First Class - Worth The Upgrade?

Whether those air miles are burning a hole in your pocket or you are just deciding to treat yourself - is the really pointy end of the plane worth it?

Photo: British Airways

A Good Problem To Have

If you have ever walked through the First Class cabin while boarding, disembarking or caught a glimpse through the curtain; the thought that there is a better way to do this probably crossed your mind. If you also happen to have a few spare miles, the next question is whether it's worth using them to make the bump to the next class. If you are considering Business to First, it's a good problem to have but one that nonetheless requires some careful consideration.

Pay, Points, Upgrade, Get Lucky

In a nutshell, these are your four options. If the first one is feasible then it's unlikely you are reading this so we'll focus on the other three.

Photos: Singapore Airlines

Points

If you have a decent number of points then using them to book a First Class ticket directly is the most reliable way of securing a seat. It will help if you are flexible with dates and don't forget that the "taxes and charges" will usually be proportionate to the travel class and can run into the thousands depending on the route.

Upgrade

The first requirement is you need a Business Class ticket and the right fare class. On most airlines only certain fare classes are eligible for upgrades - usually only the flexible fares, not the discount ones. Depending on the timing of your flight and the route, airlines will hold off releasing upgrades as long as possible to try and sell the premium seats so it can be a last minute thing. There are a few more innovative options out there including bidding for upgrades and you can expect even more once travel resumes in earnest to entice premium passengers back on board.

Get Lucky

Luck is generally not a plan but there are few things that will help your prospects for that last minute upgrade at the airport.

• Your frequent flyer status - ultimately the most important factor.

• The airline - some are just more generous with the upgrades e.g. Qantas, Emirates. Others, like Singapore and BA are a lot less forthcoming in my experience.

• Timing - your best shot for an upgrade is when they have overbooked your current class but of course there is a corresponding downside risk of being bumped backwards (especially if you are not a top tier frequent flyer). Quieter times means there is limited incentive to upgrade anyone but easier to use points.

• Dress (and behave) for success - even if this is a myth, I figure it doesn't hurt to show up with intent. Being nice to the check-in staff is also a good plan (isn't it anyway?) since they will be the ones juggling the passenger manifest prior to departure. Asking for an upgrade might work but I've never seen it land well unless you have some serious charisma game.

Business vs. First

This used to be a much easier question but with Business Class passengers making up the bulk of the revenue on many routes, airlines have had to continually upgrade their offering to remain competitive. The result is Business Class cabins that are better than most older First cabins or close enough to new ones that the difference isn't worth the money.

Photo: Cathay Pacific (Business Class)

The first step is to research the different classes offered by your chosen airline but make sure to check the type of plane assigned to your flight since it can vary depending on the model and age (especially if they are part way through a fleet upgrade). Seatguru.com is a good place to confirm seat placements and different configurations.

The holy grail for Business Class seat design is direct aisle access for all seats with the herringbone layout the most popular way of achieving this. This is a big factor in deciding if the upgrade is worthwhile especially on long haul.

The other consideration is how long you will be awake for. If you are treating yourself to First Class then you probably want to make the most of it but that can challenging if you have to front up for a meeting on arrival and/or you will be asleep for the bulk of your flight. I've often just upgraded one way to maximise the awake time in First then the sleep in Business on the other leg. On the flip-side, there are some fairly spectacular sleeping situations in First these days so if that's important to you, ignore the advice above and do the opposite.

Photos: Etihad, Qantas

Lounges

One of the perks of flying First is access to dedicated check-in lounges, security lanes and departure lounges. If you are a top-tier frequent flyer traveling in any class you will usually have access to a variety of First lounge options but if you are actually traveling First, there is often another, more exclusive option. British Airways for example, operates their Concorde Rooms for First Class passengers and other airlines have similar offerings. Otherwise, just bumping up from the regular Business lounge can be a significant improvement.

Photo: Marc Newson (Qantas SYD First Lounge) | See also: BA JFK Concorde Room

Onboard

However you got there, stepping into the plane with a First Class boarding pass is a nice moment. You'll appreciate the properly chilled vintage Champagne (versus the glass that's been sitting in the galley for 30 minutes), and settle into your commodious seat. Premium amenity packs, pyjamas and more Champagne usually follow while you are fiddling with the various seat buttons and browsing the movies for something to accompany the degustation menu.

Photos: Emirates

Perhaps the ultimate luxury in First Class offerings is the ability to close the door to your own "cabin" e.g. Singapore Airlines Suites or Emirates First with the sliding doors. Having complete privacy on an airplane takes things to a different level especially when the crew arrive with the mattress and duvet to make up your bed.

Business Class food and wine options on most airlines are generally of a high standard but First needs to differentiate its value proposition so this is one way to do it. You will find a high-end wine cellar on offer if that's your thing and more or less anything else you care to imbibe. The food offerings will depend a lot on the airline but log in to your account before departure and check what's on offer.

Summary

So, is it worth it? It's a subjective question but in my experience, yes - at least once. The experience does vary significantly across airlines however, so this is one time to be very strategic on your choice of airline, route, aircraft and timing to make the most of it.