Hi everyone,
I'm wrestling with whether the price difference makes it worth choosing Premium Economy over Economy on British Airways. Cost of the trip is of some concern, and we're looking at about a $1200 difference. Planning on 2 weeks in early September, one week in London and surrounding areas, then a week in and around Edinburgh. My Mom grew up in Edinburgh, and I've never been, so my wife and I wanted to do this.
Thanks
Pete
Plano, TX
If under 5-2" and 120 lb you don't need it. Only you can decided if $300 per leg is worth it. For us it is and you will be surprised at the difference a few inches will make.
pete,
i dont look at the total cost, but i look at it as a cost/hour. If say your flight is 10 hours long like mine is to Europe, it comes to 120/hour for the extra whatever you get. Does that sound better now?
im not sure i can get that rate for my flights, but i also look at what that 1200 will get me in terms of food/souveniors, fun or maybe a nice hotel room. But i will also say, i choose to not splurge on my hotel rooms, but i will do so for food, chocolates and such and maybe several more days on my trip.
hmmmmmm. comfort for so many hours or so many extra days in Europe. its a no brainer for me.
happy trails.
I like Ray's logic! That's how I plan trips as well; however, since your time is limited, and you won't be adding days with money saved, it might be worth it to get the extra legroom. I'm not familiar with BA's price categories, but on Delta it's usually about $200 or less total for transatlantic flights in Economy Comfort (rather than Economy Discomfort).
To answer your question on the other thread: probably not because nowadays airlines have no problem selling out premium economy. They may have offered upgrades when it was first launched.
I don't know about BA, but we've flown Premium Economy (or whatever it's called) on Delta and United for far less than $1200. We keep the cost down by popping for it only on the transatlantic segment of our flights. E.g., on our upcoming trip, we're going P.E. on the SFO/FRA segments and what someone called, "sardine class," on the short flight between FRA and Nice. I think each upgrade added $139 to our ticket price. If your flights are direct, of course, you wouldn't have that option. I'm only 5'1", but I find it makes a huge difference in my comfort level.
For us its a 12-13 hour flight.. and when we were younger "we put up and shut up " arriving feeling like death warmed over.. but last 5-6 years or so we spring for PE . We have tried it on several airlines.. haven't noticed a huge difference so I shop for best fare for PE and go with it.. I looked at Virgin Air a few months ago and was surprised that there PE was no more really then some of the other airlines we usually use.. so we are trying it this year. We never book assuming anything will be much better.. just those few extra inches help..
My hubby is a big guy.. and long flights make him ansty( hey switch some letters around and you have "nasty" .lol) .. its worth the extra money to avoid grumpy bear for that alone.. And i am only 5.6 but find the seats in economy are getting stupidly closer and closer together.. I mean seriously if my knees are almost touching the seat ahead how to larger folks manage!?
1200 is a lot.. but we save on other things.. we get 2 star hotels. not 3 usually( all I need is a/c, good location, and clean comfy bed) .. and have yet to have a bad one yet.. so I do alot of research to save money other ways.. purchasing train and inter europeon flights months in advance etc.
We however never book PE for shorter flights.. mexico or hawaii are 5-6 hours and we just deal with it..
