While it is true that I treated my economy class trip on Lufthansa as something of a joke, I want to make one thing clear: flying in any cabin is an incredible joy that should not be taken for granted.
It was not too long ago that flying used to be just for the wealthy or well-connected. While we moan about cutbacks in service and seat pitch, flying has never been cheaper and that has opened up the world to the masses. I think that should be celebrated. I celebrate that we can step into a metal tube and hurl through the air at 600mph, waking up in a new, far away land.
It still amazes me that I can eat lunch in Tokyo, step onto a plane, and be back at my home in Los Angeles in time for breakfast again on the same day (thanks to “time travel” via the international date line). I’m amazed that I can kiss my wife and son goodbye on a dry, hot summer night in LA and wake up 14 hours later to a cold and rainy winter morning in Melbourne.
I grew up flying economy class and never really dreamed about flying business or first class until I tried to poach a seat on a United flight 15 years ago. You can read that story here.
As much as I love the game of miles and points and the challenge of securing a front-cabin seat for cheaper than many people paid for economy class, sometimes it is about the destination. Sometimes the class of travel doesn’t matter.
Our worth or our dignity is not linked to the cabin we fly in on an airplane. It’s just a seat. If anything, The Millionaire Next Door teaches us that looks can be deceiving and those in the stablest financial position are often not the ones we would expect based upon the cultural zeitgeist. But dignity and wealth are not correlated. Dignity is the birthright of every human being, not something that is earned or bestowed, especially based upon material wealth.
Flying unites friends and family. It unites the world, opening our minds to other vibrant peoples and cultures that enrich us. Travel brings empathy and shatters prejudice.
I’m still in awe every time I step onto a plane. Three decades into my life, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have had to explore this world and for the relationships I have made in the process.
My point is simple: on a luxury travel blog, I’m going to take a light-hearted approach to flying economy class. My job is to help you score premium cabin seats for a great price or using miles/points. It’s my aphrodisiac. But do not ever confuse good-natured fun with any sort of value judgment about flying economy class.
For most, it’s not about the flight, but about the people and the destination. I get it. And I am thankful for it.
@ Matthew — Flting in coach sucks.
Well said. I do think that it seems a little strange that you claim to run a blog that tells people how to fly in premium cabins, but sometimes express dismay when other blogs make it easier for normal people to fly these same premium cabins. I guess this is mild hypocrisy, but no worse than normal and less than most for a travel blog.
One thing that I’d really love to know more about is how you obtain the gargantuan number of miles that you use to travel in premium cabins, particularly on Lufthansa. Do you MS? Do you just convert every possible point into United miles for Lufthansa space? Do you buy gobs of miles? Pay full fare first when Swiss doesn’t make mistakes? Do you buy full fare economy at awful prices and just upgrade from there? Did you start with some insanely large number of points/miles? Some knowledge on your methodology would be really welcome. Thanks.
Hi Christian, do you mean my disgust when airlines make it easier to book online? Or what do you mean that I “express dismay when other blogs make it easier for normal people to fly these same premium cabins”?
My businesses generate large quantities of miles. I do buy them sometimes, but rarely. I do not MS…I am too unorganized. I started with zero in the summer of 2004 when this whole game started for me.
If I recall correctly, you expressed dismay when OMAAT specified when Lufthansa opens up first class award space, for instance.
On the generating miles front, I pull in 40-50k a month through my business, but to you that’s chump change. Any chance we could learn more? I think that I’m doing this wrong.
RE: OMAAT, Nope, that wasn’t me. I’ll address spending in a future post, but it’s no hidden trick, just big purchase orders.
You’re completely correct. Looks like I picked a bad week to quit drinking coffee. Apologies.
No problem. I’m all about opening the world of premium cabins to those who are willing to put in the time to learn the game of miles and points.
“flying has never been cheaper and that has opened up the world to just about everyone”
Are you kidding here? It may be cheaper but it has not nearly opened up to everyone. Do you only travel in the western world? Have you seen the deep poverty that exists in most the world? Don’t you know that the vast majority of people still will never afford even a $40 airline ticket?
This sounds like it is written from the perspective of an elitist. I’m glad that “sometimes” the class of service doesn’t matter to you.
Wow! You really need to get out into the real world.
See the burgeoning aviation industry around the world and tell me with a straight face that air travel has not been opened to the masses. I never said everyone, but I’ve seen the flourishing of low-cost carriers in Africa, Australia, South America, Europe, and Asia. It has opened up the world.
@Fathiss.
“flying has never been cheaper and that has opened up the world to the masses.”
That is the actual quote which I attained through the use of the “copy” function on my iPad. Your made up quote and Matthew’s are a world away.
In @Fathiss’s defense, that was the original quote. For the avoidance of doubt as to my intention, I clarified it. I never meant that everyone can afford to travel. Rather, I meant that air travel is now available for so many more people than in decades past.
I won’t be the one to jump down the negative hole on a post that I feel is poignant, well written, and true. Even in my early 50’s now and with nearly 30 years of being in the grind of 250 days traveling I never take it for granted. The thrill never dies for all the things you mention. In fact, I am the odd one that actually feels a sort of comfort in jet lag and watching CNN at 4AM in some odd place in the world.
The only exception I take in what you said is to think that the miles game gets us seats in Premium cabins at what others pay in coach. I think you know it’s deeper and more complex than that. What gets us those seats is a lot of money spent in travel over a year and the grinding schedules we endure. We pay for them, one way or another. If we didn’t the airlines and hotels wouldn’t give it. You and others help us maximize that return to insure we can stretch it out a bit more and have a deserved ability to fight devaluations and diminishing levels of service. We pay for them, one way or another. If we didn’t the airlines and hotels wouldn’t give it.
It was a great post and I think it will resonate for most of us. The emotional aspects are so very true.
True. Flying is such a lovely thing. It’s difficult for most to understand, but I smile like a lunatic on take off and landing. I even buy on board if flying an LCC just for the thrill of eating while 30000 feet in the air.
Great post. Love to fly. Even now in my 30s. I agree never to take flying for granted.
I fly in all cabins and personally think the only way to truly appreciate flying in premium cabins is to fly economy.
This is a good article and a great reminder. When flying Turkish in economy recently I was seated next to a sweet older lady from Afghanistan on the long flight back to DC. She did not speak much English and it appeared to be her first time flying. It was a pleasure to help her out and hen she needed it. One of the best experiences I have had on a plane.
Flying for the sake of flying no matter which class you fly is useless. Says the guy who is about to do it on the cathay mistake fare.
Flying because you are about experience an exotic culture is joy. And economy is really not that bad. A good IFE keeps me more entertained than when I am home.
“I celebrate that we can step into a metal tube and hurl through the air at 600mph, waking up in a new, far away land.”
hurl
/hərl/
verb
throw (an object) with great force.
hur·tle
/ˈhərdl/
verb
move or cause to move at a great speed, typically in a wildly uncontrolled manner.
https://www.thoughtco.com/hurdle-hurl-and-hurtle-1689416