Your First Time in First Upgrade
Sep 18, 2012 | 6:41 pm
#31
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 232
Last spring, I booked a Business Class flight on Thai Airways from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. It was going to be my first time in business. Upon arrival to Suvarnabhumi Airport I went to the ticket agent who said Royal Silk Business Class was full. She bumped me up to Royal First Class — what an excellent surprise!
Passengers were loaded onto buses, which took us to the stairway and provided a better view of the awaiting plane, a Star Alliance livery 747-400 (my first and only time on the 'Queen of the Skies'). This was the first time I turned left after entering a commercial aircraft.
A few passengers were running late, and the thoughtful Thai flight crew waited for them. Before we even left the gate, the First Class flight attendants handed out tea, water and hot towels. Soon after the delightful welcome, I took a short nap against the full-size pillow at my seat. When I woke up, we were being pushed back from the gate.
Breakfast was served as we reached cruising altitude, consisting of rice with prawns and mushrooms, a fruit dish of melon and pineapple, a roll with butter and jelly, water, and tea with milk, a thin slice of lime and brown sugar. The best part was figuring out how to use each piece of silverware.
After a delicious breakfast, I peered out the windows at the scenery below. Then I tested out the pillow again with a five minute nap, but not before experimenting with the seat controls. On approach, I wished the flight would last for hours. And then we landed.
Passengers were loaded onto buses, which took us to the stairway and provided a better view of the awaiting plane, a Star Alliance livery 747-400 (my first and only time on the 'Queen of the Skies'). This was the first time I turned left after entering a commercial aircraft.
A few passengers were running late, and the thoughtful Thai flight crew waited for them. Before we even left the gate, the First Class flight attendants handed out tea, water and hot towels. Soon after the delightful welcome, I took a short nap against the full-size pillow at my seat. When I woke up, we were being pushed back from the gate.
Breakfast was served as we reached cruising altitude, consisting of rice with prawns and mushrooms, a fruit dish of melon and pineapple, a roll with butter and jelly, water, and tea with milk, a thin slice of lime and brown sugar. The best part was figuring out how to use each piece of silverware.
After a delicious breakfast, I peered out the windows at the scenery below. Then I tested out the pillow again with a five minute nap, but not before experimenting with the seat controls. On approach, I wished the flight would last for hours. And then we landed.
Last edited by jetsarefast2; Sep 18, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Sep 19, 2012 | 2:23 pm
#33
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,012
OP, there are probably not many people here will admit that their first F experience was as a seatpoacher! 
My first one was ORD-MCI. I believe we were on a Fokker 100 but it could have been a 727. I had just received my first packet of upgrade stickers as a new AAdvantage Gold member. Totally thought I had hit the bigtime with my new status.
I upgraded that segment fairly often for a couple years...it was one a Gold could usually get and the occasional two-Heineken tarmac delays on a Friday afternoon at O'Hare sometimes made it a very worthwhile upgrade for a single 500-mile sticker.
I remember we had to phone at the right time to ask about upgrade availability: our corporate TA didn't automatically request them. (And of course this predated online tickets and AA.com.)
Other memorable upgrades:
- My first long-haul J upgrade was an operational upgrade LHR-ORD in the mid 1990's. That obviously blew away any experiences I'd had using the domestic stickers. That taste of J turned me into a frequent user of the 25k upgrade-from-any-fare award that AA had in that era. Paired it with some extremely cheap off-peak tickets to Europe.
- My first experience with an airline lounge was about the time I made Gold...AA sent me a daypass to try out the lounge. One afternoon during a delay at ORD, I spent a couple hours in there and hated it. It was simply one massive smoking lounge...even the supposed nonsmoking areas stank to high heaven.
- My first experience with a seriously world-class lounge was the LH FCT at FRA. That, of course, was and still is top-shelf, absolutely worth redeeming an LH F award for.
My first one was ORD-MCI. I believe we were on a Fokker 100 but it could have been a 727. I had just received my first packet of upgrade stickers as a new AAdvantage Gold member. Totally thought I had hit the bigtime with my new status.
I upgraded that segment fairly often for a couple years...it was one a Gold could usually get and the occasional two-Heineken tarmac delays on a Friday afternoon at O'Hare sometimes made it a very worthwhile upgrade for a single 500-mile sticker.
I remember we had to phone at the right time to ask about upgrade availability: our corporate TA didn't automatically request them. (And of course this predated online tickets and AA.com.)
Other memorable upgrades:
- My first long-haul J upgrade was an operational upgrade LHR-ORD in the mid 1990's. That obviously blew away any experiences I'd had using the domestic stickers. That taste of J turned me into a frequent user of the 25k upgrade-from-any-fare award that AA had in that era. Paired it with some extremely cheap off-peak tickets to Europe.
- My first experience with an airline lounge was about the time I made Gold...AA sent me a daypass to try out the lounge. One afternoon during a delay at ORD, I spent a couple hours in there and hated it. It was simply one massive smoking lounge...even the supposed nonsmoking areas stank to high heaven.
- My first experience with a seriously world-class lounge was the LH FCT at FRA. That, of course, was and still is top-shelf, absolutely worth redeeming an LH F award for.
Sep 19, 2012 | 6:20 pm
#34
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: IND
Programs: UA Million Miler (Lifetime Gold), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,533
My first-class experience was Detroit to ORD on UA years ago. I took a bump for a voucher and a first-class seat on a later flight. It seemed like a half-hour ride but gave me a taste for sitting up front.
Sep 20, 2012 | 7:01 am
#35
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 28
Not me, but this year decided to take my Thai girlfriend to Hong Kong for a couple of days during my last trip to Thailand in June, she is 24 and had never been out of Thailand or flown before - she had to get a shiny new Thai Passport just for this trip.
I am Emirates Gold and as I had some miles to burn I booked us in business on the A380. On checking in at Bangkok I was quite surprised to be informed that we had been upgraded to 1st (I wasnt expecting anything as the trip was miles only). The look on the young ladies face was priceless when she saw her 1st suite, let alone when I took her to see the shower which was not available for use on this short leg. She loved the experience, we had a couple of drinks in the bar after takeoff and then settled down to enjoy the 1st suites for a couple of hours until our arrival in HKG. The downside was that this has now spoilt her and she was not nearly so impressed with business class on the way home. Still, it was worth the miles to see her face when she saw the 1st class cabin - priceless.
Trotski
I am Emirates Gold and as I had some miles to burn I booked us in business on the A380. On checking in at Bangkok I was quite surprised to be informed that we had been upgraded to 1st (I wasnt expecting anything as the trip was miles only). The look on the young ladies face was priceless when she saw her 1st suite, let alone when I took her to see the shower which was not available for use on this short leg. She loved the experience, we had a couple of drinks in the bar after takeoff and then settled down to enjoy the 1st suites for a couple of hours until our arrival in HKG. The downside was that this has now spoilt her and she was not nearly so impressed with business class on the way home. Still, it was worth the miles to see her face when she saw the 1st class cabin - priceless.
Trotski
Sep 20, 2012 | 10:23 am
#36
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Times Square
Programs: SPG Gold, AAdvantage
Posts: 1,397
First time was an OP-UP on DFW-SAT. That flight is so short, the upgrade didn't mean anything to me.
First time for my husband was when I decided to use some stickers to upgrade an LGA-ORD flight. He was looking forward to some booze. But it was a breakfast flight and seeing as no one else around us was ordering whiskey with their omelettes, he felt silly asking for one. He left underwhelmed.
First time in F where we felt it made a difference: using years of unused stickers on LAX-HNL. This was an amazing way to start our trip. This time my husband wasn't afraid to order the whiskey with his omelette. I wish I could remember what plane type we flew because I've sat in a handful of longhaul front cabins since that trip and it hasn't been the same as the seat I slept in on the LAX-HNL flight. And I did sleep because we had overnighted in the LAX Terminal 4 floor the night before just to be able to get on that flight and get to Hawaii as early as possible from the East Coast.
First time for my husband was when I decided to use some stickers to upgrade an LGA-ORD flight. He was looking forward to some booze. But it was a breakfast flight and seeing as no one else around us was ordering whiskey with their omelettes, he felt silly asking for one. He left underwhelmed.
First time in F where we felt it made a difference: using years of unused stickers on LAX-HNL. This was an amazing way to start our trip. This time my husband wasn't afraid to order the whiskey with his omelette. I wish I could remember what plane type we flew because I've sat in a handful of longhaul front cabins since that trip and it hasn't been the same as the seat I slept in on the LAX-HNL flight. And I did sleep because we had overnighted in the LAX Terminal 4 floor the night before just to be able to get on that flight and get to Hawaii as early as possible from the East Coast.
Sep 20, 2012 | 11:11 am
#37
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: On the road, 24/7/365
Posts: 3,589
Remember my first time? Heck yeah. It was just last month.
By way of background, I've been flying 200-250,000 miles a year for twenty-something years. The miles get spread around among airlines - lots of African national carriers, for instance. So I'm perpetually UA/*A Premier Exec/Gold, but only twice 1K.
I'd never been anywhere but Economy (-Plus) until last month, flying LHR-SFO, I got upgraded to Business. Turned out to be a mixed blessing. No "menu" options for strict vegetarians, and no one was willing to look very hard for my special request meal (destined for Economy) or conjure up an alternative. So I was a hungry traveler when I got to SFO.
In the end I shouldn't have taken the upgrade. I didn't care about the extra space, and (obviously, I s'pose) don't drink beer or wine or whatever. And I don't watch TV/movies or play games. And in Economy, my window seat lets me lean/sleep against the fuselage.
By way of background, I've been flying 200-250,000 miles a year for twenty-something years. The miles get spread around among airlines - lots of African national carriers, for instance. So I'm perpetually UA/*A Premier Exec/Gold, but only twice 1K.
I'd never been anywhere but Economy (-Plus) until last month, flying LHR-SFO, I got upgraded to Business. Turned out to be a mixed blessing. No "menu" options for strict vegetarians, and no one was willing to look very hard for my special request meal (destined for Economy) or conjure up an alternative. So I was a hungry traveler when I got to SFO.
In the end I shouldn't have taken the upgrade. I didn't care about the extra space, and (obviously, I s'pose) don't drink beer or wine or whatever. And I don't watch TV/movies or play games. And in Economy, my window seat lets me lean/sleep against the fuselage.
Sep 20, 2012 | 12:02 pm
#38
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 523
Not necessarily a Delta-centric thread, but one many of you might enjoy:
Do you remember the first time you flew in First Class?
My very first I was so proud of myself. I was flying United (coach) on a Regional Jet a few years back, and I had used their website to scope out the seat map in First.
I noted where the empty First Class seats were. Then during the boarding process got on about half-way through and plunked down and one of the wide seats at the front. Immediately offered a beverage (orange juice or water) and was so enjoyable, and peaceful.
I was a little worried I'd taken someone else's seat, but if I remember correctly there were a few other First Class seats not taken.
The first time I legitimately flew in First, was on Delta with a ticket I booked through a 3rd party. The outbound fare bucket was ineligible for upgrades, but the return was better (I don't recall one, but I think a travel industry fare) with only 1 of 3 segments on a 2-cabin aircraft. I called Delta requesting an upgrade, and they immediately upgraded me CVG to SLC, 10 days out--no co-pay, no miles, no status no nothing.
My theory is some airlines handle upgrades like drug dealers:
The first hit is free, but after that it's gonna cost you.
I remember it was on either a 757 or 767, and I sat down and not only couldn't believe how much legroom I had--it almost pained me how wide I had to spread my 5'6" frame to use the arm rests. I enjoyed a few libations, despite having already having a headache that put a slight damper on things
Anyway, I have been hooked on flying First ever since. I have even resulted to some crazy....shenanigans to do so a few times.
I, and I am sure many others want to hear more stories. So what was your first time in First Class (or Business for that matter) and how elated you were at the time?
Do you remember the first time you flew in First Class?
My very first I was so proud of myself. I was flying United (coach) on a Regional Jet a few years back, and I had used their website to scope out the seat map in First.
I noted where the empty First Class seats were. Then during the boarding process got on about half-way through and plunked down and one of the wide seats at the front. Immediately offered a beverage (orange juice or water) and was so enjoyable, and peaceful.
I was a little worried I'd taken someone else's seat, but if I remember correctly there were a few other First Class seats not taken.
The first time I legitimately flew in First, was on Delta with a ticket I booked through a 3rd party. The outbound fare bucket was ineligible for upgrades, but the return was better (I don't recall one, but I think a travel industry fare) with only 1 of 3 segments on a 2-cabin aircraft. I called Delta requesting an upgrade, and they immediately upgraded me CVG to SLC, 10 days out--no co-pay, no miles, no status no nothing.
My theory is some airlines handle upgrades like drug dealers:
The first hit is free, but after that it's gonna cost you.
I remember it was on either a 757 or 767, and I sat down and not only couldn't believe how much legroom I had--it almost pained me how wide I had to spread my 5'6" frame to use the arm rests. I enjoyed a few libations, despite having already having a headache that put a slight damper on things
Anyway, I have been hooked on flying First ever since. I have even resulted to some crazy....shenanigans to do so a few times.
I, and I am sure many others want to hear more stories. So what was your first time in First Class (or Business for that matter) and how elated you were at the time?
Sep 20, 2012 | 12:20 pm
#39
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,392
Couple of years ago I was flying NYC-LHR in business and due to bad traffic in Manhattan ended up cutting it very close to departure. I remember running through the terminal praying to be on time.
Once at the gate, GA scanned my boarding pass and then sadly uttered:"We are sorry, sir, but the flight is overbooked and there is no seat for you". Before I could say anything she added:"But I don't think you will mind... we do have an upgrade for you in the First Class"
The experience itself was underwhelming. It was one of old AA planes with all the random signs in Japanese. It must have been 30 years old, rattled like a tin can, and the food was barely acceptable
That said my 2nd upgrade to First Class was more memorable. It was a short ORD-LGA hop on Delta, but it happened on a day of severe t-storms and my flight was the last one not cancelled that day.
Once at the gate, GA scanned my boarding pass and then sadly uttered:"We are sorry, sir, but the flight is overbooked and there is no seat for you". Before I could say anything she added:"But I don't think you will mind... we do have an upgrade for you in the First Class"
The experience itself was underwhelming. It was one of old AA planes with all the random signs in Japanese. It must have been 30 years old, rattled like a tin can, and the food was barely acceptable
That said my 2nd upgrade to First Class was more memorable. It was a short ORD-LGA hop on Delta, but it happened on a day of severe t-storms and my flight was the last one not cancelled that day.
Sep 20, 2012 | 12:35 pm
#40
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 28
My first job out of college - Worked for a small software startup. Company President hated to travel and fly so he always booked first class and best hotels available. Last minute he would always be "too sick" to go and send me. Back when I could use his tickets and reservations. That first F made even going to Mississippi a treat. Spoiled me rotten ever since. I remember some really nice meals, and great service. First class was a real event. Now I just appreciate it for the better seat and leg room.