first class

[sls23]

My husband and I will betaking the Backstage Magic Adventures by Disney trip next May. Since it will be a long flight and I hate to fly I am considering flying first class. It looks like my options are US Airways, Continental, Northwest and Delta.

Does anyone have any experiences/opinions on which of these would be best?

Thank you.

 

[discjoker]

My husband and I will betaking the Backstage Magic Adventures by Disney trip next May. Since it will be a long flight and I hate to fly I am considering flying first class. It looks like my options are US Airways, Continental, Northwest and Delta.

Does anyone have any experiences/opinions on which of these would be best?

Thank you.

I have flown in first class on all of the airlines you have mentioned. Continental in my experience has the best domestic first class product. Of the others you mentioned, Northwest would be second, then Delta, then US Airways. With that said, I would choose the airline based on best routing and flight times.

 

[safetymom]

Don't even consider US Airways. Delta has a very nice first class. Keep in mind these days other than free drinks and a bigger seat first class is not the big deal it used to be.

 

[shoes99]

Don't even consider US Airways. Delta has a very nice first class. Keep in mind these days other than free drinks and a bigger seat first class is not the big deal it used to be.

I'm travelling solo next week to Phoenix from Newark. I had ffm miles from my husband that I had to use up or they would expire on 12/31/07 on Delta.
I booked First Class Seats via Atlanta for 45,000 miles. Looking forward to the trip. I know there is only meal service on the ATL/PHX runs.
Delta SONG doesn't fly non-stop to MCO to EWR anymore, or I would have used the FFM for EWR-MCO...

 

[disneyholic family]

i've flown NWA first class across country a few times.
it's nice. But as someone else said, mainly a wider seat and more leg room...but that's nice to have for long flights...

 

[DebbieB]

Since I fly with them frequently, I get occasional free upgrades on USAir. Got them both ways PIT/MCO this week. Neither was anything special. On the way down, the seats were torn and dirty, the bathroom smelled like an outhouse, worse than any airplane bathroom I've been in. On the way back, I was in row 2. Both people in row 1 reclined all the way, it was like doing the limbo to get out. No way you could use a laptop. That plane was cleaner and the bathroom wasn't bad. Both flights included free drinks and one pass of the snack basket. The funny thing is I've seen them pass the snack basket twice on 1 hour flights but on a 2 hour flight it's only once. I've also had upgrades on longer flights, the meals weren't great, they remind me of lean cuisine. I really shouldn't complain because they were complimentary upgrades but I would never pay for it.

 

[bavaria]

Keep in mind these days other than free drinks and a bigger seat first class is not the big deal it used to be.

Agreed

Domestic US first class really isn't worth the money. I would use upgrade certificates or rarely miles for first class, but not pay for a few inches of extra room and a complimentary beverage.

On the other hand, for international long haul I consider Business Class as a minimum requirement.... the difference is very significant compared to US First/Business class on domestic routes.

 

[bavaria]

OP - you mention 'long flight' - are you flying to somewhere other than MCO? (I don't consider NY-FL long haul) For anything less than 5.5 hours I still consider F or C a waste of money...

edited: Apparently OP is flying to CA - I still don't consider that long haul, and wouldn't spend my money on the flight. Upgrade certs yet, miles perhaps, but not cash

 

[CarolA]

Agreed

Domestic US first class really isn't worth the money. I would use upgrade certificates or rarely miles for first class, but not pay for a few inches of extra room and a complimentary beverage.

On the other hand, for international long haul I consider Business Class as a minimum requirement.... the difference is very significant compared to US First/Business class on domestic routes.

I am in this camp. (although I am flying coach to London this December... )

I get upgraded a lot on Delta and while it's nice it's not worth paying for!!! Seat isnt' that much bigger not a huge recline etc...Generally nice FAs and free drinks but.... coke is free in the back of the plane too....

 

[sls23]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I realize that to many people this would not be considered a long haul flight. For me this trip will entail two flights the longest being just around 5-5.5 hours. I also realize that it may be considered not worth the money but I am set in the decision and can afford the expense. My husband is 6' 3", 230 pounds so the extra few inches is worth it to us on a longer flight (on the buf-mco run coach is fine).

So, I guess I am just looking for which airline in general would be best in your opinion. We have taken many trips on Jet Blue and Southwest since those are the 2 main buf-mco carriers but they are not an option for this trip.

Thanks again.

 

[bavaria]

I've flown domestic F in all those carriers except Continental, and none was anything special.

But F varies depending on type of aircraft - F on an Airbus 319 is nothing special, F on a 757 or 767 is a little better when it comes to seating.

But NONE have enough variable in SERVICE to make much difference.

 

[CPer'sMom]

So, I guess I am just looking for which airline in general would be best in your opinion.

Thanks again.

Having flown all the airlines you mentioned, my opinion would be to go with Continental as the *best*. Delta would be my next choice, but only because I will not fly NW or USAir unless they are the absolute only airline available.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

The website farecompare.com has some tips on booking discounted first class airfare. You may find that, for one reason or another, there is a substantial difference in the fares among the different airlines. In addition, there may be a substantail difference in the price depending on the city you depart form and fly into. For example, I looked into flying to Maui first class on AA and it was about $500 cheaper to fly out of our local airport which connects thru LAX then it was to fly out of LAX directly.

Best of luck and enjoy your trip. -- Suzanne

 

[sls23]

Thanks for all of your help. I have narrowed my trip down to the following options:

Continental: Buffalo -> Newark (first class on a 737-800) -> LAX (first class on a 757-200 - not sure but may be the version w/55" pitch)

Continental: Buffalo -> Cleveland (economy on Embraer ERJ-145 - not too thrilled with such a small plane) -> LAX (first class on 737-800)

American Airlines: Buf -> Chicago (economy on Embraer ERJ-145) -> LAX (first class on an MD-80)

Delta: Buf -> Atlanta (first class on MD-88) -> LAX (first class on 777-200) (also not sure if delta is a good choice as I have heard stories of a lot of flight changes/cancellations)

Prices are about the same for all iteneraries despite lack of first class on some segments.

If anyone has any information on those particular planes, routes, airports I would really appreciate it (i.e. is Newark a bad choice for a connection). Thank you!

 

[safetymom]

All my experiences have been great on DL. I don't book real far out so never had them change my flights.

 

[Lewisc]

Virgin America seems to have a good first class section. They fly from JFK-LAX. I guess you could fly JetBlue from BUF-JFK.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

American Airlines: Buf -> Chicago (economy on Embraer ERJ-145) -> LAX (first class on an MD-80)

If you were not aware, the AA MD-80 has no inflight entertainment: no music no movies, no TV. Some could not care less becuase they come prepared with a book, a MP3 player and a DVD player, but others care deeply.

Seatguru.com will give you more specifics about the actual planes you are considering.

When choosing between 2 different routings that are the same cost and equally convenient, I would stay away from booking on connections on regional jets which have no first class. Why pay for first class and then not get to enjoy it? The only exception is on short flight (that would not serve a meal in any event) if you can pre-book the exit row because then you will probably end up with more legroom than on a larger plane.

Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[sls23]

Virgin America seems to have a good first class section. They fly from JFK-LAX. I guess you could fly JetBlue from BUF-JFK.

I just looked at Virgin America and the planes look really nice. Does anyone have experience with traveling on 2 different airlines. I am assuming that I will have to collect my luggage from JetBlue and then check my luggage at Virgin America and then go back through security?

Thanks.

 

[angwill]

The only plane and airline I can comment on is AA MD-80. Look on seatguru website for plane configuration and seats. The MD-80 is the most comfortable seating of the planes I have flown in. Keep in mind I fly coach. First the seats are 2 on one side and 3 on the other and the seats are wider. Most seats are 17-17.2 inches wide but on the M-80 they are 18 inches I believe. The room between the seats seems bigger to me as well and to be on the 2 seat side you just don't feel so cramped up. Lucky you will be in first class because the farther back you go in the ME-80 the louder it gets since the engine is in the back of the plane.

Thanks for all of your help. I have narrowed my trip down to the following options:

Continental: Buffalo -> Newark (first class on a 737-800) -> LAX (first class on a 757-200 - not sure but may be the version w/55" pitch)

Continental: Buffalo -> Cleveland (economy on Embraer ERJ-145 - not too thrilled with such a small plane) -> LAX (first class on 737-800)

American Airlines: Buf -> Chicago (economy on Embraer ERJ-145) -> LAX (first class on an MD-80)

Delta: Buf -> Atlanta (first class on MD-88) -> LAX (first class on 777-200) (also not sure if delta is a good choice as I have heard stories of a lot of flight changes/cancellations)

Prices are about the same for all iteneraries despite lack of first class on some segments.

If anyone has any information on those particular planes, routes, airports I would really appreciate it (i.e. is Newark a bad choice for a connection). Thank you!