First class flight

[TheFaQQer]

There's a chance that I may have some long-haul travel on this contract. Client has said that they will pay for a business-class fare for me, which is great.

However, the chances of me ever paying my own money to fly first class on an A380 are positively anorexic, so I was wondering if it was a legitimate business expense for me to pay for an upgrade from business to first class.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that first class flights were named by HMRC as not being allowed, but you never know, and the thought of having my own suite on the plane would be quite nice (particularly if someone else is paying )

[northernladuk]

I wouldn't bother TBH... The business class on an A380 is so bloody good I would stick with that. You are in a room with a few others and the cocktail bar is just behind you. The first class is a whole pod to yourself and I didn't like the look. No people watching or anything, just stuck in a white/wood and gold little cubible. I was quite happy with business class IMO...

Have you actually checked out how much the upgrade is yet?

Get yourself on the reward points scheme as well but am sure you have already done that....

Are you transferring at Dubai or all the way through? It was actually cheaper to stop off in Dubai for 4 days than it was to catch the next flight... That is including hotels and spend, by a good amount. I took a couple of days off in Dubai while pleasing the client as I took a chunk off my travel costs. Bargain.

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

There's a chance that I may have some long-haul travel on this contract. Client has said that they will pay for a business-class fare for me, which is great.

However, the chances of me ever paying my own money to fly first class on an A380 are positively anorexic, so I was wondering if it was a legitimate business expense for me to pay for an upgrade from business to first class.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that first class flights were named by HMRC as not being allowed, but you never know, and the thought of having my own suite on the plane would be quite nice (particularly if someone else is paying )

HMR&C's opinion on first class travel Travel expenses: general: scale of expenditure. There doesn't seem to be a problem with claiming for 1st class but am not sure where you would stand expensing the upgrade on a chargeable expense.

[d000hg]

Since the purpose of your upgrade is purely personal, just pay personally (or treat as a BIK).

But I'm with NLUK, proper business class would be more than good enough.

[TheFaQQer]

HMR&C's opinion on first class travel Travel expenses: general: scale of expenditure. There doesn't seem to be a problem with claiming for 1st class but am not sure where you would stand expensing the upgrade on a chargeable expense.

Thanks - I think that I'd fail the "Where the travel arrangements are unusually lavish you should consider whether, on the facts of the case, the expenditure is genuinely attributable to business travel or is, for example, some sort of reward." test to be honest.

[northernladuk]

Since the purpose of your upgrade is purely personal, just pay personally (or treat as a BIK).

But I'm with NLUK, proper business class would be more than good enough.

Just to stop any rumours, he wasn't with me. I was flying on my own...honest..

[TheFaQQer]

I wouldn't bother TBH... The business class on an A380 is so bloody good I would stick with that. You are in a room with a few others and the cocktail bar is just behind you. The first class is a whole pod to yourself and I didn't like the look. No people watching or anything, just stuck in a white/wood and gold little cubible. I was quite happy with business class IMO...

Bar doesn't interest me much, since I don't drink alcohol. People watching on an overnight flight isn't much of an interest, either - just want that extra comfort, and to have a shower before we land.

Have you actually checked out how much the upgrade is yet?

Haven't looked at the cost of the upgrade - last time I did it from New York into Manchester it cost me £500 to upgrade to first, but that obviously wasn't on an A380.

Get yourself on the reward points scheme as well but am sure you have already done that....

I'm on the loyalty scheme for the three best airlines which cover the route I need. Next trip will probably involve travelling part of the way with colleagues, so it will be on one where I have 0 miles accumulated

Are you transferring at Dubai or all the way through? It was actually cheaper to stop off in Dubai for 4 days than it was to catch the next flight... That is including hotels and spend, by a good amount. I took a couple of days off in Dubai while pleasing the client as I took a chunk off my travel costs. Bargain.

Plan is to fly out Monday, back the following Thursday or Friday so we're only away for one weekend. Dubai holds no attractions for me, to be honest - particularly when I can be heading home to my family instead.

[northernladuk]

Bar doesn't interest me much, since I don't drink alcohol. People watching on an overnight flight isn't much of an interest, either - just want that extra comfort, and to have a shower before we land.


Haven't looked at the cost of the upgrade - last time I did it from New York into Manchester it cost me £500 to upgrade to first, but that obviously wasn't on an A380.


I'm on the loyalty scheme for the three best airlines which cover the route I need. Next trip will probably involve travelling part of the way with colleagues, so it will be on one where I have 0 miles accumulated


Plan is to fly out Monday, back the following Thursday or Friday so we're only away for one weekend. Dubai holds no attractions for me, to be honest - particularly when I can be heading home to my family instead.

Well all that told me

Re the miles.. Try the link below. Tells you how you can convert from one card to another, sometimes needs a couple of hops, depends on how much effort you want to put in to it..

Mileage Converter - WebFlyer :: The Frequent Flyer Authority

The link below also tells you where you can earn/spend your reward points. Many people don't realise the number of places you can earn your points. For example, nearly every decent hotel you can think off give Skywards points, not just the airlines..

Skywards : Frequent Flyer Programs and other Loyalty Programs

But you probably knew all that and didn't need it either

[jamesbrown]

The times I've looked into this out of curiosity, it seemed like a much better deal to upgrade in miles than pay the extra in money. Depending on the route, dates, airline etc., First Class can be massively more expensive than Business, and probably not worth the extra but, at least for some flights, a mileage upgrade was very reasonable. I agree with the above concerning this being a personal expense with a BIK otherwise.

[TheFaQQer]

Well all that told me

There's a phrase which doesn't appear in the NLUK comment generator

Re the miles.. Try the link below. Tells you how you can convert from one card to another, sometimes needs a couple of hops, depends on how much effort you want to put in to it..

Mileage Converter - WebFlyer :: The Frequent Flyer Authority

Ta - need to play around and see if it's any use