Flying First Class: Hyp or Hyper Great?

The three words that best describe my experience are anticipation and self consciousness.

I had been looking forward to this for a while, I must admit. I was a geek.

I forgot about the separate check in that 'they' er, 'we' have. But that was the first thing that hit me. There were two men already there trying to solve a problem and it annoyed me. I mean, I was flying first class and shouldn't have to be annoyed like that, right? My goodness, was it changing me already?

I didn't notice the red carpet (insert eye roll here) until I was leaving. The carpet was turned over and a guy tripped on it. Well, not all the bennies are good. Those coach folks didn't have to worry about that. I fixed it with my foot as I left.

There is no special gate for First Class people to go through security. You still have to take off your shoes and unpack your computer and pay for WiFi. Phooey. You still have to sit in the uncomfortable chairs in the waiting area, unless you pay more for the Admiral's Club. I was flying American and don't know about the others, but bet it is the same.

I was getting very self conscious. Who was first class and who wasn't. I mean I was making myself a little annoyed with myself, but it couldn't be helped. I did feel something when I was able to board first and sit in the front watching the others pass by. Of course, all I was doing was the other side of the coin from how I felt walking by first class. (See the above video)

Yes, folks, the seat aren't just bigger, they are more comfortable. There is a huge arm rest that can be used as a shared table. I was on the isle and a big man needed to get through to sit next to the window. Had this been coach I would have had to unbuckle (with a little person even) and get up. Not in First Class. There is so much leg room that I didn't have to move. That was nice.

I have seen them offer drinks before take off from coach and they did it here. Nice. In First Class you don't really have to wait your turn. There are only 16 people there and often 2 attendants. Sweet. I didn't know if it included alcohol and didn't want to ask, so I just got a coach. I didn't want to look like I wasn't really one of 'them'.

The ticket said dinner and that is what we got. It was really good. Roast chicken breast, not tough, with a lobster sauce. Very, very good. We also got some wine.

The seats went back a whole lot further than coach. Ever see Ellen De Generes talk about coach seats? She has it down and again, its funny, except when you are in the seats, then not so much. Watch and enjoy. But there is no foot rest. I mean buses and trains have footrests. I could never understand why they couldn't do this even in coach, but they don't do it, even in first class. At least in domestic planes, for American.

I had injured by left hand in a crocheting accident (that's another story, but I have a gorgeous new granddaughter) and the attendant was very helpful getting me ice packs that she devised. Yes, they are helpful in coach too, but not like that.

And of course, we were the first off the plane.

Second leg: I changed planes in Dallas and again, nothing special in the airports. You ride the shuttle just like everyone else. Not a bad system, but don't they realize that I was "First Class'?

First on, of course, but we didn't get the pretakeoff drink. Not that I needed it. The ticket said snack, but I have no idea if it was served. It was midnight my time and I was landing at 3 am my time and it would be 4 before I was in a bed. I was out like a light the minute I could put that beautiful seat back to a decent recline.

BTW, the picture above is pretty much what I was in in all four legs of my journey.