There's little doubt that first class offers a great deal more luxury, but it comes with a hefty price tag. While business class may not be as luxurious as first class, it's far nicer than economy, and surprisingly comfortable.
It's hard to pin down exactly what qualifies as first or business class, but the offerings typically fall into three categories: domestic first class, which is usually a large, recliner-style seat; long-haul business class, which most frequent flyers have come to expect will mean a fully flat bed, increasingly with ...
First-class upgrades are a better value on long-haul and international flights, especially on planes and airlines that have lay-flat seats and truly luxurious amenities like on Emirates and Cathay. The other consideration is price. If the upgrade is free, it's always worth it.
Benefits of Flying in First Class
And, of course, on board, they often get extra legroom, a wider seat with a more exaggerated recline, a blanket and a pillow, a plush amenity kit, beverage service that includes alcohol, and better food (and more of it).
Business class seating can be night and day compared to the experience you get in economy. First off, business class seating provides added luxury and comfort with bigger, reclining seats, and more legroom. Long haul business class flights generally offer a lie flat bed, but it isn't guaranteed.
It depends on a variety of factors, including the airline, the route, the time of year, and the availability of seats. In some cases, upgrading at the airport can be a cost-effective way to experience Business Class perks without paying full price. In other cases, it may end up being more expensive.
QANTAS Business Class Review 2023 final thoughts
I put QANTAS a330 Business Class in the “nice, fine” but not “great” category. The seat was quite comfy, and had the advantage of being in a 1-2-1 configuration. But the solid partitioning and lack of storage was very problematic.
First class creates a sense of exclusivity and high prices are necessary to maintain luxurious standards. "When someone does sit in first class, they feel like they're getting outsized value, whether in the form of an upgrade, award, or discounted first-class ticket," writes Schlappig.
Flying first class can be an amazing experience, especially if you're traveling internationally. Along with premium treatment in the airport, you can expect better seats, better food and better service onboard. However, first class tickets can also be expensive.
From a nervous flyer's perspective, flying Business or First is so much better and different compared to Economy or Cattle Class, since the latter brings up the worst in one's behavior, substantially lowering the stress and anxiety thresholds of everyone in that cabin.
If luxury and extra legroom is really important to you, book it in advance. However, if you're perfectly willing to fly economy class, and willing to roll the dice, a last-minute upgrade can be the cheapest option. You may even get lucky and score a free upgrade.
The best seats in Business Class
In Business Class, I'll always book a window seat (with the seat next to the window) at least one row away from the galley and lavatories. Bulkhead seats offer more room but I would only choose these if they're not near the galley/lavatories, or if they have doors.
If you're flying business or first class on a qualifying international flight, you're usually offered complimentary access to the lounge that day.
International first class is the ultimate flying experience — it's the best cabin across the board on commercial aircraft, ranked above business class, and it has the price tag to match.
However, if you're traveling on a long-haul flight, the difference between first and business class can be huge, including a much larger seat, more lavish amenities, endless 5-star food, phenomenal bedding, stellar service, and expensive alcohol.
A first-class ticket entitles the holder to check in almost immediately upon arriving at the airport. This also means fast-tracking immigration, private security lines, and priority baggage collection at the end of the journey. An accelerated airport service is essentially always offered.
The average cost of a First Class ticket in Australia and India is around $5000 to $6000 but it can easily reach as high as $10,000. However, it is possible to find good deals through flash sales, last-minute upgrades, and price tracking that can bring the costs down to as low as $2000 to $3000.
You can pay as little as $300 to fly first class round trip from New York to Chicago or Washington, D.C. If you're looking at flying a longer route, such as New York to Los Angeles or Seattle to Atlanta, you're looking at spending at least $1,100. Flying first class to Hawaii is slightly pricier.
Though first class represents less than 5 percent of all seats flown on long-haul routes, and business class accounts for 15 percent, those seats combined to generate 40 to 50 percent of airlines' revenue, according to Peter Morris, the chief economist at Ascend, an aviation consulting firm.
The suites are fitted with innovative seats that recline to fully-flat beds and direct aisle access for every passenger in a 1-2-1 layout. The seat can be fitted with a comfy mattress from take-off through to landing for optimal rest.
Friendly service in Qantas first class
Even though the first class cabin on Qantas is big (and seemingly always full), service is still very good. It's not just that the crew was professional during the meal services, but even between meals they were passing through the cabin.