I flew TWA First Class with four family members from JFK to Athens and from Cairo to JFK in 1985. Used my Eastern Airlines miles. Trip started with a complimentary helicopter taxi from Manhattan to JFK. If there was a lounge at JFK I don’t remember it- all I remember is the terminal was very crowded and chaotic. Aircraft to Athens was a 747-200. Sleeper seats in First. Probably equivalent to a 60 inch pitch. But the food and wine were amazing! Champagne was Krug. Reds were Chateau Talbot or Stags Leap Cask 23. Multi course dinner with caviar, wonderful presentation- chateaubriand carved from the cart, lobster thermidor etc.

Flying back from Cairo the aircraft was a 747SP (Special Performance) and the flight was called the Nile Express. My brother’s wife’s birthday was that day and the TWA agent in Athens had remarked about that a few days earlier and said he’d make sure their Cairo station was aware. They had a huge birthday cake onboard the Cairo-New York plane- enough for all the first class passengers and crew- with her name on it and the Nile Express and date. And a beautiful TWA flight bag with a bottle of Krug and a bouquet of flowers. She still talks about what an incredible birthday experience this was- 35 years later.

I first flew United around 2000, so have no basis to compare.