Is first class worth the price tag?
After 10 days of traveling around the US, I’m back in London! I had a successful conference, then went to Chicago to visit my company’s headquarters before swinging through NC to see my family for a few days. I’m not gonna lie, it was a rough trip- I ended up catching a nasty sinus infection/chest cold on the first day after landing in San Diego, which I still can’t seem to shake. Taking planes with sinus pressure is painful! 😣
When flying back to London, I was given the option at check in to upgrade to flagship business class (aka 1st class) for $500. Looking online, a current first class ticket in October from RDU to LHR would cost anywhere from $6-10k one way. 🤯 INSANE. So of course I had to take advantage of this deal and see what all the fuss is about behind the curtain!
Bonus feature of first class is that you have access to the lounge before boarding, hence my airport fit photo after a cheeky glass and snacks before the flight. The American lounge isn’t huge in Raleigh, but still a nice perk if you don’t have the AA credit card.
I’m usually not one to rush to board the plane, but this time I was eager to get to my seat!
Here’s a little run down of the highlights:
Started off with a the option of a glass of champagne 🥂 or sparkling water before take off. Of course I went with the Champs 😉 They already are winning me over!
Lots of goodies are at your seat, including a toliets kit and noise cancelling headphones. 🎶
Some of the seats faced backwards, which was noted with a symbol when you picked your seat. That’s a no from me haha. I was really glad with my seat choice which was the last of the business section as I was away from the kitchen/bathrooms.
I had too much fun with the pop out TV & other gadgets, like a little kid.
I didnt know this, but you can pre-order your meal before you get on the plane. I had less options than the menu said because of this so if you have dietary needs definitely plan ahead.
The service was awesome. As a first class rookie, I probably looked amazed when the attendant pulled out my tray and set up my place setting before dinner haha.
Dinner tasted great, really liked my crab cakes & felt like it was a good portion but didnt feel heavy. Also liked I could have it all come out at once to get to sleep faster 😴
I have a pretty standard routine on night flights, so I like to watch a movie with my meal & then wash my face (not to mention wash down a sleeping pill with a glass of wine) then tuck into bed. This didnt change at all in first class.
Pro’s
Lounge access
2 checked bags included
Welcome champagne and free drinks on board
Better quality food/service
Spacious area
Nice noise cancelling headphones given along with toiletries kit
Comfortable, lie down bed (more restful sleep)
More respectful cabin mates, as the cliental is different & most people are looking to work/sleep.
Con’s
Expensive for what it is in comparison to premium economy and the price jump.
Still don’t sleep much longer than economy
Not as much privacy as expected without the dividers
They take away the headphones ~45 min before landing
Breakfast wasnt great- cinnamon roll offered was a little stale & potatos dry. (I think in the future I’d skip it and sleep more)
I felt like 2 toliets for our first class section wasnt enough and i waited a while for my turn each time
So what did I really think?
All in all, I probably only got about 3-3.5 hours of sleep, but they were much more restful hours & I really appreciated the lay down bed. Usually I’ll get like an hour here & 45 minutes there, whereas in the lie down once I shut my eyes I was zonked out till breakfast. Gamechanger.
My flight time was just under 7 hours, and with being only $500 and me already feeling a under the weather, it was an absolutely worth it to make the upgrade. I should also mention this was an older American Airlines plane, and I’ve seen some crazy amazing first class seats on other updated airlines/planes. In most cases though, I feel like to truly enjoy first class perks the price is worth it only if you have a flight longer than 8 hours to actually get quality sleep. And this also depends if you have a full on day when you land or if you’re just traveling for leisure and can afford to be a bit more jetlagged. Any shorter or if it was a day flight I’d say save your pennies or opt for premium economy.
YOUR TURN!
Have you ever traveled first/business class? What was your experience and did you think it was worth the price?
Sincerely,
Sarah
Follow me on instagram @sincerelysarah.co for travel tips, stories, and reels!P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to get more updates on future travels and tips!
