A bit of background - I’m a Gold card holder, mainly via sheer number of European flights I do for work. I book Economy (like a good corporate citizen) and upgrade via Avios, so comfortably hit Gold over the last couple of years.

Cut to my current business flight (LHR-DXB) and I book the initial flight in WT+. However I’m offered an upgrade to Club World for 20k Avios and £60, so I take that. Having never flown Club longhaul, I was looking forward to the flight.

During check in (an hour ago), I ask about an upgrade to First, more out of curiosity than anything else. The chap tells me they’ve got a heavily discounted offer for me... £391! Seemed too good to be true, so I’m now currently sitting in the Concord room tucking into scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, and generally being pampered. Really looking forward to the flight now (I’m in 1K), as I don’t ever get the chance to fly First.

I know that First gets a bad press amongst many here, but for someone who flies 75 short haul flights a year, it’s a bit of a treat.

I’ll update this thread following the flight (if anyone is vaguely interested) but I’m enjoying my first First experience (on the cheap!) so far.

If anyone has advice or tips tips for a first newbie (I seem to remember there’s a thread on here for it) I’d be glad to hear them.