Opulence is often associated with air travel but these days, many travellers had had to complain of series of discomforts they are subjected to by some airlines either directly or indirectly.
But when the discomforts are not coming from the cabin crew or airline staff, watch it, they could be from what you can buy with your money.
Long haul trips can be very tiresome and sometimes not too pleasant especially when you are travelling in the economy cabin; your legs are cramped; your back is almost bent for the rest of the journey and you begin to look at your watch every minute to know if the aircraft would soon land .
Even when the cabin weather is very cold, you can hardly fall asleep because there is practically no available space for such luxury.
But sorry, you have just been sentenced to what your money can buy, you will get to your destination all the same but if you have the wherewithal and you want to enjoy it, please get yourself a Firstclass ticket and you will be treated like a king right from the airport.
While an airline may only have two or three classes of service, they will use approximately ten to fifteen different booking codes in order to control the amount of each fare level sold. For instance, the booking code used by airlines and agents is typically the first letter of the fare basis shown on the ticket and in industry fare displays.
Historically, airlines only used a few codes, and these were almost identical across the industry. Typical examples are F and P for First Class, C and J for Business, and Y for economy.
But with the advent of cheaper fares and frequent travels, airlines increased the number of available fare types and the number of booking codes required to differentiate among them.
There is now no industry standard with regard to airline booking codes, although the Y code is almost always still used for unrestricted economy travel.
Flying First class is a way to enjoy superior comfort and service, however. The price can be high, but the benefits are considerable.
The first class experience begins even before you board the Airplane. In fact, many airports have separate lines for security that can be used by First class passengers and airlines will board First class passengers first, giving them time to relax before the crush of coach passengers board. On some Planes, coach passengers walk through the First class cabin, and can observe that drinks are already being served before the flight takes off.
Boarding first enables passengers to stow baggage in the empty overhead compartments. The ample storage area in front area is reserved for First class passengers.
You will also want to ask if First class seats better. Of course, the seats are wide, with extra padding for comfort. The general rule is that two First class seats are as wide as three coach seats. In some aircraft, there is an area to place items next to the seat, as well as a tray that unfolds from the side.
Flight attendants will usually take coats and jackets and hang them nicely in a closet, keeping them neat and out of the way, in contrast to coach, where they stay on the lap or are jammed into the overhead storage.
Also, more flight attendants are assigned to First class. For instance, flight with 200 coach passengers may have four attendants, with one primarily dedicated to the 16 First class passengers.
As for meals and entertainment, First class passengers receive premium service and selections, mealtime begins with a warm, wet towel to clean your hands, as in the finest restaurants.
Free, unlimited drinks are served as soon as the plane reaches a safe altitude. Instead of the complimentary peanuts that might be served in the back, First class gets cashews.
On flights with meals, First class usually has a choice of a reception with soup, served on china with real flatware, not plastic, for most airlines instead of the small wrapped candy bar, served in coach, first class might get cake, pie or mousse.
The primary benefit is the extra room, and the guarantee of no middle seat. The front cabin is usually quieter, as fewer families are in first class. First class occupants receive free headsets for movies and are allowed to exit the plane first, giving passengers a head start on baggage or connections.
But the cost of First class seating is a considerable jump from coach, and the financial benefits of free drinks and a better meal are fairly small. On a long flight, the extra room and quiet are more valuable, and may be worth the increased cost.
If you desire it, the best bet is to sign up for frequent flyer programs and hope for an upgrade, which is fairly common. Airlines reward all flyers with miles, but on a long flight, one of the best rewards is the comfort and pampering of a first class cabin.
First class is the most luxurious travel class of accommodation on an airplane. It is usually much more expensive than business class and economy class, and offers the best amenities.
The first-class section of a fixed-wing passenger aircraft is typically located in the very front of the aircraft. However, many commercial carriers have removed first class altogether from their international flights, offering business class as their highest level of international service. First class passengers are usually granted access to lounges at airports while they wait for their flights.
If you had wanted to fly First class or business class but never had the money, there are some other ways you can get in those plush, spacious seats. With a bit of luck, you might find yourself sitting on the luxurious lap of first class.
To get on that plush in a roundabout way, book with travel Agents because they are allotted a certain number of upgrade vouchers. This will not come free but you can persuade your agent for a First or business class flight voucher if they have any available.
You can also ask a flight attendant for an upgrade if you see a seat available. Typically flight attendants never upgrade passengers and simply asking for an upgrade is not going to work. However, there are legitimate reasons why a flight attendant will upgrade you.
For example, in an oversold flight, airlines typically overbook flights and hope that some passengers will simply not show.
If there is a problem with your seat , in some cases where your seat has malfunctioned and you cannot comfortably sit there, i.e. a seat-belt problem or the seat will not stay in the up position, the flight attendant will make an attempt to find you another seat.
If you are a frequent flyer, you can use your miles to upgrade as long as allocated seats are available for upgrade. Not all seats are allocated for frequent flyer upgrades, as the airlines want to hold a certain block of seats for fully paid customers so that they can earn as much as they can for each flight.
