Travel Bits: April 2017

Air Miles, are they worth the hassle?

We have all read and heard of folks flying premium classes on 5-star airlines without paying a dime. And there are loads of articles, many of which I believed are sponsored, which attest to the realities of these free-of-charge luxuries in the air. Are there any truths to these fairy tales of the air?

If you noticed that I had used the words "fairy tales" to describe these stories circulating wildly on social media, then you probably would also have catch that I don't really believe in these tales. Truth is, I don't believe and here are the reasons why.

My cup of gourmet coffee served onboard the Business Class cabin of a Singapore Airlines (SQ) flight from Singapore to Hong Kong (2017)

First things first, there are no such things as "free stuffs". Air miles come with loads of terms and conditions and they are by no means easy to earn. To get those so-called free tickets on First or Business Class on a premium airline, you probably have to spend tens of thousands on your airline-linked credit or debit card. On top of that, most airlines only reserve a limited number of seats on each flight for miles redemptions. What this means is that you basically have to book your premium class seats (either First or Business Class) well in advance. In addition, your miles are redeemable only for your seat tickets and you will still have to pay the other charges included in a normal air ticket such as airport tax, security tax and in the case of some airlines, a fuel surcharge. 

If you are thinking that by spending a little every month on your airline-linked credit or debit card such that you can save up over the years to reach that sky high amount of air miles required for redeeming that coveted First or Business Class seat, think again. Most premium airlines have fixed expiry dates for those air miles! In most cases, air miles expire worthless 3 years from the dates that they are earned. Thus, slow and steady savings of air miles is not a viable option.

Personally, I have only managed to redeem air miles on Economy Class tickets for short haul (usually less than 4-hour flight time) regional flights. Even then, I have to book my tickets well in advance, select those flights that depart or arrive at odd hours and also pay for the related taxes and surcharges. On a couple of occasions, I do manage to redeem medium haul tickets (between 6-8 hours flight time) on Business Class. But these are rare occasions and they are possible because I managed to earn a chunk of air miles on an infrequent once-in-ten-years kind of purchases on my airline-linked credit card such as paying for a new car. How often does one buy a new car? Go figure that out.

But while the process is difficult, it is also not impossible. If you managed to earn that coveted premium cabin ticket on your preferred premium airline, you are in for a treat. The perks and benefits of flying First or Business Class are many. These include lounge access, extra luggage allowances for both check-ins and hand-carry onboard the plane, express boarding and de-boarding and no necessity to worry about running out of overhead cabin spaces for your hand-carry luggage(s). In addition, the dining and premium services onboard for First and Business Class passengers are a world apart from  those in the Economy Class. Forget about Premium Economy because it is none other than an Economy Class seat with a few extra inches of space at a price that is somewhere in-between a Business Class and Economy Class ticket. Not worth the extra money in my humble opinion. 

Lobster Thermidor, my favourite meal on the list of Book-the-Cook menu on Singapore Airlines' Business Class cabin (2017)

Singapore Airline's Silver Kris Lounge for Business Class ticket holders at Singapore's Changi International Airport (2016)

So, what is the best way to enjoy a First or Business Class seat? Save and pay for it with cold hard cash. Remember, there are no free lunches in this world. Oops, in this case, it should be re-worded as there are no free premium class seats on an airline, or any airlines to be more exact. ;-) They are businesses after all and can't be offering free seats to all and sundry. 

But all said and done, flying Business Class on a premium airline is indeed a pleasant and delightful experience. When flying Business Class, I always treat the flights as part of the joys of a wonderful trip. For those reasons, I will and do pay in cash to fly Business whenever I can. And my favourite airlines are none other than Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Both offer impeccable services that are worth every cent I paid for in my air tickets.

Pamper yourself once in a while and buy that premium cabin air ticket. Sit back, relax and enjoy the world class products and services onboard. Your journey has just begin. :-)

Part of an elaborate meal served in the Business Class cabin onboard a Cathay Pacific flight from Singapore to Hong Kong (2014)