What's the point of First Class?

[rleigh]

Recently on Delta I was offered a bump to First Class for a relatively low price. First time in FC.

Boy was I disappointed.

It looked exactly the same as other classes. (Lol not sure what I was expecting there. Gold fixtures? Haha.)

The only difference was the drinks and very little extra room for your caboose and legs -- which you can get in that class b/t Economy and Business.

Oh and an extra snack and little hot towel.

I've always seen FC tickets ridiculously higher.

I can't believe a hot towel and extra Scotch is worth that.

Maybe my expectations were too high. I've always heard people rave about it.

 

[Talent312]

No salted foot baths.
Nor do you get to your destination faster than the peep a few rows back.
.

 

[artringwald]

When you're traveling with someone, first class means you can sit together, and nobody has to sit in a middle seat. The width of the seat and pitch of the rows are bigger. The seats can recline further, on some planes the seats can go flat.

For international flights, it seems to me that business class is the same as first class.

There's usually fewer people per bathroom.

The prices are ridiculously higher due to the laws of supply and demand.

 

[am1]

For some it is worth it. I mostly use miles so it depends what's available and if I can get two flights for the one way I may take it. Sometimes only first/business is available. Not really based on supply and demand but just supply and then some can buy it cheap at check in or free upgrades.

 

[bnoble]

When I weighed 275 and was a heavy drinker, I liked first a lot. Now that I weigh 190 and no longer drink, it's less attractive...

 

[Bucky]

It seemed like my wife and I were always getting seats next to a VERY large person that took up half of one of our seats so anytime we were offered a reasonable priced upgrade we jumped at it.

 

[dougp26364]

First class varies by aircraft. Smaller and/or older aircraft don’t have nearly as nice of first class service as newer and/or larger aircraft. IMHO it’s definately not worth the price on the smaller CRJ commuter style planes. On. 737 it’s only worth it if the price is discounted or it’s a longer flight close to 5 hours. When you get to the newer planes first class can be pretty swanky.

Most of the time our flights aren’t any longer than 3 hours. It’s just not worth buying the status of a first class seat, and to us, it’s not much more than status. If they’re heavily discounted then sure, I’ll upgrade if just to get the free checked bag. I use to do that with American when the upgrade fee was $50 per person between Wichita and Dallas. I figured it was saving me $25 on each bag so what the heck. Nicer seat, board first, free alcoholic beverage and off the flight first. Those days are gone after USAirways took them over.

Delta wants $566 extra, each way, for our flights from Wichita to Palm Beach. 3 flights are on MD88’s and one on a 737-900. No flight is over 2.5 hours. The length of flight plus the class of service on those aircraft mean I’m more than happy to keep my money in my wallet.

 

[TravelTime]

On most international flights, Business First is essentially the same as First Class. United just rebranded their international flights as Polaris - which is basically a combination of Business First and First Class. On long flights, Business First/First Class is totally worth it because you get a “bed” to sleep in and it helps minimize jet lag. On domestic flights and/or flights 5 hours or less, First Class is not that big a deal but it also is not all that more expensive. On International flights, first class can be $5000+ one way. We only fly first class internationally when we can use points. My husband always flies first class for international business trips as his company has a rule that if you “fly over water” you can book first class. For domestic leisure travel, we do not waste our points in first class for domestic flights.

 

[simpsontruckdriver]

I fly Southwest, their version of "First Class" is being in the A-group (first boarding), which means right after the "pre-board". Since my company pays my travel each way, I pay $40 and can get the ultimate legroom, which is right next to the emergency exit. Otherwise, everyone is equal. The only issues I have had with them is flight delays due to mechanical issues. Like once being stuck in St Louis for 6 hours (layover) because the plane I was supposed to be on broke down, and they had to wait for several hours for the next flight at that gate to arrive. At least they paid for my dinner and got a flight voucher.

TS

 

[taterhed]

On most international flights, Business First is essentially the same as First Class. United just rebranded their international flights as Volaris - which is basically a combination of Business First and First Class. On long flights, Business First/First Class is totally worth it because you get a “bed” to sleep in and it helps minimize jet lag. On domestic flights and/or flights 5 hours or less, First Class is not that big a deal but it also is not all that more expensive. On International flights, first class can be $5000+ one way. We only fly first class internationally when we can use points. My husband always flies first class for international business trips as his company has a rule that if you “fly over water” you can book first class. For domestic leisure travel, we do not waste our points in first class for domestic flights.

POLARIS, actually. And yes, it is definitely nice. The new lounges and seat-pods make international travel much more comfortable.
http://www.united.com/polaris

 

[PamMo]

I used to fly enough to get automatically upgraded, and I appreciated it. Now that I don't fly as much and have to pay with cash or miles, I always consider the type of plane and length of flight to determine whether flying first or business class is worth it. On long transcontinental and overseas (especially overnight) flights, it is definitely worth upgrading to a plane and seat that lets me get my feet up. I'll admit to still feeling a childlike glee in changing into my complimentary airline slippers and jammies and crawling into bed for some undisturbed sleep while crisscrossing the Pacific. But for me, the shorter daytime flights inside the U.S. are rarely worth the upgrade fees to business/first.

 

[klpca]

I'm too thrifty (the nice word for cheap) to spring for First Class so I have only flown it a few times when I was able to upgrade on Alaska for a few bucks. When asked by a friend why I don't ever fly FC I told her that I couldn't get over the fact that the back of the plane lands at the same time as the front. I think that everyone is different and whatever works for you is what you should do. My sister rarely flies in the back no matter how short the flight. I use the savings for additional trips.

 

[PrairieGirl]

I totally agree that you need to KNOW THE AIRCRAFT that you will be flying on before deciding if an upgrade to FC is worth it. We recently had an overnight flight back from Kauai to PHX, and the upgrade to first class was 15,000 miles + $175 at the time of booking, so I jumped on it thinking that it would be really nice for helping us sleep. Wrong. Our plane was a really old 737, you know the ones where the big clunky TV monitors hang down in the center isle? And the monitors for the first 2 rows are in the bulkhead in front of you? Well.

First of all, the seats while wide, were not especially comfortable (read old and broken down in the cushioning) and the flight attendant could have cared less about us. Here you go, have a drink and I'm off to rest myself. To make matters worse, being in row 2 the light from that TV screen was shining and flickering at me all night. In hindsight I suppose I could have pushed the call button and asked for an eye mask. And even if I HAD wanted to watch TV, with the shared monitor situation there was no choice in programing and it was a kids' cartoon movie. Really! Who wants to watch The Minions at 3:00 am?

The only good part of the flight was the hot towel in the morning and a decent breakfast. Next time I'll be sure to check the model of aircraft before I waste any $$ or points on an upgrade. Lesson learned!

 

[Makai Guy]

Back when I was traveling on business, my company would let me go first class on any flights listed as 4 hours or longer. Most of my connections were made through Chicago, and it's amazing how many flights there were from ORD to the west coast listed as 3:55 to 3:59 in length.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I'm too thrifty (the nice word for cheap) to spring for First Class so I have only flown it a few times when I was able to upgrade on Alaska for a few bucks. When asked by a friend why I don't ever fly FC I told her that I couldn't get over the fact that the back of the plane lands at the same time as the front. I think that everyone is different and whatever works for you is what you should do. My sister rarely flies in the back no matter how short the flight. I use the savings for additional trips.

That's me, I am too cheap. I can sleep just fine in a regular seat. I'd rather have the bucks to spend at my destination. Yes, even coach to Australia. No big deal. I don't think FC is worth anything more than $50, to me at least.

 

[x3 skier]

Always fly Business with miles to Europe. First Class is vanishing on those flights and Biz is great with lie flat seats for a good rest.

Domestically, it depends on length of flight, aircraft and the price difference. Mostly it’s another $50 or so to avoid sardine conditions and I usually spring for it.

Cheers

 

[davidvel]

Recently on Delta I was offered a bump to First Class for a relatively low price. First time in FC.

Boy was I disappointed.

It looked exactly the same as other classes. (Lol not sure what I was expecting there. Gold fixtures? Haha.)

The only difference was the drinks and very little extra room for your caboose and legs -- which you can get in that class b/t Economy and Business.

Oh and an extra snack and little hot towel.

I've always seen FC tickets ridiculously higher.

I can't believe a hot towel and extra Scotch is worth that.

Maybe my expectations were too high. I've always heard people rave about it.

Many a rich snob like it because they don't have to sit next to people who can't afford it, and they get upset when those masses get upgraded for cheap or free.

 

[JohnPaul]

Like anything it's all about what's important to you.

Is a fancy car worth it?
Is going to live theater in New York worth it?
Is eating out on a regular basis worth it?

 

[VacationForever]

First class or business class is for:
- Germaphobe as you have more distance between you and the passenger next to you
- Wider seats
- Lie flat for sleeping on long (international flights) on most major carriers
- Better service
- Better selection of food and drinks

It depends on one's priority on how they spend their $. For us, it ranks very high up there and it is not a negotiable item for my husband. I am a little more flexible. We try to use airline points to pay for them as much as we can. This Dec we have bought 2 return Polaris class seats on United for 720K (360K each) UA mileage points for our South East Asia trip.

 

[TravelTime]

I tend to only book first class/business class (aka as Polaris on United) when I can get it for less points. With United, we are using 80,000 points each one way to fly home from Taipei to SFO next week (13 hours nonstop). The only reason I like it is for the flat beds so we can sleep. It will allow us to work the day we return. I do not care about the other perks, just the ability to sleep on a bed while flying. It makes flying long distance effortless. We came on Economy Plus (free upgrade from Economy) because I coudn’t get Polaris class on the way over unless we used 175K points each. I would rather save the points when it is that high. So I decide based on the cost (points and/or cash), distance and whether we get a flat bed or not. I rarely waste points or dollars on first class domestically or short international flights because it is not that much better than Economy or Economy Plus.

 

[PamMo]

Many a rich snob like it because they don't have to sit next to people who can't afford it, and they get upset when those masses get upgraded for cheap or free.

My favorite sight was always watching a surprised active duty service person in uniform get upgraded and escorted to his/her seat in first class on American Airlines!!!

 

[Elan]

That's me, I am too cheap. I can sleep just fine in a regular seat. I'd rather have the bucks to spend at my destination. Yes, even coach to Australia. No big deal. I don't think FC is worth anything more than $50, to me at least.

That sums it up for me as well. Not a big fan of flying, so flying FC would be like having a root canal with nice ambient music playing, versus economy being the root canal sans music. Unpleasant either way.

 

[tugcccsp]

I am very tall and try to find ways to economically fly Business Class and Delta-One on long flights. Delta Comfort is fine for shorter flights. I won’t pay outrageous prices. I will suffer some torture rather than pay outrageous prices.

One time I was able to get round trip tickets to Turkey from SLC in lay-down beds of Business Class for $800 worth of points ($0.01 per point = 80,000 Points Delta). The regular price was $3600.

 

[VacationForever]

I tend to only book first class/business class (aka as Polaris on United) when I can get it for less points. With United, we are using 80,000 points each one way to fly home from Taipei to SFO next week (13 hours nonstop). The only reason I like it is for the flat beds so we can sleep. It will allow us to work the day we return. I do not care about the other perks, just the ability to sleep on a bed while flying. It makes flying long distance effortless. We came on Economy Plus (free upgrade from Economy) because I coudn’t get Polaris class on the way over unless we used 175K points each. I would rather save the points when it is that high. So I decide based on the cost (points and/or cash), distance and whether we get a flat bed or not. I rarely waste points or dollars on first class domestically or short international flights because it is not that much better than Economy or Economy Plus.

How did you get the option of "cash and points"? 80,000 each way is something I never see on United. I know you can "buy economy, upgrade with points and cash" and I tried that for my solo trip to Singapore in March of this year. I got my upgrade from US to Singapore but was stuck in Economy Plus from Singapore back to the US because they hardly ever let anyone upgrade that way. With my husband that option is not even on the table. He wants guaranteed Business/First Class otherwise he is not getting on a plane.

 

["Roger"]

Domestic and international are two completely different animals. With business international, the airlines are falling over each other to try to have the best amenities. (Seats that go flat for sleeping. Choice meals with select wines. Access to the special lounges while waiting for your flight. Etc.) What goes with that is business international costs incredibly more than economy. In essence, in this day and age when the income gaps between the upper five per cent and the rest of the population is growing, business international is catering to the upper five percent who can afford the extremely high fares. Get to Europe rested, wined and dined, and ready to start the new day fresh. It adds an extra quality day to your trip. (I should mention that British Air is beginning to take steps toward less luxury at a slightly lower cost.)

The price difference between first class and economy domestic is not nearly as steep as international. What you are actually buying is what economy used to be before the airlines started the race to the bottom in economy class recognizing people go for the cheapest fare. Is it worth the extra cost? In 1980 dollars, the cost is probably what you used to spend just for economy, when economy used to be more humane. It makes trips more bearable, but the difference, as the OP points out, is not by any means what one would call luxury. Not luxury, but being treated a bit more like a human being. Worth it? Up to the individual.