Originally Posted by
Unimatrix One
It has been my experience that first/business class travel on
non-US airlines pretty much solves all the problems with plane travel! Flying business class on JAL, for example, is an absolute pleasure compared to flying
any class of service on a US carrier!
Do note that LH, FRA-OSL, J is a Y seat with empty middles plus a meal and drinks. Glamorous, it ain't.
Ditto to most other's comments and responses. Domestically (NA), free* upgrades appear magically. Internationally, they come by instrument or buy-up.
Most prominent to me personally are:
- the ability to work -- inflight work product typically results in a more than favorable ROI
- the ability to relax -- being able to hit the ground running (business or pleasure) is almost always a good value proposition.
- No harried boarding--I board at my leisure w/o fear of no OHB storage
- First off means less waiting at customs, immigration, car stand, connection shuttle, etc.
- Expedited security lanes
You'll notice that the most of these things are about time and saving or, perhaps more accurately, not wasting it. The adage regarding time and money is true and I'll go further to say that time is more valuable than money--with time, I'd argue most folks that frequent this forum, can almost always make more money, the inverse is not necessarily true.
*
Free in the sense that there is no POS out of pocket expense. The intangible costs associated with attaining status, discussed ad nauseum in other forms and topics, is certainly not free.