To miss refined air travel?

@BABaby88 I have to say I don’t recognise that experience at all. Are you sure you mean the first class lounge? As in not the galleries first at Heathrow or Gatwick but the Concorde rooms ? Never seen anyone with guts hanging out or people stuffing their bags maybe taking a couple of packet of crisps maybe. I must admit - I travel in yoga gear and my kids change into pjs in the lounge and my husband changes into jogger bottoms. We travel for comfort not to appear well dressed.

I’m honestly a complete snob too with things like this. I love seeing old images where people would dress in their suits to watch he football. I like a bit of class

Class doesn't come from how you dress. IMO it comes from how you treat people. My mum isn't rich, she generally dresses nicely but wouldn't put on special clothes to travel. But she treats everyone she meets with the utmost respect, tries to see the best in everyone, and doesn't judge - because she's got class.

You need to spend more money to get away from the plebs.

IME Clubrooms is a better experience at Gatwick. No kids under 12, a dress code and table service. The price is relatively modest compared with a business class ticket.

Heathrow is really the only airport where you can get at significantly upmarket experience these days. All the rest are heaving with low budget package tourists.

I don't normally care, but we booked a lounge for our holiday a few months ago, so we could get some peace and quiet. Ha!

-Kids running around (it was 5am). No one stopping them.

-One woman took her sandals off and started... FILING HER TOENAILS. I kid you not! Feet up on the chair. Not even discreet. If for some reason you failed to do this at home, why couldn't she go to the lounge bathroom and do it there?

-Massive group of "lads" getting drunk.

-Oh and the couple who helped themselves to a huge amount of the complimentary food, then spent ages stuffing into their carry-on luggage.

Flying commercial and not private? Peasant. 😭

I still like to make an effort when flying (it’s not an everyday occurrence), makes me feel the holiday has started for me.

I've not flown for years but back 30 years ago, my friend who worked for an airline got us free, first class tickets to NY. The only thing we had to do was dress smart because representing the company. We were the only ones dressed smart. Everyone else was in casual and comfy clothing for the long flight.

Can't recall any tummies hanging out though or bags of crisps!

I'm also confused about whether this was a long weekend or a few weeks abroad. And why her children expect everyone else to stick to their school uniform rules. At least it's keeping the OP amused.

I once travelled first class with BA. After a glass of champagne, I was given a set of pyjamas to wear. I changed into them. Lovely.

YANBU, but sadly no-one dresses up for much anymore. A relative of my DH’s turned up in a tracksuit jacket at DD’s christening!

We’ve become a more informal society, but we’ve lost a lot in the process.

I was watching an old episode of Tales of the Unexpected earlier and was shocked at how smart everyone was - just going about their day - shopping etc. The state of the majority now is shocking. You can spot someone from the UK a mile off when at airports abroad. It is so embarrassing.

Goodness, one is absolutely correct. The council class should travel by bus. I certainly don't want to smell the great unwashed from economy. Puts one right off their quail eggs.

Wealthy travellers wear expensive loungewear; they aren't trying to impress you with their clothing! Lots of beige and discreet luxury.

Not sure why they are all eating crisps though!

I think the OP is being slightly tongue in cheek but I completely understand what they are getting at.

Soon we won't even need a passport.

Turn up in stained jeans, gut hanging out with a mssive half eaten bag of crisps and we'll be straight through security.

Yes, flying used to be a much more pleasant experience as recently as 20 years ago, agreed.

The issue now is that not even the no frills options are cheap anymore, and so overseas travel is becoming less accessible to people than it used to be. I remember flying to Spain for £4 and thinking it was a bargain. Now I view anything under £100 a bargain, as flight prices have significantly outstripped inflation.

I don’t think flights getting more expensive helps OP’s “issue” though, as an increasing number of working class people are wealthy and more and more of the middle class is becoming impoverished due to COL and stagnant wages. The demographic of who can afford to fly regularly has shifted dramatically.

Ah.

Game over.

The OP, on safari.

Why does the fact that someone's wearing flip flops and putting crisps in their bag make your life such a misery? If they can afford to be there then their money is just as good as yours.

Maybe you need to travel by private jet if you find the notion of sharing spaces with people wearing open toed shoes and liking crisps makes you so horrified.

I have been flying since the 70's often the original Virgin Upper and always dressed casually.

"...are you sure you were in the First lounge and not the Club Business lounge people can pay £30 to access? "

That's a good point, but the OP did specifically say:

"I was in the Gatwick BA first class lounge this morning"

My understanding is that this is only available to people with BA Gold status or One World Emerald status.

But, on the other hand this doesn't exactly sound like the first class lounge

"...and goodness it was horrendous. Tracksuits, flipflops, everyone's guts hanging out, people stuffing packets of crisps into their bags as if famine was incoming."

Here is a youtube video from a year ago showing the inside of the BA First Lounge at Gatwick. There's certainly quite a few people there, but they don't seem to quite fit the description of the OP.

You should go private - far better. Only have to turn up 30 minutes in advance, private FBO lounge where at worst you bump into a beautifully dressed Jessica Alba and not a single gut or crisp in sight. Unless you ask for some and then it's only refined crisps. Like monster munch.

This is a wind up. 😂