a full size monitor that can range from 23” with a touch screen and remote control and a full headset.
You will have a selection of on-demand movie/tv shows, games and audio as well as flight information.
Internet access is increasingly available in all cabin classes on flights. Some services maybe complimentary while others are paid services.
🔥🔥🔥Hot Tip🔥🔥🔥: I have found depending on the airline the selection can sometimes be a little dated.
So if you struggle to sleep and want to zone out on some binge watching I recommend you download movies/shows onto your iPad or Tablet and bring that onboard.
Bathrooms:
Let’s not forget bathrooms. Cue the eye roll and the dread of being trapped onboard a 14 hour flight sharing bathrooms...
But, another benefit of flying business class is the bathrooms are dedicated to business class passengers only and…
That means fewer people using them which is an overall much more comfortable and healthier experience.
And... some airlines provide toiletries in the bathrooms in addition to what you receive in your amenity kit.
Flight Attendants:
Last but not least is the service provided by the flight attendants. The ratio of flight attendants to passengers is higher than in economy class.
They are there to make your flight as comfortable as possible…
And the service is more personalized in that they get to spend more time with you and make will know your name.
They regularly come around to check on you and if you are up and about the cabin you can always find them in the galley if you need something.
Hot Tip: Do take notice of your Flight Attendants name. I have a mantra of being…
Kind, Courteous and Calm when flying…
So referring to your Flight Attendant by their name is both courteous and elevates your flight experience and theirs!
Your Post-Flight Experience
So you’ve landed isn’t it all over now?
Not so fast…
Depending on the destination you may also be treated to a dedicated a priority lane for immigration.
Remember those priority checked bags?
Well they should be the first up on the baggage carousel to get your on your way to your hotel faster.
My only negative here is that I have found increasingly that priority baggage handling is a very hit and miss affair.
You are at the mercy of the airlines baggage handles at your destination so don’t bank on those bags appearing first and you won’t be disappointed.
Wrapping up…
So now that you know all the In’s and Out’s of flying long haul international business class are you ready to go?
As I mentioned at the top of this blog, your travel experience is your unique experience.
The great thing is you get to make that choice!
If you found this blog valuable head on over to my YouTube channel, here's the link👇:
Female Travelers Over 50 By Raewyn Crist: @FemaleTravelers50Plus
And if you like what you see please consider subscribing to the channel or giving a video a like :-)
So cheers to wheels up to winging your way to your long dreamed of destination.
Packing & Travel Wardrobe
Why Fly International Business Class
Is it worth it?
To spend those precious travel budget dollars on an international business class flight?
From home to your hotel, lets dig into why flying business class internationally can be the perfect experience to treat yourself to.
Things are constantly changing when it comes to flying and gone are the simple days of 3 cabin classes…
First Class - Business Class - Economy
My first flight was at the age of 17 a short 1-hour domestic flight and then a 13-hour long-haul international flight followed by another 5-hour flight...
Over 24 hours of flying and layovers.
Nobody prepared me for what would happen to my body at 30,000 ft let alone how those body things would become more pronounced as I grew older.
Thank goodness I have enough flight miles under my belt now to practice some habits that make flying a much more comfortable experience.
Imagine my horror when I stepped on the plane to discover that while I had booked Business Class for a 13.5 hour long flight…
There were no lie-down beds just a wide business-class seat to recline back on…
Even worse I’m so short my feet could not reach the footrest, so my legs dangled and hovered above the floor.
That was both a physically frustrating lesson learned but also an expensive one!
First Big Tip...
Know Your Flight Experience Goal!
My goal is to rest and sleep so I hit the ground running when I reach my destination.
So the cost of a business class ticket offsets me wasting two days of valuable time and dollars feeling like a slug and out of it if I fly economy…
And wink, wink, the older I get the more important that becomes
To help you determine what your goals are think about a business class flying in three stages:
Your Pre-Flight Experience
Pre-flying is made up of two elements:
Finding & Selecting Your Flight
And…
Your Airport Experience
Finding & Selecting Your Flight
This becoming more and more complex. Take a look at this sample table below.
Please Note: This chart is for illustrative purposes only and will change over time :-)
To make your decision you will need to look at the specific airline, the duration of the flight and whether the airline deems it an international, regional or some other definition of not being a domestic flight.
As a quick guide most airlines define the duration of their flights using the following terms:
Long Haul 8-16 hours
Medium Haul 3-6 hours
Short Haul - less than 3 hours
And last but not least, it is always worth taking a look at the actually type of plane used on the day of your flight.
I use Flight Seat Guru to help me understand what types of seating and seating configuration offered on the flight:
Here is the link: https://www.seatguru.com/
Now that you have figured out what airline and type of flight/plane you require you are ready to look at the the cost of the flight.
Here are some key factors to take into consideration when assessing cost:
How long in advance you book your flight. There is a fine balance here booking too early or to close to your flight date can be more expensive.
The season, flying to a destination for their summer is typically going to be much higher than flying there in the winter
Flying over holidays is typically more expensive so be sure to check out if there are any local holidays at your destination for when you want to arrive or leave.
The day of the week you fly can also make a difference. Conventional wisdom says that flying on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday are good choices.
You will also find a lot of “chatter” about the best day to purchase your ticket but I have found that is just too much effort to try and figure out.
There are different ways to monitor and research flight prices.
There are many Apps as online Travel Gurus that you can join their membership programs.
Just be cautious before signing up for any programs. It is not going to be helpful to join a program with a US Travel Guru if you live in Australia. Any deals they have will originate from the US.
If you are looking to understand what flights, days of flights, airlines and costs then checkout Google Flights:
Here's the link: https://www.google.com/travel/flights
This is a great tool to start to narrow down your options.
It also gives you a good indication of which airlines are flying the route you want to take.
Pre-Flight Experience
The second element is your Pre-Flight Experience from the moment your feet hit the curb at the airport until you are comfortably seated onboard.
Every travelers experience is their unique experience!
Seat Selection:
Seat selection is a big thing for me traveling on my own and for being comfortable during my flight.
I like to be close to the galley and bathroom.
This means I can get up to the go to the bathroom as often as I like and my meals are served early which gives me type to bed down or freshen up before landing.
Baggage Allowance:
My international trips tend to be longer in duration and especially if I am traveling to multiple countries or taking a trip home to New Zealand to visit family and friends.
So yes, I want to make sure I can load up an extra bag on my return home with all the my favourite things that I have missed.
On business class international flights depending on the airline you are typically allowed 2-3 complimentary checked bags and the weight can vary between 50-70 lbs per bag.
And do beware of any connecting flights or code sharing with an airline as the number and weight of bag limits may be different.
Lounge Access:
Lounge access again is important to me especially if I am going to have connecting flights.
It does wonder for your body and soul if you can have a nice relaxing time in a lounge before your flight or between connecting flights.
After flying to Bangkok via Hong Kong it was bliss to take a quick shower and freshen up before boarding my next flight.
Lounge access provides a number of services that helps prepare you for a long flight and also as a respite between connecting flights.
Some international lounges as I mentioned may provide showering facilities.
The quality and standard of the lounge does depend on the airport and airline.
Lounges are increasingly becoming crowded given the different ways people can access based on class of their flight, frequent flyer status or purchase of a lounge pass.
But you can expect to find comfortable seating, food, drinks and complimentary wifi as well as a business area to work quietly if needed.
Priority Check In Line:
A priority check in line and priority baggage handling are normally part of your business class international flight experience.
If you have any anxiety or stress about flying or getting to places then a priority check in line is for you.
It all boils down to fewer people in a line and a personal service vs. checking in on a kiosk!
I do have mixed feelings about the whole priority bag tagging.
Too often I find the baggage handlers irrespective of the airline don’t seem to discriminate and its the exception not the rule that my priority tagged bags come up first.
Priority Security Lanes:
The biggest hassle at the airport is getting checked in and through security.
Your stress and anxiety can go through the roof when you face a security line that is mile long and your flight happens to be departing at a time when 20 million other flights are also departing.
Add to that a shift change or coffee break change for the security staff and bam...
The snails pace can almost grind to a halt.
So yes, having access to priority security lanes reduces the time for you to get to “the other side” where you can relax can be a life saver.
Priority Boarding:
This is another privilege that comes with that business class ticket.
This allows you to board the plane first or at your leisure through a priority lane and get yourself all settled in your seat while the rest of the plane is still being boarded.
This avoids "gate lice" a horrible term used in the airline industry to refer to the people who hover at the gate before it is their time to board.
Airline Points:
A number of factors go into how many points you will earn for a flight but you will likely earn higher points for a business class ticket...
And sometimes even receive bonus points depending on the airline points program.
Your In-Flight Experience
So now that you are onboard this is a whole slew of services come into play to make that 8, 12, 14 hour flight whizz by and by a happy memorable experience.
Seats / Beds:
As I’ve mentioned before this is my No. 1 factor for selecting a business class seat.
Now there are as you saw on the table different classes of business and first class and what they are called from airline to airline.
Some business class seats are just that seat that is wider, has more legroom and reclines further.
What I am always looking to book is a seat configuration where they seat turns into a lie down bed.
Some airlines refer to them as pods.
Not only does your seat convert to a fully vertical bed but you will also be provided with a pillow, padded cover for your bed and a blanket in good quality cotton.
First class seat configurations are also lie down bed and increasingly are completely enclosed with walls and a door. This type of first class is significantly more expensive on the airlines that offer this type of class i.e., Emirates.
Complimentary Alcohol:
All beverages including alcoholic drinks are complimentary in business class…
But a word of caution here drinking from an open bar when flying is a lot different than drinking at sea level.
💥💥💥Hot Tip💥💥💥: You absorb alcohol a lot faster due to the air pressure and oxygen levels are lower.
That means you are going to get drunk faster and have an even worse hangover before you even get off the plane.
Meals:
One of the benefits of business class are the meals and not just the quality of the food.
So first off meals are served on real plates with real cutlery and cloth napkins. It’s served at a leisurely pace so you get to enjoy your salad before your main course arrives.
The bread rolls are warm, not cold and hard as a rock ;-)
The meals are served at set times but…
You can access for your meal to be served at a different time and…
Between meals a selection of snacks are placed at the front of the cabin to help yourself to.
In addition more airlines are offering the ability to actually select your meal ahead of your flight.
Amenity Kits & PJ’s:
Due to the length of long haul international flights you are typically going to be wanting to sleep and then prior to landing you want to be able to freshen up.
In business class you can expect to receive an amenity kit and sometimes a pair of pyjamas that are yours to keep.
Note: being provided pyjamas is more common in First Class and for those airlines and may or may not be provided in business class, so do check with the airline.
The amenity kits contain typically contain items such as ear plugs, eye mask, socks or slippers, lip balm, toothbrush and toothpaste and a moisturizing cream.
The lip balm and moisturizing are from a luxury designer and/or organic.
And the kit themselves are well designed and attractive, so you can totally use them again.
Entertainment System:
You will have a full size monitor that can range from 23” with a touch screen and remote control and a full headset.
You will have a selection of on-demand movie/tv shows, games and audio as well as flight information.
Internet access is increasingly available in all cabin classes on flights. Some services maybe complimentary while others are paid services.
🔥🔥🔥Hot Tip🔥🔥🔥: I have found depending on the airline the selection can sometimes be a little dated.
So if you struggle to sleep and want to zone out on some binge watching I recommend you download movies/shows onto your iPad or Tablet and bring that onboard.
Bathrooms:
Let’s not forget bathrooms. Cue the eye roll and the dread of being trapped onboard a 14 hour flight sharing bathrooms...
But, another benefit of flying business class is the bathrooms are dedicated to business class passengers only and…
That means fewer people using them which is an overall much more comfortable and healthier experience.
And... some airlines provide toiletries in the bathrooms in addition to what you receive in your amenity kit.
Flight Attendants:
Last but not least is the service provided by the flight attendants. The ratio of flight attendants to passengers is higher than in economy class.
They are there to make your flight as comfortable as possible…
And the service is more personalized in that they get to spend more time with you and make will know your name.
They regularly come around to check on you and if you are up and about the cabin you can always find them in the galley if you need something.
Hot Tip: Do take notice of your Flight Attendants name. I have a mantra of being…
Kind, Courteous and Calm when flying…
So referring to your Flight Attendant by their name is both courteous and elevates your flight experience and theirs!
Your Post-Flight Experience
So you’ve landed isn’t it all over now?
Not so fast…
Depending on the destination you may also be treated to a dedicated a priority lane for immigration.
Remember those priority checked bags?
Well they should be the first up on the baggage carousel to get your on your way to your hotel faster.
My only negative here is that I have found increasingly that priority baggage handling is a very hit and miss affair.
You are at the mercy of the airlines baggage handles at your destination so don’t bank on those bags appearing first and you won’t be disappointed.
Wrapping up…
So now that you know all the In’s and Out’s of flying long haul international business class are you ready to go?
As I mentioned at the top of this blog, your travel experience is your unique experience.
The great thing is you get to make that choice!
If you found this blog valuable head on over to my YouTube channel, here's the link👇:
Female Travelers Over 50 By Raewyn Crist: @FemaleTravelers50Plus
And if you like what you see please consider subscribing to the channel or giving a video a like :-)
So cheers to wheels up to winging your way to your long dreamed of destination.
Solo Travel
Why Fly International Business Class
Is it worth it?
To spend those precious travel budget dollars on an international business class flight?
From home to your hotel, lets dig into why flying business class internationally can be the perfect experience to treat yourself to.
Things are constantly changing when it comes to flying and gone are the simple days of 3 cabin classes…
First Class - Business Class - Economy
My first flight was at the age of 17 a short 1-hour domestic flight and then a 13-hour long-haul international flight followed by another 5-hour flight...
Over 24 hours of flying and layovers.
Nobody prepared me for what would happen to my body at 30,000 ft let alone how those body things would become more pronounced as I grew older.
Thank goodness I have enough flight miles under my belt now to practice some habits that make flying a much more comfortable experience.
Imagine my horror when I stepped on the plane to discover that while I had booked Business Class for a 13.5 hour long flight…
There were no lie-down beds just a wide business-class seat to recline back on…
Even worse I’m so short my feet could not reach the footrest, so my legs dangled and hovered above the floor.
That was both a physically frustrating lesson learned but also an expensive one!
First Big Tip...
Know Your Flight Experience Goal!
My goal is to rest and sleep so I hit the ground running when I reach my destination.
So the cost of a business class ticket offsets me wasting two days of valuable time and dollars feeling like a slug and out of it if I fly economy…
And wink, wink, the older I get the more important that becomes
To help you determine what your goals are think about a business class flying in three stages:
Your Pre-Flight Experience
Pre-flying is made up of two elements:
Finding & Selecting Your Flight
And…
Your Airport Experience
Finding & Selecting Your Flight
This becoming more and more complex. Take a look at this sample table below.
Please Note: This chart is for illustrative purposes only and will change over time :-)
To make your decision you will need to look at the specific airline, the duration of the flight and whether the airline deems it an international, regional or some other definition of not being a domestic flight.
As a quick guide most airlines define the duration of their flights using the following terms:
Long Haul 8-16 hours
Medium Haul 3-6 hours
Short Haul - less than 3 hours
And last but not least, it is always worth taking a look at the actually type of plane used on the day of your flight.
I use Flight Seat Guru to help me understand what types of seating and seating configuration offered on the flight:
Here is the link: https://www.seatguru.com/
Now that you have figured out what airline and type of flight/plane you require you are ready to look at the the cost of the flight.
Here are some key factors to take into consideration when assessing cost:
How long in advance you book your flight. There is a fine balance here booking too early or to close to your flight date can be more expensive.
The season, flying to a destination for their summer is typically going to be much higher than flying there in the winter
Flying over holidays is typically more expensive so be sure to check out if there are any local holidays at your destination for when you want to arrive or leave.
The day of the week you fly can also make a difference. Conventional wisdom says that flying on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday are good choices.
You will also find a lot of “chatter” about the best day to purchase your ticket but I have found that is just too much effort to try and figure out.
There are different ways to monitor and research flight prices.
There are many Apps as online Travel Gurus that you can join their membership programs.
Just be cautious before signing up for any programs. It is not going to be helpful to join a program with a US Travel Guru if you live in Australia. Any deals they have will originate from the US.
If you are looking to understand what flights, days of flights, airlines and costs then checkout Google Flights:
Here's the link: https://www.google.com/travel/flights
This is a great tool to start to narrow down your options.
It also gives you a good indication of which airlines are flying the route you want to take.
Pre-Flight Experience
The second element is your Pre-Flight Experience from the moment your feet hit the curb at the airport until you are comfortably seated onboard.
Every travelers experience is their unique experience!
Seat Selection:
Seat selection is a big thing for me traveling on my own and for being comfortable during my flight.
I like to be close to the galley and bathroom.
This means I can get up to the go to the bathroom as often as I like and my meals are served early which gives me type to bed down or freshen up before landing.
Baggage Allowance:
My international trips tend to be longer in duration and especially if I am traveling to multiple countries or taking a trip home to New Zealand to visit family and friends.
So yes, I want to make sure I can load up an extra bag on my return home with all the my favourite things that I have missed.
On business class international flights depending on the airline you are typically allowed 2-3 complimentary checked bags and the weight can vary between 50-70 lbs per bag.
And do beware of any connecting flights or code sharing with an airline as the number and weight of bag limits may be different.
Lounge Access:
Lounge access again is important to me especially if I am going to have connecting flights.
It does wonder for your body and soul if you can have a nice relaxing time in a lounge before your flight or between connecting flights.
After flying to Bangkok via Hong Kong it was bliss to take a quick shower and freshen up before boarding my next flight.
Lounge access provides a number of services that helps prepare you for a long flight and also as a respite between connecting flights.
Some international lounges as I mentioned may provide showering facilities.
The quality and standard of the lounge does depend on the airport and airline.
Lounges are increasingly becoming crowded given the different ways people can access based on class of their flight, frequent flyer status or purchase of a lounge pass.
But you can expect to find comfortable seating, food, drinks and complimentary wifi as well as a business area to work quietly if needed.
Priority Check In Line:
A priority check in line and priority baggage handling are normally part of your business class international flight experience.
If you have any anxiety or stress about flying or getting to places then a priority check in line is for you.
It all boils down to fewer people in a line and a personal service vs. checking in on a kiosk!
I do have mixed feelings about the whole priority bag tagging.
Too often I find the baggage handlers irrespective of the airline don’t seem to discriminate and its the exception not the rule that my priority tagged bags come up first.
Priority Security Lanes:
The biggest hassle at the airport is getting checked in and through security.
Your stress and anxiety can go through the roof when you face a security line that is mile long and your flight happens to be departing at a time when 20 million other flights are also departing.
Add to that a shift change or coffee break change for the security staff and bam...
The snails pace can almost grind to a halt.
So yes, having access to priority security lanes reduces the time for you to get to “the other side” where you can relax can be a life saver.
Priority Boarding:
This is another privilege that comes with that business class ticket.
This allows you to board the plane first or at your leisure through a priority lane and get yourself all settled in your seat while the rest of the plane is still being boarded.
This avoids "gate lice" a horrible term used in the airline industry to refer to the people who hover at the gate before it is their time to board.
Airline Points:
A number of factors go into how many points you will earn for a flight but you will likely earn higher points for a business class ticket...
And sometimes even receive bonus points depending on the airline points program.
Your In-Flight Experience
So now that you are onboard this is a whole slew of services come into play to make that 8, 12, 14 hour flight whizz by and by a happy memorable experience.
Seats / Beds:
As I’ve mentioned before this is my No. 1 factor for selecting a business class seat.
Now there are as you saw on the table different classes of business and first class and what they are called from airline to airline.
Some business class seats are just that seat that is wider, has more legroom and reclines further.
What I am always looking to book is a seat configuration where they seat turns into a lie down bed.
Some airlines refer to them as pods.
Not only does your seat convert to a fully vertical bed but you will also be provided with a pillow, padded cover for your bed and a blanket in good quality cotton.
First class seat configurations are also lie down bed and increasingly are completely enclosed with walls and a door. This type of first class is significantly more expensive on the airlines that offer this type of class i.e., Emirates.
Complimentary Alcohol:
All beverages including alcoholic drinks are complimentary in business class…
But a word of caution here drinking from an open bar when flying is a lot different than drinking at sea level.
💥💥💥Hot Tip💥💥💥: You absorb alcohol a lot faster due to the air pressure and oxygen levels are lower.
That means you are going to get drunk faster and have an even worse hangover before you even get off the plane.
Meals:
One of the benefits of business class are the meals and not just the quality of the food.
So first off meals are served on real plates with real cutlery and cloth napkins. It’s served at a leisurely pace so you get to enjoy your salad before your main course arrives.
The bread rolls are warm, not cold and hard as a rock ;-)
The meals are served at set times but…
You can access for your meal to be served at a different time and…
Between meals a selection of snacks are placed at the front of the cabin to help yourself to.
In addition more airlines are offering the ability to actually select your meal ahead of your flight.
Amenity Kits & PJ’s:
Due to the length of long haul international flights you are typically going to be wanting to sleep and then prior to landing you want to be able to freshen up.
In business class you can expect to receive an amenity kit and sometimes a pair of pyjamas that are yours to keep.
Note: being provided pyjamas is more common in First Class and for those airlines and may or may not be provided in business class, so do check with the airline.
The amenity kits contain typically contain items such as ear plugs, eye mask, socks or slippers, lip balm, toothbrush and toothpaste and a moisturizing cream.
The lip balm and moisturizing are from a luxury designer and/or organic.
And the kit themselves are well designed and attractive, so you can totally use them again.
Entertainment System:
You will have a full size monitor that can range from 23” with a touch screen and remote control and a full headset.
You will have a selection of on-demand movie/tv shows, games and audio as well as flight information.
Internet access is increasingly available in all cabin classes on flights. Some services maybe complimentary while others are paid services.
🔥🔥🔥Hot Tip🔥🔥🔥: I have found depending on the airline the selection can sometimes be a little dated.
So if you struggle to sleep and want to zone out on some binge watching I recommend you download movies/shows onto your iPad or Tablet and bring that onboard.
Bathrooms:
Let’s not forget bathrooms. Cue the eye roll and the dread of being trapped onboard a 14 hour flight sharing bathrooms...
But, another benefit of flying business class is the bathrooms are dedicated to business class passengers only and…
That means fewer people using them which is an overall much more comfortable and healthier experience.
And... some airlines provide toiletries in the bathrooms in addition to what you receive in your amenity kit.
Flight Attendants:
Last but not least is the service provided by the flight attendants. The ratio of flight attendants to passengers is higher than in economy class.
They are there to make your flight as comfortable as possible…
And the service is more personalized in that they get to spend more time with you and make will know your name.
They regularly come around to check on you and if you are up and about the cabin you can always find them in the galley if you need something.
Hot Tip: Do take notice of your Flight Attendants name. I have a mantra of being…
Kind, Courteous and Calm when flying…
So referring to your Flight Attendant by their name is both courteous and elevates your flight experience and theirs!
Your Post-Flight Experience
So you’ve landed isn’t it all over now?
Not so fast…
Depending on the destination you may also be treated to a dedicated a priority lane for immigration.
Remember those priority checked bags?
Well they should be the first up on the baggage carousel to get your on your way to your hotel faster.
My only negative here is that I have found increasingly that priority baggage handling is a very hit and miss affair.
You are at the mercy of the airlines baggage handles at your destination so don’t bank on those bags appearing first and you won’t be disappointed.
Wrapping up…
So now that you know all the In’s and Out’s of flying long haul international business class are you ready to go?
As I mentioned at the top of this blog, your travel experience is your unique experience.
The great thing is you get to make that choice!
If you found this blog valuable head on over to my YouTube channel, here's the link👇:
Female Travelers Over 50 By Raewyn Crist: @FemaleTravelers50Plus
And if you like what you see please consider subscribing to the channel or giving a video a like :-)
So cheers to wheels up to winging your way to your long dreamed of destination.
Traveling With Friends
Why Fly International Business Class
Is it worth it?
To spend those precious travel budget dollars on an international business class flight?
From home to your hotel, lets dig into why flying business class internationally can be the perfect experience to treat yourself to.
Things are constantly changing when it comes to flying and gone are the simple days of 3 cabin classes…
First Class - Business Class - Economy
My first flight was at the age of 17 a short 1-hour domestic flight and then a 13-hour long-haul international flight followed by another 5-hour flight...
Over 24 hours of flying and layovers.
Nobody prepared me for what would happen to my body at 30,000 ft let alone how those body things would become more pronounced as I grew older.
Thank goodness I have enough flight miles under my belt now to practice some habits that make flying a much more comfortable experience.
Imagine my horror when I stepped on the plane to discover that while I had booked Business Class for a 13.5 hour long flight…
There were no lie-down beds just a wide business-class seat to recline back on…
Even worse I’m so short my feet could not reach the footrest, so my legs dangled and hovered above the floor.
That was both a physically frustrating lesson learned but also an expensive one!
First Big Tip...
Know Your Flight Experience Goal!
My goal is to rest and sleep so I hit the ground running when I reach my destination.
So the cost of a business class ticket offsets me wasting two days of valuable time and dollars feeling like a slug and out of it if I fly economy…
And wink, wink, the older I get the more important that becomes
To help you determine what your goals are think about a business class flying in three stages:
Your Pre-Flight Experience
Pre-flying is made up of two elements:
Finding & Selecting Your Flight
And…
Your Airport Experience
Finding & Selecting Your Flight
This becoming more and more complex. Take a look at this sample table below.
Please Note: This chart is for illustrative purposes only and will change over time :-)
To make your decision you will need to look at the specific airline, the duration of the flight and whether the airline deems it an international, regional or some other definition of not being a domestic flight.
As a quick guide most airlines define the duration of their flights using the following terms:
Long Haul 8-16 hours
Medium Haul 3-6 hours
Short Haul - less than 3 hours
And last but not least, it is always worth taking a look at the actually type of plane used on the day of your flight.
I use Flight Seat Guru to help me understand what types of seating and seating configuration offered on the flight:
Here is the link: https://www.seatguru.com/
Now that you have figured out what airline and type of flight/plane you require you are ready to look at the the cost of the flight.
Here are some key factors to take into consideration when assessing cost:
How long in advance you book your flight. There is a fine balance here booking too early or to close to your flight date can be more expensive.
The season, flying to a destination for their summer is typically going to be much higher than flying there in the winter
Flying over holidays is typically more expensive so be sure to check out if there are any local holidays at your destination for when you want to arrive or leave.
The day of the week you fly can also make a difference. Conventional wisdom says that flying on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday are good choices.
You will also find a lot of “chatter” about the best day to purchase your ticket but I have found that is just too much effort to try and figure out.
There are different ways to monitor and research flight prices.
There are many Apps as online Travel Gurus that you can join their membership programs.
Just be cautious before signing up for any programs. It is not going to be helpful to join a program with a US Travel Guru if you live in Australia. Any deals they have will originate from the US.
If you are looking to understand what flights, days of flights, airlines and costs then checkout Google Flights:
Here's the link: https://www.google.com/travel/flights
This is a great tool to start to narrow down your options.
It also gives you a good indication of which airlines are flying the route you want to take.
Pre-Flight Experience
The second element is your Pre-Flight Experience from the moment your feet hit the curb at the airport until you are comfortably seated onboard.
Every travelers experience is their unique experience!
Seat Selection:
Seat selection is a big thing for me traveling on my own and for being comfortable during my flight.
I like to be close to the galley and bathroom.
This means I can get up to the go to the bathroom as often as I like and my meals are served early which gives me type to bed down or freshen up before landing.
Baggage Allowance:
My international trips tend to be longer in duration and especially if I am traveling to multiple countries or taking a trip home to New Zealand to visit family and friends.
So yes, I want to make sure I can load up an extra bag on my return home with all the my favourite things that I have missed.
On business class international flights depending on the airline you are typically allowed 2-3 complimentary checked bags and the weight can vary between 50-70 lbs per bag.
And do beware of any connecting flights or code sharing with an airline as the number and weight of bag limits may be different.
Lounge Access:
Lounge access again is important to me especially if I am going to have connecting flights.
It does wonder for your body and soul if you can have a nice relaxing time in a lounge before your flight or between connecting flights.
After flying to Bangkok via Hong Kong it was bliss to take a quick shower and freshen up before boarding my next flight.
Lounge access provides a number of services that helps prepare you for a long flight and also as a respite between connecting flights.
Some international lounges as I mentioned may provide showering facilities.
The quality and standard of the lounge does depend on the airport and airline.
Lounges are increasingly becoming crowded given the different ways people can access based on class of their flight, frequent flyer status or purchase of a lounge pass.
But you can expect to find comfortable seating, food, drinks and complimentary wifi as well as a business area to work quietly if needed.
Priority Check In Line:
A priority check in line and priority baggage handling are normally part of your business class international flight experience.
If you have any anxiety or stress about flying or getting to places then a priority check in line is for you.
It all boils down to fewer people in a line and a personal service vs. checking in on a kiosk!
I do have mixed feelings about the whole priority bag tagging.
Too often I find the baggage handlers irrespective of the airline don’t seem to discriminate and its the exception not the rule that my priority tagged bags come up first.
Priority Security Lanes:
The biggest hassle at the airport is getting checked in and through security.
Your stress and anxiety can go through the roof when you face a security line that is mile long and your flight happens to be departing at a time when 20 million other flights are also departing.
Add to that a shift change or coffee break change for the security staff and bam...
The snails pace can almost grind to a halt.
So yes, having access to priority security lanes reduces the time for you to get to “the other side” where you can relax can be a life saver.
Priority Boarding:
This is another privilege that comes with that business class ticket.
This allows you to board the plane first or at your leisure through a priority lane and get yourself all settled in your seat while the rest of the plane is still being boarded.
This avoids "gate lice" a horrible term used in the airline industry to refer to the people who hover at the gate before it is their time to board.
Airline Points:
A number of factors go into how many points you will earn for a flight but you will likely earn higher points for a business class ticket...
And sometimes even receive bonus points depending on the airline points program.
Your In-Flight Experience
So now that you are onboard this is a whole slew of services come into play to make that 8, 12, 14 hour flight whizz by and by a happy memorable experience.
Seats / Beds:
As I’ve mentioned before this is my No. 1 factor for selecting a business class seat.
Now there are as you saw on the table different classes of business and first class and what they are called from airline to airline.
Some business class seats are just that seat that is wider, has more legroom and reclines further.
What I am always looking to book is a seat configuration where they seat turns into a lie down bed.
Some airlines refer to them as pods.
Not only does your seat convert to a fully vertical bed but you will also be provided with a pillow, padded cover for your bed and a blanket in good quality cotton.
First class seat configurations are also lie down bed and increasingly are completely enclosed with walls and a door. This type of first class is significantly more expensive on the airlines that offer this type of class i.e., Emirates.
Complimentary Alcohol:
All beverages including alcoholic drinks are complimentary in business class…
But a word of caution here drinking from an open bar when flying is a lot different than drinking at sea level.
💥💥💥Hot Tip💥💥💥: You absorb alcohol a lot faster due to the air pressure and oxygen levels are lower.
That means you are going to get drunk faster and have an even worse hangover before you even get off the plane.
Meals:
One of the benefits of business class are the meals and not just the quality of the food.
So first off meals are served on real plates with real cutlery and cloth napkins. It’s served at a leisurely pace so you get to enjoy your salad before your main course arrives.
The bread rolls are warm, not cold and hard as a rock ;-)
The meals are served at set times but…
You can access for your meal to be served at a different time and…
Between meals a selection of snacks are placed at the front of the cabin to help yourself to.
In addition more airlines are offering the ability to actually select your meal ahead of your flight.
Amenity Kits & PJ’s:
Due to the length of long haul international flights you are typically going to be wanting to sleep and then prior to landing you want to be able to freshen up.
In business class you can expect to receive an amenity kit and sometimes a pair of pyjamas that are yours to keep.
Note: being provided pyjamas is more common in First Class and for those airlines and may or may not be provided in business class, so do check with the airline.
The amenity kits contain typically contain items such as ear plugs, eye mask, socks or slippers, lip balm, toothbrush and toothpaste and a moisturizing cream.
The lip balm and moisturizing are from a luxury designer and/or organic.
And the kit themselves are well designed and attractive, so you can totally use them again.
Entertainment System:
You will have a full size monitor that can range from 23” with a touch screen and remote control and a full headset.
You will have a selection of on-demand movie/tv shows, games and audio as well as flight information.
Internet access is increasingly available in all cabin classes on flights. Some services maybe complimentary while others are paid services.
🔥🔥🔥Hot Tip🔥🔥🔥: I have found depending on the airline the selection can sometimes be a little dated.
So if you struggle to sleep and want to zone out on some binge watching I recommend you download movies/shows onto your iPad or Tablet and bring that onboard.
Bathrooms:
Let’s not forget bathrooms. Cue the eye roll and the dread of being trapped onboard a 14 hour flight sharing bathrooms...
But, another benefit of flying business class is the bathrooms are dedicated to business class passengers only and…
That means fewer people using them which is an overall much more comfortable and healthier experience.
And... some airlines provide toiletries in the bathrooms in addition to what you receive in your amenity kit.
Flight Attendants:
Last but not least is the service provided by the flight attendants. The ratio of flight attendants to passengers is higher than in economy class.
They are there to make your flight as comfortable as possible…
And the service is more personalized in that they get to spend more time with you and make will know your name.
They regularly come around to check on you and if you are up and about the cabin you can always find them in the galley if you need something.
Hot Tip: Do take notice of your Flight Attendants name. I have a mantra of being…
Kind, Courteous and Calm when flying…
So referring to your Flight Attendant by their name is both courteous and elevates your flight experience and theirs!
Your Post-Flight Experience
So you’ve landed isn’t it all over now?
Not so fast…
Depending on the destination you may also be treated to a dedicated a priority lane for immigration.
Remember those priority checked bags?
Well they should be the first up on the baggage carousel to get your on your way to your hotel faster.
My only negative here is that I have found increasingly that priority baggage handling is a very hit and miss affair.
You are at the mercy of the airlines baggage handles at your destination so don’t bank on those bags appearing first and you won’t be disappointed.
Wrapping up…
So now that you know all the In’s and Out’s of flying long haul international business class are you ready to go?
As I mentioned at the top of this blog, your travel experience is your unique experience.
The great thing is you get to make that choice!
If you found this blog valuable head on over to my YouTube channel, here's the link👇:
Female Travelers Over 50 By Raewyn Crist: @FemaleTravelers50Plus
And if you like what you see please consider subscribing to the channel or giving a video a like :-)
So cheers to wheels up to winging your way to your long dreamed of destination.
Wellness Retreats
Why Fly International Business Class
Is it worth it?
To spend those precious travel budget dollars on an international business class flight?
From home to your hotel, lets dig into why flying business class internationally can be the perfect experience to treat yourself to.
Things are constantly changing when it comes to flying and gone are the simple days of 3 cabin classes…
First Class - Business Class - Economy
My first flight was at the age of 17 a short 1-hour domestic flight and then a 13-hour long-haul international flight followed by another 5-hour flight...
Over 24 hours of flying and layovers.
Nobody prepared me for what would happen to my body at 30,000 ft let alone how those body things would become more pronounced as I grew older.
Thank goodness I have enough flight miles under my belt now to practice some habits that make flying a much more comfortable experience.
Imagine my horror when I stepped on the plane to discover that while I had booked Business Class for a 13.5 hour long flight…
There were no lie-down beds just a wide business-class seat to recline back on…
Even worse I’m so short my feet could not reach the footrest, so my legs dangled and hovered above the floor.
That was both a physically frustrating lesson learned but also an expensive one!
First Big Tip...
Know Your Flight Experience Goal!
My goal is to rest and sleep so I hit the ground running when I reach my destination.
So the cost of a business class ticket offsets me wasting two days of valuable time and dollars feeling like a slug and out of it if I fly economy…
And wink, wink, the older I get the more important that becomes
To help you determine what your goals are think about a business class flying in three stages:
Your Pre-Flight Experience
Pre-flying is made up of two elements:
Finding & Selecting Your Flight
And…
Your Airport Experience
Finding & Selecting Your Flight
This becoming more and more complex. Take a look at this sample table below.
Please Note: This chart is for illustrative purposes only and will change over time :-)
To make your decision you will need to look at the specific airline, the duration of the flight and whether the airline deems it an international, regional or some other definition of not being a domestic flight.
As a quick guide most airlines define the duration of their flights using the following terms:
Long Haul 8-16 hours
Medium Haul 3-6 hours
Short Haul - less than 3 hours
And last but not least, it is always worth taking a look at the actually type of plane used on the day of your flight.
I use Flight Seat Guru to help me understand what types of seating and seating configuration offered on the flight:
Here is the link: https://www.seatguru.com/
Now that you have figured out what airline and type of flight/plane you require you are ready to look at the the cost of the flight.
Here are some key factors to take into consideration when assessing cost:
How long in advance you book your flight. There is a fine balance here booking too early or to close to your flight date can be more expensive.
The season, flying to a destination for their summer is typically going to be much higher than flying there in the winter
Flying over holidays is typically more expensive so be sure to check out if there are any local holidays at your destination for when you want to arrive or leave.
The day of the week you fly can also make a difference. Conventional wisdom says that flying on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday are good choices.
You will also find a lot of “chatter” about the best day to purchase your ticket but I have found that is just too much effort to try and figure out.
There are different ways to monitor and research flight prices.
There are many Apps as online Travel Gurus that you can join their membership programs.
Just be cautious before signing up for any programs. It is not going to be helpful to join a program with a US Travel Guru if you live in Australia. Any deals they have will originate from the US.
If you are looking to understand what flights, days of flights, airlines and costs then checkout Google Flights:
Here's the link: https://www.google.com/travel/flights
This is a great tool to start to narrow down your options.
It also gives you a good indication of which airlines are flying the route you want to take.
Pre-Flight Experience
The second element is your Pre-Flight Experience from the moment your feet hit the curb at the airport until you are comfortably seated onboard.
Every travelers experience is their unique experience!
Seat Selection:
Seat selection is a big thing for me traveling on my own and for being comfortable during my flight.
I like to be close to the galley and bathroom.
This means I can get up to the go to the bathroom as often as I like and my meals are served early which gives me type to bed down or freshen up before landing.
Baggage Allowance:
My international trips tend to be longer in duration and especially if I am traveling to multiple countries or taking a trip home to New Zealand to visit family and friends.
So yes, I want to make sure I can load up an extra bag on my return home with all the my favourite things that I have missed.
On business class international flights depending on the airline you are typically allowed 2-3 complimentary checked bags and the weight can vary between 50-70 lbs per bag.
And do beware of any connecting flights or code sharing with an airline as the number and weight of bag limits may be different.
Lounge Access:
Lounge access again is important to me especially if I am going to have connecting flights.
It does wonder for your body and soul if you can have a nice relaxing time in a lounge before your flight or between connecting flights.
After flying to Bangkok via Hong Kong it was bliss to take a quick shower and freshen up before boarding my next flight.
Lounge access provides a number of services that helps prepare you for a long flight and also as a respite between connecting flights.
Some international lounges as I mentioned may provide showering facilities.
The quality and standard of the lounge does depend on the airport and airline.
Lounges are increasingly becoming crowded given the different ways people can access based on class of their flight, frequent flyer status or purchase of a lounge pass.
But you can expect to find comfortable seating, food, drinks and complimentary wifi as well as a business area to work quietly if needed.
Priority Check In Line:
A priority check in line and priority baggage handling are normally part of your business class international flight experience.
If you have any anxiety or stress about flying or getting to places then a priority check in line is for you.
It all boils down to fewer people in a line and a personal service vs. checking in on a kiosk!
I do have mixed feelings about the whole priority bag tagging.
Too often I find the baggage handlers irrespective of the airline don’t seem to discriminate and its the exception not the rule that my priority tagged bags come up first.
Priority Security Lanes:
The biggest hassle at the airport is getting checked in and through security.
Your stress and anxiety can go through the roof when you face a security line that is mile long and your flight happens to be departing at a time when 20 million other flights are also departing.
Add to that a shift change or coffee break change for the security staff and bam...
The snails pace can almost grind to a halt.
So yes, having access to priority security lanes reduces the time for you to get to “the other side” where you can relax can be a life saver.
Priority Boarding:
This is another privilege that comes with that business class ticket.
This allows you to board the plane first or at your leisure through a priority lane and get yourself all settled in your seat while the rest of the plane is still being boarded.
This avoids "gate lice" a horrible term used in the airline industry to refer to the people who hover at the gate before it is their time to board.
Airline Points:
A number of factors go into how many points you will earn for a flight but you will likely earn higher points for a business class ticket...
And sometimes even receive bonus points depending on the airline points program.
Your In-Flight Experience
So now that you are onboard this is a whole slew of services come into play to make that 8, 12, 14 hour flight whizz by and by a happy memorable experience.
Seats / Beds:
As I’ve mentioned before this is my No. 1 factor for selecting a business class seat.
Now there are as you saw on the table different classes of business and first class and what they are called from airline to airline.
Some business class seats are just that seat that is wider, has more legroom and reclines further.
What I am always looking to book is a seat configuration where they seat turns into a lie down bed.
Some airlines refer to them as pods.
Not only does your seat convert to a fully vertical bed but you will also be provided with a pillow, padded cover for your bed and a blanket in good quality cotton.
First class seat configurations are also lie down bed and increasingly are completely enclosed with walls and a door. This type of first class is significantly more expensive on the airlines that offer this type of class i.e., Emirates.
Complimentary Alcohol:
All beverages including alcoholic drinks are complimentary in business class…
But a word of caution here drinking from an open bar when flying is a lot different than drinking at sea level.
💥💥💥Hot Tip💥💥💥: You absorb alcohol a lot faster due to the air pressure and oxygen levels are lower.
That means you are going to get drunk faster and have an even worse hangover before you even get off the plane.
Meals:
One of the benefits of business class are the meals and not just the quality of the food.
So first off meals are served on real plates with real cutlery and cloth napkins. It’s served at a leisurely pace so you get to enjoy your salad before your main course arrives.
The bread rolls are warm, not cold and hard as a rock ;-)
The meals are served at set times but…
You can access for your meal to be served at a different time and…
Between meals a selection of snacks are placed at the front of the cabin to help yourself to.
In addition more airlines are offering the ability to actually select your meal ahead of your flight.
Amenity Kits & PJ’s:
Due to the length of long haul international flights you are typically going to be wanting to sleep and then prior to landing you want to be able to freshen up.
In business class you can expect to receive an amenity kit and sometimes a pair of pyjamas that are yours to keep.
Note: being provided pyjamas is more common in First Class and for those airlines and may or may not be provided in business class, so do check with the airline.
The amenity kits contain typically contain items such as ear plugs, eye mask, socks or slippers, lip balm, toothbrush and toothpaste and a moisturizing cream.
The lip balm and moisturizing are from a luxury designer and/or organic.
And the kit themselves are well designed and attractive, so you can totally use them again.
Entertainment System:
You will have a full size monitor that can range from 23” with a touch screen and remote control and a full headset.
You will have a selection of on-demand movie/tv shows, games and audio as well as flight information.
Internet access is increasingly available in all cabin classes on flights. Some services maybe complimentary while others are paid services.
🔥🔥🔥Hot Tip🔥🔥🔥: I have found depending on the airline the selection can sometimes be a little dated.
So if you struggle to sleep and want to zone out on some binge watching I recommend you download movies/shows onto your iPad or Tablet and bring that onboard.
Bathrooms:
Let’s not forget bathrooms. Cue the eye roll and the dread of being trapped onboard a 14 hour flight sharing bathrooms...
But, another benefit of flying business class is the bathrooms are dedicated to business class passengers only and…
That means fewer people using them which is an overall much more comfortable and healthier experience.
And... some airlines provide toiletries in the bathrooms in addition to what you receive in your amenity kit.
Flight Attendants:
Last but not least is the service provided by the flight attendants. The ratio of flight attendants to passengers is higher than in economy class.
They are there to make your flight as comfortable as possible…
And the service is more personalized in that they get to spend more time with you and make will know your name.
They regularly come around to check on you and if you are up and about the cabin you can always find them in the galley if you need something.
Hot Tip: Do take notice of your Flight Attendants name. I have a mantra of being…
Kind, Courteous and Calm when flying…
So referring to your Flight Attendant by their name is both courteous and elevates your flight experience and theirs!
Your Post-Flight Experience
So you’ve landed isn’t it all over now?
Not so fast…
Depending on the destination you may also be treated to a dedicated a priority lane for immigration.
Remember those priority checked bags?
Well they should be the first up on the baggage carousel to get your on your way to your hotel faster.
My only negative here is that I have found increasingly that priority baggage handling is a very hit and miss affair.
You are at the mercy of the airlines baggage handles at your destination so don’t bank on those bags appearing first and you won’t be disappointed.
Wrapping up…
So now that you know all the In’s and Out’s of flying long haul international business class are you ready to go?
As I mentioned at the top of this blog, your travel experience is your unique experience.
The great thing is you get to make that choice!
If you found this blog valuable head on over to my YouTube channel, here's the link👇:
Female Travelers Over 50 By Raewyn Crist: @FemaleTravelers50Plus
And if you like what you see please consider subscribing to the channel or giving a video a like :-)
So cheers to wheels up to winging your way to your long dreamed of destination.
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