9 ms·

Yeah, the older I get, the more I realize the need to be comfortable on a flight, especially if you want to be productive after you arrive.

by zymhan 8y ago

CIPHERSTONE 8y ago
If you ever get to fly first class (I have only twice), the entire flight experience is starkly different. I am 6'4", even with an economy plus upgrade the experience is horrible. I don't want to be catered to, I just want leg room. I shouldn't be in constant leg pain you know?
- ghaff 8y ago
  I was traveling cross-country with a friend a few weeks back. Between being able to go through TSA Pre with me, my club membership, and an upgrade to Polaris she was somewhat in awe of how the experience didn’t suck like it usually did.
- Scoundreller 8y ago
  Exit row seats should meet your needs. Check on seatguru before booking any flights.
  - donretag 8y ago
    Exit row seats are now premium seats that have a surcharge.
    - Scoundreller 8y ago
      And far cheaper (last I saw was $50 for an overnight transatlantic flight) than an upgrade to the premium economy/business/first class seats (double fare or more).
      - dzhiurgis 8y ago
        Still only half of my femur fits on that economy seat. On 17-20 hour flight it's still major pain.
- solotronics 8y ago
  At what point will people be able to sue airlines in the US for causing health issues with how cramped seats are?
  - ghaff 8y ago
    Do you think that the situation in most of Europe, especially with budget airlines, is much different?
    - Aeolun 8y ago
      It’s fine when flying just an hour. It’s different if you fly to the other side of the world.
deepGem 8y ago
"if you want to be productive after you arrive" Many people who don't travel for work do not seem to understand this. Unlike leisure travelers, there is no time to rejuvenate. If you fly coach, which in my experience is not all that terrible on international flights, you do end up weary and jet lagged. The one time I flew business, the difference post landing was quite noticable. So yeah, while I don't really crave for the business class comforts during the flight, the reward post landing is worth the premium.
- Scoundreller 8y ago
  I wonder how much evidence there is for this effect. How much is “wow, my employer spent money on me, i must be important and valued” vs actual physical function improvement. A cheque (or flexible per firm) could do the job of the former. For the latter, if I’m going somewhere nice, i’d Rather they book me a hotel room for a couple nights instead of a lie flat seat.
  - Malician 8y ago
    Business is a lot less stress (they take care of everything for you the entire way; you get what you want, when you want it.) Being bunched up in an uncomfortable position for that long in coach vs being able to lie down is a huge difference. For an overnight flight, it's the difference between just sleeping through it and (however many) hours of hell staring blearly forward in a pained stupor, losing consciousness for a few minutes before waking up to shrieking pains from your neck and shoulder, trying unsuccessfully to sleep in a more ergonomic position before you are so tired you cradle against the window again for that precious ten minutes before the strain and impingement shake you awake.. I've tried a couple different neck pillows and they don't work for me. My head has got to be tilted downward or to the side, no matter how sleep deprived I am. Oh, and if I go a night w/out sleep, I'm going to be 100% useless the next day and have a major impact for the next couple days while I recover.
  - ryanlol 8y ago
    I'm tall and employ myself. The actual physical function improvement between coach and business is just incredible, especially for long haul flights.
kcmastrpc 8y ago
So I can pay several thousand more for business class, or I can arrive a day early and pay <1k for an additional night + expenses. The math here is simple.
- majewsky 8y ago
  Only if you don't value your employee's time.
  - Scoundreller 8y ago
    If they cut me in on the savings, I’d be willing to deal with a lot. +$100/hr to sit with reduced leg room on any non-overnight flight? Sign me up. The same for flights requiring a connection. Want me to sit in an airport reading HN for +$20/hr? Ok.
    - treadventures 8y ago
      You might want to look into Rocketrip (https://www.rocketrip.com https://www.rocketrip.com). Their product is pretty much what you just described - you don't get straight cash, but you can get prepaid visa cards that get close.
      - Scoundreller 8y ago
        Cool product. My flights are generally personally booked, and I basically compare as I described. What I would like is an engine where I can punch in the various kinds of pain per hour I can tolerate and book that.
- kcmastrpc 8y ago
  > Only if you don't value your employee's time. I don't understand this logic. Time == money. Unless your presence is crucial and you must minimize your time away from your home office this approach seems the most logical and cost effective. I'm already 100% remote, so I can contribute effectively whether I'm at home or in a hotel recuperating from a 12 hour APAC flight in coach.

Yeah, the older I get, the more I realize the need to be comfortable on a flight, especially if you want to be productive after you arrive.

by zymhan 8y ago

Yeah, the older I get, the more I realize the need to be comfortable on a flight, especially if you want to be productive after you arrive.

CIPHERSTONE 8y ago

If you ever get to fly first class (I have only twice), the entire flight experience is starkly different. I am 6'4", even with an economy plus upgrade the experience is horrible. I don't want to be catered to, I just want leg room. I shouldn't be in constant leg pain you know?

ghaff 8y ago
I was traveling cross-country with a friend a few weeks back. Between being able to go through TSA Pre with me, my club membership, and an upgrade to Polaris she was somewhat in awe of how the experience didn’t suck like it usually did.
Scoundreller 8y ago
Exit row seats should meet your needs. Check on seatguru before booking any flights.
- donretag 8y ago
  Exit row seats are now premium seats that have a surcharge.
  - Scoundreller 8y ago
    And far cheaper (last I saw was $50 for an overnight transatlantic flight) than an upgrade to the premium economy/business/first class seats (double fare or more).
    - dzhiurgis 8y ago
      Still only half of my femur fits on that economy seat. On 17-20 hour flight it's still major pain.
solotronics 8y ago
At what point will people be able to sue airlines in the US for causing health issues with how cramped seats are?
- ghaff 8y ago
  Do you think that the situation in most of Europe, especially with budget airlines, is much different?
  - Aeolun 8y ago
    It’s fine when flying just an hour. It’s different if you fly to the other side of the world.

deepGem 8y ago

"if you want to be productive after you arrive" Many people who don't travel for work do not seem to understand this. Unlike leisure travelers, there is no time to rejuvenate. If you fly coach, which in my experience is not all that terrible on international flights, you do end up weary and jet lagged. The one time I flew business, the difference post landing was quite noticable. So yeah, while I don't really crave for the business class comforts during the flight, the reward post landing is worth the premium.

Scoundreller 8y ago
I wonder how much evidence there is for this effect. How much is “wow, my employer spent money on me, i must be important and valued” vs actual physical function improvement. A cheque (or flexible per firm) could do the job of the former. For the latter, if I’m going somewhere nice, i’d Rather they book me a hotel room for a couple nights instead of a lie flat seat.
- Malician 8y ago
  Business is a lot less stress (they take care of everything for you the entire way; you get what you want, when you want it.) Being bunched up in an uncomfortable position for that long in coach vs being able to lie down is a huge difference. For an overnight flight, it's the difference between just sleeping through it and (however many) hours of hell staring blearly forward in a pained stupor, losing consciousness for a few minutes before waking up to shrieking pains from your neck and shoulder, trying unsuccessfully to sleep in a more ergonomic position before you are so tired you cradle against the window again for that precious ten minutes before the strain and impingement shake you awake.. I've tried a couple different neck pillows and they don't work for me. My head has got to be tilted downward or to the side, no matter how sleep deprived I am. Oh, and if I go a night w/out sleep, I'm going to be 100% useless the next day and have a major impact for the next couple days while I recover.
- ryanlol 8y ago
  I'm tall and employ myself. The actual physical function improvement between coach and business is just incredible, especially for long haul flights.

kcmastrpc 8y ago

So I can pay several thousand more for business class, or I can arrive a day early and pay <1k for an additional night + expenses. The math here is simple.

majewsky 8y ago
Only if you don't value your employee's time.
- Scoundreller 8y ago
  If they cut me in on the savings, I’d be willing to deal with a lot. +$100/hr to sit with reduced leg room on any non-overnight flight? Sign me up. The same for flights requiring a connection. Want me to sit in an airport reading HN for +$20/hr? Ok.
  - treadventures 8y ago
    You might want to look into Rocketrip (https://www.rocketrip.com https://www.rocketrip.com). Their product is pretty much what you just described - you don't get straight cash, but you can get prepaid visa cards that get close.
    - Scoundreller 8y ago
      Cool product. My flights are generally personally booked, and I basically compare as I described. What I would like is an engine where I can punch in the various kinds of pain per hour I can tolerate and book that.
kcmastrpc 8y ago
> Only if you don't value your employee's time. I don't understand this logic. Time == money. Unless your presence is crucial and you must minimize your time away from your home office this approach seems the most logical and cost effective. I'm already 100% remote, so I can contribute effectively whether I'm at home or in a hotel recuperating from a 12 hour APAC flight in coach.