First Class Flying–My First Experience

I have been in the travel industry for more than 20 years now. I started at Disney World right out of college but later truly joined the industry working for Midwest Airlines. Working there when the airline was rebounding well after 9/11, was the closest I had ever been to first class. The extra wide seats, free wine, champagne, meals served on real plates with real silverware and of course, the baked-on board chocolate chip cookies! That was my first class experience up until my latest trip to Seattle.

My daughter lives in Seattle, went to college there, graduated and moved home for a few months that turned into a couple of years due to the pandemic and now has moved back. We’ve flown out there several times and when Alaska Air was the only non-stop, we took it. It was always on a regional jet so not an abundance of amenities. This trip I was carrying two checked bags on a non-stop flight from Milwaukee to Seattle on Alaska Air. When I booked the flight, I became aware this was a 737 series, so I knew the flight was much bigger when I chose my seats. As I checked in, I was contemplating my packing situation since I was staying for two weeks and was hoping to bring some things to my daughter rather than ship. Looking at the cost of checking two bags, yikes! Then I saw the offer to upgrade to First Class and saw all the amenities and I decided it was a no brainer and I was worth it! This trip I wasn’t going to be walking past the first-class seats longingly looking at the passengers sipping their drinks while I trudged to the back.

I boarded early, found my seat with a box of water and a wipe waiting for me. The flight attendant greeted me at my seat by name. She asked what I preferred to drink before dinner was going to be served. She was carrying a bottle of the red so we could all see what that choice was. Honestly, she might as well have just left the bottle for as many times as she came to refill it throughout the four-hour flight. As she served our drinks, we also received hot nuts in a little dish as an appetizer.

I had preordered my included meal when I upgraded to the fruit and cheese plate. As I watched some others have their dinners served, I was a little nervous at my choice, but when it arrived it also had a salad, a bun, an apple crumble dessert along with an abundance of fruit, cheese and crackers.

Following the meal clean-up about an hour later they came around with a basket of snacks and encouraged passengers to take as many as they like. For those of us in the last row that meant a smaller selection but still an abundance of urging us to take more.

The seats were as comfortable as you would imagine, wide enough and so much leg room. I couldn’t reach my purse under my seat with my feet unless I really stretched, which I had to do.

I share this because the way I was brought up was to watch how you spend your money. I’m sure you have clients that are just as frugal. This experience, when I weighed out the cost of checked bags, wine and meal (which by the way were not available outside of first class) I really felt was a good investment in my travel considering the length of the flight and wanting to arrive feeling ready to go rather than worn-out. I forgot to mention that I earned 75% more miles on the trip, too. I think clients might just need a boost in the experience and how they will feel if they take the opportunity in front of them.

What are your flight experiences with first class?