When booking a flight, you generally have several seating options available. The most expensive option is the first class seat. Sitting in first class might make a bigger dent in your bank account, but overall, this option is a lot more comfortable and can enhance your entire travel experience greatly. If you have the option available, you should consider purchasing a first class flight. There are many benefits to purchasing a first class flight such as extra comfort and better food options.
On an airplane, first class seats are usually located near the front of the plane. Rarely do jets have more than 16 first class seats available, and sometimes they do not have first class seats at all. If you want to fly first class, talk to your airline and plan your trip accordingly. Contacting your airline ahead of time is especially important because of availability and ensuring you receive a seat for the flight you plan on taking. First class seats are popular and the following benefits explain why it is beneficial to fly first class as compared to a standard economy flight.
The first benefit to flying first class is the additional seat space provided to you. The seats in first class at much bigger, usually around 40 to 90 inches with an 18 to 25 inch seat pitch. In many cases, the seats on first class are not next to one another, so everyone has an aisle seat and a little more room to spread out and relax.
If there is a meal served on your flight, you have access to a gourmet version. For example, you can enjoy a steak while everyone else is served hamburgers. In most cases, you also get to choose your meal, whereas with a typical flight this option may not be available. Most airlines provide drink service free to all passengers, but in first class, you can get additional drinks as well as alcoholic beverages for free, which is great for longer flights. This benefit of more food choices makes first class beneficial because on a long flight you may get hungry and knowing you have access to a high quality meal can be very rewarding.
To go along with all of the free food and drink, in first class, you will typically have your own restroom. Instead of sharing one or two lavatories with 50 or more passengers, you may have a private restroom only accessible to those in first class. Sometimes there are even two or three restrooms so that you do not have to wait in line. In addition, these restrooms are usually much larger than typical restrooms.
The benefits do not stop there. When you have a first class ticket, you may also have special lounges in the airport terminal. A first class lounge usually has comfortable seats, better televisions, a good view of the runway, private bathrooms, and free food and drink options. Those with first class boarding passes are the only ones allowed in the lounge. In some cases, these lounges even have semi-private areas to sleep if you are expecting a long layover.
Some people also like the privacy of a first class seat. If you and your travel companions book all of the first class seats on a flight, it is similar to having a private jet. You can hold business meetings or have a private conversation amongst your travel companions. This is perfect if you are planning a business trip or a family vacation. First class is usually divided from the rest of the flight by a curtain to help ensure your privacy.