[JumpCrisscross]

> Flying as a whole is not that comfy

To each their own. A lay-flat seat is like a mini-vacation strapped onto work trips. I’ve never done a mileage run, but I’ve certainly increased spend on a route (e.g. buy buying a nicer ticket upfront) to hit thresholds because those thresholds are meaningful to me.

[asciimike]

Flying up front is vastly different from being in the back, especially on a premium fist product (Lufthansa or ANA in *A, or Cathay, Emirates, Qatar, etc.). I used to fly to India for business and I could always score a first upgrade BLR -> FRA, which meant I could use the LH first class terminal (separate building) during the layover back to the states. 200+ bottles of whisky, a cigar room, an entire leg of jamon iberico, bathtubs where you could grab a bottle of champagne off the wall and drink while you lounged, dedicated customs, and a Porsche to drive you directly to your departing aircraft. I wouldn't pay O(10k) for a ticket, but it's a pretty good time when you can upgrade it.

[ethbro]

It seems like there are two divergent characteristics that lead to the differences of opinions on this.

1) Has someone ever flown in a premium class on a non-US carrier?

2) Has someone taken advantage of the end-to-end amenities? E.g. premium lounges, etc.

Personally, first class on American is an order of magnitude worse service than business on ANA or Cathay. So I could see someone saying "What's the point?" if they primarily fly domestics.

[yibg]

Big difference between domestic and international too. United international business class is pretty good (not Cathay, Ana etc first class good but on par with day Cathay business class) lounge and all are pretty up to par I think.

[asciimike]

Definitely. Domestic is generally meh. UA Polaris has stepped up their game for sure. Bedding is A+, lie flats in 1-2-1 are better than LH (which is still 2-2-2 or 2-3-2, though if you're stuck on a 2-4-2 772, I'd take the LH flight), and the Polaris lounges offer premium alcohol and decent food. Inflight food and beverages (same liquor as the rest of the plane) aren't as good, and service is still a joke compared to any non-US carrier though.

[morsch]

The world we live in is really fucked up.

[FDSGSG]

Why?

[esoterica]

A lay-flat seat tops out at being slightly less comfortable than sitting in your couch at home. I wouldn’t consider it a vacation-tier experience (unless you count it as a mini-vacation every time you plop yourself down in front of the tv after work).

[umanwizard]

Nobody is bringing me hot food and as many of whatever drinks I want while I sit in my couch at home.

[rainyMammoth]

To each its own, but I will take going surfing or hiking outdoor (what I would call a mini vacation) over being in a unhealthy metallic cage with recycled sick air. It is amazing to me that Airlines marketing is that good that they convinced some people that it's enjoyable to be in a plane. I fly business transpacific all the time for work and I hate it.

[CydeWeys]

Fun fact: The air in a plane isn't recycled. It comes from outside. The air in planes is fresher on average than your typical building.

What the air on a plane is is less dense and less humid, which has its own problems, but it's not stale.

[asciimike]

I have to fly to go do some of those activities (or for work), and I'd sure as hell be up front with amenities than hugging my knees in the back.

I assume the marketing is really just to convince you they're less terrible than the (at most one) other competitor for the direct route, and aspirational for a bunch of leisure travelers who aren't going to spring for it anyways.

[CydeWeys]

It's pretty easy to just go to the kitchen where I have all that stuff though.

I'd still rather just be at home, and have to provide my own food and drinks, than on a plane being waited on.