Anyone ever fly FIRST CLASS...what are the peasants missing?

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It's awesome. Free booze, comfortable seats, fresh baked cookies. Unfortunately its incredibly absurdly impractical to actually get those seats with your own money.
 
First class:

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Coach:

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Apparently if you have already flown first class, you can't go back to coach.
 
The alternative to getting lucky and being upgraded, is staying in economy and being on a quiet flight, and you're in an empty middle row. Fold the armrests up and you have an economy flat bed :)
 
mrklaw said:
The alternative to getting lucky and being upgraded, is staying in economy and being on a quiet flight, and you're in an empty middle row. Fold the armrests up and you have an economy flat bed :)
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Air New Zealand lets you book this with some other extras, called skycouch.
 
In the last 2 years I've flown between Europe and North America 10-15 times, all economy. I'd like first class but even if I had it I wouldn't use it properly. I don't drink on flights, I'm okay with economy seats, and I generally have problems falling asleep anyway. I probably wouldn't make the best of it like somebody else might.
 
I was upgraded to business class to and from JFK airport and Peru.

Going there was a bit weird. I mean, champagne before takeoff and all that was great, but when we got the food menu, I noticed one that sounded weird enough that I had to try it: Salmon with stuffing.

Now that just made me think of sage and onion, but I knew it couldn't be that, not with salmon... Could it? Screw it, I'll eat when I get there if it's horrible I thought.

The stuffing turned out to be caviare. All in all, would business class again.
 
On int flights, you don't have to show up early. They will send a limo to pick you up, rush you straight to the gate and your security checkin happens at the gate.

Instead of being there 2+ hours early, get there 20-30mins early, if not less.
 
I've done so a couple of times. I used to fly a lot when I was a kid, so they'd randomly upgrade us sometimes (sometimes it was just my parents).

Once I also fainted on flight and got to sit in the seats for the flight attendants. That was pretty nice too.
 
I've not flown often, but even when I have the planes are so small they don't even have a first class! Usually seat a max of around 100 people. Small Thompson or Lufthansa planes to Europe from the UK in the wee hours of the morning. Would quite like to try First Class on one of the bigger planes though.
 
I've been upgraded before, never paid. Enjoyed it for what it is, but not worth the money in my opinion. The free booze is cool, but I don't really feel like getting pissed on a plane and then having to go through the airport at the other end feeling groggy.

RangersFan said:
I once sat next to John Lithgow on JFK to LAX way back in 2007. He took a dump in the first class shitter that stunk up the front of the cabin.
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Nightmare at 20,000 feet.
 
Now lets take it up to the next level how many people have flown on a Private Jet? I've been on one way more times than first class. At least 5-6 times.
 
Pochacco said:
The airline and aircraft model make a big difference.
Coach service on a Japanese airline like ANA, for instance is probably generally better than First Class service on United (not talking about food quality, just service).

Anyway, first class is the shit. I've been upgraded a few times.
The best parts are probably the seats and the food/drinks... but the smug satisfaction you get from looking down on the peasants in coach is pretty great too.
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That last part is why they charge so much for it.
 
Everything was so funny in 1st class but it's probably because we were so damn drunk every time.
edit: co-worker got us upgraded for free a few times.
 
I have been fortunate enough to fly First Class a few times, Concorde once, and Business Class often internationally. It really is a fantastic experience, the food and service is amazing. That said, the added expense of First Class over modern Business Class (which on most airlines now have lie flat seats) is not really justified.

First Class > Business Class >>>> Economy Class
 
Did premium economy years ago, was nice, but now I have a blood fear of turbulence :/

sodding flight back from Malta was really bumpy and any chop now I get all nervous.

when I was an unaccompanied minor I got to sit in first class when the plane landed too.

also got to go in the cockpit , showing my age here :P
 
I kind of like flying coach. I expect nothing so every time they bring me a bag of pretzels or a mint, it's a pleasant surprise. The few times I got a hot towel, I felt like royalty. My standards are pretty low...
 
Got the benefit of flying first class a couple of times to Europe for free when I was younger because my uncle works for LTU (now Lufthansa) and a couple of times when I got older. Hell they even let me on the cockpit when I was a kid to "fly the plane". Sure as hell they won't let you do that anymore.

It was definitely awesome. All the ice cream sundaes, leg room, and movies you wanna watch. Also makes you feel awesome when you see a bunch of sad faces going into coach. But its honestly not worth the money unless you're traveling internationally for long distances and even then I'm sure its expensive as fuck.

I fly business when I travel within the states for work and its pretty good but not that much different from coach. But if you have the disposable income for it, why not?
 
While I haven't gone first class, the economy class on Air New Zealand is pretty solid. Flying Auckland to LAX I had an aisle seat and nobody beside me. It was great.

Perhaps a future flight will have to be a higher ticket...
 
I've flown first class quite a few times, but always on United as a free upgrade. I have flown first on their new 787, though, and even on a short hop from LA to Houston it made for a much more pleasant experience.
 
chickdigger802 said:
Don't fly much, so was wondering, how does this work out? Why doesn't everyone just fly first class with buying miles? Is buying miles process a pain?
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-There are annual limits on buying miles, when it's possible. That AA promotion lets you buy 96,500 miles for $2200, but most airlines may limit you to something like 20,000 miles annually so that you can only purchase miles to facilitate finishing a ticket (have 80k miles, first class ticket costs 100k, buy 20k miles to go on your trip).

-The pricing varies, and there are deals, but it's often more like $0.05/mile to buy miles, so more in line with an economy ticket.

-Booking a flight with miles can be much more difficult than buying it directly, depending on the airline. Delta in particular is notoriously bad about allocating reward seats.

That was just an example to show how miles can be valued realistically. AA miles are among the best at the moment, though, since you can book with Oneworld partners like Cathay Pacific for an ultra-posh experience. Their miles are expected to devalue once their merger with US Airways completes.

The best way for a normal person to accrue six or seven figures worth of miles is to strategically sign up for rewards credit cards with large bonuses and churn them. There are restrictions on this and it requires a lot of effort and hurts your credit somewhat but if you really want to travel the world it can be worthwhile. You'll need to know what you're doing.

If you're successful and can put all of your spend on travel rewards credit cards, then you don't need to bother with that. Especially if you have a business and can put your business expenses on a travel card, too, you can potentially earn millions of miles over time without lifting a finger.
 
Free drinks, the seats are different, you get on and get off first. You don't have to deal with cramped spacing. The only bad part is you have to smell everyone that flys in coach pass you.
 
Worst flight I've ever been on was while I was in first class. I seriously thought I was going to fucking die because the turbulence was so insane. It was a flight from California to Manila. There was a moment I fell asleep and literally had like a 10 second dream of the plane crashing and me sliding under all of the seats, being crushed. Worst nightmare ever. The seats are super comfy, food was pretty good, free drinks, got to watch movies that hadn't come out yet on video. It was a much better flight back home then it was to Manila.
 
Sky Chief said:
I have been fortunate enough to fly First Class a few times, Concorde once, and Business Class often internationally. It really is a fantastic experience, the food and service is amazing. That said, the added expense of First Class over modern Business Class (which on most airlines now have lie flat seats) is not really justified.

First Class > Business Class >>>> Economy Class
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Yeah. My company pays for Business Class seats pretty much every time I fly internationally.
If you're traveling internationally constantly, getting stuck in the feature-starved, crowded Economy would be almost unbearable after a while.

The bump up to Business Class is most definitely justified.

But First Class? The exorbitant bill doesn't tend to be all that worth the step up from Business Class.

I notice a lot of airlines starting to prioritise Business Class over First Class for that reason.
 
stn said:
In the last 2 years I've flown between Europe and North America 10-15 times, all economy. I'd like first class but even if I had it I wouldn't use it properly. I don't drink on flights, I'm okay with economy seats, and I generally have problems falling asleep anyway. I probably wouldn't make the best of it like somebody else might.
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If you flew that route 10-15 times you should have enough frequent flier miles to upgrade to business class on any flight you want at least once.
 
caesar said:
My first class flight to Seoul was $7000.

- Booth
- Unlimited champagne
- Movies obv
- 3 Course meals with appertizers
- Bed
- Decent sized table
- Jump the queue at boarding etc..

edit: forgot access to the on-board bar.

Also this was with Virgin Atlantic.
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I could literally fly to Seoul, stay there for a month in high end hotels, and fly home for close to or less than $7000.
 
Domestic first class isn't that great. It's basically a nicer seat, more legroom, a meal, and refills. I'll spring for the upgrade if it's reasonable but it's really not all that.

International first class is a whole different beast. Depending on the airline, first class on a long haul flight includes some pretty amazing perks - at a price. I've never flown int'l first class and probably never will, unless I get some kind of a crazy deal.
 
Yes I have many times but on domestic flights only and usually shorter ones. So I have never been on a first class with beds or some crazy luxurious service.

For the most part you get great reclining seats with leg room, a pillow, a blanket. I think the best part is getting on the plane first, its crazy how different your mentality is. You dont worry if you will be squeezed in your seat, you dont worry about carry on space, you just go in. Then the parade of people pass you buy wishing they were you. :P

You get whatever drinks you want and snacks as well. Depending on the kind of flight you may get a meal as well. It does feel great but I would never pay some $150 charge to upgrade, I get upgraded cause I am a platinum member.
 
I'm a travel writer, so occasionally when I get booked for an international assignment, I get first class. It's pretty wonderful, especially since I'm tall. The legroom is great.

The best was a long flight from New York City to Johannesburg, South Africa. I was in first class, and they were those individual pods that you can actually lay down in. I don't sleep well on a plane, but this at least allowed me to get some rest. It was also private and spacious. Truly a great way to fly. Thankfully, I wasn't paying for it.
 
Tabris said:
Actually now that I think about it, this is my favourite part. When I'm sitting in first class, watching all of the people head towards their economy seats.
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It's funny, when I'm going to coach I look down on the people in first class thinking "look at all these fucks wasting shittons of money for a marginally better service LOL", even knowing tons of them probably got free upgrades or redeemed miles or something.

It does help that I'm somewhat small. I've never had an issue with legroom in coach, which is virtually the only thing I'd ever wish for in a flight. Well, that and not having to make people get up to take a leak, but getting an aisle seat handily solves that issue.
 
Once I was upgraded to FC since my connecting flight was canceled, and the only available seat on the next one was FC.

I didn't realize they'd feed me so I ate at Burger King. Then on the flight they regaled me with a tasty turkey sandwich and ice cream bar.
 
I dunno I guess I can forego creature comforts for a even a long haul flight. I mean first class food can only be so good compared to real resturant a on the ground, I don't drink so don't care about that. I just want somewhere comfy to sleep and a power outlet with some wifi. I don't really need anything else
 
EviLore said:
Miles are your friend. Look at a sample American Airlines schedule:

NYC --> Tokyo, first week of August

Economy ticket: lowest fare $1750. Can be booked with 32,500 miles ($0.05/mile value)

Business ticket: lowest fare $5000. Can be booked with 50,000 miles ($0.10/mile value)

First class ticket: lowest fare $13,000. Can be booked with 62,500 miles ($0.20/mile value)


Now keep in mind you can buy 71,500 miles from AA for $1500 ($0.02/mile actual cost), or get tens of thousands of miles from various credit card sign-up offers and reward programs.

When booking with miles you don't get access to all of the potential seats, but even 2-3 weeks out you can still book that $13,000 fare successfully with miles that can be bought for less than the regular price of the economy ticket (or, preferably, generated at no cost).
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How do you buy miles outright for so little?

I thought you had to earn them?
 
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