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jerryk

macrumors 604
Nov 3, 2011
7,421
4,208
SF Bay Area
ave you ever worked in consulting?
Yep. I remember working for a client in the 80s and having a coaxial ethernet cable stretched between my co-worker and me. The stewardess just shook her head when she walked by.

The client called right before we departed and said upper management needed a feature added now!! We each billed them twice our hourly rate. They had no issues paying the bill and giving us suites instead of regular rooms!
 
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StoneJack

macrumors 68030
Dec 19, 2009
2,730
1,983
The morale of the story:
if you got money to buy 14/16 inch Mac
you ought to have money to fly business or first class. Problem solved, period.
 
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yabeweb

macrumors 6502a
Jun 25, 2021
814
1,710
My experience is:

1. My M1 Air works fine in economy from a space standpoint
2. My 14” M1 MBP is a bit large, even in the various premium economy seats
3. Best solution is my 12” iPad with the magic keyboard for routine work

I am always worried the person in front of me will recline their seat.
Curious about the iPad M1 with keyboard... isn't it taller than the Air screen?
 

jlc1978

macrumors 603
Aug 14, 2009
5,868
4,843
Curious about the iPad M1 with keyboard... isn't it taller than the Air screen?

I have an earlier pro and it is about the same size in L & W as my Air. I prefer it because I can detach it and the keyboard is thinner on the tray. I just find it easier to use.
 

Wxchaser

macrumors P6
Oct 28, 2017
17,468
41,864
The morale of the story:
if you got money to buy 14/16 inch Mac
you ought to have money to fly business or first class. Problem solved, period.
How appropriate. My own travel has been greatly restricted for 2 years, due to the pandemic.
 

yabeweb

macrumors 6502a
Jun 25, 2021
814
1,710
I have an earlier pro and it is about the same size in L & W as my Air. I prefer it because I can detach it and the keyboard is thinner on the tray. I just find it easier to use.
I was just curious, I do not have a MK but the latest 12.9 M1 and thought seeing the images that it would be taller.

Thank you for clearing that up.
 

radus

macrumors 6502a
Jan 12, 2009
720
447
Well, as an owner of an Apple-Computer you do not need to buy a economy class ticket.
Just go by business class with an 16" maxed out Macbook Pro :)
 

geta

macrumors 68000
May 18, 2010
1,600
1,394
The Moon
Yeah, if your business depends on working on a plane, you might just want to pick up a small laptop like the 12” MacBook. Keep that in your shoulder bag and the 16” in your carryon.
If a business depends on you working on a plane, they should buy you at least business class ticket for the extra working space.

That been said, even the old 13” MBP was on the border, so im guessing the new 14”/16” are no go. These days i would choose iPad over laptop of light work (if needed), reading, entertainment, and iPhone for music/podcasts.
 

JouniS

macrumors 6502a
Nov 22, 2020
638
399
The morale of the story:
if you got money to buy 14/16 inch Mac
you ought to have money to fly business or first class. Problem solved, period.
Laptops are cheap, while flying business class is expensive. If you are flying long haul in business, you can probably afford buying a new MBP for each trip.
 
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Conutz

macrumors 6502
Oct 24, 2014
358
250
Joburg
The morale of the story:
if you got money to buy 14/16 inch Mac
you ought to have money to fly business or first class. Problem solved, period.
Ummm, the cost for one night flight in business, let alone first class is for the wealthy, i.e. $10m upwards. For the rest of us, that would just be a complete waste of money that we can’t really afford to spend. An Apple MBP is accessible to far more of us and is amortised over years, not to mention helps earn money rather than burn it all over one night…unless you put an Intel chip into it :p.
 

jlc1978

macrumors 603
Aug 14, 2009
5,868
4,843
Well that's true because I no longer use air travel for something as mundane as meetings. There are far less costly and wasteful ways to hold meetings.
And depending on the meeting purpose, far less productive. For some of us, the nature of our work means face t face meetings are needed to get the work done right. It's a trade off between remote nd in person and the types depends on the meeting goals.

Working on a plane is a reality for some of us, due to the nature of our work. Finding the right laptop is important. For me, the 14" MBP plus an iPad is the right combo that balances size with power and features. Others find the Air the best.
 

imdropbear

macrumors regular
Sep 12, 2019
108
213
If a business depends on you working on a plane, they should buy you at least business class ticket for the extra working space.

That been said, even the old 13” MBP was on the border, so im guessing the new 14”/16” are no go. These days i would choose iPad over laptop of light work (if needed), reading, entertainment, and iPhone for music/podcasts.
That I fully agree with. If your employer is expecting you to work while in transit, he should make sure the working conditions are acceptable.

However, if you aren't expected to work on the plane but still do so in order to save time later, then that's fine as well but you shouldn't expect your employer to pay extra to make it more comfortable. Some employers will still do and that's aweso me but I can also understand not doing it especially if the budget it tight.
 

Fomalhaut

macrumors 68000
Oct 6, 2020
1,993
1,724
Well that's true because I no longer use air travel for something as mundane as meetings. There are far less costly and wasteful ways to hold meetings.
You are at least partially correct, and I imagine that the expectations of business communications have significantly shifted since the pandemic started.

However, remote meetings miss out on any personal bonding, relationship building or networking that often takes place during face to face meetings or consulting engagements, particularly those that extend several days, weeks or months. Social interaction with customers and building relationships and trust is a big part of doing successful business, even in technology fields.

I used to think that working remotely was always at least as efficient, or even more efficient than working face-to-face with a team. almost 2 years of working from home has taught me that there is definite value in interacting with your colleagues and customers, at least some of time, particularly when starting a new project or joining a new team.

I will agree that that traveling to customer's office for a single meeting (or for a period shorter than a day to conduct a series of meetings) could often be done remotely, because there often no time for general "water cooler" discussions, coffee or having a meal together. Even worse are clients who want you to just do systems admin or development work that could be done just as easily from home. There are still companies with a "bums on seats" attitude to presenteeism.

Having said all of this, I do not miss spending hours at airports and in planes to visit my customers or to live Monday to Friday in a hotel away from home and family. I hope that the idea of hybrid working is here to stay, with in-person meetings or business travel "now and then" where it has an identifiable benefit.
 

Fomalhaut

macrumors 68000
Oct 6, 2020
1,993
1,724
short answer - never fly economy.
save your $ and points and always fly business 🤓
If you are flying regularly, you could probably buy a new MBP16 every month for the cost of the business-class travel.

Even though I can afford it (assuming I am paying), I have to weigh up to value of 5-15 hours of slightly uncomfortable seating against the massive cost increase. I recently travelled Vancouver to Sydney (15 hours), and looked at the cost of upgrading to business class. It was going to be at least $2000. I decided I could put up with economy class and keep the money. Between my wife and me, that saving just paid for my new Mac :cool:
 

clarencek

macrumors 6502
Apr 8, 2008
295
348
I used to fly with the old 16” intel MBP. Don’t use the tray table and just use it on your lap. Imagine you’re on the sofa at home.
Alternatively, if you can get one of the first rows where the tray come out of the arm rest it works there too.
Those have been the only options I’ve seen where it works.

14” barely works in economy but can be done provided the person in front doesn’t recline.
 

kschendel

macrumors 65816
Dec 9, 2014
1,308
587
short answer - never fly economy.
save your $ and points and always fly business 🤓
Hahaha.

My company has a zero business class policy. Everyone, CEO on down, flies economy. I could sometimes get a Y+ pushed through but it was rare.

I haven't flown for business since the pandemic started. Before that, most of my travel was international. Every now and then I'd check on the price difference between Y and business. Most of the time it was a 3X to 5X cost premium, and 10X wasn't terribly unusual.

When I was a consultant, I usually managed to avoid having to work on the plane, but sometimes it wasn't possible -- especially if someone else had made a commitment that I had to implement. Again, shouldn't happen in a perfect world, but reality can suck.
 

anthonymoody

macrumors 68040
Aug 8, 2002
3,119
1,211
I *finally* got myself to an Apple store to check out the 14 and 16 in person. TBH I was really surprised at what a chunk the 14 felt like (the 16 was a total nonstarter IMO). I know what the spec sheet weight is, but it really goes to show how much shape, and distribution, impacts the perception of weight and size. The 14 just felt bigger/heavier than it seemed like it should given its actual listed weight.

We have multiple prior gen 13" MBPs in the home. Even though they weigh "only" about .5 pounds lighter...man is the difference obvious.

I'm still leaning toward a 14 for myself. But the weight alone of the 16 just isn't something I'd want to lug around as a frequent traveler, even sitting in business class. As for the 14 in coach...it would sorta suck but in a pinch I could deal with it.
 
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Newfiejudd

macrumors regular
Jul 8, 2010
222
29
Laptops are cheap, while flying business class is expensive. If you are flying long haul in business, you can probably afford buying a new MBP for each trip.
Pre Covid my first class round trip from NA to Thailand was $17k USD. The next flight I flew Premium economy and pocketed the difference. Business class flight have gotten extremely crazy these days.
 
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