US Domestic First Class: Is this as good as it gets?

[DC3]

That's the way it generally is for USA domestic premium travel.

It can be "worth is" as SC earn on such flights often better per $ than on QF ....

Exactly. The (AA) status runs.

 

[Denali]

I've not flown UA but Delta had a few rounds of the snack basket and drinks for a 43min flight and better plated meals for longer flights.

 

[chillbaby]

Always fly domestic First in US - just find it a bit more convenient and less stressful - generally a bit quicker through security/priority boarding for carry-on, a bit more space etc. Pricing is generally pretty good and often similar price per sector for QF economy in Australia. Have, however, got into habit of checking aircraft type as many flights can't fit roll-on hand luggage and needs to be checked...

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to posting on AFF chillbaby

 

[Thrawn]

Flew Delta First Class 737-800 on a 1 hour 40 min sector last month. Snack basket and drinks only. Actually less legroom than Comfort Plus that I flew in the week before.

I went First Class for the 2 x 23 Kg baggage.. and paid using Velocity points. Only 7,500 points difference from economy and the baggage alone would've cost 60 USD.

 

[Amberlower]

Recently flew First on AA from Des Moines to DFW and it was a shocker (and I told them so).
However, 2 years back did an AA First from JFK to SFO and it was equivalent to Qantas Business in their newest seats to Asia. Individual 'booths' with flat bed and lovely meal. On a separate note, our original flight that day was re-routed so we would have missed our QF connection in SFO, and paid for a First seat on next available connection ( no biz seats available and didn't want to go economy) but still missed the flight by 15 mins. Qantas, who are ALWAYS delayed for up to several hours at times, did not see fit to wait 20 mins for 6 connecting passengers, including several from Chairman's Lounge. They would have made up the time easily but the culture in that airline is crew first - customers last.
The inconvenience of being stranded at midnight was a nightmare and did not get accommodation till almost 4am. AA then flew us home the next day, via LAX. The incredible outcome of all that is, after bugging AA for a refund for the considerable extra paid at JFK, within a few weeks we received a full refund!

 

[Justinf]

No meal service on a LAX-DEN flight and return but made up for it with wine.

 

[dajop]

One thing about domestic flights in the US, it is worth taking the time to understand what is on offer. For example on United, for example, if you depart after 8pm you won't get a meal on your flight, irrespective of length (except for some Hawaii and transcon flights), although you might get a hot sandwich between 8 and 9pm if the flight is longer than 4hrs. Also less than 2:20 flight duration, no meal. just some "snacks".

 

[Mattg]

One thing about domestic flights in the US, it is worth taking the time to understand what is on offer. For example on United, for example, if you depart after 8pm you won't get a meal on your flight, irrespective of length (except for some Hawaii and transcon flights), although you might get a hot sandwich between 8 and 9pm if the flight is longer than 4hrs. Also less than 2:20 flight duration, no meal. just some "snacks".

Good to know! Sounds like I was very lucky on my IAH-CVG flight to get a meal - the departure time was 7.45pm and the flight length was 2 hours and 23 minutes.

 

[trooper]

But at least they don’t have the gall to call it First Class.

This is where I lose some sympathy. It's the same when folks complain about cabins described by airlines (JQ?/Regional Asia?) as "Business Class" that do not meet some....undefined..standard that those folks expect (and that expected standard usually varies from person to person)

Its just a NAME. The "GALL" to call it First Class? Why shouldn't they? As much as people want to think there is some minimum agreed standard involved...there is not. Do the research. Know what you are going to get..... OR...convince ALL airlines to subscribe to some standard ALL pax will agree on..... And good luck with that!

 

[serfty]

No meal service on a LAX-DEN flight and return but made up for it with wine.

What time was this flight? LAX-DEN is a 'competitive market' and had meals when I last flew a bit over two years ago.

 

[Justinf]

What time was this flight? LAX-DEN is a 'competitive market' and had meals when I last flew a bit over two years ago.

1.40pm.
Return leg was 3.55pm and no meal was served either.

 

[dajop]

1.40pm.
Return leg was 3.55pm and no meal was served either.

Seems to be a borderline flight, some flights take <2:20 and some more than 2:20.

From the UA dining times:

1 hr. to 2 hrs. 19 min.
5 a.m. to 9:59 a.m. Refreshments, which may include scones or muffins
10 a.m. or later Refreshments, which include a selection of premium snacks and fresh fruit
2 hrs. 20 min. to 2 hrs. 59 min.
5 a.m. to 3:59 p.m. Meal service which includes fresh fruit and breakfast bread on morning flights or a chilled plate with chocolate on afternoon flights
4 p.m. to 8 p.m. A full meal service with two entree choices
8:01 p.m. to 4:59 a.m. Refreshments, which include a selection of premium snacks and fresh fruit

 

[Justinf]

I still have the email.



Fri, 23FEB DEPART ARRIVE
DELTA 5842*
First Class (A)
LOS ANGELES, CA
1:40pm
DENVER, CO
5:07pm
Sun, 25FEB DEPART ARRIVE
DELTA 873
First Class (A)
DENVER, CO
3:55pm
LOS ANGELES, CA
5:34pm
*Flight 5842 Operated by COMPASS DBA DELTA CONNECTION

 

[dajop]

I still have the email.



Fri, 23FEB DEPART ARRIVE
DELTA 5842*

Oops, I assumed it was UA with DEN being UA hub. Delta is clearer, based on flight distance. As your flight is 862 miles ( curiously ~ same as MEL-BNE), it fits into <900 mile category (i.e. no food). :

Short Flights
Find savory and healthy snacks on flights under 900 miles. Enjoy a complimentary alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage and a variety of snacks to choose from.
Medium Flights
On flights ranging from 900-1,399 miles, enjoy a full chef-curated meal service. Find breakfast and lunch items on flights departing from 5 AM to 1:30 PM, dinner for departures from 4 PM to 8 PM and a hearty selection of snacks at most times in between.
Longer Flights
For flights over 1,500 miles, you’ll find a fresh, full meal service — featuring a variety of healthy and local options as part of your meal. You’ll have several meal selections to choose from.

Not sure what happens if the flight is 1400-1499 miles!

Makes me realise how spoilt I am in Asia, even if I'm crammed into a Jetstar or Scoot flight from SIN-BKK (also 875 miles) I can - at any time of day - can order and prepay for a hot meal on my flight. If on TG or SQ, in business - a full meal service, again any time of day.

 

[SOPOOR]

I recently flew United Airlines "First Class" from EWR to YYZ. (This is technically an international flight, but for all intents and purposes it is treated the same as a domestic flight by United.) The flight departed around lunch time and the flight time was 1 hour and 40 minutes, making it around the same length as Sydney-Melbourne.

To say I was underwhelmed with the service would be an understatement. This is not my first time flying around North America, so I had low expectations. Even they were not met.

There was no greeting, either during boarding or during the service. Eventually the surly flight attendant came to my seat and half-heartedly uttered "beverage?"

No meals were served. Instead, the flight attendant handed around a basket containing chips, pretzels and oreos. There was no "would you like a snack, sir"... in fact, the flight attendant didn't say anything during the service. She just placed the basket in front of me and stared. I didn't see her smile once.

This was my “meal”:

View attachment 135216

My seat on the Embraer E175 was sufficiently wide but the legroom wasn't great for First class. I'd hate to think what the legroom in Economy was like. There was no in-flight entertainment.

View attachment 135215

Considering First class passengers don't even receive lounge access when flying within North America, the experience left me wondering what the point of US domestic First Class is. Is this as good as it gets, or am I missing something?

We sure do have it good in Australia!

"because so many of the seats are filled up with passengers on redemptions or upgrades or status "

I'm in the group of "it shouldn't matter whether you are a paying customer or freebie"
You should be getting the same regardless

 

[Jamie Keane]

Have flown a321 American Airlines first lax - mcn return. Great customer service. Also like that they look to fill the cabin with people from cattle class before taking off. They bumped up an army officer and others who were selected by the csm from seeing people go past and board. On flight back again two military personnel and a couple just married were bumped up to join us. Wish qantas would look at doing this instead of having business class seats go empty on flights.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

the captain advised there's be rough weather and the crew *may* be able to offer a limited beverage service in the second half of the flight. At the 45 minute mark there was a slight sway in the cabin, about the same movement as you get on a local train. Immediate announcement by the crew that 'due to the severe weather there'll be no service this flight'.

I had this happen fairly recently by an AU carrier (sorry can't recall which). Start of flight, announcement that it would be a rough flight so limited service. Flight was perfect with hardly a bump, but the service didn't happen at all. I must admit I'm over the dom J meals even in AU and usually give them a miss and catch up on sleep instead. I do value the slightly larger space, but mostly do it for status as I do actually really value the priority check-in, boarding (when it happens) and luggage retrieval. Seems silly, but those 3 things are actually God sent IMHO, so I'll be buying US F just for additional SCs.

I just heard on the radio, a lady in United F was told by the FA that she had to shut her baby up as it was United's policy that infants in J can only cry for 5 minutes max! I wonder where the volume knob is?

 

[trooper]

"because so many of the seats are filled up with passengers on redemptions or upgrades or status "

I'm in the group of "it shouldn't matter whether you are a paying customer or freebie"
You should be getting the same regardless

And you DO... it may not be what you think you should get in "First Class" but it doesn't matter whether you've paid or been upgraded on Status... you get the same. More baggage. Priority boarding. A wider seat. Slightly more legroom. A meal. (sometimes) Drinks.

 

[liamsal]

I normally only pay for F flights (DL) to score the SC's. I tend to book flights with multiple stopovers too to maximize the earn too. Often it's not too much more expensive than W. I'm VA Plat so already get lounge access, priority boarding/luggage so really only paying for the SC's and extra points on these short flights.

I have a F JFK-SEA (sadly not on the flat beds, that was AUD$700+ more) flight in December for 6+ hours so hoping the service is decent for that.