You’re taking a vacation somewhere a long distance away from home. You have won a drawing at the airport and received a free upgrade to first class from economy; you can choose to use this on either the outbound or return flight of your trip.
Which do you choose?
I did this a couple of years ago when I flew to Europe (from the US) for a short vacation. I upgraded to first class on the outbound flight in order to sleep overnight and minimize jet lag.
Poll doesn’t have the proper choices when you don’t specify the destination. You want to sleep on the eastbound leg, so that’s outbound transatlantic and inbound transpacific.
I’m always sad and grumpy coming home from vacation; first class would be wasted then.
Fly there in style.
Yep. Outbound for me. I’m in a much better mood, the first class bump will be much more enjoyable and not bittersweet if it kicks off my vacation, instead of finishing it.
I actually did get bumped to not First, but Business something or other, on a flight from LA to China on my way to Bali. It was amazeballs. I didn’t get to choose which flight - it was offered because they fucked up my husband’s request for a vegetarian meal, and made it up to us by bumping us with no vegetarian meal. But as it turned out, it was the perfect way to kick things off.
While I would have appreciated the greater leg and shoulder room on the way home, I was exhausted enough to sleep in coach just fine.
**Mr Downtown **has the best physiological answer. At least assuming typical departure times for long-haul flights in each direction.
My take is more like this: Would you rather be well-rested to start your vacation or to go back to work? My vote would be Door #1.
I vote for the return. Once you arrive, you will have so many new experiences that you will soon forget the cramped, miserable, sardine-in-a-can experience of the outbound flight. But, experience that on the way home and it will be all you remember about the trip.
By the time I’m returning home, I’ve about had it with travel. So 1st class would be best at that point, especially if a long flight from overseas.
I’ll take the first class return. On the way out I’m excited about my upcoming vacation, and the accommodations on the plane won’t really bother me. On the way back, I have nothing to look forward to, but at least I’ll feel a little better in a comfy seat.
Outbound. Unless you are going to a familiar destination, it is better to be rested and in a good mood to deal with the new environment. Coming back you know what is going on and can crash when you get home if you need to.
An alternative is to book an airport hotel so that you can get some rest before facing the world, especially if getting to vacation from the airport is non-trivial.
I vacation like Sherman did during his visit to Georgia; I like getting back to work so I can rest up. So I’m going with first class on the return leg.
First class on the return, otherwise I would spend the entire return flight feeling even more annoyed about the ignominies of coach because the memory of first was so recent.
I’d want to take a look at which leg is likely to have more empty seats, and be inclined to sit in coach for that one.
An empty seat next to you takes much of the sting out of economy class.
Return for me too. It may be the only thing left I have to look forward to and anything to help me rest for my upcoming work week would be better than cramped and irritated.
That is in fact the fundamental question I was attempting to ask. Thank you for distilling it down.
Interesting poll results. Basically 50/50 so far.
Personally, I voted outbound because I want to feel like I’m on vacation as soon as possible and coach has yet to ever feel that way. I can live with economy class on the way home; it’s my usual experience and I’m small so I generally don’t have space issues on planes. I get a stiff drink and take a nap. I have the gift where I can basically just shut down at will.
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I would choose the option of upgrading on the flight that I was awake, so that I can enjoy the benefits, ambiance, food and drink. Rather than spending the time sleeping.
Eastbound
Whichever is the longest.
I’ve ridden both ways in both classes across several oceans. I’m also a professional napper in crappy circumstances.
Sleeping in coach is hit or miss at best. Sleeping in a modern lie-flat bed-seat as all modern transoceanic first class have is 95% as good as a hotel room. Besides, you (me really) can only eat so much food and drink so much booze. Gluttony just isn’t as satisfying as it once was (to me).
The various flavors of business/middle classes are also pretty good for sleeping. It may not be lie-flat, but sleeping in a dentist’s chair or Barcalounger equivalent is a lot easier than sleeping in a coach seat.
So my vote remains: as upper class as I can get for the sleeping leg; steerage for the insomnia leg.
I voted for return trip. Outbound I am already excited and full of energy. By the end of the trip I’m worn out and lament getting on a crowded plane. A decent seat will go a long way to prevent murderous thoughts.