How of Happiness

For years my husband I have avoided the dream trip to Australia, New Zealand, etc. because we fear blood clots, leg cramps on arrival, or worse, from the long cramped flight. We've been to China, Hawaii, Amsterdam, on flights less than 13-14 hours. But the leg cramps keep him up all night upon arrival. Feeling special is good--we felt special on Singapore airlines in Economy when the sweet little Asian stewardess asked "Mr. Brewer.....you take shot?" as they checked on his diabetes regimine, and brought his meal first. Special is ok. Alive is more important. If I get a grant that would help pay for business class to Fiji and then on to Australia/New Zealand, we will fly on Air New Zealand on flt.4011 and return flt.4010 because all business class seats are FLAT on their 747-400 and that removes our fear of his excrutiating leg cramps all night after arrival, blood clots that could cause death and the painful patience a 14 hour flight would require (13-14 is the minimum length of a flight to Down Under). AFFORDABLE FLAT, SPECIAL OR NOT.

Interesting insight. A point of rebuttal: Trans-pacific flights are notoriously painful. 15 hours in a small seat next to a crying baby. While a degree of envy/gloating certainly exists, passengers opt for business class so they can sleep given that the jet lag can be a brutal 12 hours. Whereas continental business-class is more of an enhanced product (your luxuary car example), trans-pacific business class may be considered a different product especially for business people who need to be fresh and engage clients the next day. Hence, the enoromous demand for business class seats.

In the former economy the value of 1 goes further than in the latter economy and the consumer sees that the dollar is more valuable in the first situation. Would you rather have 10000 in 2010 or in 1910? Due to inflation the money no longer has as much value as 100 years ago.