DO WE GET VALUE FOR MONEY?

POST Jonathan Cohen 09 DATE Sept 11, 16:28

How do you calculate value for money when it comes to air travel? I was speaking to some friends who are frequent travellers and the conversation came around to whether we get value from the airlines we fly with. If you pay for a J [business] class ticket are you getting value for what you have paid? Does anyone think you get value for money if you pay for a ticket in first class? In general, posters on this forum do not seem to feel you get value for money if you pay for a C [short-haul business] class ticket in Europe, but is that view held by everyone?

blue mooner Sept 11, 21:15

In May 1977, I went to visit my in-laws to-be in Durban (from Manchester). The cost of the return economy ticket was £416. Air France has just sent me an email saying that if I want to travel in November it is £460. According to the inflation tables, £100 in 1977 is worth £585 today. That would make the ticket about £2,400. I think we have lost sight of the value for money we get when flying. You only have to look at inter-city rail fares to confirm this.

K1ngston Sept 12, 00:34

As someone who has just started their own business and has to travel all over Asia-Pacific, I have to weigh up value versus safety versus reliability. Gone are the days of business or premium economy travel generally. As I won’t fly Malaysia Airlines any more because it is, frankly, the most unreliable airline in the region, I will pay a small premium to ensure on-time departures. I don’t tend to fly low-cost carriers for business but do for leisure; the problem is reliability, as times get stretched enormously if they start to run late throughout the day.

steve scoots Sept 12, 03:04

I have never paid for first class, only having flown it on free or point upgrades. I don’t see the value in such a huge cost difference between F and J. That said, I guess it depends on your personal wealth, whereby £10k for a seat may not be a lot of money. I tend to think of the total cost difference, and that can cover many factors, such as flight timing. If it’s an overnight, then I am not interested in wifi but if daytime, then wifi is a big saver as I can work instead of landing to 100-plus emails, then burning through roaming costs on the drive to the hotel.

Olney flyer Sept 12, 08:27

A lot of mid to large corporations will determine value for money by the number of hours you have to travel and what is expected from you when you arrive.