Well, all good things come to an end.  I've been flying EVA business class for years for less than $3000 round trip.  It crept up over $4k.  Then they upgraded their jets to lie flat and wowza - $6K.

 

So I'm scoping out alternatives.  Let me be clear.  I do not NEED business class treatment in regards to food or drink.  What I need is a big lie flat seat and no one climbing over me in the middle of the flight.  I am considering the Eva Elite class which is back to the $2400 range but the seats don't recline fully and I'm not sure I'm up for that any more.

 

Alternatives I am finding doing my research include:

 

Air China - $4k business class with lie flats

ANA - $4k some flights are United - lie flats

 

I really don't know much about these airlines on these legs.  What I don't want is Phillipines air with two stops (don't trust them anyway) or buying thru a middle man that doesn't tell me what seat and flights I have until I pay and I have a 12 hour layover in bumfuck nowhere.  

 

So, all you yanks who fly business class to asia help a brother out.  What can you tell me?

 

 

dont know what to tell you,,,,i only pay $875 for economy class. and sleep like a baby..on eva air,,,, coming from seattle,,, then spend 4k,, on better things in one week,,,

I don't no from the us but I fly Thai to Asia business class for $2700 from Perth and would recommend it to anyone :-) :-)

Edited April 8, 201313 yr by flaza

I think business class is worth it if you have the extra cash to spare.

 

I fly Sky Team airlines and the cheapest business class is still 4400 bucks, China Eastern.

 

Other airlines are around the high 4000's to mid 5000's.

China eastern has had some decent biz class rates to sea lately

Well, all good things come to an end. I've been flying EVA business class for years for less than $3000 round trip. It crept up over $4k. Then they upgraded their jets to lie flat and wowza - $6K.

 

So I'm scoping out alternatives. Let me be clear. I do not NEED business class treatment in regards to food or drink. What I need is a big lie flat seat and no one climbing over me in the middle of the flight. I am considering the Eva Elite class which is back to the $2400 range but the seats don't recline fully and I'm not sure I'm up for that any more.

 

Alternatives I am finding doing my research include:

 

Air China - $4k business class with lie flats

ANA - $4k some flights are United - lie flats

 

I really don't know much about these airlines on these legs. What I don't want is Phillipines air with two stops (don't trust them anyway) or buying thru a middle man that doesn't tell me what seat and flights I have until I pay and I have a 12 hour layover in bumfuck nowhere.

 

So, all you yanks who fly business class to asia help a brother out. What can you tell me?

You're in Zona right.Where do you fly from?Eva has Economy Deluxe,its ok.Are you back?How did you play?

Edited April 8, 201313 yr by Skalliwag

Thanks guys.  Yeah, I'm seeing what you're all saying.  I know it's a lot of dosh for a flight but I want to arrive in condition to play golf and enjoy life not waste a week getting my back out of traction.  

 

Yeah, I am in Arizona.  I was in town for 2 weeks March 10 - 25 but had to return unexpectedly as my father was dying.  He has passed away and I will be free to travel again in May so I'm doing research.  My game sucked as I hadn't played, was just starting to get a game going, then got sick, then had to fly home.  Let's say everyone I played with profited.  

 

I am considering the Eva Elite class.  I bet it is equal to their older business class for seat comfort.  If so I can deal with that.  Just checking to see if there is a smoking deal I'm missing out on.  And yeah, I can travel from any west coast city as I have to first fly from Phoenix.

Thanks guys.  Yeah, I'm seeing what you're all saying.  I know it's a lot of dosh for a flight but I want to arrive in condition to play golf and enjoy life not waste a week getting my back out of traction.  

 

Yeah, I am in Arizona.  I was in town for 2 weeks March 10 - 25 but had to return unexpectedly as my father was dying.  He has passed away and I will be free to travel again in May so I'm doing research.  My game sucked as I hadn't played, was just starting to get a game going, then got sick, then had to fly home.  Let's say everyone I played with profited.  

 

I am considering the Eva Elite class.  I bet it is equal to their older business class for seat comfort.  If so I can deal with that.  Just checking to see if there is a smoking deal I'm missing out on.  And yeah, I can travel from any west coast city as I have to first fly from Phoenix.

Aw shit.Sorry to hear about ya Dad.We are at that age now huh when they are starting to shuffle off.no good.

One of our mutuals flys The Eva class and he says its ok.Hes a big guy too.

Have you tried JAL?They are code sharing with AA now I believe.

To answer the OP question ....

 

The days of $3000 business class ex-USA appear to be long gone.  $4600 appears to be the lowest rate at the moment.

 

However, if you do the trip freqently, you can get Business Class for around $3200-$3400 flying BKK-USA-BKK.  Obviously, that means starting out with a one-way ticket to BKK, but that is what one way FF awards are for.

 

ANA on the transpacific leg (EXCLUDING LAX-HND) is outstanding, and cheap.  The NRT-BKK leg is not lie flat, but it aint bad either.

To answer the OP question ....

 

The days of $3000 business class ex-USA appear to be long gone.  $4600 appears to be the lowest rate at the moment.

 

However, if you do the trip freqently, you can get Business Class for around $3200-$3400 flying BKK-USA-BKK.  Obviously, that means starting out with a one-way ticket to BKK, but that is what one way FF awards are for.

 

ANA on the transpacific leg (EXCLUDING LAX-HND) is outstanding, and cheap.  The NRT-BKK leg is not lie flat, but it aint bad either.

 

I am confused.  How do I get biz class at $3200-$3400?  Which airline?

 

I admit at this point I am tempted to do the EVA Elite class instead of biz class and see if I can take it.  $2400 is appealing compared to $4000.

Jesus.  I just priced out Premium Laurel between LAX and BKK on EVA.

 

LAX-BKK-LAX = $6K

BKK-LAX-BKK = $3.6K

 

OK, I knew in the past there was a price difference but this is ridiculous.  Based on that I'm going to buy a one way to BKK and restart my trips this way.  Only bummer is I have to KNOW what day I'm going home far enough in advance to buy the ticket cause you can change the return segment but the outbound is kind of locked in (if past is any predictor of future).

 

Guess I'm doing an Elite trip there and BIZ class thereafter.  

Fly the cheapo economy and save your money for LTs.

If you have accumulated miles on credit cards or airlines they represent the best value for money using miles to fly business class at saver type rates can be 125,000 miles.  A good way to stretch miles is to use half and then buy the other half from the airline if they let you (Air Canada for instance) you can do the trip for about $2,200 plus your miles.  The regular ticket price for Business Class is just too expensive for the benefits but using miles is a better valued option.  I have used American Express miles transferred to Air Canada the last two years and it works well.  I actually will not be on any of AC flights during the trip but they offer all partner flights easily. 

 

If you find cash BC for less than $3,000 let us know as that would be a great value and would accrue miles for an airline.

dont know what to tell you,,,,i only pay $875 for economy class. and sleep like a baby..on eva air,,,, coming from seattle,,, then spend 4k,, on better things in one week,,,

I agree. I see no need to overspend on a flight.  Two glasses of wine and a PM Tylenol and I am out for 6-8 hours.  Who needs luxury?

I am confused.  How do I get biz class at $3200-$3400?  Which airline?

 

I admit at this point I am tempted to do the EVA Elite class instead of biz class and see if I can take it.  $2400 is appealing compared to $4000.

Go to Kayak.com, and price some dates for BKK-SFO-BKK (or some other US city).  For SFO, I'm seeing ~$3250 for Delta, and ~$3400 for ANA or UA.

Thanks Basket case.  I'll check that out.  Still seems I need to one way it first.

 

As to those who suggest economy class.  Well, I guess it depends on age, size and how much one values their back.  I'm not THAT old, nor horribly out of shape.  but not "suffering" for 14 hours on the long haul is worht something to me.  Don't worry.  I'll still have enough money to enjoy my trip.   

   Just this once i splurged  and i'm flying business class on qatar air in august.I figured life is too short not to treat myself.

I used to Fly Business Class on philippine airlines. The Company paid for it, but wasn't much of an improvement from economy to justify the price. China Air Business Class is pretty good.

Might give China Air a go one way in May.  Wonder if their prices are better originating in BKK.

 

And I didn't know Qatar flew out of the US.

Qatar business class is very nice for the long hauls from the US as it is about 16 hours.  I have flown them from Houston and Washington DC and was excellent.  Unless the new airport is open in Doha you will need to get off via stairs and on the next flight the same way and take a bus to and from the terminal to the plane.  The time on the plane is great.  They also have a premium terminal for Business and First class passengers.

Air China or China Airlines?

 

Air China has the cheapest round trip I found so far, from San Francisco to BKK at $3627 (end of April to second week of May).

 

Seems decent enough.

 

http://thepointsguy.com/2012/01/flight-review-air-china-777-domestic-business-class/

 

http://www.airchina.us/en/virtualtours/

 

 

Reviews are mixed, quality of food and service seem hit and miss.

 

Air China is part of Star Alliance which I am a member but I don't have many miles on it. All my miles are with Skyteam and I need those airlines which are all higher priced.

The only downside with Air China is you will not get the 777-300, which is fitted with lay flat seats and modern AVOD.  Still, at  that price, it does not seem to me to be a bad deal ex-US.  Service will likley be as good or better than UA or DL, but below NH, BR, CX, SQ, etc.

The only downside with Air China is you will not get the 777-300, which is fitted with lay flat seats and modern AVOD.  Still, at  that price, it does not seem to me to be a bad deal ex-US.  Service will likley be as good or better than UA or DL, but below NH, BR, CX, SQ, etc.

 

I'm not sure what flights you mean.  When I use Kayak the biz class option Air China pops up at $4028 (one stop) and is on the 777s.  However, the best deal still I can see is biz class originating from BKK with EVA.  

I'm not sure what flights you mean.  When I use Kayak the biz class option Air China pops up at $4028 (one stop) and is on the 777s.  However, the best deal still I can see is biz class originating from BKK with EVA.  

It depends on the date of travel.  And if you want the newest product, you need to look for the 777-300.

 

I did a search using the above parameters (SFO-BKK-SFO, end of April to 2nd week of may), and got http://www.kayak.com/#/flights/SFO-BKK/2013-04-30/2013-05-14/business

 

What fares are you seeing for EVA ex-BKK?  I see much better fares with ANA or UA or DL.  Please do share.

If I book the flight ORIGINATING in BKK (i.e. BKK-LAX-BKK) in the internet and got lots of choices for 109,000 baht.  I just choose randam dates a month out with return in a few months.

 

So I think I am going to dead head it one way to BKK in May and buy a rt for future travel.