4 ms·

Same here, what a nightmare it is to take those long flights. I once waited 9 hours at an airport for a 12 hour flight; seldom been more exhausted than that. It

Same here, what a nightmare it is to take those long flights. I once waited 9 hours at an airport for a 12 hour flight; seldom been more exhausted than that. It wasn't even the last leg, so even more airports/waiting when we arrived. Is there a worse place to wait than those airports? The shops sell Rolex watches, Hugo Boss suits, alcohol (let me lug some bottles of vine/booze across the globe to save $12) + perfume. Obviously some overpriced cafe's and restaurants there as well, but not exactly a cool place to "hang out".

Cthulhu_ 6y ago
I've spent some time in a VIP lounge once (it may have been for a train ride to Paris for which the first class ticket was just as expensive as a regular one), came on time on purpose just to sit there for a change :p. It was quiet, empty, you got offered a drink, etc. If it was a long layover, sleeping was likely an option, and with the attendant there you could ask them to wake you up if there was an issue with the flight. But, theoreticals; flying first class is 3-6x as expensive and I'm not convinced it's worth it.
- Scoundreller 6y ago
  Depends on the airport and lounge, but you can often buy your way in for $30-$40. As the food and alcohol are free, it’s not a bad deal if you’re hungry and thirsty but not picky. Plus it’s a bit more secure so you can feel less worried about sleeping and your luggage going missing. If you’re lucky, there might not even be any babies or children.
- matz1 6y ago
  I think 3x as expensive is still worth it for long haul flight. One business seat space equal to about 3 economy seat space and you also got lounge access and priority checkin.
- mikepurvis 6y ago
  As a regular pleb who has only ever flown coach, I'm feel like first class is mostly people for whom the alternative is private/charter— viewed through that lens, it's a huge discount, and the extra perks are small compensation for hassles like abiding by someone else's schedule, having to use a major rather than regional airport, and needing to go through regular security (even with getting to use the priority queue).
  - jedberg 6y ago
    Most of the people sitting in first class and using the lounge are frequent business travelers on upgrade. I've had lounge access a few times because my father in law used to travel from California to Asia every other month for a large part of his career, so now he has lifetime lounge access and can bring guests. Sometimes when we travel together some of us get bumped up to first. And when my dad was flying cross country every week for work, he was almost always sitting in first class on upgrade. But we're definitely not going to be flying private. :)
- bjarneh 6y ago
  I've only been to those a couple of times but they make all the difference. The relaxed atmosphere, the ability to take a shower/nap/drink makes you almost want to hang out at the airport.
tsm 6y ago
Especially in the smartphone era, I actively enjoy having a couple hours to kill in an airport. I make sure that I have a range of activities to do depending on energy level (writing about my research / hacking on something / reading nonfiction / reading a "brainless" book / surfing through HN or reddit), have pre-meditated that it's okay to pay airport prices on a fancy coffee drink or a beer or whatever, have pre-meditated that I should have no expectations about productivity, and then just hunker down in a chair with my computer/phone/book and a drink and chill out. It feels very removed from the pressures of everyday life, which I like—I wouldn't be able to chill half as well if I were at home and felt like I was supposed to be doing something more important. On an airplane you lose the internet, but the same general strategy works for me. Re. sleeping, it works for me to sleep when I'm able to and say "well if you can't sleep right now, read your book. Oh, you're too tired to read your book? Maybe it's time to sleep"
- grogenaut 6y ago
  Flew from Seattle to Frankfurt last year in economy select which was current us first class seats. Had just enough internet to docs and a small amount of slack (1 active convo). Got so much work done reviewing docs and COEs while watching a movie on the pull out tv (bulkhead) aka laptop dual monitor. Would do again. Solstice so light the entire flight over the artic
dkersten 6y ago
These guys spent four days in a (large) airport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYCETjh4eMc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYCETjh4eMc There are also the stories of the people who have lived for months in airports. I guess you are lucky it was "only" 9 hours, but yeah, it doesn't sound pleasant.
- bjarneh 6y ago
  > I guess you are lucky it was "only" 9 hours, but yeah, it doesn't sound pleasant. We were in Caracas; so we were advised not to go into the city. It became a 9 hour stint at Burger King pretty much, which is enough. If you look at long airports visits from a "survival" aspect, it's probably quite nice. Or at least compared to being on the "Alone" show; but certainly not something I'd recommend :-)

Cthulhu_ 6y ago

I've spent some time in a VIP lounge once (it may have been for a train ride to Paris for which the first class ticket was just as expensive as a regular one), came on time on purpose just to sit there for a change :p. It was quiet, empty, you got offered a drink, etc. If it was a long layover, sleeping was likely an option, and with the attendant there you could ask them to wake you up if there was an issue with the flight. But, theoreticals; flying first class is 3-6x as expensive and I'm not convinced it's worth it.

Scoundreller 6y ago
Depends on the airport and lounge, but you can often buy your way in for $30-$40. As the food and alcohol are free, it’s not a bad deal if you’re hungry and thirsty but not picky. Plus it’s a bit more secure so you can feel less worried about sleeping and your luggage going missing. If you’re lucky, there might not even be any babies or children.
matz1 6y ago
I think 3x as expensive is still worth it for long haul flight. One business seat space equal to about 3 economy seat space and you also got lounge access and priority checkin.
mikepurvis 6y ago
As a regular pleb who has only ever flown coach, I'm feel like first class is mostly people for whom the alternative is private/charter— viewed through that lens, it's a huge discount, and the extra perks are small compensation for hassles like abiding by someone else's schedule, having to use a major rather than regional airport, and needing to go through regular security (even with getting to use the priority queue).
- jedberg 6y ago
  Most of the people sitting in first class and using the lounge are frequent business travelers on upgrade. I've had lounge access a few times because my father in law used to travel from California to Asia every other month for a large part of his career, so now he has lifetime lounge access and can bring guests. Sometimes when we travel together some of us get bumped up to first. And when my dad was flying cross country every week for work, he was almost always sitting in first class on upgrade. But we're definitely not going to be flying private. :)
bjarneh 6y ago
I've only been to those a couple of times but they make all the difference. The relaxed atmosphere, the ability to take a shower/nap/drink makes you almost want to hang out at the airport.

tsm 6y ago

Especially in the smartphone era, I actively enjoy having a couple hours to kill in an airport. I make sure that I have a range of activities to do depending on energy level (writing about my research / hacking on something / reading nonfiction / reading a "brainless" book / surfing through HN or reddit), have pre-meditated that it's okay to pay airport prices on a fancy coffee drink or a beer or whatever, have pre-meditated that I should have no expectations about productivity, and then just hunker down in a chair with my computer/phone/book and a drink and chill out. It feels very removed from the pressures of everyday life, which I like—I wouldn't be able to chill half as well if I were at home and felt like I was supposed to be doing something more important. On an airplane you lose the internet, but the same general strategy works for me. Re. sleeping, it works for me to sleep when I'm able to and say "well if you can't sleep right now, read your book. Oh, you're too tired to read your book? Maybe it's time to sleep"

grogenaut 6y ago
Flew from Seattle to Frankfurt last year in economy select which was current us first class seats. Had just enough internet to docs and a small amount of slack (1 active convo). Got so much work done reviewing docs and COEs while watching a movie on the pull out tv (bulkhead) aka laptop dual monitor. Would do again. Solstice so light the entire flight over the artic

dkersten 6y ago

These guys spent four days in a (large) airport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYCETjh4eMc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYCETjh4eMc There are also the stories of the people who have lived for months in airports. I guess you are lucky it was "only" 9 hours, but yeah, it doesn't sound pleasant.

bjarneh 6y ago
> I guess you are lucky it was "only" 9 hours, but yeah, it doesn't sound pleasant. We were in Caracas; so we were advised not to go into the city. It became a 9 hour stint at Burger King pretty much, which is enough. If you look at long airports visits from a "survival" aspect, it's probably quite nice. Or at least compared to being on the "Alone" show; but certainly not something I'd recommend :-)