Has anyone here ever flown first of business class on a flight?

[dr150]

It's not worth the price premium. Food and space is better, but it ain't all that....and that's coming from a dude that's 6'4".

I know frequent flier guys love to upgrade. That's your call and I can see stretching your points value can work well for people that always fly.

I'd rather spend those points in coach with extended legroom seats.

 

[L1FE]

This is highly dependent on the airline and route that you're flying. The major US carriers have different configurations for domestic and international first class. Also, depending on the airline, if you're an "elite" member, you get free upgrades to first class or upgrades via coupons.

I fly weekly on Delta and so far have been 99% on my upgrades (just 45 segments). For domestic "first" (Delta only has 2 classes, so it's really business elite and coach), you get a bigger seat, more pitch, more leg room, more channels on the personal tv, unlimited drinks, dinner (with real silverware) when applicable, and pillows and blankets. International is much nicer with lie flat seats (on available planes), better food, a travel kit, etc. Overall, it's only really worth it if you travel international, but even then it's hard to justify the price. Then again...if they're free as part of your perks...totally worth it

 

[thegimp03]

Flew first class once from SF to Boston. I took a red eye and it was nice to be able to stretch out. Usually pretty cramped for me in coach.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Pantoot
LAX-SYD in first...
I don't think it was worth the $25k ticket price (I used miles) but it was a very pleasant way to spent 15 or so hours.

Domestic First vs. Intl. First are very different beasts.

$25,000? Holy shit.

 

[Modular]

Got upgraded after a layover on my honeymoon. It was really nice to have the big seats, but I hate flying as it is, so the experience was tolerable at best...

 

[flexy]

Intl. Business from EU to USA

Greeted with choice of Champagne/OJ.....food was Woflgang Puck stuff....it was my first flight, so i didn't know what i actually had.

About 80% into the flight i discovered i actually had my little LCD TV screen built into the seat...

But..since it was my first flight and i was extremely tired i didnt care about all that stuff, i found it more interesting to look out the window

 

[Slick5150]

I've never thought domestic first class was worthwhile since the flights aren't long enough to justify the cost increase, but international business/first? Oh hell yeah.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Upgraded to first class on the way back from my honeymoon about a week ago. Was very nice to have the extra room and get free food.

 

[SSSnail]

I have my own planes for different continents, couldn't even tell you what First Class is.

 

[secretanchitman]

Originally posted by: Safeway
Within the US, I fly coach. Why bother. When flying international, i.e. to Sydney or London, I will pay for comfort.

this.

 

[roguerower]

I've flown internationally in coach to Germany with Delta about a half dozen times and i've never had a reason to complain. Not the best leg room but it was on the govt tab so splurging wasn't an option.

Now back when my family flew Space-A with the Air Force, that was comfort. Nothing like an 8 hour flight in the cargo bay of a military transport sitting on cargo seats. The C-130 we had to ourselves when traveling from Germany to England one trip was pretty kickass tho. Same with the C-5 on a return leg to the states. Plane was empty except for us so we had about 2-4 boxed lunches a piece.

 

[nageov3t]

as a kid... my grandparents would fly my sister and I out from Oregon to visit them on the east coast every summer when we were younger. they paid for first class since we were traveling by ourselves (guess they thought it was safer?).

I wouldn't pay for it as an adult, though.

 

[mugs]

At my last job I had to travel from NJ to Dallas occasionally, and business class with 1 connection was just a little more than a direct coach flight (AirTran). I opted for the business class... the bigger seat and extra leg room was worth the layover.

Almost bit me in the ass once. I had to fly down to acquire knowlege from an employee who was leaving, and I only had one day to do it. Ended up getting to Chicago too late to catch the last flight of the night to Dallas. They offered to fly me to Atlanta that night, then fly me to Dallas the next morning (WTF?). I was able to get a coach seat on Southwest, and all was good. The guy gave a month's notice, and they finally sent me down there on his last day of work, the day before Thanksgiving.

 

[Leros]

My girlfriend just got a free upgrade to business class on Southwest. She says the chairs were leather and a little bit nicer, but other than that it was the same.

I got a free upgrade to first class about 10 years when I was flying trans-Atlantic. It was great for a long flight.

 

[Bignate603]

Originally posted by: rh71
Is these how airliners really made such a profit? The premium is crazy for what you actually get... I mean how much more are they really spending to have you up there? The seats are always there for them. I know they could've put more seats in that space but the cost difference is astronomical.

What profit? None of the airlines are making money right now.

 

[Brainonska511]

I've never flown first or business class.

The only time I fly generally is from Chicago Midway to NY LaGuardia via the Delta Connection flight (E170/E175 regional jets with the advantage of normal sized overhead racks). The coach seats are good enough; since it is in the style of a regional jet, there are only 2 seats on each side of the aisle in coach. The "First Class" seats are bigger, but I doubt they're worth the $1k+ price tag. I almost had the chance to sit in one the last time I was heading home since the earlier flight was delayed (pushing stuff back), so they were filling all the extra seats on the plane with people from the later flight. I was supposed to be on the later flight but snagged a seat on the earlier one. If I had been 2-3 people ahead in the line, since it was pick your own seat at that point, I could have grabbed one of the first class seats.

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: Leros
My girlfriend just got a free upgrade to business class on Southwest. She says the chairs were leather and a little bit nicer, but other than that it was the same.

I got a free upgrade to first class about 10 years when I was flying trans-Atlantic. It was great for a long flight.

No she didn't, maybe to Business Select which only means she gets to board 1st and gets one free drink. Same seats as everyone else.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: Leros
My girlfriend just got a free upgrade to business class on Southwest. She says the chairs were leather and a little bit nicer, but other than that it was the same.

I got a free upgrade to first class about 10 years when I was flying trans-Atlantic. It was great for a long flight.

No she didn't, maybe to Business Select which only means she gets to board 1st and gets one free drink. Same seats as everyone else.

That's what I told her, but she said the seats were a little bit larger and leather. Its definitely Southwest too because I have her flights confirmation email.

 

[l0cke]

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: Leros
My girlfriend just got a free upgrade to business class on Southwest. She says the chairs were leather and a little bit nicer, but other than that it was the same.

I got a free upgrade to first class about 10 years when I was flying trans-Atlantic. It was great for a long flight.

No she didn't, maybe to Business Select which only means she gets to board 1st and gets one free drink. Same seats as everyone else.

That's what I told her, but she said the seats were a little bit larger and leather. Its definitely Southwest too because I have her flights confirmation email.

Do you know what type of plane it was?

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: Leros
My girlfriend just got a free upgrade to business class on Southwest. She says the chairs were leather and a little bit nicer, but other than that it was the same.

I got a free upgrade to first class about 10 years when I was flying trans-Atlantic. It was great for a long flight.

No she didn't, maybe to Business Select which only means she gets to board 1st and gets one free drink. Same seats as everyone else.

That's what I told her, but she said the seats were a little bit larger and leather. Its definitely Southwest too because I have her flights confirmation email.

Southwest First Class != Other Airlines First Class.

It's great getting friggin hammered on flights.

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: l0cke

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: Leros
My girlfriend just got a free upgrade to business class on Southwest. She says the chairs were leather and a little bit nicer, but other than that it was the same.

I got a free upgrade to first class about 10 years when I was flying trans-Atlantic. It was great for a long flight.

No she didn't, maybe to Business Select which only means she gets to board 1st and gets one free drink. Same seats as everyone else.

That's what I told her, but she said the seats were a little bit larger and leather. Its definitely Southwest too because I have her flights confirmation email.

Do you know what type of plane it was?

Southwest only flies one type of plane, 737's, the 300, 500, and 700 series.

 

[wiredspider]

Flew business class from Beijing to Guangzhou, the seats were definitely impressive. There was tons of leg room and could recline the seat to practically lay down. Though, because of the motorized seats, no storage underneath and the overhead bins are smaller. They have a storage closet in the back, but I felt weird without "my stuff" with me.

Food was better, but it was still airline food, got metal silverware.

 

[wiredspider]

Originally posted by: secretanchitman

Originally posted by: Safeway
Within the US, I fly coach. Why bother. When flying international, i.e. to Sydney or London, I will pay for comfort.

this.

When I checked ticket prices to SYD, first class tickets were usually like 12x more expensive than my coach ticket! Easy choice there, pick coach with a seat in the back where I'm likely to get two seats to myself anyhow (lucky dude in front of me got all 3 seats to himself).

 

[Pantoot]

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: l0cke

Originally posted by: Leros

Originally posted by: compman25

Originally posted by: Leros
My girlfriend just got a free upgrade to business class on Southwest. She says the chairs were leather and a little bit nicer, but other than that it was the same.

I got a free upgrade to first class about 10 years when I was flying trans-Atlantic. It was great for a long flight.

No she didn't, maybe to Business Select which only means she gets to board 1st and gets one free drink. Same seats as everyone else.

That's what I told her, but she said the seats were a little bit larger and leather. Its definitely Southwest too because I have her flights confirmation email.

Do you know what type of plane it was?

Southwest only flies one type of plane, 737's, the 300, 500, and 700 series.

And all of their seats are leather.

 

[kalrith]

I flew business class from Detroit to Houston (I think) when I was in high school (1997). They oversold coach, and my brother and I were upgraded. The nicest part for me was how much more roomy the seats were. We also had a nice breakfast with eggs, hashbrowns, sausage, etc. I certainly wouldn't pay the exhorbitant difference for it, but it was definitely worth the free upgrade .