Welcome

Friends,

First, thank you for bearing with my selfie in the thumbnail.

I love this 2011 Delta spot, and it feels apt to share since Delta is getting some great airtime in today’s links. Air France also gets airtime in our story, and their safety video is among my favorites.

But I am not sure if anything will ever match Pan Am’s classic jingle.

Anyways.

Let’s get going.

Links

Great overview of what is ahead for Cathay Pacific’s lounges in Hong Kong.

Following United’s lead, Delta is upgrading their business class champagne.

Also following United, Delta is launching flights to Marrakech from ATL in October.

Lufthansa is trying to woo disenfranchised British Airways fliers with a status match.

Lufthansa is also planning to disenfranchise their own frequent fliers.

Story

Yesterday, I posted a $1900 return summertime business class fare from Toronto to Florence, which by most accounts is a great deal. Overnight, availability was materially reduced but I am still seeing solid options from now through early fall.

The catch, obviously, is the fare originates from Toronto. What good is this fare if, like me, you live elsewhere? That is the question I want to answer today.

Let me begin with an implied ground rule: if business class is not your thing, I get it. It is not always mine. But when I can fly business class for the price of economy (or thereabouts), it gets my attention.

So, let us for a moment entertain the contemplation that you would like to travel to Europe this summer and preferably fly business class. But like me you live in Dallas, where the same business class seat is likely closer to $5400 round trip.

This is how I like to think about it.

1. Find the fare. Check! Toronto and Montreal are historically great origination markets for premium cabin travel, particularly across the Atlantic in my experience. They are usually where my searching begins.

2. Match the fare. In our case, this is a British Airways or KLM/Air France fare in business class with one stop from Toronto to Florence. We’re going to fare compare from our origination market, which is Dallas. In this instance, all else being equal, that same Air France business class seat out of Dallas is $5400 round trip and $1350 round trip in non-basic economy.

3. Call the deal. To me, positioning to/from Toronto is worth it to “discount” the business class ticket by $3500. In this instance, I am going to pay a $550 premium plus positioning versus the simpler coach fare out of Dallas. At this point, I ask myself: if I was offered an upgrade at check-in for $275 to fly business class across the Atlantic, would I take it? The answer, on Air France at least, is yes.

4. Fix the position. Now, the opportunity cost plot thickens a bit. Am I willing to (at risk of missing a connection, etc.) fly to Toronto to catch the fare? As of writing, it is $584 round trip in economy on American or Air Canada non-stop. That still nets me well ahead if the goal is to fly business class long-haul. Yahtzee! I like to use points for positioning to keep the out-of-pocket cost basis as low as possible, which is pretty straightforward and in this case also very reasonable on American or Air Canada’s non-stops. Double Yahtzee.

5. Remember the risk. To be unambiguously clear: in situations like this where one is “self-connecting,” the traveler (you and I) carries the cost if we miss the flight on either end. I almost had this happen in Montreal last summer. So bonus points to just add Toronto onto your itinerary and spend a night or three at the Park Hyatt.

Would I fly on this fare? Absolutely.

But doing this is not for everyone, and that is okay. Finding a great economy fare on a more direct routing makes that economy fare more of a win, too. There are many ways to fly well.

Big Picture: Anyone—but not everyone—can fly business class, and that is a great thing for your travels.

Happy flying.

Forward

I get a lot of emails everyday and I trust you do, too. Thank you for taking the time to read this one. It is a tremendous vote of confidence.

Feel free to forward it along if you are so inclined. It is a great help.

Remember, this life you are living has meaning. Be well today.

-Tommy