Evening,

Is there a huge difference between First Class and Business Class air travel? I know this may seem an obvious question but having read a few different threads on different sections of this website it would appear some airlines business class seats, food and service are better than another airline first class seats, food and service.

I guess it will all depend on the airline/s in question but is first class really worth the extra miles and cash?

Given the choice would you do business class and save your miles for future trips or blow them on first class?

Just curious to hear the views of people who have done both forms of travel class.

Thanks in advance

It's all about whether you are happy to settle for just being a cool customer (business) or whether you want to be totally rock-and-roll awesome. Fact. (first) *

* your experience may differ...wildly. It really depends on the carrier... baggage tags look good on the tube. Better to be seen in the First class check-in line etc etc...

Thanks OttoMH, I take it you're in Leeds judging by your avatar?

Cheers

Soon to be moving with luck!

In answer to your question, it really depends on the carrier. If you have the miles and can afford to go F then do it on the better airlines (Lufthansa, Swiss, Ana, Singapore, Thai via Bangkok.)

In my limited experience, avoid United. My flight with Lufthansa Business was far superior to United First (albeit, Old First).

Always weigh up the cost of extra cash (if doing cash + miles) - there's a big difference between 1.5x cash and 2.5x cash.

And regarding miles, figure out if you would rather have two trips in business somewhere or 1 in first (or whatever your situation is).

Would I trade 2 long-haul holidays in business for 1 in first? No. However, would I use up the remainder of my miles for a trip in First if I had no time/money for a second trip? Yes.

I've never traveled in F {little point as I don't drink Champagne}, but from what I understand from reading many threads on similar subjects over the years, I've generally see F has being more Private - more personal space, etc. than you will get in C - when travelling on the same airline

In C you may have extra comforts that let you work or arrive refreshed enough to go straight to work (e.g. Lie-flat seats, decent meals, Lounge access, on board laptop power/internet), but you don't necessarily get the personal space. You are likely to have to still sit next to someone you don't know, and may even have to climb over them (or v.v.) on some airlines*.

With F service, you get some space, both in the lounges and in the air.
And the crew are more likely to avoid disturbing you - e.g. if you want to eat halfway through the flight, they'll likely accommodate it, whereas in C it's usually either a 'No can do', or the times available being limited.

Quality of products in F should also be a bit higher too.

* {if you want to access the aisle}.

The key point to remember is C and F on the same airline.
Taking F on one airline and comparing to C on another is similar to comparing Apples and Pears - not a fair comparison.
An airline with a crap C offering is likely to offer a somewhat less crap F offering, but a decent airline offering great a C experience will likely offer a superb F package.

For me the difference isn't always huge (TAM was a waste), but i'm at a point in my life where I could afford business class for a treat anyway. I couldn't however afford (or at least justify to myself) First, so its nicer to do that as a treat, and bmi made that very easy through cash plus miles and generous earning.

The advice about choosing your carriers is very true, I've always been careful to avoid the American carriers as it is still a lot of extra miles and cash for not much more.

For me the difference is;
- More exclusive, so eight people (or so)whereas business has perhaps sixty.
- Lounges are superior and have nice twists, for example the spa in Bangkok for Thai.
- Wow factor, many people travel business, few travel first
- Better seat, and the chance of suites on certain routes which are really extra special
- Champagne and caviar, good quality and lots of them
- General improvements in service, but for the most part this is incremental over business.

But it's personal choice, and some carriers business is very nice anyway, particularly Air New Zealand.

I've probably spent close to 500K bmi miles (for two) in the last few years, and on first where possible (and will continue to do so)

And the most important reason... I travel perhaps a hundred times a year on business, almost all domestics in the UK, so it's nice to have a treat on holiday

Is this the new hip name......no wonder they look at me strangely

And possibly availing oneself of the aforementioned chappers??

I live over Selby area but spend a fair bit of time in Leeds with work. I'm off to Sydney next Nov in SQ business class and haven't sorted my return flights yet but can't decide whether to blow all my miles and do one of the return legs in first, say BKK-LHR in first with TG or just come back in Business class.

The problem is I don't fly long haul much so can't get my miles up other than spending on my credit cards.

I suppose like everyone else we dont know what are left over miles will be once BA or whoever takes over BMI.....

Might be my one and only chance to fly first class.....

And so in your case I'd happily blow my miles (you can see from my post above I'm a fan...). My preference would be to use them on Thai, you might even get lucky and get their new a380... Consider the flight to cdg too for the suites.

Why?
- Even in the best case with the miles post bmi you will struggle to earn that first class again
- Thai at bkk are amost the worlds best. You will get a great lounge, lots of cocktails, a spa, a golf buggy ride through the airport whilst you (optionally) wave to the unwashed masses
- It's a long trip to enjoy your flight, over twelve hours, and if you choose the midday flight you can spend all of that time awake eating and drinking
- Asian airlines service is top class

i d definitely choose F when flying to asia/australia as airlines are stunning (SQ, CX, TG, QF, EY, EK etc) - the below comments of others are sooo true

flying alone is fun in F as both ground staff and air hostess are your companions - so you never get bored.

i like the buggie drives in BKK, SIN or IST and real champagne there too

going through atlantic I d definitelty take SQ or LX in F. Others are not really worth it

I m not fond of C on LH (747), F on LX (340), F on TG (747). The planes are worn out and you feel like on an old boat

again, these are my very personal opinions and the choice is all yours

Any ideas if I booked business class on say TG how much it would cost in mile and cash/tax to upgrade to first at a later date if I wanted to. I'm sure i read on a diff post from Oxon flyer that he got an upgrade from BKK to LHR which cost 20k miles each plus �130 cash, it sounds fairly cheap.....

Given the parlous state of things at the moment, book F now while BD are still part of * and still have access to TG inventory.

Once the sale concludes who knows what will happen.

Just completed TG first redemption from SYD-BKK-FRA and it was excellent, especially the buggy and lounge in BKK. Aicraft was A340-600 and 747-400. Both in 1A ^

However, the boarding procedure was poor both at Sydney and BKK; at SYD they used the gate next to SQ and SQ was so well organized.

Reason I mention boarding is that I find this a scramble where if you travel First you don't get anything special so while the onboard service is nice and the lounge is nice, the boarding procudure is a scrum.

Of course First is often full of redemptions like us, staff (not like us), crew, so it's usually loss making for airlines whereas biz class is where the money is made. So, you can have airlines with better biz class products and poorer First, or, situations where the TV screen in first is smaller than biz and resembles economy (BA 'old' First is an example that springs to mind).

Actually I wasn't sure if I could spell Champagne correctly so tried a variation in the little time I had to post Perhaps I got that wrong anyway.

>On this occasion I've been able to copy 'n paste it from littlevoices's post.

I'll go further and say I don't eat caviar either.

Last time we flew in TG F from BKK, we were escorted through security (the operatives holding up the hoi polloi to allow us to pass), and then down to the gate. The gate area was empty , we walked down the airbridge onto the plane and they shut the door behind us No scrum, no panic, just how I like it