What is you opinion on coach vs first class airline tickets?

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luludoodie

USA first class on shortish haul flights is not worth it. In Europe Business Class on short haul is the same. There is no First Class on short haul European.

For long haul (if you can afford it) the extra room makes economy hell into just boring with quite a decent sleep if you go Business Class!

Have twice been upgraded to European First Class on long haul. Frankly it's not worth the big extra over Business Class (unless you are a celebrity etc and want the privacy). The food/drink may be fancier but I like plain food anyway so it's wasted on me!

Business class is rip off pricing but in the UK we are now getting Business Class planes only to the US at reasonable prices. Like when Ryanair and EasyJet started if the big boys don't stop putting their heads in the sand they will suddenly find they are losing this market as well!

Paul McDonald

I fly first class all the time because I qualify for free upgrades. And having flown both first and coach, let me give you this one statemet:

"If I could pay twice as much to get twice as much room to fly first class instead of coach, I would pay that ticket every time without hesitation."

The problem is that first class tickets generally aren't only twice as much... they're normally ten to twelve times more for twice the room (actually, not qute even twice the room...)

BUT yes there is more room to sit comfortably, more room to work, more room for carry-on items, a coat rack, better personal service from the flight attendants, you get to get off the plane first, fewer people using the lavatory... I fly first class every chance I get.

It helps me that I qualify for the free upgrades.

ocean.denis

Absolutly. If you can afford it.

soho

Yes and no. If you have all the money to burn, the price difference means very little to you, so why not get the first class ticket. But for most of us mere mortals, we would rather spend the difference on something more meaningful. I know many "wealthy" big breadwinners who always fly coach unless they get bumped up.

This is also a testament to the relatively small quality difference between the two levels, at least in the U.S. and flying to Europe. If someplace else, the quality was vastly different and flying coach was akin to, say, being treated like cargo, I'd splurge for first class.

SnoddersB

depends how far you are going. I would rather travel 1st class air than bus to Thailand.

sonfai81

You all get to the same destination at the same time.

REnate

Depends on how much money you have to spend. First Class is wonderful but usually it is not worth the extra money. Business class is nice on overseas flights and probably worth it.

mikers

If I could travel first class all the time, then I would...Who would'nt?

Barkley Hound

I was just looking at a flight from Sacramento to Las Vegas. Coach is about $100. First class is about $250. The flight is only a little over an hour and there is no food. Why spend $150 for a larger seat for one hour. A trip to Europe or the Orient can easily cost a thousand dollars more. I can survive for 10-15 hours and save the money.

First class is great if you can afford it. I would never pay for it unless I had unlimited funds or a company was reimbursing me. Take a chance and gamble on coach and if you are lucky you will be moved to first class. My sister and brother-in-law and 2 kids got put into first class on a trip to Hawaii.

momof2

depends what your priorities are. If you have frequent flyer card you are usually bumped up anyway. At least my husband always is. Once when we were with him. You better believe that I didn't let him sit in 1st class while I was in coach. Dream on.
Anyway- you all get there at the same time. No safety benefits. So I'm guessing its based on how much you want to spend when you get to your destination vs. how much you want to spend in just getting there.

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