Life Moves Too Fast

Is traveling First Class still worth it?

I upgraded to first class yesterday on both legs to and from Dallas and it begs the question, does anyone pay full fare for First these days? Like myself, I am sure most that sit ‘up front’ upgrade using points or cash when the seats are released. What strikes me enough to warrant a topic on this is how this luxury has changed over the last few years. From my point of view, domestically, paying full fare in first leaves much to be desired.

My first leg was on a Super 80 aircraft. What makes you scratch your head first is your seat itself. While offering a better pitch and wider seat, you are forced to use the same tray-table-that-folds-from-your-armrest contraption that still, decades later, is an invention that should never have been made. Secondly, no PTVs. Thankfully this flight is short, but American uses the same equipment for even longer legs such as St Louis to Seattle or Dallas to New York. Would you truly pay full fare First and not get in-flight entertainment? Lastly, we were served absolutely no food. Nothing. My orange juice was served in a real glass, which is a treat, but that was it folks. Again, for a 75 minute flight, few could get hungry enough to enjoy a formal meal, but the principle here still is, this is First.

I upgraded on the flight home, which had a late 9:30 departure, on a 757. Same story, no PTV and no food. Though this time I simply slept.

I remember as a kid flying in First to Europe. Aboard a huge TWA 747 for Frankfurt, I tried caviar for the first time. You paid for the pleasure of being waited on hand and foot. The standard was prime service and an impressive menu. Nowadays, the service still exists, but only on long haul flights using larger aircraft. The simple principle of First Class service has changed, nevertheless.

What airlines and aircraft still operate domestic First Class service? Share your experiences in the comments.