Travel First Class

• Traveling can be a tiresome and frustrating experience for many. Airplanes have given people the opportunity to travel longer distances in shorter amounts of time. The price of a plane ticket can range from under a hundred dollars to thousands of dollars for a one-way trip, depending on whether you choose to travel coach or first class. There are many differences between first class air travel and coach air travel.
  
  

First Class Experience Upon Arrival at the Airport

• Preferential treatment for a first class ticket holder begins as soon as you get to the airport. Often, you will be given a slightly higher "free luggage" allowance. Sometimes the airlines will tag your luggage so it arrives in the baggage claim area before the rest of the luggage on the airplane. There may even be a security line designated for first class or frequent flyer ticket holders, which means less waiting in line.
  
  

The First Class Lounge

• Another benefit is the first class lounge, which requires a first class ticket to enter. In the first class lounge, you can enjoy free food, free drinks and more comfortable seats. Often, the first class lounge has a nice view of the runway, private bathrooms and better working televisions than the general waiting areas. Sometimes airports will have areas that are semi-private for you to sleep in when you have long layovers.
  
  

Priority Boarding of First Class Passengers

• When it is time to board the airplane, you will be invited onto the plane before the other passengers. Boarding the plane first gives you the benefit of storing more of your things in the overhead bins. The flight attendant will take your coats or other belongings and store them in a closet for you. In coach, you would have to hold the items on your lap or store them under your seat. The flight attendant will also start serving you beverages before the other passengers begin boarding the plane. When you arrive at your destination, you will be the first of the passengers to exit the plane.
  
  

Comfort in First Class

• In first class, the seats are larger and more comfortable than the seats in coach. The general rule is that the first class seat is equal to the size of three seats in coach and has extra padding for added comfort. There is no middle seat and you have room next to your seat to store items. The tray comes down from the side instead of in front of you (as it does in coach). The seats are located at the front of the plane and the area is usually separated from the coach seating by a curtain. There is a bathroom designated for use by first class passengers only, so there is less congestion and waiting at the bathroom.
  
  

The Gourmet Meal for the First Class Passenger

• In first class, the meal is often considered the "gourmet" version of the food served to the passengers. In first class, the meal begins with a warm towel so you can clean your hands. The food is served on flatware instead of disposable dishes. If passengers are offered hot dogs in coach, you will be offered steak or fish. Often, you can choose from a variety of entrees. When the passengers in coach receive a candy bar for dessert, you will be offered a slice of cake or pie. In coach, passengers have to pay for alcoholic beverages, but in first class you can drink at no extra charge. When passengers in coach are offered peanuts or pretzels, you are offered cashews.
  
  

First Class Entertainment

• In first class, the entertainment options are better than in coach. In coach, you have to pay for headsets if you want to watch the in-flight movie and you watch it on a screen shared by other passengers. In first class, you get a pair of headsets at no extra charge and may be able to choose from a few different movie options. Often you will have your own screen, and if not, the screen that is shared will be larger than the standard screen for passengers in coach.
  
  

Is it Worth the Cost?

• The biggest difference between first class travel and coach travel is the price of the ticket. You can purchase a round trip coach ticket for a few hundred dollars, but for a first class ticket, you can spend thousands of dollars. You have to decide if traveling in luxury for a few hours is worth the money and whether you have the money to spend. Consider asking the airline for an upgrade if you travel using frequent flier miles. You also may be able to ask for an upgrade to first class if you are bumped and have to wait for a later flight due to an overbooking of passengers on your flight.