4 ms·

I flew First Class on a four-class A380 for a round-trip that I took a few weeks ago. It was amazing, everything that I hoped it would be and then some. I ate

I flew First Class on a four-class A380 for a round-trip that I took a few weeks ago. It was amazing, everything that I hoped it would be and then some. I ate a fantastic meal, drank top-shelf whiskey and champagne, and then crashed out on my seat, which the FA made into a bed (duvet, comforter, and all) while I changed into the provided pajamas in the lavatory. I got a solid four hours of sleep on my 8-hour flight and then woke up for a proper breakfast. It was expensive but I really do feel that I got my money's worth, especially considering the international first class lounges that I used before the flight, which included a fine dining five-course meal and private bathrooms with showers. Some pics: https://instagram.com/p/BmCjI2yAdPA/ https://instagram.com/p/BmCjI2yAdPA/ https://instagram.com/p/BmCidHZgztX/ https://instagram.com/p/BmCidHZgztX/ https://instagram.com/p/BmDpgtPAgIp/ https://instagram.com/p/BmDpgtPAgIp/

zachberger 8y ago
Even business class is outstanding on the A380.
- peteretep 8y ago
  On some planes, and not others. There's huge seat variation from airline to airline.
  - aikinai 8y ago
    Definitely. JAL's business class is a cubicle with a full bed. https://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/service/business/seat/skysuite.html https://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/service/business/seat/skysuit...
    - peteretep 8y ago
      Ah ha, the lovely Apex Suite, also available on Gulf, Oman, and Korean. It's very comfortable, and it's what BA's seats should have been.
dmix 8y ago
Enjoying a plane ride? I have yet to experience that. Although Virgin Airlines was always delightful. How much did it set you back (ballpark), I'm curious? It's something I've been meaning to try.
- awucs 8y ago
  It usually doubles per class from economy, premium economy, business to first class (for the cheapest tickets). But then of course there is more variance between airlines when it comes to business and first. A cheap first class intercontinental return ticket might be 2000€. More realistically you are looking at 3000€ to 4000€. If you have somewhere to go or a time to be there it can of course be a lot more.
  - chrissnell 8y ago
    British Airways runs about $7,000-$15,000 per round-trip depending on when and where you fly. It's a relative bargain. You probably won't do a long-haul flight on Emirates for anywhere south of $10K, and probably quite a bit more.
    - isostatic 8y ago
      BA is terrible. When I was flying to the Far East regularly they would charge more for premium than finnair or Qatar charged for business. Qatar business on the planes on that route (787/a350) is way better than BA first on any plane. #anyoneButBA - and I say that as a former top tier BA frequent flyer
- saryant 8y ago
  OP probably used miles, that's what I do. I managed to use AA miles to fly Eithad's first class apartment from Abu Dhabi to JFK. http://zooxel.com/etihad_new/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/residence.jpg http://zooxel.com/etihad_new/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/resi... The sofa on the left side of that photo converts into a bed. In the last six years I've earned and redeemed about 2.5 million frequent flyer points, so I've managed to fly first or business class around the world several times over. Beds in flight, top-shelf champagne, 21 year old Japanese whiskey, caviar, showers in the sky, complimentary limos to and from the airport, free massages at the airport. When I flew first class on Lufthansa out of Frankfurt they drove me across the tarmac to my plane in a Porsche. Last year I flew to New Zealand and back via Asia in first class. Outbound I flew Cathay Pacific in first via Hong Kong, then returned using Air New Zealand business class, Singapore Airlines first class and All Nippon first class via Sydney, Singapore and Tokyo. All told about 180k miles and a couple hundred bucks in taxes and fees.

zachberger 8y ago

Even business class is outstanding on the A380.

peteretep 8y ago
On some planes, and not others. There's huge seat variation from airline to airline.
- aikinai 8y ago
  Definitely. JAL's business class is a cubicle with a full bed. https://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/service/business/seat/skysuite.html https://www.jal.co.jp/en/inter/service/business/seat/skysuit...
  - peteretep 8y ago
    Ah ha, the lovely Apex Suite, also available on Gulf, Oman, and Korean. It's very comfortable, and it's what BA's seats should have been.

dmix 8y ago

Enjoying a plane ride? I have yet to experience that. Although Virgin Airlines was always delightful. How much did it set you back (ballpark), I'm curious? It's something I've been meaning to try.

awucs 8y ago
It usually doubles per class from economy, premium economy, business to first class (for the cheapest tickets). But then of course there is more variance between airlines when it comes to business and first. A cheap first class intercontinental return ticket might be 2000€. More realistically you are looking at 3000€ to 4000€. If you have somewhere to go or a time to be there it can of course be a lot more.
- chrissnell 8y ago
  British Airways runs about $7,000-$15,000 per round-trip depending on when and where you fly. It's a relative bargain. You probably won't do a long-haul flight on Emirates for anywhere south of $10K, and probably quite a bit more.
  - isostatic 8y ago
    BA is terrible. When I was flying to the Far East regularly they would charge more for premium than finnair or Qatar charged for business. Qatar business on the planes on that route (787/a350) is way better than BA first on any plane. #anyoneButBA - and I say that as a former top tier BA frequent flyer
saryant 8y ago
OP probably used miles, that's what I do. I managed to use AA miles to fly Eithad's first class apartment from Abu Dhabi to JFK. http://zooxel.com/etihad_new/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/residence.jpg http://zooxel.com/etihad_new/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/resi... The sofa on the left side of that photo converts into a bed. In the last six years I've earned and redeemed about 2.5 million frequent flyer points, so I've managed to fly first or business class around the world several times over. Beds in flight, top-shelf champagne, 21 year old Japanese whiskey, caviar, showers in the sky, complimentary limos to and from the airport, free massages at the airport. When I flew first class on Lufthansa out of Frankfurt they drove me across the tarmac to my plane in a Porsche. Last year I flew to New Zealand and back via Asia in first class. Outbound I flew Cathay Pacific in first via Hong Kong, then returned using Air New Zealand business class, Singapore Airlines first class and All Nippon first class via Sydney, Singapore and Tokyo. All told about 180k miles and a couple hundred bucks in taxes and fees.