Originally Posted by
TMOliver
I'm not implying that a whole lot of the folks I see in First have their priorities a bit twisted, or that everybody here has daughters to send to college (or sons who at least can do manual labor in the Summer to cover fraternity dues), but reading some of the godawful horsecr*p posted here and listening to some of those teetering on the edge of the red carpets in airports through which I pass, I'm certain that any number would greatly benefit from a substantial readjustment of personal and professional perspective.
Like the customers waiting to spend their Christmas Gift Cards from Sharper Image, the stores with gewgaws and gimmicks for the over-funded and under-intellected, awakening one morning unable to buy with the cards or recoup the loss, you may end up with obligations and needs for which some of the extra you spent of frippery and First Class tickets would go a long way toward covering.
I've never paid for a single FC ticket. For me (and I'm sure a large number of other FTers, if not the majority of 'em) it's all about flying enough to gain status on our airline of choice in order to sit in the front of the bus.
And since my customer pays my expenses, by being on the road I SAVE my family money by not having to spend personal cash on day-to-day expenses like, uh, food.
Not saying it's all peaches and cream...I'd love to make the same $$$ locally and not have to be away from my family all week and endure the indignities that Air Travel 2008 require. I am, however, saying that at least in my case, any "'tude" comes from just flying too frickin' often, not because of $$$ spent doing it.