Why would anyone fly first class?

Standing at the airport with empty baggage, ready to board a flight after the tiring process of check-in and security checks. Staring at first-class people who pass you while you are standing in yet another line to get into a coach, you make up your mind to board the plane.

Is first class worth paying the extra amount? Here are some reasons why more travelers are deciding that yes, first class is worth it:

More Comfort and Space

This is a rather likely reason behind opting for a first-class seat during the booking process. First class seats on the other hand are much larger and comfortable than those of a normal coach’s seat. As for economy class, seat spaces are getting to be as small as around 17 inches wide, while in first class, seats start from 20 inches up to laid-flat bed service for long-haul international flights. This extra space makes a lot of difference to one's comfort since you can twist and turn and shift your position without much inconveniencing your fellow passengers.

The pioneers of first-class air travel understood that space and comfort are as important as they are in any other aspect of business. Indeed, any given medium-haul flight could take anything from 4 to 12 hours today and tomorrow. Why force yourself to spend that time squeezed into a small seat when you can spend it being comfortable in a wide, fully adjustable seat that could turn into a flat bed for you to rest, sleep, etc.?

Priority Services

First class passengers enjoy a range of priority services that save time and reduce stress throughout the airport experience: First class passengers enjoy a range of priority services that save time and reduce stress throughout the airport experience:

• Priority check-in lines

• Priority security lines

• One of the first to board a plane and the last to alight from it.

• Gross baggage handling – first off the plane

• Preferred immigration & customs checkpoints (for the international section).

  Every such saving accumulates in the overall travel and when there are connections, it means so many hours that one is willing to lose waiting or even sleeping. Since you shall not be spending your precious time waiting in long queues you shall get more time to spend in the lounge. Speaking of which. ..

  Airport Lounge Access

  The most apparent advantage of flying first class for most airlines is that passengers are afforded a free pass to the terminals’ luxurious lounges. These lounges offer a welcome respite from the busy terminals and crowded airport spaces. Take a break before your flight in a stress-free environment with complimentary snacks and beverages, lounge chairs and tables, internet connection, and in some cases, showers and spa treatments. Some of the airline lounges provide extraordinary wines and spirits and also exquisite snacks.

  These are areas for first-class passengers, loyalty program members, and sometimes business-class passengers before they board their flights. While some carriers have recently removed first-class international service and replaced it with premium business-class products, these lounge access privileges may only extend to top-tier elites in some instances.

  Better Food and Drink

  Many coach passengers today are limited to purchasing food and drinks on board or even carrying them on board themselves. While first-class passengers enjoy free of charge gourmet food and also the very best wines, champagnes, and spirits. Culinary services from famous chefs have been used to enhance exquisite meals that the airlines serve on board.

  This is very apparent on long-haul international flights of eight hours and above where first-class passengers are served multiple full meals while coach passengers may not get a single free meal.

  For shorter first-class domestic flights, it is several levels above, offering good snacks and drinks sometimes even hot breakfast or dinner depending on the time. First-class flyers can order specialty meals such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc, and the champagne wine and other spirits are served freely and for free as well, unlike in the economy class.

  Attentive Service

  Thus, throughout the flight, from the boarding process to the arrival of passengers at the destination airport, first-class clients receive increased attention and individual approach. Cabin crew in the premium cabin can attend to fewer passengers because there is a relatively lower number of passengers opting for premium ticket prices. Hence there is the ability to adequately attend to each passenger’s needs when on flight.

  It’s the minor details that make first-class passengers feel valued and privileged – the warmth and aroma of the towel offered to them immediately after they board the aircraft, the chocolates, the wines recommended to them personally by the food and beverage manager on board the flight, the crew that speaks their language, and much more.

  Privacy and Exclusivity

  Yes, one gets physical things with a first-class ticket like a lie-flat seat and champagne among other things which are accounted for by the higher fares. However, a good part of what you are forwarding is not tangible in any way. business and first class entails sticking to the highest quality from the time one steps aboard the aircraft to the time of alighting with only a few other passengers around.

  First-class cabins are normally partitioned off from the remainder of the aircraft, for example through operable curtains. This gives the feeling of being on a stage where there is privacy or seclusion from the multitudes of people that are nearby, behind the curtain. One shouldn’t get too worried about the boarding scrum for the overhead bin space – first-class passengers have more than enough overhead bin space for their carry-on baggage.

  It also means that the car has a higher networking value due to its exclusivity factor. First-class flying is very popular among many CEOs, celebrities, and other people who are very busy with their daily activities. The environment is relatively casual and informal, especially in comparison to the business class hence it becomes easier to interact with other first class passengers. One can never know when he or she may be seated close to a person with whom one may do business in the future or meet at a dinner party.

  Frequent flyer status and miles are other major trends that have affected the airline industry.

  For the business traveler who flies more frequently, achieving elite status on an airline’s frequent flyer program has many longer-term benefits. First, all travel results in point and mile accumulation while procuring first-class flights results in achieving elite status faster due to higher accrued mileage and flight segments.

  The perks associated with loyalty status depend on the carrier but include priority upgrades, access to airport lounges, access to fast-track security, boarding in advance, bonus award miles for flying in premium cabins, waiving fees for ancillary services, and others. For those people, who are paid to travel on planes, elite tiers offer a superior travel experience no matter which fare class you may be accidentally stuck in or which cabin you might move up to. In general, the status once earned, allows the user to continue using it for at least one full year.

  However, All those miles accrued from paid first-class flight bookings make a lot of sense for free exciting vacations, complimentary stays in hotels, rental cars, and many more. First-class award flights are the dream come true for point hunters!

  Health & Wellbeing

  At first instance, it is rather surprising to suggest that getting health value means buying the highest price seat. But for several hours, many other studies have revealed that restricted space use helps in reducing the chances of deep vein thrombosis, decreases stress levels, prevents lower back pain, and even improves the quality of sleep. Being able to stand or walk around during long flights means that circulation is improved and the risk of developing generalized complications from being confined to a seat is greatly reduced.

  The fact that first class seats are more spacious than before also makes it better to arrive at your destination less stiff and with less muscle tension used up by battling with the seatback for the entire duration of the flight. Services like food delivery and relaxation contribute to enhancing the health and productivity of athletes after landing.

  Although the companies might turn their nose up at the first class price, statistics prove that employees who do not come down with diseases contracted on ‘my gosh, how can they let people sit like that’, bedraggled economy class ends up being healthier and able to concentrate on work. In cases where companies are in a position to meet the duty of care and at the same time, think about their wallets, there is a peculiar middle ground: premium economy class. However, to consider the welfare of the staff most seriously then it is essential to provide first-class travel conditions wherever possible.

  On one hand, there is this question that asks “Is first class worth it?”

  Ultimately, the choice of whether to redeem your air miles or spend cash on first class is a matter of preference that is hinged on the budget for the trip, the geographical location of the flight, and the duration of the journey. In domestic economy hops that are less than 4 hours, the first-class experience may not be enough to indicate that there is a big difference.

  But when the trip is being made internationally or a cross-country flight across several time zones, comfort and facilities can make a lot of day-to-day differences to the quality of life both in the airplane and after arrival. If attempting to close a business deal with executives who are rather used to a luxury life, then it may not be received well when coaching.

  Premium economy products are now even cheaper on most of the leading airlines; evaluate the available offers to determine if this scaled-back luxury is what is needed or can be afforded. For those who do not want to be bothered with anything, but only to indulge and pamper themselves and have some space, first class is still widely accepted as the best way to travel the friendly skies.