First-class vs. business: Is it worth the extra cost?

Business class looks bearable on Qantas. But some prefer not to slum it so shamelessly.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• First-class passengers get perks beyond the airplane
• First class may become obsolete as business-class service improves
• Some passengers will pay for first-class amenities no matter what, airlines say

(CNN) -- If you want to fly nonstop first class from Tokyo to London and want the privacy afforded by a suite, be prepared to pay as much as US$27,000 on All Nippon Airways or Japan Air Lines. Or just slum it in ANA business class for $9,000 and change.

If you don't mind less privacy, for a mere $4,900, you can fly the same route nonstop business class on Virgin Atlantic and still be plenty pampered.

If you still insist on first class but don't mind one stop, you can fly China Southern Airlines for $11,465.

Amazing first-class air cabins

Price differences between first- and business-class fares can be dramatic, but what do passengers in first class get for the additional money?

More importantly, for those in a position to make the call, is first class worth all the extra cha-ching?

Lufthansa's first class: retractable walls between seats can separate passengers.

Differences you don't see

Tokyo-London has by far the highest first-class fares found on three major routes recently spot-checked by CNN.

But fluctuating pricing for flying first class with "open suites" or business class with lie-flat beds varies widely depending on whether you're flying nonstop or one-stop and the amount of pampering you want both in the air and on the ground.

The highly traveled New York-Frankfurt route is typical.

If you're flying first class from Frankfurt on your way to the Big Apple, there are many perks beyond what you get on the airplane.

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Lufthansa offers first-class passengers a dedicated lounge at Frankfurt, along with a full dinner before boarding a late-night flight, if customers prefer sleep to onboard meals.

The lounge also offers beds, showers, office space, special security screening and chauffeured limousines directly to the aircraft, allowing passengers to avoid bumping elbows with mere mortals who buy business-class or coach tickets.

You're out of luck if you're boarding in any other Lufthansa city, however. Only in Frankfurt do first-class travelers enjoy such ground perks.

Once onboard, it might be tough to discern the differences between first and business, beyond the obvious: a suite and more space versus a lie-flat seat. The food is plentiful and the booze is free.

Don Buckenburg, Lufthansa's managing director for sales, North America, says that many airlines offer a suite of enclosed space with a door, creating a passenger's "own little cabin."

"When we developed first class, we asked customers, and our customers like open space, but they also like privacy," says Buckenburg. "You have a seat, but a wall that separates you. You press a button, and a wall comes up."

The retractable wall allows couples or fellow travelers to decide whether to be connected or separated.

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Buckenburg says the first-class value differential over business class is space, privacy, a larger, longer and wider seat and additional crew per passenger in first class.

In addition, according to Buckenburg, flight attendants are specially trained to serve first class, knowing how to "read" the passenger differently and knowing the wine and menus with precision.

For good measure, "We're one of the last airlines to serve caviar," Buckenburg says.

Emirates Debuts First Transatlantic Flight

Beginning today, Oct. 1, Emirates Airlines launches a new route: JFK-Milan. Why is this big news? Because the expanding UAE-based airline will offer the only first-class service between the two popular cities. And, it's the first flight of the airline’s that does not touch down in Dubai before flying on to other gateways.

We expect Emirates’ first transatlantic service to be a big boon for business and leisure travelers, and are already imagining the crush of Louis Vuitton suitcases during Milan and NYC’s Fashion Weeks.

Departure and arrival schedules are timed to sync with flights going to and from feeder markets, especially those on JetBlue (US) and easyJet (Europe).
Renown for its First-Class and Business-Class amenities, Emirates will offer passengers complimentary chauffeured transfers to and from the airport, and access to its luxury airport lounges.

There will be three flights daily in both directions operated on a Boeing 777-300ER, which accommodates eight seats in First Class, 42 flat-bed seats in Business Class, and 310 seats in Economy Class.
“This new route is the perfect marriage of two like-minded cities. Both destinations offer visitors a dynamic mix of culture and business and we are confident that this new service will not only facilitate travel in both directions, but will also create a greater exchange of business, trade and tourism,” said Tim Clark, President, Emirates.

How the Rube Goldbergs of Credit Cards Fly First Class for Free

“Last February, I flew to Bangkok, sort of on a whim,” Greg Davis-Kean told me. And, he decided, it would be fun to fly first class, a luxury that normally would run well into five figures.

Davis-Kean isn’t a Wall Street banker or a Fortune 500 CEO. He’s a 45-year-old professional blogger from Ann Arbor, Michigan. He writes about airline frequent-flyer programs, telling readers how to earn points and miles as cheaply as possible, often without leaving the ground.

In March, he challenged himself to earn 1 million miles and reward points for less than $1,000; he succeeded, breaking a million for less than $280, thanks to a combination of sign-on bonuses for 10 credit cards he registered for during the month and a technique called ‘manufactured spending.’

That’s what frequent flyers call using rewards credit cards to make purchases that can easily be converted to cash, then using the cash to pay off the cards. Bloggers like Davis-Kean and members of discussion sites like Fly First Class are always on the lookout for new ways to rack up high credit card balances without actually spending much money.

“Because of this hobby, I have what seems like an almost infinite supply of miles,” Davis-Kean said, letting him do things like fly to Asia on short notice.

Of course, accidentally buying cards that aren’t readily liquidated can mean running up a big credit card bill without an easy way to pay it off.

“It should not appeal to everyone,” Daraius Dubash, the author of the blog Million Mile Secrets, warned me about the hobby. “It’s a lot of details, and it’s a lot of tracking.”

My Special Treat – First Class On The Emirates A380

As a special treat for myself I decided to upgrade my Australian flight Emirates offer from Melbourne to Dubai. Using frequent flier points I upgraded to First Class on the airbus a380-800.

Emirates First Class

To be honest I can’t really afford to fly business class, I’m fortunate enough to do so because work send me business class for long haul trips. So to fly First Class on a 14 hour flight is an exceptional event for me.

Emirates Airbus A380-800

I am a long standing holder of the Emirates frequent flyer card Skywards. I’ve accumulated enough points for an upgrade and they’d probably just expire anyway, so what did I have to lose.

The journey began with a complimentary chauffeur pick up which took me to the airport. I was able to use the Emirates First Class check-in desk which helped me breeze through the airport.

The lounge by gate 9 makes no distinction between business and 1^st Class. I think I’ve only seen that lounge distinction at Dubai airport.

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