I flew a lot with work. Over 6 hours intercontinental we were allowed business class, but often I got upgraded as was frequent flyer and single woman traveller. I must have flown first into South America , Asia, and Australia maybe a dozen times.
I was working, and not a drinker on flights as it really makes me feel shit, so the free alcohol wasn’t a stellar. The upgrade of food was nice to have, but still not worth the money you’d pay for it. The flat bed was good- but I can’t sleep well on flights anyway, changing time zones, hot flushing, noise and worst my nose blocking up which always happens on flights, meant in practice I wouldn’t get that much more sleep than in business class if any.
what I would pay for as single female traveller was privacy and staff treating me with respect.
I have spent too many flights trying to fend off man spreaders, people snoring next to me, just not feeling entirely safe going to sleep with a strange bloke 4 inches away next to me. I like in first that you can have space for your stuff to hand, meant I could even take crocheting 🤷🏼♀️🤣. Jus having in effect your own private space where you don’t have to crawl over somone when I needed the loo.
also. Found in first that if i went into loos and there was a mess on loo seat etc, the staff were way more helpful at cleaning the bathroom up for me really nicely- in fact they’d often stop me before I went in and nip in to clean down first- these are service gestures that make a differ nice as even in business class I’ve gone in after blokes and 🤢, and staff can either be too busy or irritated if you dare ask them to clean.
Ive been treated like shit by both flight crew and ground staff at times- particularly by US companies like UU, AA etc. they operate national flights like buses, and don’t know how to do intercontinental ime. Some really dreadful responses when I’ve had flight logistics issues due to frequent delays, when I’ve be n flying with special assistance ( I’ve had to travel with fractures or post operatives over the course of my career) etc. when you are first class, all staff treat you with respect, they stop, listen, try to resolve issues with patience and care. It’s not much to ask. There are some great staff in all airlines, but sadly there are some staff that behave like officious little pricks who are doing you a favour to fly with them. You simply do not get that on first class.
Airlines vary a lot and that can often surpass other factors, s I’d rather fly to Azusa in standard virgin ( not even business) than business class on UU or AA , it’s the way the staff treat you that makes that difference. Business class on some Asian airlines will outstrip business class on other airlines, again just based on service levels and attitude of the companies towards their customers. I’d specifically alter my schedule to try to use some f these companies than fly , say , BA . BA ar nt too bad ime, not as good as they were, bu no where near the sheer awfulness of US companies.
so to me service attitudes and privacy out weigh anything else by a long shot