Korean Air Business Class was Fantastic: now too expensive

[TotallyOz]

I traveled last trip on Korean Air and I LOVED it. I spent around 4500 USD for the ticket and I don't mind doing that for every trip. However, as I am now looking again for tickets for the future, I can't seem to find anything for less than 5500. That is 1k more than I am willing to pay.

 

Here is the main issue. I travel with 7 bags. If I take Korean, I only get 2 free and the other 5 cost 1,000.

 

If I use Delta, I can take more bags for lower price as I am a professional photographer in USA and have ID for discount rates for Delta or American. Basically, 50 USD for every bag. That is a savings of over 650.

 

But, I don't have status on American and Delta is too damn expensive for Business. If either let me go for Business Class one way for 2500, I'd do it but that charge the same price for that as they do for round-trip.

 

I may do the Economy Comfort but I don't know how comfortable I'll be in that. I am a big guy and I do enjoy the space of Business. I could book 2 seats and that is easy and costs about 3800 for 2 seats on either airline but what the cost gets so close to the Business Class seats, I usually just go ahead and book the business class ticket.

 

I can travel from Dallas, San Antonio, Atlanta or Los Angeles very easily.

 

Any suggestions?

[Bob]

It's absolutely beyond me how anybody would either need or want to travel anywhere in the world with more than one or two suitcases. Geez, Michael, you take the kitchen sink with you?

 

Only suggestion I have is to travel lighter!

 

P.S. I also looked at flying business on Korean Air via Chicago but saw the same ungodly price you saw; as such, in a few weeks, I'll be heading back to Chiangmai via Korean Air economy and I hope I survive the trip. If I don't survive, I at least saved over $4,000.00 (the round-trip ticket to/from Chicago-Seoul-Chiangmai was less than $1,400.00) to handle the cremation.

[Guest fountainhall]

I travel with 7 bags.

 

Sorry no ideas on airlines, other then to check prices daily. But since you are back and forth to and from Thailand so frequently, why don't you start buying two of everything you need - at least in terms of clothes, so that you always have one set of what you need here?

 

Also I'd start thinking about purchasing round trips ex-Thailand than ex-USA. As I mentioned on another thread, for some months Cathay Pacific had round trips from BKK to the West Coast and Chicago for around $4,000 in business class.

[TotallyOz]

One bag is my computer. One is my office. Two are for clothes, etc. One is for camera equipment. I usually can't fit it all in and thus I take a few more for the ride.

 

Yes, I agree it is insane. I have tried so hard to stop and I keep double clothes everywhere I go. I just seem to keep adding to them. I just tested bringing my blender and coffee machine and it will end up taking one suitcase (hard cover pelican case). That makes 6. Now I only have one to put all the extra shit in that I know need but can't not bring.

[Rogie]

As a cowboy travelling steerage I only travel business when I get upgraded which is as rare as hen's teeth. If i was wanting a better experience and was feeling flush, rather than slurge out on a business seat I would book two exit row seats. Then I would have more leg room and by lifting up the arm rest more lateral space too.

 

Just re-read your OP and realise you already had that idea. Oh well, why not try it and see how you get on? I was assuming two seats in economy would still be significantly less than one in business, but if that's not the case I can understand why you prefer to stick with business.

[kokopelli]

Forget Economy Comfort on Delta. No comfort. Maybe a few extra inches but awful. I suffered with it from BKK to Tokyo since I sleep mostly on this leg but would not want to sit there on the longer leg to USA. Delta allows 3 pieces of luggage @ 70lbs in Business Class which is a lot of luggage! Pack your clothes in what are known as Space Bags whereby you vacuum out the air and compress the package.

[Guest]

Seven bags is a bit much.

One bag is my computer.

Is this some full size desktop machine, or are we talking about squeezing a lap top in the samebag as the hand luggage, like the usual solution?

As it seems you already have some storage in Thailand, why not limit yourself to one bag for clothes & buy a second coffee machine for Thailand?

[Guest thaiworthy]

Michael, I thought I read somewhere that you used to bring 3 dogs with you. You must have had to board them all the time as I don't see how any hotel would possibly allow a pet, much less 3! I don't know what is so special about your own coffee machine and blender. Seems a bit eccentric to me, but to each his own. We all have our own private passions.

 

Delta allows 3 pieces of luggage @ 70lbs in Business Class which is a lot of luggage! Pack your clothes in what are known as Space Bags whereby you vacuum out the air and compress the package.

 

If you think Michael's bad, Kokopelli is often tempted to exceed his limit on bringing in many bottles of his favorite wines. That is the only reason he flies business class, to get the extra baggage allowance. He vacuum packs the bottles so they don't klink together and give away the game. But that is understandable, since he was only recently elected Corkmaster of his local wine club. It seems he has become a bit eccentric, too. I could tell you stories, but that would take us way off topic.

 

I travel light. All I bring with me is a toothbrush and a pack of condoms.

[kokopelli]

Michael; your US appliances are for 120 v. What do you do in Thailand @240v? Use a transformer?

[Bob]

Michael; your US appliances are for 120 v. What do you do in Thailand @240v? Use a transformer?

 

Nah....he brings a power plant in another 12 suitcases. B)

[Guest fountainhall]

Have you thought about China Southern from LAX via Guangzhou? It's also a Skyteam member. It presently uses 777-200 aircraft but will change on October 12 to the A380. It's business class seats on both aircraft are billed as "lie-flat". This usually means 180 degrees rather than the old "angled flat". The present business class price is US$4,100.

 

http://www.businesst...s-angeles-route

[TotallyOz]

Thank you FH. I had not considered that airline and did not know about the new upgrade. I can't seem to find if it has the lounges on it either. But, I plan on doing ample research to find out more!

[Guest fountainhall]

Seems good at Guangzhou. It even has bedrooms - but not sure for which passengers they are intended! Not sure about other airports.

 

http://www.airlinequ...unge_CZ2012.htm

 

If you mean on the A380, the seat plan suggests there is no lounge. The staggered seating on the upper deck looks very like the Emirates layout - but without bar!

 

http://www.seatguru....rlines_A380.php

[Guest travelerjim]

Michael...

 

Have you looked at what the fares are IF you start your trip fm BKK?

I recently flew China Airlines from BKK-SFO in Business Class @ 89,500 Thai baht..US$ 2,828

 

I have a return date in a few months...but there is NO change fee to change the return date...

and there tickets are good for one year!

 

The flight leaves BKK at 5:05pm in the afternoon :-) ..goes to Taipei...quick connection...

and arrives into SFO at 8:30pm same day.

 

Return to BKK leaves stateside late-late at night and arrives vis TPE into BKK at 10:00am :-)

 

China Airlines is a Skyteam member...Delta, KLM, Air France, and more partners.

 

What I also saw was that the Business Class fare fm BKK - YVR - Vancouver was 84,500 Thai baht...

so one could enjoy YVR if they wished then made booking to USA destination.

 

tj

[Guest fountainhall]

Even Cathay Pacific BKK to LAX round trip business class with flat beds (China Airlines seems to be angled flat) is presently Bt. 115,000 - but only on certain days of the week.

[TotallyOz]

I found a decent fair on Delta from LAX for 4300. But, the change fee was 400 each time and non refundable for Business Class ticket.

 

I may have to give up airplanes and buy a canoe!

[Bob]

I may have to give up airplanes and buy a canoe!

 

Given the provisions you appear to usually take with you, may I suggest an aircraft carrier?