Flying first class

[MrsExpo]

We have go on a long haul flight later in the year and have been looking at options for flight times, departure airports, fares etc. Having done the research we're more or less decided what we're booking, but just for fun, DH looked at how much it would cost to upgrade to first class. The difference was between just under a thousand pounds for economy to around £6k (each!) for first class .... to get on the same plane, at the same airport and arrive at the same time as everyone else at the same destination.

So .... has anyone done it? Is it really worth the difference in price? What are the advantages? What do you get for the extra ££££ ?

Anyone care to share experiences?

I always secretly read the threads on here about people not wanting to pay to book a seat in economy or larger people taking up other people's space and the bun fights that occur and think thank god you don't get any of that in first

Like other posters have said I think it depends on the airline, but no, I would not pay £5k more, even if I won the lottery, well maybe i’d try it once!

I nearly upgraded on a long haul flight with BA as we had some airmiles but the cost would have been about £2k each more than the standard seats .... and when I saw the upgraded seats I nearly died, horrible ... so glad I didn’t do it, to be honest the whole plane has seen better days.

I've been in first class a couple of times and business more frequently. My parents have an incredible amount of airmiles so take DS and I in business or first for 'free' using airmiles.

It's lovely, and it's the only way I can sleep on planes.

My friend and I went to NYC for a big birthday and did economy there and business back so we slept for 6 hours on a flatbed and straight to work.

I've flown first and business a lot. I agree with someone upthread that the BA service is the best in first class. Otherwise if you are paying for it yourself I'd go for business: you'll still get a good night's sleep/meal/drinks extras. I go straight to work and always feel just the same if it's first or business.

WhoAteMyNuts "I always secretly read the threads on here about people not wanting to pay to book a seat in economy or larger people taking up other people's space and the bun fights that occur and think thank god you don't get any of that in first"

Did you see the recent one about economy travellers outraged they were expected to use the economy loos and not just waltz in and out of business and first class sections at their whim?

All manner of hypothetical maladies turned up as justifications why they should be allowed.

It’s funny how people people mentally clock things as “free” as opposed to “factored into the price you’ve paid for the ticket, probably several times over”.

When you think about it, you can stay in a lovely hotel for a night and eat in a michelin started restaurant with wine for maybe £500 -600.

An airline will charge you potentially several thousand pounds for a simulated version of that over a period of a few hours. It’s much better than economy of course but still, you’re basically camping in a capsule in a shared aluminium tube full of farting and coughing strangers (even if they are wealthy ones)!

When people look at that and weigh up the cost then presumably it only looks like “value” because of the experience you are paying to avoid in economy?

It’s not like the several thousand pound experience in Business/First is actually better than a good hotel and restaurant?

Just interesting to think about how the experience is sold to make it seem like value.

Being a premium economy gal myself I can understand people doing it for the comfy beds and showers. But I find it a bit strange that so many people think the "free" snacks , and "free" meals justify the cost!

I can imagine the marketing team at Emirates working out the lure of a free packet of peanuts "But look, if open them and serve them on a nice China plate with a paper doily no one will ever know they only cost us 20p wholesale - which the customer is paying for anyway"

BuzzShitbagBobbly I did see a bit of that thread .

Bluegrass of course it's all factored into the price. Depending on when you book the flights though you can sometimes get a better deal if the sale is on. I often in other areas of life pay more to avoid queues etc or for a bigger quieter hotel room. Essentially the cost is still better value for me than flying economy because I enjoy it in first rather than enduring it in economy.

It’s not like the several thousand pound experience in Business/First is actually better than a good hotel and restaurant? it's several thousands of pounds better than economy for me personally. I hardly spend any money on clothes but I will spend it on experiences.

The difference between first and business isn’t worth the price ime. Only done Emirates and BA but first made me feel a bit uncomfortable because they make such a fuss. And also you can have anything you want but you have to ask. It’s fine if you’re one of those people who are very confident, but if you’re unsure how things work it can be a bit intimidating. With business the service process is similar to economy, just nicer food and wine with table cloths and bone China

viques the free food and drink applies more in the lounges. When planes can be delayed for hours it really does make a difference when you are in a nice lounge being served nice food and drink, watching tv or playing pool.

I have waited 10 hours for a delayed flight in Gatwick departures when I flew economy and it was hell.

Youtube is good for this.
Search your plane company and first class and you’ll get in depth product reviews.

Enjoy!

“ it's several thousands of pounds better than economy for me personally“.

I think that is the key. People tend to overstate how great it is mainly because they compare it to how awful economy can be, and that must be an important selling point for airlines (and it helps set expectations).

A bit like raving about the experience of “sitting quietly in a chair”, having paid extra to avoid “sitting in a chair being screamed at and jostled”

First or business?
Who are you flying with?
I always book business when doing long-haul flights. It is definitely worth it. However, I do not find the flatbeds at all comfortable.
Apart from being able to use the appropriate lounge at the airport, there are loads of advantages - space, service, usually more edible food, higher baggage allowances etc. etc. Plus your luggage is usually delivered to the carousel faster at your destination, so less queuing.

I would have to be seriously rich ( millions in the bank ) before I would pay 6k for a rented seat on an airplane .
I can’t imagine many people in normal jobs living in normal houses spend that kind of money just to borrow a seat for a few hours .

I go business if I can on a long haul flight but don’t think first is worth the additional cost.

I’ve done Emirates Business and Virgin Upper. If you need to get a connecting flight in Dubai the Emirates business class lounge is well worth it. Comfy seats, facilities to get a shower, huge choice of food and drink.

I hate being penned in on a long flight and find business class flying more of a pleasure than a chore. And of course I appreciate the champagne, cocktails, flat bed seats, edible food and great service. I think if you can afford it and it makes the experience of getting to your destination enjoyable/bearable then why not.

We flew first class to New York and back when ds1 was about 1.5 years old, so didn't need a seat, but there was space and they rearranged people so we were all close and made him up a bed, bought him treats and food he'd eat, played with him, it was lovely! It was a great experience and would be one I'd love to do again, we usually fly business but happy to fly economy obviously!

We never pay full price, use a BA credit card to collect miles, you get buy one get one free flights each year when you spend £10,000 on the card (we use it for everything and pay it off each month). If you're organised with flights and fly to popular destinations with lots of reward flights you can pay the same or less as economy. Our first class return flights cost us £1000 for both of us return!!

I've flown Business and First. I paid out a lot for First as I just, for once, wanted that experience. I loved it; access to the exclusive lounge, champagne on tap, amazing food, got a lovely seat that flattened so I had a good sleep. Basically I was treated like royalty.

Business was very good too. Happy with economy for short haul but I'd never go economy again for long haul.

I would have to be seriously rich ( millions in the bank ) before I would pay 6k for a rented seat on an airplane . I can’t imagine many people in normal jobs living in normal houses spend that kind of money just to borrow a seat for a few hours .

Not many people do pay for it hence the majority of the plane being used for economy.

I don't agree though with the normal job/house not paying for first. I have a normal job and house but can afford it and it's factored into the cost of a holiday if we don't have air miles to use. However, I do know someone who is far richer than me and lives in a million pound plus house and they wouldn't dream of paying any more than economy. They have far more expendable money than I do but value different things in life and flying first isn't one of them whereas for me it is.

Difference between a good business class and first isnt worth it. If it is a quality airline. I also don't think any virgin upper experience has been as good as most business class services i have experienced. I find virgin upper service etc very meh, at best.

I always flew first or business as a child as my DFs job meant free flights/air miles. It is lovely flying first class, but I wouldn't pay for it if it is going to be a struggle or cut down your budget elsewhere. I don't have the money for holidays at all now, but if I did I wouldn't be doing long haul in economy.

I have only done Air NZ business a handful of times when flying back to NZ pre children. 26hrs is a long flight so it makes it a much better experience.

It is amazing! Worth every penny.

I could still probably afford it but as lovely it is I cant really justify the cost with two children now. Economy is rough but I have other expenses with the kids on holidays and I would rather create experiences with them.

Virgin upper class flights man Hester to Florida were £4125 EACH

Great fun but never worth the Monet...I mean £8250 for the two of us

So pleased I won the flights 😁

Ooops more thpos

DH says Emirates FC is 👌 - he travels for work so loves that he can have a shower on board before landing. Meanwhile, back in the real world, I'm hauling the 3 year old off the floor in Tesco again 😆

It really is lovely. Good food, attentive service, great wine. Better films and you can sleep.

I had sunstroke once and the attendant brought me 12 frozen wet towels which I lay all over me and he kept replacing them and bringing water. He was so lovely. Don't know how I'd have coped in economy (12 hr flight).

I loooove flying business. I have, however, never paid for it myself (work) and £6k is an insane amount of money(1/3rd my annual wage).