Just travelled AF 777 from IAD and return AF A380 in late September/early October in business class both ways, used AMEX points to get "free" tickets (had to pay taxes and transfer of points fees). As we were trevelling for pleasure, we were perfectly content. We had priority access through security and access to the AF lounge. Is traveling in first, those perks would have been available too - though there might have been a first class lounge. Same accomodarions on the return trio. I slept fine on the way over - night flight and dozed on the return (I never really sleep on a day flight). The food, well...I'm not sure it's necessarily worth $1000's of dollars or tens of thousands more points. I basically concur with a previous poster, if you have tons of miles, sure, why notngo for it. Otherwise, business is a nice way to travel. Having said that, if flying Virgin Atlantic, "Upper Class" is a treat - on the flights we've flown, there are only options of economy, premium economy and Upper Class.