One-Way Business Fares, Den-BCN

I have been following business class fares since I booked our westbound cruise in October. The only way we can afford business class is through Cruise Air with Princess. Although, I'm watching for award travel specials with all the airlines. Hopefully, there will be some. There aren't any that extend through October yet.

How likely is it that we will be denied boarding because of the class of our reservation, essentially, consolidator tickets? The airlines agree to passage at those fares. But, when push comes to shove, we could end up in middle seats in economy if they need the business/first class seats for higher priority passengers. Its be a shame to have that happen at the prices we will pay for those tickets, since economy fares are about $500 or less.

Have you heard of anyone being denied boarding because of Cruise Air ticketing? We've used it in economy class with good results. I always pay for economy plus, so that we're not simply relying on the fare by the cruiseline.

Should we pay for the tickets now? Not sure that would help.

Would Princess help to get us onto another business class offering? They won't say.

We might need to change airlines. Currently, we're on United as we fly out of Denver and I've used them for years and years for overseas travel. BA flies out of Denver to BCN as does American and Lufthansa. Changing airlines might be smart, considering United's unfortunate events in the news.

DH says not to worry. Unfortunately, that's what I do. We have time to spare as we're going in early. Would hate that stress. The current fare for the flights we've booked have gone up $1,000. Maybe we should move to less popular flights. BA doesn't have a good business offering. But, they have a lot of seats and typically fly with some empty. United does not. The business/first flight from IAD to BCN is filling fast.

Thanks.

Have to agree with DH....you are over thinking this.

Award flights for this October are already out...have been for 4-5 months. Yes, there might be some last minute saver award seats pop up, but that would be in the last couple of weeks prior to flight, most likely. And that is if the flight is not selling well.

So, if a flight is not selling well, and they offered cheaper award flights, then that would indicate there isn't going to be a need for pax to be bumped from Business to Economy...which happens very rarely anyway.

Do you think United is going to make an issue and bump people right now? They would be crazy to.

I thought if you book EZ air with Princess they guarantee the ticket and if something happens and you get bumped they will get you to your destination. Maybe someone who has used EZ Air will chime in. I have not used them; but have read all avail info on the website. I think Business class Denver to Barcelona would be a nice treat

 

How likely is it that we will be denied boarding because of the class of our reservation, essentially, consolidator tickets? The airlines agree to passage at those fares. But, when push comes to shove, we could end up in middle seats in economy if they need the business/first class seats for higher priority passengers. Its be a shame to have that happen at the prices we will pay for those tickets, since economy fares are about $500 or less.

And yet.... the prices you will pay, through EZ air, will be FAR less than what other business class pax will likely have paid. So from the airline's perspective, it would be a much greater shame to have to bump one of them.

That said, it's highly unlikely you'll get bumped from biz.

I thought if you book EZ air with Princess they guarantee the ticket and if something happens and you get bumped they will get you to your destination.

But what happens when you've paid for business, and on the next available flight there are no available business seats? Now you get to decide: Take a voluntary downgrade to coach and reach your destination in time to make the cruise, or insist on the business seats you paid for, even if it means missing the first day or two of your cruise?

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Do you think United is going to make an issue and bump people right now? They would be crazy to.

Yet, they have. Not sure what the real story is with the couple on their way to Costa Rica is. They got escorted off of a less than full plane for supposedly not being able to sit in their assigned seats and choosing others in economy plus.

I've been pushed around by a United gate agent. So, maybe I'm a overly concerned because of my treatment. It was unnecessary. I should have written the CEO. Luckily, I didn't get dragged off the plane. If the gate agent had her way, I would have. The pilots told her to back off. She gave up.

Yes. . .likely overthinking.

 

But what happens when you've paid for business, and on the next available flight there are no available business seats? Now you get to decide: Take a voluntary downgrade to coach and reach your destination in time to make the cruise, or insist on the business seats you paid for, even if it means missing the first day or two of your cruise?

That's what happened to a guy returning from Hawaii. He had paid for a one-way first class ticket and United put him in coach because a higher status traveler wanted a seat in first class. We have time. But, my bet is when bumped you get a middle seat in coach at three times the price coach passengers paid.

That's what happened to a guy returning from Hawaii. He had paid for a one-way first class ticket and United put him in coach because a higher status traveler wanted a seat in first class. We have time. But, my bet is when bumped you get a middle seat in coach at three times the price coach passengers paid.

BRRRUPP. Yes, the bandwagon is to pile on UA. However, sorry, but you don't have the full story. Or at least didn't write it in your post.

Seems that what happened is that the original aircraft went mechanical, so another was substituted. It had fewer seats up front, so some of the people who were in first needed to be reaccommodated into coach. Part of that process involves ticket price and FF status (not just membership in the FF program, but elite level). So it's not that someone else wanted HIS seat, but that there weren't enough F seats on the new plane and he was at the bottom of the totem pole.

Read about it at View from the Wing. LINK HERE

Thank you FlyerTalker. Sometimes the facts don't don't matter when you are piling on...

And the Costa Rica story is someone who repeatedly tried to claim 2 empty Economy Plus seat, without paying for it. Of course it was all UA's fault.

Also, when you have a first class ticket and your aircraft has a mechanical or they cancel; the airline will put you on next available flight; but it may not be in first class. If the flight you are assigned to is sold out in first class; you will get a coach ticket. All this is written in the fine print of your ticket

Lufthansa has a really nice biz class, better than United for International and they run on time out of DEN. They have plenty of planes in Europe.

Thank you FlyerTalker. Sometimes the facts don't don't matter when you are piling on...

 

And the Costa Rica story is someone who repeatedly tried to claim 2 empty Economy Plus seat, without paying for it. Of course it was all UA's fault.

Thanks. I try to be the factual realist, even when I get called a company shill. Which hasn't happened on this thread.

All of these "bumping" and "tossing off planes" stories have a factual basis that doesn't include discrimination, persecution or malice. They do have a common theme of people who either don't understand the rules and regulations, don't want to know the rules and regulations and/or don't want to follow the rules and regulations when they are told. And the truth is rarely found in the click-bait headlines.

Lufthansa has a really nice biz class, better than United for International and they run on time out of DEN. They have plenty of planes in Europe.

Have you tried the new Polaris offering by United. They started debuting it last year and it is really supposed to be the leader of the pack. The new seats aren't out in all of the planes offering Polaris, though. Everything else is.

I have flown Lufthansa and liked it immensely.

CZEE;

I have flown Polarize Class twice in the past few months. On different routes and different planes. Still haven't seen the upgraded seats or food. Still a lot of "Coming Soon". At this point, I would not book a Polarize Class flight and expect to get it. Maybe by late next year. The Club/Lounge upgrades, where they have occurred, are very nice!