First Class Domestic Travel

While you may not see an empty First Class cabin on any airplane, regardless of how long or short the flight is, many people do not feel like paying for a First Class ticket is worth it on short domestic flights. This is especially true when the benefits of First Class domestic travel are not great enough to warrant the extra expense.

Now, you know all those pictures you have seen of First Class cabins with fully-reclined seats, linen tablecloths, big TV screens and leg rests? Do not expect that in domestic First Class, or you will be sorely disappointed. Some of the perks you can expect include better meals, free alcoholic beverages, real silverware (although this is increasingly not offered, especially with short domestic trips), extra legroom, wider seats, and more room for reclining.

Of course, there are also the regular First Class travel perks, like boarding the plane before the mobs of coach passengers, having more overhead storage space, and enjoying a more favorable ratio of flight attendants to passengers. These are nice benefits, to be sure, but whether they are worth paying for a First Class ticket on such short flights is something you will have to decide for yourself.

Because more and more passengers are deciding that paying First Class airfare for domestic travel is not worth the money, airlines are increasingly using upgrades to fill those First Class seats with paying customers. So, if you have paid full price for your coach ticket you may get to upgrade to an available First Class seat. This way, the airline is filling that First Class seat with someone who paid full price for a ticket (even if it is a coach fare) rather than someone who is using frequent flyer miles to get the seat for free. If you are a frequent traveler and you have paid full price for your coach ticket, check to see if there are any available seats in First Class to which you can upgrade. After all, it never hurts to ask!

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