Originally Posted by
hyderago
Given that business class seats have flat beds these days, is there a real need for anyone (especially business people) to pay many thousands of dollars more for a first class ticket? To me, the real point of traveling business class is that the traveler can arrive rested and fresh at his destination. If business class can achieve that, why buy first class? Is better service and a first class lounge really worth that much more?
Note: I'm not talking about domestic flights for which there is just a first and economy class.
As with anything else, it depends. Unless you're ridiculously rich or on an unlimited, unquestioned expense account, the answer is usually no. However, AA is running a first-class sale currently that brings a first-class fare to $681 on a SFO-JFK-ORF flight that's $450 in economy. The difference for this kind of flight may be worthwhile for a leisure traveler to pay.
I would not pay this kind of price, however, for a flight with a mid-con connection (SFO-DFW-JFK) because you are not in the seat long enough to make a significant difference to me. For some, they would still pay an even higher difference.
TATL or TPAC skews the numbers to a certain extent. More people will pay more money for the significant comfort difference.
To me, it's a personal choice. If you can save the money and travel in comfort in coach (as my smallish and easily sedated sister can), then there's no reason to pay biz or first prices. If you're like me (normal size for a male, not easily sedated, and increasingly bothered by even a minor TATL trip) and the trip is long enough, biz or (for a very, very special occasion or a really demanding significant other) first may be worth the price, either in cash or miles redeemed.