I would say first class is better, but I have encountered some loud and obnoxious American vacationers in First and obsessive mobile phone using Europeans in First. Its usually more comfortable, but sometimes more sterile.

I remember fondly the look on my brother's face on our way from Rome to Perugia while listening to some guy spout all he knew about Italy to his friends. We had the luck of listening to them all the way back too.

lala