‘HERE IS WHAT TO EXPECT IF YOU FLY FIRST CLASS ON DELTA, UNITED OR AMERICAN AIRLINES.

What Its Like to Fly First Class And How To Decide Whether Its Worth It.

As an avid traveler, I always come across the big debate.. whether to fly economy, business OR.. do I splash out a little bit more on first class? I’m here to give you my opinion on whether flying first class is really worth it.

Firstly, it is important to take into consideration what flight you are taking.

Generally, if it is under 5 hours, it may not be worth the money, however, if it is a long-distance flight, we are now entering a whole different ball game!

Obviously, for different people, there are many different factors that can influence your decision on what airfare you buy. This can range anywhere from price… to time… to comfort…. or simply just for a special occasion.

 

AIRPORT BENEFITS

Let’s start right at the beginning from when you literally step foot into the airport. As a first-class ticket holder, you can expect to speed through check-in and security, as well as enjoying priority boarding.  To be honest, I’m a big fan of this as it means less stress, less lugging around baggage and more time to shop duty-free!

Another perk to traveling first class means your luggage allowance is a lot higher compared to other ticket holders on your flight. Usually, when flying economy, your luggage allowance would be one small cabin bag unless you are willing to pay an arm and a leg to add on extra luggage. However, when flying first class, most airlines will automatically allow 2 complimentary checked-in bags, saving the hassle of adding on the extras in the booking process.

So if you have a first-class ticket, I recommend you sit back and relax whilst you watch the other passengers around you start squirming as they attempt to put on their extra 5 coats to avoid those extra baggage charges.

 

BOARDING

OK, so you have now made your way through the inevitable chaos that’s erupting in the airport to your allocated gate. However, on arrival, you find you are unable to find any vacant chairs in the waiting area. Not a problem as you suddenly hear over the speakerphone, “all priority boarding ticket holders, please slowly make your way to the desk”. Now you feel a little more relieved that you can simply skip past the queues and start the boarding process ahead of everyone else.

After stepping onto the aircraft and finding your seat, you can now start to envision that premium experience that you have paid those extra $$$’s for.

Also as an extra tip – If you are a semi-anxious traveler like myself, I can confirm, it is a lot more enjoyable to be able to calmly find your seat whilst avoiding the madness of people queuing behind you.

 

UP IN THE AIR

So what differences can I expect from my first-class seat compared to economy?

Short answer – A LOT!

If you ever had doubts earlier about spending that extra money on the fares, you will not regret it once you sit down and start to reap the benefits that come with the price tag.

We can all agree, whilst flying economy, you will often find yourself in a row of 3 (or occasionally more). You will usually be awkwardly sharing an armrest with a stranger whilst trying not to accidentally fall asleep on their shoulder.
Not to mention the awkward amount of times I have had a stranger leaning over me to take that classic “plane in the clouds” photo. So basically, in summary, personal space is a no-go when flying economy.

However, in first class you can expect a much more private and intimate flying experience. You can also expect the added luxuries such as XL legroom, reclining or lie-flat seats, power outlets, quality bedding, sleep-focused amenity kits, top-notch inflight entertainment, wi-fi, and not to mention the dedicated flight attendants.

 

FOOD & BEVERAGE

If you have ever flown economy, you already know you can’t classify airplane food as “gourmet”. You can usually only order 1 of 3 choices usually served in aluminum foil alongside a bread roll and a sad-looking fruit platter.

However, flying first class entails a completely different dining experience usually created by specialized chefs from either the origin or the destination of the flight. You can expect unreal meals on REAL plates, with REAL cutlery and if needed, customized to your every need. This can be super important for anyone with dietary requirements or just simply perhaps, personal preferences.

If you are paying thousands of dollars on a flight, the last thing you want is to leave the flight still hungry!

Furthermore, each airline has its own personalized services so it’s best to research each airlines menus before your flight as they are ever-changing. Also, one of my favorite examples of an airline service that goes above and beyond is Delta Airlines that go as far as serving their meals atop tablecloths using designer Alessi serving ware.

Service = Next level!

As far as beverages go, whilst traveling economy you would often find yourself paying $6-8 for a wine or beer alongside your meal. However, please put your wallets away as first-class passengers can enjoy complimentary wine, beer, liquor, and non-alcoholic beverages throughout their flight.

 

IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?

Mostly yes!

Traveling first class is obviously not an everyday luxury and not for everyone. However, it does take away a lot of the stress that comes with booking flights, the airport process as well as sitting next to strangers in confined spaces.

My advice is always to take into consideration, your flight time, your budget, preferences and of course your circumstances. Then I’m sure that decision will come easier than you think.

TO DEPART ON A NICE NOTE

So for now, as the captain would say “tune into the inflight entertainment, take a sip of your complimentary champagne, sit back & enjoy the flight”.