Anonymous wrote:I flew first class once - across the country. We were flying home after my grandfather's funeral. My brother booked the flights and said that it worked out to be less expensive than regular seats.

The seats are roomier and cushier, OP. They offered me an alcoholic beverage right at the start of the flight. In the middle they offered me a hot, wet towel that vaguely smelled like lemon. I saw some people blot their faces with it but I was grossed out at the idea of not knowing how they are cleaned so just wiped my hands with it.

I didn't use the bathroom so can't comment if there's a nicer one for the first class section.

There is not. But it's usually less crowded and cleaner since fewer people are using it.

We flew first to AZ using miles on United for Spring Break and connected through Houston on the way out. We were lucky to get United's new Polaris class which basically gave each of us our own enclosed pod. Other than that, domestic first class is usually as described above. You also get better food and real silverware.

I flew first class once - across the country. We were flying home after my grandfather's funeral. My brother booked the flights and said that it worked out to be less expensive than regular seats.

The seats are roomier and cushier, OP. They offered me an alcoholic beverage right at the start of the flight. In the middle they offered me a hot, wet towel that vaguely smelled like lemon. I saw some people blot their faces with it but I was grossed out at the idea of not knowing how they are cleaned so just wiped my hands with it.

I didn't use the bathroom so can't comment if there's a nicer one for the first class section.

I fly international business or first because it's paid for by work. I fly domestic first because I get free upgrades (very occasionally). Domestic first is no great shakes. International business or first is actually a pleasant experience but I would not pay for it out of pocket.

Anyway, I wouldn't worry about it OP, most people fly economy.

I usually fly business class to Europe because my husband has a zillion miles. I need to sleep on the plane. Sometimes we fly first domestically because it doesn't cost us anything extra. The extra room in first domestic is ok, but not all that special.

I know very few people who have flown first class. I looked into for our honeymoon and I couldn't stomach the price.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly few people have. Business? Sure. 1st? Doubtful.

Almost no domestic flights have 3 class planes anymore - they were rare before but almost non existent now. And as alluded to elsewhere in this thread most US airlines are eliminating 3 class planes even on international flights.

But it is semantics anyhow - on domestic 2 class planes the front of the plane is referred to as first class.

On international 2 class planes the front of the plane is usually referred to as business class.

Business class on a international widebody is almost always nicer than first class on a domestic narrow body. There are some domestic routes where you might find a widebody plane and get international level seats like Dulles to San Francisco on occasion.

I used to get to fly at the front of the plane a decent amount - business (and first) on international flights is pretty damn nice. First class on domestic flights is decent but to me really not such a big deal - about the longest domestic flights top out at 5 hours so I'd never use personal funds or miles on a domestic upgrade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These days many of the people flying first class are people with lots of air miles (usually due to work travel) getting free upgrades. I fly first class all the time for this reason and have never paid for it.

This is true for us (and our kids). I can count the number or times on one hand we have actually paid for first class. We usually use miles/status to get it.

Same. Husband travels a ton for work, so we’be flown first class domestically and business internationally.
Estivli

Anonymous wrote:These days many of the people flying first class are people with lots of air miles (usually due to work travel) getting free upgrades. I fly first class all the time for this reason and have never paid for it.

This is true for us (and our kids). I can count the number or times on one hand we have actually paid for first class. We usually use miles/status to get it.

These days many of the people flying first class are people with lots of air miles (usually due to work travel) getting free upgrades. I fly first class all the time for this reason and have never paid for it.

Flew international first class a few years ago- but United so maybe doesn't really count. Booked using miles.

Probably not worth it now, because most international business class now has lie flat beds, which is the key thing you need. But 15 years ago only first class had lie flat seats on most airlines, so it might have been more worth it for some people.

This is why many airlines are cutting international first class- the premium isn't worth it anymore and it doesn't sell. This is because international business class has basically become what international first class looked like 15-20 years ago.

You are middle class, probably. Like so many of us!

Anonymous wrote:50+ years old and I have never flown first class. Yes, I appreciate that I’m a peasant to DCUM.

Who cares? And you're not a peasant. Jesus, don't let these climbing harpies make you believe that.

OP here. I’ve on flown business class once as well. It was a charter flight for deployment.

Honestly few people have. Business? Sure. 1st? Doubtful.

50+ years old and I have never flown first class. Yes, I appreciate that I’m a peasant to DCUM.