Comments on: Cheap Flight or False Economy? http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/travelling/cheap-flight-or-false-economy/ For the weary traveller Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:15:22 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Justin http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/travelling/cheap-flight-or-false-economy/#comment-132 Justin Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:34:23 +0000 http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/?p=247#comment-132 Ha, I totaly agree with you on this one. I went to India a few years ago and in my obsession for getting the cheaper price I ended up going a day earlier than my brother, saved £20 and got there about 4 hours beforehand. It also took me the best part of 6 hours to find. Having said that I did get to fly with Qatar air, without a doubt the best airline I have flown on and I was able to tick Qatar off as a country I have visited even if it was just one night in a hotel... Still one less in my mission to visit them all! Ha, I totaly agree with you on this one. I went to India a few years ago and in my obsession for getting the cheaper price I ended up going a day earlier than my brother, saved £20 and got there about 4 hours beforehand. It also took me the best part of 6 hours to find.

Having said that I did get to fly with Qatar air, without a doubt the best airline I have flown on and I was able to tick Qatar off as a country I have visited even if it was just one night in a hotel… Still one less in my mission to visit them all!

]]> By: Claudia Gonella http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/travelling/cheap-flight-or-false-economy/#comment-123 Claudia Gonella Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:30:05 +0000 http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/?p=247#comment-123 My booking mindset is completely different on long haul (power socket a must, leg room a must, airmiles), than on short flights (cheapest is best). My booking mindset is completely different on long haul (power socket a must, leg room a must, airmiles), than on short flights (cheapest is best).

]]> By: chris http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/travelling/cheap-flight-or-false-economy/#comment-122 chris Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:56:19 +0000 http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/?p=247#comment-122 @Don - Yup, it is a very good comparison. It's about value and the bigger picture. I didn't buy a Mac for this reason but when I think of how much time I used to lose due to crashes on my old "budget" PC, I think the Macs have earned their keep many times over - same thing :) @Don – Yup, it is a very good comparison. It’s about value and the bigger picture. I didn’t buy a Mac for this reason but when I think of how much time I used to lose due to crashes on my old “budget” PC, I think the Macs have earned their keep many times over – same thing :)

]]> By: Don Makoviney http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/travelling/cheap-flight-or-false-economy/#comment-121 Don Makoviney Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:30:56 +0000 http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/?p=247#comment-121 Agreed. Some people think these things are actual luxuries - paying to avoid some inconvenience. I get this when someone asks why I would pay someone to mow my lawn. Like it's an exorbitant luxury or something. Really? Pay someone a hundred bucks a month to mow. When it would take 4-5 hours a month (at minimum) to take care of it during the month myself. In 4-5 hours I can make quadruple that money - sometimes more depending on the project. Not to mention the maintenance and care of the lawnmower, edger, weed whacker, etc. Of course if you like doing yardword (like many of my friends do), then more power to you. dm Agreed. Some people think these things are actual luxuries – paying to avoid some inconvenience. I get this when someone asks why I would pay someone to mow my lawn. Like it’s an exorbitant luxury or something. Really? Pay someone a hundred bucks a month to mow. When it would take 4-5 hours a month (at minimum) to take care of it during the month myself. In 4-5 hours I can make quadruple that money – sometimes more depending on the project. Not to mention the maintenance and care of the lawnmower, edger, weed whacker, etc.

Of course if you like doing yardword (like many of my friends do), then more power to you.

dm

]]> By: Gareth Crew http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/travelling/cheap-flight-or-false-economy/#comment-120 Gareth Crew Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:20:44 +0000 http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/?p=247#comment-120 Hehe! Just giving you some 'inside information' ;) Hehe! Just giving you some ‘inside information’ ;)

]]> By: chris http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/travelling/cheap-flight-or-false-economy/#comment-119 chris Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:58:11 +0000 http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/?p=247#comment-119 @Gareth - Working for a travel/flights company as you do I am <em>appalled</em> that you would be so devious as to suggest I defraud ;) ;) ;) @Gareth – Working for a travel/flights company as you do I am appalled that you would be so devious as to suggest I defraud ;) ;) ;)

]]> By: Gareth Crew http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/travelling/cheap-flight-or-false-economy/#comment-118 Gareth Crew Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:52:01 +0000 http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/?p=247#comment-118 Cool post Chris. Concorde :( I miss it. Where I used to work Concorde came past, and I remember running out into the carpark on its final run.... I think a pivot table, cost/benefit analyses of the trip, whether it's for business, pleasure and work it out that way. I think for your trip to Las Vegas, as you were working so hard, you should've gone posh :) Think of it that you would make more money as you'd be fresher! Failing that, if you don't want to pay for the extra cost and want it to be free, nab a random lady and say you're on your honeymoon! Upgrade here I come! :) Cool post Chris. Concorde :( I miss it. Where I used to work Concorde came past, and I remember running out into the carpark on its final run….

I think a pivot table, cost/benefit analyses of the trip, whether it’s for business, pleasure and work it out that way. I think for your trip to Las Vegas, as you were working so hard, you should’ve gone posh :) Think of it that you would make more money as you’d be fresher!

Failing that, if you don’t want to pay for the extra cost and want it to be free, nab a random lady and say you’re on your honeymoon! Upgrade here I come! :)

]]> By: chris http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/travelling/cheap-flight-or-false-economy/#comment-117 chris Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:38:57 +0000 http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/?p=247#comment-117 @Mike - I heard that the front cabins subsidise the rest of the tickets, but sometimes it seems the price difference is just crazy @Mark - True! What I will pay for a meal and what I will pay for a better seat just do not tally ;) @Chris - I need to be more organized, I am sure by now I could have had a decent airmiles collection but I never think about it. Just like I have spent a fortune at Apple store but never got a business account where I could have saved a decent % :( @Mike – I heard that the front cabins subsidise the rest of the tickets, but sometimes it seems the price difference is just crazy

@Mark – True! What I will pay for a meal and what I will pay for a better seat just do not tally ;)

@Chris – I need to be more organized, I am sure by now I could have had a decent airmiles collection but I never think about it. Just like I have spent a fortune at Apple store but never got a business account where I could have saved a decent % :(

]]> By: Chris Guillebeau http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/travelling/cheap-flight-or-false-economy/#comment-115 Chris Guillebeau Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:27:49 +0000 http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/?p=247#comment-115 This is great, Chris. I've come to much the same conclusions myself, with a bit of variance: 1) I also try to fly Business and plan the trip well, and most of the time that it works out it's due to Frequent Flyer Miles, Round-the-World tickets, and other travel hacking. Admittedly, this takes time, which leads to... 2) I totally understand about time and money, but for me I actually enjoy the travel planning process (well, some of it). Therefore, I'm not always trying to get things done the quickest or most optimally. I take extra connections, spend a long time on the phone getting the perfect awards ticket, etc. It certainly doesn't work for everyone, but then when I fly Virgin Upper Class -- or whatever -- I totally forget how much time I spent getting it sorted out. :) Keep up the great writing! This is great, Chris. I’ve come to much the same conclusions myself, with a bit of variance:

1) I also try to fly Business and plan the trip well, and most of the time that it works out it’s due to Frequent Flyer Miles, Round-the-World tickets, and other travel hacking. Admittedly, this takes time, which leads to…

2) I totally understand about time and money, but for me I actually enjoy the travel planning process (well, some of it). Therefore, I’m not always trying to get things done the quickest or most optimally. I take extra connections, spend a long time on the phone getting the perfect awards ticket, etc. It certainly doesn’t work for everyone, but then when I fly Virgin Upper Class — or whatever — I totally forget how much time I spent getting it sorted out. :)

Keep up the great writing!

]]> By: Mark C. Webster http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/travelling/cheap-flight-or-false-economy/#comment-114 Mark C. Webster Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:33:31 +0000 http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/?p=247#comment-114 Good point. I also find myself assigning value to things in weird ways. For instance, I have no problem ringing up a $40 tab in a bar or restaurant, but I struggled with whether I should spend an extra $40 on more legroom on a red-eye flight. Always good to think big picture... Good point. I also find myself assigning value to things in weird ways. For instance, I have no problem ringing up a $40 tab in a bar or restaurant, but I struggled with whether I should spend an extra $40 on more legroom on a red-eye flight.

Always good to think big picture…

]]> By: Mike CJ http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/travelling/cheap-flight-or-false-economy/#comment-113 Mike CJ Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:16:55 +0000 http://www.fiveamtraveller.com/?p=247#comment-113 Totally with you on this one Chris. I actually approach each booking with a "This time it's business class for sure" and often end up booking economy because I'm so shocked at the price difference! The problem for me is that it is HUGE!. I was looking this morning at flights to New York. I found an amazing value flight at €400 return for economy, so I checked the upgrades. AN EXTRA €1100 for premium economy and an EXTRA €4290 for Upper Class. (now you know the airline!) That's madness, and much as I love all the extra benefits, I really couldn't bring myself to pay THAT much more for them. I wonder if the problem is that both classes are filled with corporate types on expenses, or are they empty half the time? I'd be quite happy to pay an extra 50% for premium and double for Upper, but ten times more? I'll have to check out that excellent post on this site about getting upgrades and see if I can swing one for this trip :) Totally with you on this one Chris. I actually approach each booking with a “This time it’s business class for sure” and often end up booking economy because I’m so shocked at the price difference! The problem for me is that it is HUGE!.

I was looking this morning at flights to New York. I found an amazing value flight at €400 return for economy, so I checked the upgrades. AN EXTRA €1100 for premium economy and an EXTRA €4290 for Upper Class. (now you know the airline!)

That’s madness, and much as I love all the extra benefits, I really couldn’t bring myself to pay THAT much more for them. I wonder if the problem is that both classes are filled with corporate types on expenses, or are they empty half the time?

I’d be quite happy to pay an extra 50% for premium and double for Upper, but ten times more? I’ll have to check out that excellent post on this site about getting upgrades and see if I can swing one for this trip :)

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