Does anybody fly First Class?

[canman172]

Just wondering what flying first class on Continental is like?

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Getting smaller and smaller... I fly a lot for business. Used to get upgraded all the time to first class (International travel is always first class). In the last year or so, first class has gone down to as few as two rows. Most of the 737s are four rows. The seats are obviously much larger with a better recline. Unless you are on a 777, they are not overly fancy, with leg rests, etc.

Food and service are obviously better, and, of course, you have a lavatory just for the use of our First Class customers.

Is it worth it - I don't think I'd ever pay for it myself.

 

[Esmerelda]

I flew last year first class on American Airlines. It was actually quite nice. We had a full breakfast..on china..with real silverware (complete with mimosa's!....tip: never drink those before you've had any food...yikes!.. ) Then on our return trip we had a really good hot lunch complete with wine. The seats were much more roomier and comfortable than in coach of course and we did board first..and the flight attendants could not have been any more professional. Overall, we had a great experience. We got our RT tickets for about $650 each. We normally fly coach so this was a nice change of pace.


have a great trip,
Esmerelda

 

[canman172]

Thanks for the info!

This is the #3 trip for my wife and I so we thought we would splurge a little and go first class. I'll try anything once. We are going on Continental 757 soo we will see.

 

[seashoreCM]

First class is pretty much a free perk for frequent flyers.

ANd the airlines themselves are to blame for making it undesirable to actually pay for first class.

There are too many glitches. Airlines are not gracious enough, when at the last minute having to downgrade you, to willingly pay you compensation plus the difference in fare between what you paid and the lowest coach fare you could have bought instead.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[CarolA]

Thanks for the info!

This is the #3 trip for my wife and I so we thought we would splurge a little and go first class. I'll try anything once. We are going on Continental 757 soo we will see.

I wouldn't waste much money!

Not sure where you are flying to/from, but I got upgraded to First Class today. The ONLY difference is bigger seats and a free drink. The meal thing discussed above is VERY VERY rare.... (I am really surprised at the "real silverwear" as every flight I have had a meal on has "real fork", "real spoon" and a plastic knife... Yeah, I can overtake a cockpit with a butter knife.... The TSA is "protecting you")

 

[salmoneous]

Flying within the US, first class is basically a bigger seat. Sometimes you get a neat TV gizmo, and there are the free drinks. Plus little stuff like getting on and off the plane first.

Personally, I can think of better ways to splurge (of course, if you are flying from oversees or Hawaii it's a different story.)

One sad tale - last time I was in first class the flight was too short (2 1/4 hrs) for them to turn on the TV gizmos, and was too bumpy for the FA's to serve us the free drinks. But the big seats were nice, and I got it for free, so I can't complain. Had I paid for the upgrade, I might be grumpy.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

First class is pretty much a free perk for frequent flyers.

That was true until the airlines figured it out and cut back First Class on domestic flights. My flight from San Juan last week had 4 rows of First Class. Wee before to Houston it had 2 rows. No upgrades.

Not complaining - but it is not much of a perk any more. I am just happy to board first so I can put my luggage overhead.

 

[PURTYPAT1]

I flew "First Class" Continental from EWR to JAPAN. The flight attendants had to throw me off the plane, I didn't want to leave. I was "Wined Dined & Phampered" for 14 hours.

My DH & I flew Continental, first class, EWR to Cancaun. We received one drink, it really was no big deal.

This Feb 2006 DD11 & flew first on AA to MCO. Again, Wined Dined & Phampered" It was wonderful. Then I had to come home to, "Mom what are we having for dinner"

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

All the time - sometimes I am upgraded due to my status with the airline and sometimes I actually buy a first class ticket.

It's a wider seat and a free meal slightly better than hospital food on long flights. On Delta it is usually some sort of chicken smothered in some sort of red sauce with some sort of hard roll and some sort of chocolate dessert. Blech.

I don't drink so the free alcohol means nothing to me. I like the extra room and being able to get on and off the plane first.

If you are flying a LONG flight (over 2 or 3 hours) and especially if you are flying overseas then First Class is worth it. Shorter flights - save your money and request the exit rows in coach for extra leg room.

 

[lookingforward]

I have never paid full price, sometimes they offer an upgrade at reduced rates, once paid $100 to upgrade from Alaska, that was a great deal. That said, domestic first class is hardly worth paying for (in my opinion), if you get it for free than it is fine. International first class and some coast to coasts on large planes are great, good service, sleeper chairs, etc. The airlines have made it mostly a perk for frequent flyers. I remember flying when I was younger (1970's) and you would get dressed up, have dinner at the airport in a fancy restaurant, etc. The first time we flew to Europe in 1970 my family came to see us off... at the gate! That would never happen now!

 

[clkelley]

The one time I flew First Class, it was for a 20 minute flight from HSV to ATL. (Whoopee). The next leg to Norfolk was supposed to be First Class, but we missed our connection due to weather. We finally got on a flight 4 hours later in COACH. (My company had paid for first class tickets through some discount deal).

Although I did get a free drink on the second leg due to the delays, I was still in a coach seat. The kicker was, that really pissed me off is even though the first class seat was paid for, because I actually sat in a coach seat, I didn't get the extra mileage perk for the second leg.

I did call the airline later, but they wouldn't budge. I was sitting in a coach seat, so only got coach miles for the flight.

So, to make this long story short, don't pay for first class unless it is a really long flight.

 

[lovepooh]

We always fly Midwest Airlines when we can. It is like flying first class without the price!

 

[JoyG]

We always fly Midwest Airlines when we can. It is like flying first class without the price!

That's the way I feel about Southwest! I always board first (with children we pre-board) and I pick the first seats right up front for extra leg room.

 

[safetymom]

I fly most of the time in First Class. Not because I paid for it but because I am a preferred frequent flyer. It's nice have the extra room but the service isn't much better than coach. I would have a hard time justifying paying for FC.

 

[sanjoe]

Hubby is FF for Continental and we always get elite boarding and luggage handling privledges. Not sure if this is for all 1st class passengers. When we travel on family trips, he lets me sit in 1st class. Flew to Tampa (Disney bound) recently from Texas and enjoyed a delicious fruit tray and croissant and loved the warm towels brought to clean my hands. Had an large compfy empty seat next to me on the way there. My family sat in the 1st rows in regular class and I sat in last 1st class seat so we were practically together the whole time. Sadly on the flight home it was a very small plane with no first class. If you have never done it and budget is not an option, I would do it for a long flight.