Who's Flying in Business Class?

Bingo. My Dad is 67 and has spent nearly 40 years traveling. He typically buys Business and gets upgraded to First when it’s open. 1K status has it’s perks…

We’re allowed to travel business class if we go international. A few years ago, a business class seat was $14k. The guys that were traveling with me had cashed in their frequent flyer miles. They had accrued a lot of points by charging everything they do on their cards and just paying them off immediately.

Almost NO one flies business class these days. Only the VPs or senior execs get this privilege.

We are allowed to do it for transatlantic flights, for trips lasting <4 days.

I suppose you’ve heard IKEAs rule that no one is ever allowed to fly anything other than economy? I’ve heard stories that senior managers were forced to take a taxi from say Brussels to Zurich because there were only business/first class available, which ofc cost more and took much longer. Weird principle.

This Saturday I get to enjoy Coach seating from New York to Beijing. Two weeks later I get to enjoy Coach seating from Shanghai to Chicago. Since the 1990’s I have only enjoyed Business class if I was able to supply the miles for the upgrade. I am a big guy, and Coach is no fun, but I bring a bag of accessories to try to make it a little better: Noise Cancelling Headphones, Neck Pillow, Memory foam cushion to sit on and melatonin.

Holy cow Tim. I’d need one thing for that flight: A tranquilizer dart.

The worst is having to share a hotel room with a co-worker. Fortunately I have never been asked to do this, but I know others who have. Just plain wrong.

Yes, this is a hard policy. Has seen it before, but have not had to do it.

I agree… thats would be the worst travel experience, sharing a room with an officemate.

I don’t see a problem with it at all, especially if you get along with the person.

I mean its not like you’re sharing a bed…

Even though i am traveling for business, i like there to be some down time and private time… if you are sharing a room there is none…

When I was corporate we always flew business if the flight was “over an ocean”. These tickets were usually booked last minute, so very costly. I got super accustomed to the accommodations and service in BizClass, especially Cathay Pacific and believe it or not, Air Canada, both of whom’s international Biz Class is on par with most other first class (individual pod seating)… that said, I flew to Shanghai coach for the first time, and I didn’t think it was that bad. Tylenol PM.

Room sharing is against many corporate HR policies. I’ve never had to do it in my entire career, even as a junior designer at a small firm. I did get to share a massive suite though, which had multiple bedrooms. I know some researchers prefer room sharing for research immersion trips. After presenting to a client, or a day spent at the factory, I need some space to clear my head.

I agree 100%, by no means is it ideal … If it has to happen because of some last minute decisions or some random unforeseen circumstances its not the end of the world.

If it happened and I needed private time than I would just go to the lobby, bar, or outside just to relax…

Regardless of where I travel I am grateful, even if it means flying coach on a 767 in the middle row or having to share a room (not a bed) with a coworker because all the other hotels in the area are booked solid for the trip…when its all said and done the company is covering it, so I don’t feel like I should complain.

Interesting topic. During my 15 years with Fortune 100’s, I always flew business class - everywhere. Now with our own company, we negotiate business class for all international flights prior to a trip - it weeds out the trips that are necessary from the ones that are not. Domestic is always coach.

You’d be surprised how many clients will pay for perks like that if you’re a valuable asset to their business objectives.

1K status, but fly coach transoceanic First standby domestic. (corporate policy)

(…and, yes I’ve shared a bed with a coworker)

:wink:




I’ve only had to share a room when it was one night, two beds, and last minute (no other rooms available). And that’s only happened once. Also if the mattress isn’t right I’ll snore so it’s not hard to get people to not want to be roomies.


In the good ol’ days (the mid 80’s) my dad’s company would pay for my family to fly business class to go visit back in the US (from Sweden). I flew coach to Tel Aviv via Istanbul on Turkish air and it was really nice. Not that coach is really nice, but Turkish Air get’s the job done.

Nice. Are you 1K Global? (Where you get the direct hot-line phone number and when they answer they know you are?) My Dad has that. Got him out of Tokyo last year after the earthquake.

Whoa. Interesting to read all of this. I am a junior designer and I fly coach overseas, but one level above myself automatically flies business. From what I’ve seen, the difference in cost for flight is about $4k. Though I’ve heard that folks at other companies in my specific industry all fly coach, even more senior level people. Weird.

I’m a small person so I know that other folks have it much worse than myself, but I am of the firm belief that no one should have to fly coach for any international flight. Borderline inhumane to keep humans all cramped up like that, IMHO.

Also interesting to hear about having to room on the road. Before my first trip overseas with work I actually assumed that that’s what we would do and didn’t realize until I got my itinerary that I’d be on my own. I imagine that working for a huge corporation (like I do) makes this a lot easier to offer though.

Travel hint to Asia: Row 31 in coach on Delta’s 777 - there’s an extra 8" of legroom in the bulkhead row. I just flew 4 legs in row 31 and it’s like a poor man’s business class with crappy food.

I’ve seen it happen once for overbooked conference… doesn’t seem like a big deal if you’re not in the same bed or anything, as long as it’s not just to save a buck.

That’s my strategy too, especially when you live in a hub ( Continental hub was in Houston, so we’d use if for everything…)

Great tip… now if I can only remember next time ! :slight_smile:


For the original topic - nobody at our studio flys first class, but I’ve heard it’s very common up at DCA