I was just looking at air fare for Houston, TX to Harare on Emirates and found the economy class very reasonable at just under $2000. For giggles I checked business and first class. Wow! $9000 for business and $21000 for first class. Economy it is

Man the dancing girls are expensive. Still, probably worth it, it's a long flight. Do they send their pictures?

business class-

Austin-Atlanta-Joberg on Delta---$6500

my upcoming trip to Joburg is a combination business/first class on AA,BA, Etihad Airways using ff miles. i asked the AA ticketing agent how much the fare would be if i had to pay for it-$12,850!!! gotta love those credit card mileage programs.

I'm trying Delta's "Economy Comfort" next April, Adds $320 getting from MSP to Joberg and back. Four inches more leg room, and 50% more recline.
There aren't many of these seats on the plane, looks like it may work for us taller guys who don't have the wherewithal to upgrade to business. My wife accompanies me, and when I look at the cost of two business class tickets, I'm half way to paying for another DG hunt.

Hello
If you want to fly first class for business class fares pm me.
Have a contact
Larry

quote:

Originally posted by Marty:
I'm trying Delta's "Economy Comfort" next April, Adds $320 getting from MSP to Joberg and back. Four inches more leg room, and 50% more recline.
There aren't many of these seats on the plane, looks like it may work for us taller guys who don't have the wherewithal to upgrade to business. My wife accompanies me, and when I look at the cost of two business class tickets, I'm half way to paying for another DG hunt.

I know I will die with a ton of money in the bank, but I can't bring myself to paying for those B class fares. I could fly B class using miles, but instead I pay for economy, since it adds to my status on Delta. I would rather fly all year in the front on my business trips than fly B class once or twice a year overseas.

Besides, I am 5/7 and 150 lbs. I get the econo plus seating for free, and that is good enough for me. I don't let the long time freak me out; I just take my seat knowing the flight is going to a long one; seems to me your state of mind is as much as anything.

I don't know how much, if any, money I will die with but I can tell you one thing, none of it will have EVER been spent on first class airfares (free upgrades or the use of FF mileage doesn't count). My Scottish ancestors and my general theory of the value of money tell me it's is a ridiculous waste of money FOR ME. I am not in any way arguing with other's choices on how they choose to spend their money and, if they have so much or make so much that the approximately $1000 PER HOUR difference in the cost of economy and first class (as given as an example in the opening post) is within their means, by all means enjoy your flight. For me, it is WAAAAY too much difference for me to pay.
I could enumerate dozens if not hundreds of VERY enjoyable activities that can be bought for less than $1000/hour, especially when compared to what you actually get for that price when flying.

Like I said, I am extremely happy that some people in here can afford to fly first class. I probably can but won't. Again, in the example given in the opening post, the first class flyer is (IMO) pissing off the costs of another first class safari simply to feel slightly more comfortable for a few hours. I don't see it as a reasonable expense except for those of extreme wealth, but hey, like I said, my Scottish ancestors and my parents raised me with one of the basics of "waste not, want not." To each his own.....

and just how much does it cost per hoour for 1st class/ business class? now do you get that much per hour at work?? tell me again that it was worth it

I agree with Fat Cat and AZ Writer, it's the poverty parade for me! Back of the bus means I can spend more on trips! $4500 is a good hunt for mulies or whitetails and maybe an elk. Or a good start on next year's safari! I do use Premium Economy when available. At 6'4" and 230 it pays for itself and only costs me an impala! Heck, I've shot a lot of them anyway!

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
I agree with Fat Cat and AZ Writer, it's the poverty parade for me! Back of the bus means I can spend more on trips! $4500 is a good hunt for mulies or whitetails and maybe an elk. Or a good start on next year's safari! I do use Premium Economy when available. At 6'4" and 230 it pays for itself and only costs me an impala! Heck, I've shot a lot of them anyway!

Some years ago one of my clients wanted me to travel to Singapore. Fine. Bought a coach ticket. They asked why I didn't fly B Class. I told them I was billing them 3K for my travel time (my other bill was another matter). My client shrugged his shoulders and said, "So what? You could have flown B class and billed us."

That is why big companies can't afford to pay 100 percent of their employees health care premiums - they waste it on bullshit.

I used air miles for my business/first class ticket for next year. Cost me 195 dollars. At 6'3+ and 240, I'm too big to fly economy.

My wife does a lot of consulting for airlines. They generally refer (amongst themselves, of course!) to passengers as "self-loading freight."

From what she tells me, economy pays for the plane and flight, B and 1st are the profit.

Economy Class is ok for short duration flights, but at 6'5" Business class is a requirement for the longer flights for me. If one is careful and watches out for deals you can do business for about economy class. In April we got Toronto to JNB for 3000 in Business while economy for the same flights was 2600. It was a restricted ticket and our dates were flexible so no problem.

Another nice thing about Business class is that your luggage is priority to the economy luggage and you have higher allowance for carry on and weight of checked luggage (you'd be amazed how many curios the wife can pack ).

I'll be flying Atlanta to JoBerg (Economy Comfort)tomorrow on my first Cape Buffalo hunt. Regardless of how much you pay you're stll in a tin can. If I get uncomfortable I'll think of how many people wish they were me or anyone else heading off on safari.

There are deals on business class if you look. Just flew from tampa to arusha and back for 6500.00 business classs on overseas first class domestic.With my knee it makes the difference of being miserable and being ready to hunt.

I just bought business class from Buffalo NY to Joberg RT
$3990. With the guy that uses Miles
Larry

quote:

Originally posted by elk88101:
I just bought business class from Buffalo NY to Joberg RT
$3990. With the guy that uses Miles
Larry

Who is that?

Les

NO WHINING about first class fares here! I am taking me the wife and her sister to Namibia this week, all B class or better. Steve at travel with guns did great for us, but it was still a pretty good lick. At 6'1" though, and traveling with the girls, it was worth every penny.

My personal rule, business or personal travel, if it is over 4 hours, I'm flying in the front of the bus. I worked too hard to not enjoy every minute off that I can, and first class is part of that relaxation.

My wife asked me this morning while we were drinking coffee on the patio, when's the last time you took a whole week off, without ANY work. I didn't know..... she did. And it was too long ago. So time to balance the scales.

You and yours have a great trip!