On 7/23/2026 at 11:38 AM, georgegeorgia said:

I must ask , as one gets older do you fly more premium economy/ business class?

Of course one must say this question is for the humble academic tourist as myself

I did however notice in business class the emergence of the more matured aged single men rather than the elderly couples flying to Thailand like normal

Always Premium Economy but quite often Business class as well

1 minute ago, Ralf001 said:

Not flown them.. 3rd world airline or ?

You've filled 11 passports flying and haven't heard of Lufthansa....weird

I prefer to go by boat these days with a cabin so I can take a nap when I feel like it.

Sit down in the restaurant or take a drink in the bar or sitting on the deck outside.

11 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Not flown them.. 3rd world airline or ?

Lufthansa is actually quite good. I have flown with them a few times over the last few years, and my experience has been on par with Emirates and Qatar. In ordinary long-haul economy, the legroom is broadly similar. SWISS and Austrian are also solid alternatives. As with most European airlines, it is best to stay away during the spring and summer strike season when labour conflicts are ongoing.

46 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Lufthansa has a great option called Free Neighbour Seat, so you do not have to sit with someone right next to you.

But then you get some idiot trying to sit next to you anyway, whom you then need to eject.

There are other ways of getting a empty seat next to you for free, with a high probability of success.

Of course I won't reveal such tips here.

3 minutes ago, FigLeaf said:

But then you get some idiot trying to sit next to you anyway, whom you then need to eject.

There are other ways of getting a empty seat next to you for free, with a high probability of success.

Of course I won't reveal such tips here.

If you want to make a problem out of it, yes, it can happen. But it is also easy to solve with blankets and pillows, or simply by telling them the seat is occupied.

On 7/23/2026 at 7:40 PM, Mr Awesome said:

Business or first class is worth the investment for longer flights.

I agree regarding first class. I only ever flew business once, never again.

3 minutes ago, Hummin said:

If you want to make a problem out of it, yes, it can happen. But it is also easy to solve with blankets and pillows, or simply by telling them the seat is occupied.

So much the same situation as if you didn't pay for an extra seat at all...Which is why I don't and use a combination of secretly raising the possibility of a free seat next to me and 'blanket/personal belongings'. I'm usually already asleep during take-off. Can just switch off. Waking up only to eat, drink and remove waste products.

10 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

I agree regarding first class. I only ever flew business once, never again.

Which airline?

59 minutes ago, Photoguy21 said:

Always Premium Economy but quite often Business class as well

I usually only buy one way tickets, and business class is ridiculously expensive just buing one way, so it is not worth it. I would rather spend the money on better seat options if they are not already included in the ticket. As long as I am fit and healthy, economy is fine.

Edited July 25Jul 25 by Hummin

Just now, Hummin said:

I usually only buy one way tickets, and business class is ridiculously expensive, so it is not worth it. I would rather spend the money on better seat options if they are not already included in the ticket. As long as I am fit and healthy, economy is fine.

Most of my Business class tickets have either been provided by my employer or have been upgrades from accrued miles.

Just now, Photoguy21 said:

Most of my Business class tickets have either been provided by my employer or have been upgrades from accrued miles.

When I was still working, I often flew in higher classes. But when buying my own tickets, I would rather spend the money on a few nice hotel nights with good dinners before leaving and after arriving.

24 minutes ago, FigLeaf said:

Which airline?

BA.

10 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

BA.

They weren't the best, but certainly not that bad. Not an unpleasant experience for me at least. I've lost track of every aspect of each individual experience, but I might have had time for a massage in the lounge with the onboard experience being attentive. Perhaps the seats might have been wider, but anyway, a completely different experience than Economy.

6 minutes ago, FigLeaf said:

They weren't the best, but certainly not that bad. Not an unpleasant experience for me at least. I've lost track of every aspect of each individual experience, but I might have had time for a massage in the lounge with the onboard experience being attentive. Perhaps the seats might have been wider, but anyway, a completely different experience than Economy.

For me it's all about the people we find ourselves with. I was lucky to qualify for first class travel with my employer shortly after my business class experience. These days, now long retired, I still fly first class on the rare occasions I fly at all.

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

For me it's all about the people we find ourselves with. I was lucky to qualify for first class travel with my employer shortly after my business class experience. These days, now long retired, I still fly first class on the rare occasions I fly at all.

I have no idea what that might mean. Can you clarify? You are with people who insist on flying first class, so you do too?

I cannot say that I fly to engage with others. In Business Class, one simply slides the door shut for privacy.

So what disturbed you in BA Club World?

I only fly Asian airlines. The stews clean the lavatory after every use. Air Canada or US airlines, well, that's just beneath them. They only want to be glorified waitresses in the skies.

I would pay for premium economy if it were available but Business Class is just a rip for china plates and metal cutlery.

And I've never been on a medium- or long-haul flight which did not have seat selection! What are you guys flying on, Yak Airlines, national carrier of Mongolia?!?

And let's not talk about "business class" flying 6 hours across the US with at least one touchdown in Podunk AK. Same crap food as in cattle class but you don't have to pay. Worth it, eh? /s

10 minutes ago, FigLeaf said:

I have no idea what that might mean. Can you clarify? You are with people who insist on flying first class, so you do too?

I cannot say that I fly to engage with others. In Business Class, one simply slides the door shut for privacy.

So what disturbed you in BA Club World?

No idea what BA Club World is but I assume it's business class. Now 85 years old things will have changed a lot since I was a regular traveller. From what you say it is now possible to insulate one's self in business class which sounds like a significant improvement.

12 minutes ago, FigLeaf said:

I have no idea what that might mean. Can you clarify? You are with people who insist on flying first class, so you do too?

I cannot say that I fly to engage with others. In Business Class, one simply slides the door shut for privacy.

So what disturbed you in BA Club World?

3 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

No idea what BA Club World is but I assume it's business class. Now 85 years old things will have changed a lot since I was a regular traveller. From what you say it is now possible to insulate one's self in business class which sounds like a significant improvement.

Aaahh...makes sense now.

Cheers 🥂

On 7/23/2026 at 12:25 PM, CallumWK said:

But if you fly economy you don't have the option to choose your seat, as far as I'm aware.

That may depend on airline but I have never seen it. In the early days I had 3 free business class upgrades, Turkish and 2 with Gulf, certainly wern't worth the price difference.

For the last few years I have used Emirates and as soon as check in opes I look to change seat, for some rason I always seem to get window.

I look for a 3 towards the back where the window seat has been taken, choose the aisle hoping the middle will remain empty. Probably worked about 75% of the time. Unfortunatley in April on all 4 legs the flight was full up, not seen that before, particularly the Gatwick leg.

On 7/23/2026 at 5:43 AM, SiSePuede419 said:

The last 2 times I travelled, somewhere on the trip I flew business or First Class.

Got there the same time as everyone else.

My checked bag didn't come out of the chute any faster.

I've never seen any airline claim that flying in Business or First Class gets you there any earlier, but most, if not all, will prioritise your luggage over those travelling in Economy.

On 7/23/2026 at 12:04 PM, Ralf001 said:

Bussiness is the go, I only fly slob class on local flights.

If you only fly business, then surely snob class?

On 7/23/2026 at 12:19 PM, MIke B Bad said:

Get the right seat on an A380 and it's almost as good as business minus the extortionate cost.

What do you regard as the best seat? What row what number?

I do think the demographic for “Business” class has shifted - quite substantially..

That is, in part, why you see fewer carrier offer a true F international long haul cabin anymore - yes.. some still have it.. QR, AF for example, but the macro trend isn’t towards expanding F, rather eliminating it and repurposing that space with a larger, “better” C/J cabin and the wider adoption of PE.

In line with this, yes - I think more people are opting for, and willing to pay “up” for a better cabin - be that PE from traditional Y or C/J from straight Y..

and with that, the type of pax who now flies C/J is different.. it’s not just the wealthy or “expense account” crowd.. more and more folks ARE willing to pay up from Y to C/J and carrier have wised up to this and PE offers the same pay up motivation but at a much lower cabin price spread. Today I see families, very young adults, all the way up to your senior folks.. it’s pretty much across the spectrum.

I myself can’t see this trend reversing anytime soon.

On 7/25/2026 at 1:13 PM, MIke B Bad said:

On 7/25/2026 at 1:13 PM, MIke B Bad said:

I always get an aisle seat in the central row with a bulkhead behind......only the wife to disturb me.........for some reason they also serve the last two rows first before moving to the front row?????

Actually, that's quite a good idea.

Rather than at the sides get the centre, We usually take pot luck and book aisle and centre seats at the side, but that does leave us the window passenger if we end up with one!!

Good legroom those seats on A380 with bulkhead behind and I'm just short of 6ft 3" and 110kg, I find them comfortable.

Edited July 28Jul 28 by Scouse123

1 hour ago, Jack Hammer said:

What do you regard as the best seat? What row what number?

I can't recall seat number, but I used to go in the lower front cabin front seat aisle with massive legroom on the A380, but you pay a premium for that seat.

You are off the plane very quickly too, straight after business class that's why I never bother with the economy upstairs at the back of the plane (behind business class) when I fly economy, which is less and less.

I prefer to pay more to Manchester and I forever look for deals, ETIHAD has been my go to of late.

I used to swear by Qatar, but they've lost the edge and the planes now, (because of the shortage due to their dispute with the manufacturer, can be iffy as they have leased some old planes to make up their shortfall and are using some old planes on certain routes). Likewise, I think they are now relying on past reputation.

Qatar is also quite a bit more expensive for business class except for Emirates, who always seem to be expensive from Bangkok to Manchester.

With Etihad last couple of trips, great planes and service, great price and the air bridge every time at Abu Dhabi, I hate getting on those buses like you have to do sometimes at Doha.

Edited July 28Jul 28 by Scouse123

On 7/26/2026 at 12:29 PM, treetops said:

I've never seen any airline claim that flying in Business or First Class gets you there any earlier, but most, if not all, will prioritise your luggage over those travelling in Economy.

Then you have express check in, lie flat beds, great food on order, better service, fast deplaning, lounges throughout the world and your luggage usually waiting there at the destination.

Yes, I make a point of travelling premium economy whenever I can now. From a personal point of view I don't feel business class or first class is worth the money.

5 hours ago, Jack Hammer said:

What do you regard as the best seat? What row what number?

For the best seats, you should use a seat map website.

It is incredibly frustrating to pay extra for better seat only to find your personal space compromised by hardware on newer aircraft. Seats are becoming narrower and less comfortable, even though airlines claim legroom has improved. The annoying metal boxes blocking your footwell are usually the In Flight Entertainment (IFE) and power supply units.

4 hours ago, Scouse123 said:

I can't recall seat number, but I used to go in the lower front cabin front seat aisle with massive legroom on the A380, but you pay a premium for that seat.

You are off the plane very quickly too, straight after business class that's why I never bother with the economy upstairs at the back of the plane (behind business class) when I fly economy, which is less and less.

I prefer to pay more to Manchester and I forever look for deals, ETIHAD has been my go to of late.

I used to swear by Qatar, but they've lost the edge and the planes now, (because of the shortage due to their dispute with the manufacturer, can be iffy as they have leased some old planes to make up their shortfall and are using some old planes on certain routes). Likewise, I think they are now relying on past reputation.

Qatar is also quite a bit more expensive for business class except for Emirates, who always seem to be expensive from Bangkok to Manchester.

With Etihad last couple of trips, great planes and service, great price and the air bridge every time at Abu Dhabi, I hate getting on those buses like you have to do sometimes at Doha.

The only minus with that, you will be seated next to the families with kids.