Long Haul Business Class for under $2K (Long Post)

[Daddee]

Thanks for the info daddee. Glad you had a nice trip. Looks like EVA's only east coast gateway is JFK which isn't that convenient for me. Still, one has to be flexible when using awards, so I'll keep them in mind. 

did you look at options using united.com and selecting award travel?  it helped me get my EVA trip, they had just joined star alliance...

 

flying east, i have no idea what your options are, but I would assume United goes that way too, and their business class is ok from what I have seen... of course there are other airlines with much better service and attractive flight attendants...

 

from the west coast, what mostly pops up on the united.com site is EVA and China Airlines, both going through Taipei... 

[wackyjacky]

Thanks for the info,  wackyjacky. Yeah, I want to avoid those 'lie at an angle' seats. It's a bit of a nuisance, but I always check which type of seats are on which flights, since most airlines have a mix of newer and older ones. Looks like I could take Lufthansa to Frankfurt and then switch to a Thai A380. How would you rate Asiana biz versus UA first?

The Quadra Smartium seats on OZ's 777s are great, but since you're going to be in the air for 40-fucking-forevers from the E Coast - I'd take UA's 1st. It's all about the seat & in 1st you get a lot of room. I don't care that the FAs are grumpy & dumpy & the food is just OK. IIWY, I'd would like to try the A380 on TG in F though. I usually check out the reviews on Skytrax & Seat Guru of  the various options before I book.

Edited September 29, 2013 by wackyjacky

[Luv2Phuket]

I flew United Global First last February (my last trip) from LAX to London, then connecting to Thai first class into BKK from Frankfurt (after a short hop from London to Frankfurt).  I'm in LA, so that route added some time, but it was the only way that I could get there using miles.

 

Untied Global first was pretty damn good -- no complaints, and possibly the best airplane meal I have had.

 

The Thai flight from Frankfurt was not on an A380, but was one of their older planes.  What really shakes things up with Thai first class, though, is the ground service at BKK -- it really is something out of this World.  I had someone with me from the time I got off the plane until I met my taxi driver after baggage claim.  On the departure, the first class lounge had incredible, cooked-to-order food, and again the service and personal attention was amazing.

 

On my flight next month, I am flying Cathay first class over (using AA miles via OneWorld) and EVA business on the way back (using United miles via Star Alliance).  Business class is great, but I just wanted to try Cathay first class at least once (and it really wasn't THAT many more miles, since I'm only doing it on the way there AND I got 10% of the miles kicked back b/c of my AA credit card).

 

It really is a tough call on business vs first class.  I generally opt for biz and save the miles, but international first class is something to be experienced. 

 

I don't know when you are looking to go, but I have referred multiple people to a frequent flier booking service when they were having trouble finding acceptable flights.  He charges $150, but ONLY if he can find you an acceptable itinerary.  Thus far, every person that I have sent to him was happy with his service.  That's how I ended up going to LOS via Europe last February (although I came back via Tokyo, so I literally flew around the World).  Let me know if you're running into brick walls finding an acceptable flight, and I will PM you his info.

 

Finally, here is a photo of the United Global First steak....

 

 

 

 

 

[bgtp]

Thanks for the additional info, wackyjacky and daddee.

 

Footypjman, big thanks to you as well for that review. That steak looks good. I'll let you know if I'm having trouble getting a decent itinerary in which case I'll try your recommendation. $150 seems reasonable enough as I've spent hours piecing together some of my reward travel in the past, delta.dumb being particularly painful. I don't plan on travelling until the spring, but I always get antsy and start looking for flights as soon as I have enough miles.

 

I think I'm going to try and book a round-trip between home and Phnom-Penh with a lay-over in BKK on the way back. So, I'll have to be on Thai for at least the BKK-PNH legs. This way I can start the trip with five or so days in PP before spending most of my time in Thailand. I usually take one side trip each vacation and this way the airfare will be covered for that as well.

[wackyjacky]

You don't need to pay the $150. Most all the availability actually shows on UA since they merged. You can call UA & they'll hook you up - if you do you research 1st. Here's where:http://beta.awardtravelr.com/. Walk them through what you want. UA will charge you $20 though. CX in F is great. I've flown them > a dozen X, because I so hated their old Biz seat. I doubt I'll waste the miles anymore, their new seat is great. The pod is similar to UA's & takes up 5 or 6 windows. I try to eat as much caviar & drink as much Krug as possible before I drop the Xanax.

[Little Evil]

You don't need to pay the $150. Most all the availability actually shows on UA since they merged. You can call UA & they'll hook you up - if you do you research 1st. Here's where:http://beta.awardtravelr.com/. Walk them through what you want. UA will charge you $20 though. CX in F is great. I've flown them > a dozen X, because I so hated their old Biz seat. I doubt I'll waste the miles anymore, their new seat is great. The pod is similar to UA's & takes up 5 or 6 windows. I try to eat as much caviar & drink as much Krug as possible before I drop the Xanax.

 

True. You don't have to pay the $150.  However, coming from a fairly experienced traveler who knows the tools of the trade, I had a hell of a time piecing together an itinerary for this Nov. I was using 3 different websites (UA,ANA, the one above) and must have clocked in about 3+ hours of calls with US Airways for Star Alliance partner travel, but couldn't find the airline I wanted or any decent itineraries (30 hour layovers and such). I ended up using the booking service footypjman recommended. Not only did I get the exact airline I wanted, but I also got pretty damn close to all my specifications regarding layovers min/max times and departure times.  They must have travel agent grade access to the airlines' booking systems, as they found legs that I just couldn't find on my own.  Sadly, I got an email from this service saying that they are upping their price to $200 soon. 

 

My only advice is to try getting all legs yourself first. Definitely put some effort in and give it an honest go. This involves the research end, but also diligence when you call a booking agent. Not all agents are equal, so if you get someone who is either uncooperative or sounds like they don't know what they are doing, hang up and call again to get someone else. Did that for my second to last trip. First agent said what I was asking was impossible. Second again booked it no problem (as they should). 

[wackyjacky]

I've never had a problem getting the routing I want, but I'm flexible.  All the info you need is out there. More money than time ? Pay the man.

[Daddee]

I spent the night in Taipei airport on my last trip, would prefer not to do that again...

 

Just got my sapphire bold card approval today, yay!

 

Now to rack up the points, then get the business Ink card, woohoo!

[Luv2Phuket]

NEW SPECIAL OFFER/DEAL FROM US AIR:

 

They are giving a 100% bonus on transferred or "gifted" miles.  The charge is 1 cent per mile + $30 transaction fee + 7.5% tax.

 

Here's how you and a friend can EACH get 50,000 US Air miles for $567.50:

 - Person A "shares" 50,000 US Air miles to Person B, paying the $567.50.  Person B's account gets credited 100,000 miles (the 50k + the 50k bonus)

 - Person B then "shares" 50,000 miles BACK to Person A, paying the $567.50.  Person A's account gets credited 100,000 miles

 

Both individual's accounts go up by 50,000 miles with each paying $567.50 (about 1.1 cents a mile).

 

Alternatively, if you have over 25,000 miles in your account and access to a dormant account (like the one I set up for my Mom), you can share 25,000 miles with that account, which nets it 50,000 miles.  Cost is $283.75.  You then share the entire 50k back into your account for another $567.50, gaining 100,000 miles.  Net result is your account increases by 75,000 miles for around $850.  

In my opinion, the problem with sending 50,000 to the dormant account is that it would leave 50,000 miles in that account (and you would have paid $283.75 more for those miles).  By doing the 25,000, you max out what comes back while keeping the balance low in that dormant account.

 

Some rules:

 - each account can only receive 50,000 bonus miles MAX

 - the accounts involved must be open more than 12 days

 - that's about it....

 

I have already committed to do this with a friend, using the full 50,000 miles, so I am not available (nor could I use the account I set up for my Mom).  I suggest that a few of the guys on the thread -- who TRUST each other, as you gotta be able to trust the guy to send the 50,000 miles back to you! -- should consider getting together for this.  50,000 miles goes a long ways towards the 120k required for biz class to Bangkok, and it's more than half of the 90,000 needed to get a RT biz class seat to Hong Kong, Taipei, etc. (where presumably, you could book a cheap RT to BKK)

 

I have done half of the transaction (put my miles into his account); just waiting to get some cc info from him before I do the 50k back into mine.  His account went from 16,500 to 116,500 (but it will drop to 66,500 after the 50,000 go back into my account)

 

 

EDIT:

Just transferred the miles back into my account, and I got the full 50,000 mile bonus.  Both of our accounts increased by 50,000 miles for $567.50.  IMHO, that's NOT a bad deal at all, especially since it bumped my US Air account to a hair over 240,000 miles...or two RT biz class seats from LAX to BKK!

Edited October 1, 2013 by footypjman

[Daddee]

wow... I have a US Air acct with maybe 2000 miles in it...  open to discussing this with someone...

 

on another note, I just got approved for my chase sapphire card...  yippee!

[Little Evil]

I wish I had some more US Airways miles right now to pull this sharing deal.  I used most of mine for my next trip this fall. Only have about 10k left and about 3k of survey miles I haven't cashed in yet. Time to re-up!

 

US Airways is also doing a fall football-themed promotion. Kind of reminds me of the grand slam days, but not nearly as lucrative. Still though, not bad if you take a lot of domestic shuttle flights:

 

http://shopping.usairways.com/promotion/dividendmiles/registration.aspx?PromoCode=FF13

[Little Evil]

I've never had a problem getting the routing I want, but I'm flexible.  All the info you need is out there. More money than time ? Pay the man.

 

It can be hit or miss, depending on time of year and departure location. I've definitely scored by myself, but award travel was really scarce right before EVA Air started showing up under United's search engine. At least for East Coast US to BKK. 

[muffhunter1]

I flew Cx bus class when they had the horse stalls and again with the new cubicles and it was great!

This year flew ANA over in their bus class 777 and was a good private seat like CX. On the way back flew bus class on the new Thai Air 380 which was the best experience ever! It was so quiet; you didn't get that irritating whistling sound you get in the other planes. I mentioned this to the flight attendant how quiet it was and he said he thought it was mostly due to being on the 2nd deck above and away from the engines which made sense to me.

 

Would like to try the 787 if they ever get the battery problem fixed, supposed to be the most comfortable due to it can pump back humidity in the air since it is made of carbon fiber. This helps you not be so dehydrated when you land, better for sleep also.

[Daddee]

787 is flying now...

[bgtp]

Well, I managed to put together a decent award ticket for next year's trip. It's not the perfect itinerary going over as I have to travel cross-country before picking up EVA Royal Laurel on the west coast, but's it's not too terrible.

 

Coming back, I splashed out for first class. Taking the Thai A380 from BKK-FRA. This will give me a chance to check out Thai's first class lounge and spa. In FRA, I connect to United Global First and finish up the trip in a dinky single cabin CRJ200 (I like the city where I'm currently working, but its small airport has limited flights on primarily smaller planes).

 

On the plus side, I pretty much got the exact dates I wanted. I'm not travelling for another 7 months, but it still feels great to have these flights booked.

[Daddee]

cool, I live at Lake Tahoe, so fly out of Reno, many flights from there are in commuter sized jets and prop planes... hate them, but love the ease of getting through the airport.  we also have lots of 737's and that sized planes, I try to take them whenever possible because the weather doesn't delay them as often...

 

I am looking at award travel for January, one option has a 14 hour layover in Shanghai, arriving at 6:45pm, anyone have any input on that, like what I could get up to that night?  

[wackyjacky]

I was just in Tahoe. I used to live in Incline & I remember the drive over Mt Rose to RNO in the Winter. One year the snow formed a wall 37' high ! Pricelined the Hyatt. I was hoping to do some swimming, but it snowed and was almost too cold for friggin golf. Couldn't get a hotel anywhere near SF due to Oracle World. Worked out since I made a bunch of good football investments.

[Daddee]

cool, if you're ever around again, holler!  I am in south lake tahoe, nevada side...

 

love this place...

[wackyjacky]

Expect a PM in about 360 days. S Lake, I stay at the Lakeside Inn usually.

[Daddee]

Expect a PM in about 360 days. S Lake, I stay at the Lakeside Inn usually.

I am a 5 minute walk away, up the kingsbury grade road a bit.  Lakeside's the locals' casino hangout...  I never win there...  haha!

[wackyjacky]

It can be hit or miss, depending on time of year and departure location. I've definitely scored by myself, but award travel was really scarce right before EVA Air started showing up under United's search engine. At least for East Coast US to BKK. 

There was a ton of Asiana Biz out there when I flew a month ago. Couldn't have anything to do w/the crash.

[wackyjacky]

ORD-BKK on Hainan $2352 in Feb. From what I've read they're great as long as your in the new Biz on a new plane. Their old planes aren't 100% lie flat & the IFE sucks. If I was out of miles, I'd be looking at them hard. Food & service rock supposedly..

[Little Evil]

ORD-BKK on Hainan $2352 in Feb. From what I've read they're great as long as your in the new Biz on a new plane. Their old planes aren't 100% lie flat & the IFE sucks. If I was out of miles, I'd be looking at them hard. Food & service rock supposedly..

 

Wow...is that business class price?  Not bad at all, but I have no experience with that airline.  Just Googled the seats. They remind me of older Thai royal silk (not the new A380 lie-flat business). 170* bed slope makes you feel like you are constantly sliding out. Still better than coach though. 

 

Next year, if I don't have enough miles to get an award ticket, I'll probably take a look at that airline.  I only have 14k miles after this Nov's trip, and I don't know if US Airways will have another 100% miles match again on buying miles.  

[wackyjacky]

Wow...is that business class price?  Not bad at all, but I have no experience with that airline.  Just Googled the seats. They remind me of older Thai royal silk (not the new A380 lie-flat business). 170* bed slope makes you feel like you are constantly sliding out. Still better than coach though. 

 

Next year, if I don't have enough miles to get an award ticket, I'll probably take a look at that airline.  I only have 14k miles after this Nov's trip, and I don't know if US Airways will have another 100% miles match again on buying miles.  

They'll probably have another (or 2) before the merger. Best to combine that with the 100% bonus on gifted miles with a friend. Citi is giving out 60K for a AA Visa now too.

[wackyjacky]

US Air is doing the buy 50-get-50 promo again. 100K miles - $1800. You still need 20K more for rt Biz from the States though & they don't do one ways. Best combined with a credit card sign up - 40K.