What's in like flying in first class?

This is a goofy question. When I fly home for Christmas, I will be flying first class. I’ve never done this. What’s it like? I mean, I know the seats are bigger, but what’s it like? Do I get footrubs or something? Is there a square dance or anything?

I’m excited not to be part of the chattel classes for just one time in my life, and I want to act like the hot shot I will be for the few hours we’ll be in the air.

The seats are definitely bigger, and more comfy. But one of the big bonuses is that you get to be on the plane first, and they serve drinks before the plane even takes off (the booze is free and plentiful). None of this waiting until the plane gets to cruising altitude. When you come on they will offer to hang your coat in an actual closet, no stuffing it in the overhead bin.

You also get better food (assuming they’re serving food on the flight) and get to choose from a menu. Hot towels all around before the meal, which is nice. One flight I was on they made omlettes to order and the dessert was hot fudge sundaes (this was before 9-11, I don’t know if they still serve that much food, unless it’s an overseas flight).

There is usually one flight attendant (at least) who only deals with first class, so you get every whim served quickly. And you get off the plane first as well.

If you want to act the part, dress better than you would in the chattel seats, the better to blend in with the business types you’ll be sitting with.

Roasted almonds in ceramic cups instead of peanuts in a bag.
Champagne instead of coke.
Comfy comfy comfy.

It depends on the plane, but regardless, its much, much better than coach.

On smaller planes like the 737 it is basically a bigger chair and some decent food and free wine, but as the planes get bigger the service and benefits are better. In a 777 (wide body - 7 seats across in coach) you will have your own personal TV with all sorts of choices in entertainment, plus the food and wine and nice reclining seats. On the 767, there is Business Class as well as first, and this is the best. The seats recline so far they have footrests (and you don’t bother the person behind you as in coach) and the attention is amazing. I’ve only flown in this class twice and the seats seem to be half filled with pilots.

A lot fewer babies and smelly people in First Class, and ocasionally you get to see celebrities.

I’ve never flown First Class internetionally, but I understand that some of those sections are unbelievable. British Aiways seems to have a great reputation for its First Class cabin.

I almost wish I had never taken advantage of an opportunity to upgrade to United first class between Seattle and Tokyo.

The seat reclined into a flat bed, with real linens.

I have been forever spoiled and am now miserable in coach!

First class on British Airways? The closest to heaven you’ll get.

I believe you get the right to choose a virgin from coach.

I think it also depends on which airline you’re flying. Delta and United, not too impressed. I don’t drink enough alcohol to make those flights worth it to me. America West was very nice. And Hawaiian was the best - lovely and sedate vs. cattle prod time back in coach. And their food was heavenly!!!

Whether there is both a business class and first class is mostly a function of airline and route, not the aircraft. I flew a 767 today; it had first & coach. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a 3-class 767 within the US except for the occasional flight to the west coast that was continuing on to Japan (flying mostly Delta). OTOH, international flights more often have 3 classes, whether they are 747, 767 or 777.

Ooooh. Now I’m really excited. I was dreading going home for the holidays. And I don’t like to travel (the process, I mean), so I decided to give this to myself for Christmas. I’ve always been jealous of the people in first class, and have always wanted to try it once. My only frame of reference was the Seinfeld episode. I hope I don’t get spoiled, because it’s back with the riff raff after this.

Oh, another question. Apparently, I’ve never been on a plane with a business class. What is the difference amongst the three?

Depends what type of gear your on.

Can’t remember the last time i flew business, the flight out of this town (yes…the one flight) is all the same, dwarf. The seats on the Fokker f-50 are tiny, I have to wedge my ass into the seat with a giant shoehorn (provided) and I’m a skinny bloke.

Business/first class, oh the pleasure!

It’s still flying though, a glorified bus.

WAY more leg room- I’m 5’4" and I couldn’t even stretch and reach the foot rests in front of my seat. Free flowing booze- I had a lot of really good wine on my flight. Nicer bathrooms. WAY more comfy seats. OK food (not great, but they tried).

Another plus: Your luggage comes off before anyone else’s, so you can be first to the taxi stand. International first class seems to be much better than domestic (USA), with better seats and better leg room. The 777 cattle car isn’t bad, though, with the individual TV screens and all. Time passes much more quickly when you’re not wedged in between someone coughing up a lung and a screaming 3-year old.

Ah, first class… or at least business class. I will never fly coach to Europe again!

I have flown first class from LA to Chicago, London, and Hawaii. You can’t beat it with a stick, at least on American.

Seats that recline almost completely. Anything I want to drink. A bound menu with my appetizer, meal and dessert choices. Hot towels before and after every meal. One stew for every 5 passengers, or so it seemed. My own DVD player and a large assortment of DVDs to watch. A constant polite stream of “May I get you anything, Mrs. EJ?”

Makes the flights seem half as long.

If I can’t do first class, I fly JetBlue from LB to NYC. No great food or reclining seats. but DirectTv and huge leather seats.

Thank God for airline mileage points!

Oh, and feel free to dress like crap- maybe people will think you’re a rock star!

Man. Now I feel like I should stop driving across the country and fly first class sometime. I’m so jealous.

I don’t personally know, but it looks nice from the 30th row.

There was an amusing little article offering tips for Business Class interlopers in the NY Times on Feb 11, 2001. I saved it at the time, but it is no longer freely available. It was called “Business Class as if You Belonged” by MATT RICHTEL

I have only flown Business class once (transatlantic flight, bumped up from coach, never First class, but I get the impression that international business class is roughly comparable to US domestic first class. The stewardesses greeted me by name. They kept bringing me all sorts of fancy things to eat. I got a goodie bag at the start of the flight which included, amongst other things, a pair of socks, a blindfold, and a case for business cards. Also, they left bags of snack foods such as those normally passed out in coach in the pantry for the taking. Fruit too I think.

The Business class section was nearly empty (no one next to me or in the row behind me and I was in the first row in the section)–I felt like I had the plane to myself!

Yeah but,
Once upon a time, I had a US senator give me his first class seat in exchange for my coach class seat.

(He got bumped up from coach because he had a delay, but didn’t want to be seen flying first class to our home state. Since I’d let him use my cell phone during the delay, he gave me his ticket aftet we boarded and I sat in first class.)

When we de-planed, I waited to thank him for for the comfy seat, free drinks, good food, etc. He saw me and started laughing. My coach seat?

It was between two beautiful college cheerleaders.

Whistlepig