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Flying First Class


Or "Business Class" on those airlines that no longer offer a dedicated First Class on their long haul flights.
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If you fly a US carrier, the glamour days are long gone; no matter which cabin you fly. Even so, today's Premium Class is always better than today's Cattle Coach. American (all of them) airlines noticeably lack in quality of food & service in today's world. Foreign carriers range from very good to not-so-good. Many are better than US airlines; some are worse...Meanwhile, the seats on most First/Business Class International flights are admittedly now better than they were back in the "good old days". Most long haul flights of major carriers now have "lay flat" seats. Usually not super comfy for sleeping, these adjustable seats are nevertheless better than sitting up all night.

If you can afford it, Business (or First Class if offered) is definitely the way to go for International flights. If you can really afford it (and don't have to worry about carry on weight limits), certain non American carriers are also your best option.

At one time (in the days before "frequent flier" points), flying First Class was usually reserved for the more wealthy or someone whose company had a large expense account. Service and high end food quality reflected that. I fondly remember those days. Stemmed crystal and fine china were the rule. Ditto fine linen and course by course serving. A tray on your individual table was unthinkable!!! Extremely attentive, personalized service throughout the entire flight was expected and received. This all has changed.

So has seating on Domestic US First Class flights. Unfortunately, even First Class now has less leg room; than days of old. Personal space (no matter what class one flies domestically) seems to be shrinking more and more. First Class today definitely is not what it used to be. Food and service have for the most part dramatically deteriorated. On top of all else mentioned, First Class passengers today experience the exact same teeny tiny bathrooms as in Coach. Anyone, who flies at all, knows how airline bathrooms have shrunk to now barely having enough room to move.

The First Class experience in modern times is now quite different than what it once was. But then, so is Coach... First Class today seems to be somewhat like Coach used to be. But with the "now smaller" bathrooms. IMO, the main advantage of modern First Class is the better seating... On International flights, seats are usually much better. On domestic flights, seats are somewhat better, but not as good as in the past.

This gallery shows a hint of what you'll find when flying "up front" in recent years.

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Alaskan Airlines
Alaskan Airlines		 Not Worth the $4000 +
Not Worth the $4000 +		 Dessert 2018
Dessert 2018		 Breakfast Service 2019
Breakfast Service 2019
Flying First Class
Flying First Class		 First Class Breakfast 2017
First Class Breakfast 2017		 Seated Together 2019
Seated Together 2019		 Old Configuration
Old Configuration
Shower Room
Shower Room		 Breakfast 2018
Breakfast 2018		 Older Plane
Older Plane		 United Airlines Polaris Business Class
United Airlines "Polaris" Business Class
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