A strange question about First Class flying

[Maggie The Cat]

We are flying First Class for the first (and probably only) time on our next trip. It's United (domestic) and the flight is over 800 miles so I understand a hot breakfast will be served.

My question - do they offer predeparture drinks when you board, before take-off? I know it happens on some airlines. Sipping on a glass of wine may calm my nerves and I would take advantage if offered.

Thanks in advance.

 

[DLgal]

Pretty sure they do.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

In theory you should get a pre-departure drink. It will depend pretty much on the flight attendants. Some will offer a full open bar, some will bring around a tray of water/OJ/Prosecco. Some are lazy and won't do anything. Also, if the flight is delayed they will sometimes forgo the drink to get the flight moving along.

As far as a meal, what is the route? It will also depend on if it is a regular mainline United flight or if it's a regional carrier operating the flight.

Word of warning, once you go first class it's extremely hard to go back to coach!

 

[DLgal]

Word of warning, once you go first class it's extremely hard to go back to coach!

I don't know about that. I have been upgraded to First class (for free) a couple of times on short domestic routes and there is NO WAY that I would pay for it. International flights are a completely different story, but the domestic first class experience is really nothing special at all, especially if you get an older plane. My last United first class breakfast was Corn Flakes, yogurt and a hard banana. The "hot" option was a disgusting looking breakfast sandwich that looked like it came from Burger King, so I opted for the cold breakfast.

 

[Maggie The Cat]

I don't know about that. I have been upgraded to First class (for free) a couple of times on short domestic routes and there is NO WAY that I would pay for it. International flights are a completely different story, but the domestic first class experience is really nothing special at all, especially if you get an older plane. My last United first class breakfast was Corn Flakes, yogurt and a hard banana. The "hot" option was a disgusting looking breakfast sandwich that looked like it came from Burger King, so I opted for the cold breakfast.

We are looking forward to it. Have never done it before.

 

[GoingSince1990]

We are flying First Class for the first (and probably only) time on our next trip. It's United (domestic) and the flight is over 800 miles so I understand a hot breakfast will be served.

My question - do they offer predeparture drinks when you board, before take-off? I know it happens on some airlines. Sipping on a glass of wine may calm my nerves and I would take advantage if offered.

Thanks in advance.

In theory yes, but don’t count on it. Boarding can sometimes be a bit chaotic and the FAs might be tied up. Your group will be first to board so I suggest you hang out near the jetway before boarding begins so you get on the plane before the FAs start to get too tied up. If nobody offers you a drink, and you ask a FA for a wine, you will probably get one. BTW don’t get your hopes up for the “hot breakfast”; first class meals are not what they used to be. If you have time, any hot breakfast you eat at an airport restaurant will be far superior to anything they give you on the flight.

 

[Gary2T]

...
Word of warning, once you go first class it's extremely hard to go back to coach!

We just did our inaguaral first class flight. DW and I went went to from PA to Disneyland last weekend. Our first cross country flight since our honeymoon. American main cabin extra on the way out west. Paid to upgrade to first on the return. It was so much nicer. No pre-departure beverage as our flight was running late with boarding.

Afterwards, DW stated she could not make it all the way to Hawaii (Aulani planning for '24) sitting 3 across next to a stranger. Looks like I better increase my flight budget...

 

[Maggie The Cat]

In theory yes, but don’t count on it. Boarding can sometimes be a bit chaotic and the FAs might be tied up. Your group will be first to board so I suggest you hang out near the jetway before boarding begins so you get on the plane before the FAs start to get too tied up. If nobody offers you a drink, and you ask a FA for a wine, you will probably get one. BTW don’t get your hopes up for the “hot breakfast”; first class meals are not what they used to be. If you have time, any hot breakfast you eat at an airport restaurant will be far superior to anything they give you on the flight.

I won't get my hopes up, just will be nice surprise if I get a drink after boarding.

Breakfast isn't a big deal as I'm not a breakfast eater, just noticed that we get one.

 

[GoingSince1990]

We just did our inaguaral first class flight. DW and I went went to from PA to Disneyland last weekend. Our first cross country flight since our honeymoon. American main cabin extra on the way out west. Paid to upgrade to first on the return. It was so much nicer. No pre-departure beverage as our flight was running late with boarding.

Afterwards, DW stated she could not make it all the way to Hawaii (Aulani planning for '24) sitting 3 across next to a stranger. Looks like I better increase my flight budget...

Another option that is usually much cheaper than going first class is to pay for an extra, empty coach seat, so you will have three coach seats between the two of you, and no stranger next to you. All major airlines allow you to do this; it is mostly used by “plus sized” people who have difficulty fitting into a single coach seat, but anyone of any size can do it.

 

[easyas123]

We last flew first class on American in August, San Diego to Philly non stop. No drinks offered.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

I don't know about that. I have been upgraded to First class (for free) a couple of times on short domestic routes and there is NO WAY that I would pay for it. International flights are a completely different story, but the domestic first class experience is really nothing special at all, especially if you get an older plane. My last United first class breakfast was Corn Flakes, yogurt and a hard banana. The "hot" option was a disgusting looking breakfast sandwich that looked like it came from Burger King, so I opted for the cold breakfast.

Agree that it's not really worth it on short hops. But for us (both 6'1") we find it worth it on anything 2 hours or more. We have millions of miles/airline status so we can usually find a way to get upfront at an affordable price using either cash, miles, or a combo of both.

But there are times we do pay up. We are flying ORD-HNL next month and paid for the United 1st class nonstop flights that have the lie flat seats. At a length similar to ORD-Europe it was worth it for us. Chicago to anywhere out of the country we only fly Business or higher.....almost exclusively on miles or points. For us we just love to travel and flying in a premium cabin makes the journey more enjoyable.

OP, United will, depending on the route, send an email 5 days prior to your flight so that you can pre-order your meal. I'd be on the look out for that so you will be able to secure your first meal option. It's a nice feature as it always seems the meal option I want goes first on just about every flight I'm on.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

One domestic “first class” experience that is almost always worth it is JetBlue’s mint. I’m old enough now that if I go to Cali and have to take the red eye to go to work I’ll almost always spring for it. Outbound it’s just extra legroom.

First class on cross-county flights can be hit or miss depending on the plane. Ones that go on to Europe are usually nice. Others, not so much. Domestic to Florida from the east coast may sound nice but really doesn’t get you a whole lot.

 

[Anthony1971]

Lol years ago they would give you a bottle of wine to go. We got upgraded a lot because we have a good friend that works for an airline so every time we flew that airline we got upgraded. Now we have a lot of miles from work travel. Personally for short flights I would rather just have extra space like JB and they also do offer more snacks to the extra leg room seats. Longer flights gives you time to enjoy the extra space a few drinks and some plane food if thats possible. If you upgrade to first class expecting a lot and anything beyond “plane food and grade wine“ you will be disappointed if it’s for the space you will be happy. Fly JB pay for the extra space get a sandwich from a decent deli buy a glass of wine and you will be very happy on a short flight.

 

[Cheburashka]

We are flying First Class for the first (and probably only) time on our next trip. It's United (domestic) and the flight is over 800 miles so I understand a hot breakfast will be served.

My question - do they offer predeparture drinks when you board, before take-off? I know it happens on some airlines. Sipping on a glass of wine may calm my nerves and I would take advantage if offered.

Thanks in advance.

Some flights they'll serve it, others they won't. Enjoy your flight. It's much better to fly first than in coach, on any plane, any route.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We fly first class in United on Long flights…over 4 or 5 hours. But I’ve been known to do short flights of a couple hours, Most times the flight attendant will come around with water or Prosecco. Or if not, you can ask for a drink. Breakfast on the shorter flights is not much but it’s still nice to be served on a tray, with silverware. The older I get the more I appreciate the finer things in life. and it’s only money.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I fly 1st to avoid the huge numbers of gate lice that has been growing since coming back from Covid.

Every flight is full. The GA’s are overwhelmed and don’t announce to “Stay in Your Seats” until your group is called. It is Chaos once pre boarding and it quickly begins to get out of control: The jetway is often completely blocked even when priority is called.

 

[DebbieB]

I flew American first class last month, Pittsburgh to Dallas. Upgraded for $145 from coach. We got a pre-departure drink. Flight was about 3 hours, left 9:30am. Meal choice was a cold ham sandwich or a fruit plate. I had the sandwich, nothing special. Came with fruit and a fig bar.

 

[Cheburashka]

I fly 1st to avoid the huge numbers of gate lice that has been growing since coming back from Covid.

Every flight is full. The GA’s are overwhelmed and don’t announce to “Stay in Your Seats” until your group is called. It is Chaos once pre boarding and it quickly begins to get out of control: The jetway is often completely blocked even when priority is called.

This is an example of how there are many perks to flying first beyond food. People who disparage domestic first by saying it isn't luxury don't seem to understand that those of us who choose it don't expect luxury- we just want the flying experience to be more bearable. With first (and I'm talking about boring, no frills, domestic first and not even NYC to LA) you get:

• Priority check-in / baggage drop-off at the airline counter
• Complimentary checked bags that are tagged as priority
• Priority boarding, which guarantees you overhead bin space and reduces the likelihood of someone else trying to poach your seat
• Priority assistance if your flight is seriously delayed or canceled. This perk can't be emphasized enough.
• A comfortable seat with space for your personal items
• The assurance that you won't have to share an armrest or rub shoulders with a stranger for a multi-hour flight
• Being at the front of the plane, which is helpful for quick deplaning, and also a help to those of us with sensitive ears who have a hard time if seated near or behind airplane engines
• A bathroom nearby (close but not too close)
• More access to and attention from flight attendants
• A pre-departure beverage if you're lucky, and during flight beverages are promptly served and are also replenished throughout the flight
• Fellow 1st passengers tend to be relatively experienced fliers and tend to cause fewer problems than you'll occasionally encounter from infrequent fliers
• They serve meals on flights of a few hours or more. These meals are not gourmet, but I've never been served anything bad, and they serve meals and drinks using real dishes, glasses, silverware and napkins, not disposables. If you're a picky eater or a "foodie", just skip the airplane meal.

This all isn't luxury- it's just being treated with dignity imo. Something that's gotten lost in airline travel over the past few decades. Domestic first is also much less expensive than it used to be, which is why some of us (who aren't rich) are willing to pay for it. Especially if you're flying solo or only as a party of two, the reduction of hassle and discomfort can be worth the cost.

I can see why most larger families won't pay for it, and why a lot of people might not bother for very short flights (90 minutes or less, for example). But I live in central Texas so flying to either coast takes 2.5 - 5 hours nonstop, which isn't a short ride.

 

[_19disnA]

The time I have flown business/first class the main benefits on the airplane include a larger seat, better food service, free drinks and more attention from the flight attendants since they have fewer people to take care of. Easier to use the restroom due to fewer people in that part of the aircraft. They did serve beverages on the flights I have been on prior to take-off. HOWEVER, you need to finish your beverage and return it to them prior to take-off. If you aren't the type of person who inhales their beverage, this isn't as much of a benefit as it might seem. If you want to sip some water, a better option would be to buy one of those small bottles somewhere in the terminal to have with you.

Benefits prior to boarding can vary by airline. Some offer a separate line for checking in your luggage and you may have the option to board earlier. They may also offer free/reduced prices for checked bags.

 

[EACarlson]

I flew United First last Wednesday ORD-MCO. I was offered a drink as soon as I sat down. Had about a half hour to finish my beer before they collected everything prior to take off. If I get a buy up offer like I did on this flight I would do it again, but not for the price that they sometimes want to charge. I upgraded 72 hours out for $200, Delta on the way home offered me a buy up of $930. Priority tagged bags didn't make a bit of difference, my bag was one of the last to come out on the carousel at MCO. It was a more comfortable seat and more legroom which helps a lot as I'm 6'3".