Posts Tagged ‘Business Class’

Flying first class on an economy ticket

February 16th, 2012 Tushar Mathur

We all want to travel first class but we also want to only pay for the cheapest economy ticket we can get our hands on, so how do we manage to do both? Here are a few ideas on being best placed to get the best deal and put yourself as having the best changed of getting upgraded.

Finding the best deal

To find the best deal you need to research your flights, you need to check a price comparison engine and then once you have found the best deal there then check another price comparison as these can often differ by a pound or two. Then once you are confident of getting the best deal go to the airline directly and see what they can offer you. Once you have got your best price for the flight, then use an online cashback company where you can often get  1%-2% of the booking price back through them. While you are doing that then make sure you are paying for the booking using a credit card that offers you cashback of 1% also – this is the best way of ensuring you have got the best possible deal on your flight.

Getting the best seat

So you have your booking and got it at a great price. Some people will say that you will not then be able to get upgraded but that is rubbish, you can still be upgraded if you follow these simple steps.

  • Be smartly dressed – it does help as if the airline has overbooked economy and need to upgrade they will not put someone in shorts and t-shirt into a Business or First Class cabin.
  • Your chances of being upgraded are much higher if you are travelling alone, so you may need to ditch your friend at check-in.
  • When checking in don’t be afraid to ask to be considered for an operational upgrade if needed. Do not demand it, just be polite and ask if you might be considered if the need arise.
  • You can still ask at check-in if there are any special offers for upgrading – pitch it to them that they won’t want the seat empty if they can get someone who is willing to pay something extra for it.

So you  have tried all the above and you are still at the departure gate now with your economy seat – what can you do about it? Well, you can just go up to the desk and just explain that you spoke to the check in lady and you were advised to ask at departures if there were any opportunities for an operational upgrade.

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How to Make Time Fly on Long Haul Flights

January 22nd, 2012 Tushar Mathur

Flying across continents and oceans is the fastest way to travel, but it still means that you will have to spend considerable periods cooped up inside an airplane. A couple of hours in a plane is not an issue for many people, but extend that time to 8 hours or more, and then you might face problems. It is especially difficult for people who cannot afford business class or first class – which applies to many! I have flown my share of long haul flights, and I have been lucky to have had things and activities loosely planned so as to stave off boredom. Here are some of my tried and tested ways to make time fly during long flights.

Sleep!

This is rather easy for me, as I love my sleep! Some of my closest friends have this insidery joke about me being able to sleep practically anywhere, in any position. If you are the same, then you will be able to while away many hours sleeping in the plane. If, however, you do not fall asleep easily, you can consider not getting enough sleep before the flight. This way, your body will be forced to get some rest while you are tens of thousands of miles up in the air.

Bring a book.

Whether it is a book made of real paper or an eBook, it does not matter. Long flights are perfect for catching up on your reading. Think about the book that you have been wanting to read but never had time for. Wouldn’t reading it be an excellent way to kill time?

Be sociable.

This one’s a little tricky, but if you have the right personality for it and if you are lucky enough, you just might experience the best human interaction ever. Open yourself to the idea of engaging your seatmate/s in conversation. Gauge the person/s beside you to see if they are open to conversation as well. If the elements are right, you won’t notice how long the flight is, and you might even make a friend or two!

Watch movies.

If you are not the reading type, then you always have the option of watching movies. Depending on your carrier, you might have on-board entertainment options. If you are like me, however, you will always have a gadget with you. Whether it’s a laptop or a tablet, the gadget can save your sanity. Make sure you have your device/s fully charged and loaded with media that you enjoy. Depending on the length of your flight, you can spend the entire time watching movies, playing games, and listening to music.

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Business Travel

July 5th, 2009 Tushar Mathur

Everyday, people are on the move for business. Rather it is state, nation, or world wide, travel can take a toll on anyone. Here are some tips to make business travel a bit less stressful, and a bit more bearable.
First, I would, (or your assistant), book your seats as far in advance as possible, and be sure to keep a copy of the confirmation with you for the day of travel. Computers have been known to fail. In case of a downed computer system, you can verify that you did purchase a seat for your departure day.
If you are returning to a city previously traveled to, request a certain seat. If you remember an area you would have liked to have been seated at, request that seat for the upcoming trip. Even if you are not planning on using it, always carry your laptop with you, instead of sending it with your luggage. Baggage handlers can scratch, tear, dent, and damage laptops even in the most padded of cases. Planning for the worst is a good plan. Suitcases and bags do have a tendency of getting misplaced. For this reason, it is good practice to buy a lightweight bag to store a change of clothes, cell phone and laptop chargers, paper, pen, etc. For more convenience, select a backpack style with straps for easy carry. Pack a couple of extra USB memory sticks, for those times you can’t connect your laptop. This will save the presentation.
Always carry extra cash on you, as computers don’t always work, credit card machines also have their own down times. This will keep you from an embarrassing situation. Try not to work while traveling. Use the time to relax and to prepare yourself for the work needed to be done once you have arrived.
Always carry a bottle of water with you, even in the business class, they may not provide you with enough. This will keep you from becoming slightly dehydrated.
If you are staying in the same motel for two consecutive nights, take this opportunity to do some laundry, which will allow you to pack (and carry) less. The last tip in the top ten is a safety one. Never be the first, or last, person to leave a night gathering. If possible, always exit with another person.

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