WWYD? Business VS Economy class, Layover VS Direct

[Tik-Tok]

We're planning a trip to Maui next year as we have enough Aeroplan points for the flights. Myself, wife, and 4 year old daughter. We have enough points to either fly direct to Maui, and direct back in economy... ORRR, we have enough points to fly to YVR economy, and then from YVR to Maui in Business class (and vice versa on the way back).

Which one would you pick? I'm pretty on the fence about it. Direct flights are great, but I've never flown business class before so that's kind of appealing too. Plus I'm not sure which will be better for a kid, just having her sit there for 7-1/2 hours, or break up the flight a bit with the 90 minute layover, and then 6-1/2 hour flight in a bigger comfier seat. She's pretty well behaved, but not perfect.

[pheoxs]

With a kid I'd do the two flights, especially since its not adding that much time to the overall trip.

[Buster]

Direct. Time is more valuable than leg room and a free meal.

[killramos]

And if you connect and something fucks up with the plane you are stuck in some random cities airport hotel on your time off.

Compared to direct you are either at home or at your destination, either of which you can live with.

[ExtraSlow]

Direct. Time is more valuable than leg room and a free meal.

Direct for sure.

[ThePenIsMightier]

Direct.
Also -1 for Hawaii and +1 for Southern California. Closer and cheaper.

[dirtsniffer]

Direct

[Brent.ff]

Direct. The additional boarding and departure negates any time off plane for the kid

[bjstare]

Direct.
Also -1 for Hawaii and +1 for Southern California. Closer and cheaper.

That's the only way they are even comparable. Literally everything else is better in Hawaii. Like by a massive margin.

[Tik-Tok]

Direct. Time is more valuable than leg room and a free meal.

This is true, however I guess another part of the equation is arrival time.

Comfy class departs early in the AM, and arrives at 1pm Maui time, cattle class doesn't depart until mid afternoon and arrives at 7pm. So that's 2 hours of extra time getting there, but 6 hours extra actually being there.

[Sugarphreak]

..

[Tik-Tok]

So, I should put my wife and kid in economy, and take the bigger seat and free booze for myself? I like this plan.

[Buster]

Kids in business class? Should be a minimum age limit IMO

I take first class to avoid the annoyance personally

Sorry not much help, haha. Less time on the flight is probably better though, not like kids benefit from even larger seats and free booze anyway.

who flies First Class direct from YVR to hawaii?

[killramos]

who flies First Class direct from YVR to hawaii?

Apparently no one, hence why the flight is so cheap on points.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[speedog]

So, I should put my wife and kid in economy, and take the bigger seat and free booze for myself? I like this plan.

Yeah, I know that would've never been okay with my wife. Do it and let us all know what she thought of the idea.

[rage2]

Kids in business class? Should be a minimum age limit IMO
I fly business with kids whenever the opportunity presents itself. Non stop service for drinks and snacks, enough room where they can’t kick the seats, they’re basically silent the entire flight.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[finboy]

Direct, and arriving in the evening if possible to help reset the clock as fast as possible

[taemo]

fly mid-week instead of weekend.. return flights are usually empty
we had 2 rows of seats all for ourselves.

[benyl]

Direct, especially on the way back.

I’ve done this trip many times, both ways and with kids. Direct.

[RX_EVOLV]

Do they have lay flats on flight to Hawaii via Van or Direct? or it's just extra wide seats? Cause Air Canada only has the Rouge going to .. Oahu at least.

A friend came to my Oahu wedding last year and he said he had to take a connecting flight via Denver or Seattle or something with United just so he can get a lay flat. Apparently he refuses to do non-lay flat for any flights over 5 hours.

[killramos]

AC is just very nice Business class to Maui

But they were all Max 8’s last I checked, so no idea what planes they are using now.

[Tik-Tok]

AC is just very nice Business class to Maui

But they were all Max 8’s last I checked, so no idea what planes they are using now.

They aren't flying direct at the moment. Everything has a layover in a US west coast city, with a connecting flight on another airline.

[benyl]

Kids in business class? Should be a minimum age limit IMO

I take first class to avoid the annoyance personally


Haha, not one but two kids!

86073

86074

[prae]

Direct all day. I did AC direct to OGG with a 1y/o and it wasn't bad at all. I wouldn't want the hassle of connecting flights

[rage2]

86073
Socks and sandals in business class. Way to represent. :thumbsup:

[Sugarphreak]

...

[RX_EVOLV]

Is it usually cheaper to book business class ahead of time during seat sale, or you upgrade during check-in or at the gate if they have availability ?

[Mitsu3000gt]

If the layover was short in Vancouver, personally I'd rather have 1hr economy and 6 hr business than 7 hour economy direct. Especially since most flights to Hawaii seem to get in late at night, you wouldn't really be wasting vacation time.

[rage2]

Is it usually cheaper to book business class ahead of time during seat sale, or you upgrade during check-in or at the gate if they have availability ?
Generally speaking from my experience, it’s most expensive to just book business, even during business seat sales. Next cheaper option would be bidding on it after booking (AC upgrade bid or whatever). After that would be your absolute last minute upgrade at the gate which is the cheapest option without leveraging upgrade points. Past that, it’s the upgrade with eupgrade points (typically free but there’s added cost on long hauls). Then once in a while, to make room for standby, you get bumped up for absolutely no reason other than having higher status than the next guy at zero cost to points or cash.

Posting from Lufthansa business where I got upgraded free today. :D

86108

Also remember that the lowest fare classes do not allow for upgrades, regardless of price, points or status.

[Mitsu3000gt]

Generally speaking from my experience, it’s most expensive to just book business, even during business seat sales. Next cheaper option would be bidding on it after booking (AC upgrade bid or whatever). After that would be your absolute last minute upgrade at the gate which is the cheapest option without leveraging upgrade points. Past that, it’s the upgrade with eupgrade points (typically free but there’s added cost on long hauls). Then once in a while, to make room for standby, you get bumped up for absolutely no reason other than having higher status than the next guy at zero cost to points or cash.

Posting from Lufthansa business where I got upgraded free today. :D

Also remember that the lowest fare classes do not allow for upgrades, regardless of price, points or status.

What is the minimum allowable bid usually for AC business/pod upgrade? I am having trouble remembering but last time we flew to London direct I think it was minimum $2400 per person per way but that could have just been their offer to me for an upgrade, I forget now.

[rage2]

It depends on the segment and maybe booking class as well. My typical YYC to Frankfurt is $800 minimum.

[Mitsu3000gt]

It depends on the segment and maybe booking class as well. My typical YYC to Frankfurt is $800 minimum.

That's actually not too bad for a pod. The number I was remembering must have been an outright upgrade price offered to me, rather than a minimum bid.

[Kobe]

And if you connect and something fucks up with the plane you are stuck in some random cities airport hotel on your time off.

Compared to direct you are either at home or at your destination, either of which you can live with.

And if the tickets are together the airline pays for your food+ hotels so it's not that bad...+ the next flight...(most airlines)

[benyl]

And if the tickets are together the airline pays for your food+ hotels so it's not that bad...+ the next flight...(most airlines)

Depends on who's fault it is and which airline. Sometime you get stuck and you have to pay for it.

[roopi]

You guys are doing it wrong. If you fly Sunwing the champagne is free. I'm a champagne Sommelier and I'm pretty sure it's Dom.