There have been many reasons postulated here in our forum, most folks say it's snobery, etc., etc., but my reasons are for health. If I can get my feet up, and get a little quiet, I can sleep, and then I arrive rested. It is truly money well spent to begin your trip feeling well. Being tired makes one at risk to catch colds, etc., being in a plane is a great place to catch anything going around..and you don't have people pulling on your seat to get up behind you, kids kicking your seat, steward/ess spilling drinks down your back, people shoving their huge 'carry on's" into your hat box, smasking your luggage. Believe me, it's ,money well spent.

good for you. don't forget to add that your company pays for it too.

Sandi, you sound apologetic trying to explain you fly 1st class for health reason. I wouldn't care to do that. It's my (or your) money, you buy what you think is reasonable, I buy what I think if reasonable for ME. And as I fly economy we are both right! <BR><BR>But if you're trying to tell me to get the 1st class because it's &quot;money well spent&quot; I have only 1 answer: it's MY money and it's MY choice how to spend them!

It may be money well spent, but you have to have it to spend it. First class tickets to Europe generally cost more than I spend on my entire trip. <BR><BR>Would you rather take one trip and fly first class, or two trips and fly coach?<BR><BR>For a couple of dollars you can take an Ambien or Xanax or Valium and sleep the whole way. Way cheaper than 1st class!

People don't apologize for being poor - why should those of us who have the resources to fly in the pointy end of the plane be made to feel as though we are superior. <BR>I like the extra room and the ability to get off before anyone else. I like the short lines for checking in at the airport and the ability to go to lounges in foreign airports (where you are often escorted to the plane). I like the priority tags on my luggage. I don't care anything about the food or drink but I have been flying for so many years that I have fond feelings for the days of true luxury travel with elegant appointments and well-dressed and equally well-mannered passengers.<BR>

I don't think I would shell out the extra money for business or first class but I do think that upgrades on long overnight flights are the best use of my frequent flyer miles. Of course I enjoy the service, but most importantly it's the extra comfort of the seat and the extra space. At this point in my life, I would travel less frequently if I could not upgrade. I wish I had the money to pay for it- or that someone else would pay for me!

No reason top feel guilty,sandi. It's your money(unless it's business) and you can spend as you please. I am point A to point B,just get me there in one piece. But,I will pay more for a non-stop.

kh-<BR>&quot;priority luggage tags&quot;.According to the National Institute of Airline Passenger Behavior,luggage with &quot;engaging&quot; luggage tags is the FIRST to be &quot;thieved&quot;.So much for cutsey luggage tags.

Sandi, you have a long history on this board of making assertions and then getting defensive when people point out the fallacies -- and there are often many. It sounds to me -- just an impression -- that you have been very privileged and very sheltered in your life, with all kinds of ideas about entitlement and status very protected. You seem genuinely surprised if people resent special treatment, are astonished that people without guaranteed money and respect are less than generous about your self-satisfaction. Well, welcome to the world, Sandi -- where the vast majority do not have the money to travel for fun, and some times don't even have the money for a computer to read these posts. <BR><BR>It always astonishes me that the wealthy imagine that no one should begrudge them their money -- either because they inherited it, which &quot;wasn't their fault,&quot; or they &quot;worked hard for it,&quot; as if anyone with less than $200K/per year were slackers. It also amazes me that the wealthy are completely confident that one person having money doesn't mean that it comes out of someone else's pocket. Sure it does, one way or another -- just connect the dots: either from the execs at Enron to those people who worked loyally for years and haven't a cent to show for it, or try this: how much do you pay your office cleaning staff, the ones who clean houses by day and offices by night to eke out $18K/year, twice the &quot;poverty line&quot;? How much would I have to pay YOU to do the same work? And don't give me crap about your education, etc. -- unless you paid out-of-pocket roughly 3 times the tuition, room, and board, your education was subsidized by someone else. We all work hard, but the wealthy have rigged the system to keep themselves wealthy. And everytime someone flies first class on FF miles or on corporate accounts, someone else is paying for their ride. <BR><BR>Not you, though, Sandi -- you've got it made and now you take up your talkative keyboard to try to coerce a &quot;there-there, we love you even more because you're wealthy and MY GOODNESS what a deep thinker you are about the social order!&quot;<BR><BR>Go get another pedicure, sweet cakes, and be sure to give that homeless couple at the corner a quarter, even if you're absolutely sure they'll just spend it on something unworthy.<BR><BR>

Grow up,<BR>I am probably someone you would consider wealthy. I find your statements about &quot;the wealthy&quot; to be extremely distasteful.<BR><BR>Indeed, I worked for my money and no one should begrudge me that. Why would my hard work make any one else a &quot;slacker?&quot; That makes no sense.<BR><BR>In addition, your economic theory is poorly conceived. If the economy truly worked as you say, it would never grow. Like it or not, generally speaking the actions of those who make/have more cause the economy to expand, jobs to be created, etc.<BR><BR>I really suggest you focus your thoughts more positively because your bitterness is probably holding you back in your career and personal relationships.<BR><BR>Getting back to the topic, I pay my own money for first class. On shorter flights with my whole family to odd destinations, I will charter a jet. I don't do so if I am the only person or the flight is more than a few hours (comfort and safety concerns). I find this expenditure worth it and my travels are limited only by the amount of time my children have off from school.<BR><BR>I do not apologize at all for my choices.

To the above poster with the diatribe re: being wealthy and the one just above this who really is wealthy, one can see that it's simply 'sour grapes' vs. 'earning' their wealth. We too, have earned what we have by many years of hard work and sacrifice, maybe something younger folks are not willing to do. Start with going to school, taking jobs that may not be ideal but have opportunity, putting in the hours when you really might want to be doing something else (Like griping), and then having the well earned money to spend any way you please. Yes, we are comfortable financially, and give a great deal away, to fund scholarships., feed needy children, etc., so who's business is it if we feel our money <BR>well spent on a nice airline ticket. You can't take it with you, you know. Oh, yes, p.s. I have worked every day of my adult life--inherited nothing, and same for husband.

Grow up<BR>You certainly sound bitter and envious about people who are wealthier than you. Class envy has no place on this forum. You really need to lighten up and do something about your anger towards those who have been more succesful in life (financially) than you are. That kind of anger will shorten your life. I'm not wealthy, but I'm certainly not jealous of those that are. I also fly business/first class whenever I can for the same reasons as Sandi. If I could afford it, I would pay for it. However, I can't. Instead, I do it with FF flyer miles I accumulate through buying coach tickets (nobody pays for mine) and using a credit card that accrues miles. It is a superior way to travel. You are far more comfortable, especially since the airlines have made it almost impossible for anyone that is as tall as me (6'4&quot to fit in a coach seat. I will continue to upgrade even if it means that I take fewer (but more enjoyable) trips. Try it. You might find out you like it.

One thing I have learned on this thread. Flying first class or coach - neither one will protect you from uncouth pasengers

Duh<BR>I think your name says it all. So sorry if you feel offended by someone posting about something you say you cannot afford. However, I really don't see how what they said was a put down to anyone else. Moreover, they have every right to post whatever they want unless freedom of speech is also something you don't agree with.

I fly first class almost exclusively on flights inside the U.S. and Canada. I never paid extra and I wouldn't give up the miles to do it either. (I'm short, but I have elite status.) Besides the service, seat size and leg room, I've met a lot of interesting people in first class. Most of them are there because they travel a lot. <BR><BR>Now, I'm no left-winger, but I have to give &quot;Grow up&quot; some serious applause for a masterful presentation of a point of view. It was priceless. I read the original post and Grow up's out loud to the family and we howled! As I said, I don't necessarily endorse the point of view or AGREE with all of what is being said, but let's give credit where credit is due. It is an entertaining and well-done piece that was a pleasure to read.

Hey, first class is great! And we do it every now and then. When you leave from here to England, and settle into one of the new business class seats that fold down flat, have a coctail, kiss the old man, and when you wake you are landing at Heathrow...How Sweet it is, and don't be jealous if you don't or won't pay...you get what you pay for in this world. When I have flows this same trip on coach (BA), it is such a drag, seats only 17 inches wide and very tighty packed, and if you end up next to someone heavy, it is a drag. Even my hunband, who is normal size, has broad sholders, and thus his arms lop into my territory. Fortunately, we are good friends. So stop whining, and pay up or shut up. (about taking a dump...yes that was a real sickie). How abouta the guy who had to be subdued and smothered (in coach) to get him finally out of the way....read your paper.

E ([email protected]) - where the hell did I say I can't afford it? Where?<BR>I will not pay it, for flights, but almost always go first class on trains. I tend to agree with David's approach to when to upgrade. <BR><BR>I merely don't see why Sandi needs to start a thread explaining her actions. Guilt trip? (shouldn't be!) If someone had asked &quot;Why should I consider first class&quot; - then sure, I would want Sandi to reply. I cannot see starting a thread simply to state &quot;why I fly first class&quot; than if I were to start a thread &quot;Why I like boiled beets&quot;. You are correct that she did not put anyone down, in fact, in a later post gave very good advice on pulling yourself up.<BR><BR>

Whew - people get cranky on this board sometimes. <BR>Re priority luggage tags: I have flown millions of miles and have NEVER had a bag ransacked nor have I lost one. I almost always get my bags first and am long gone from the airport and/or through customs before almost everyone else. And I NEVER carry on my luggage -it is a huge pain and there is really nothing to be gained by so doing.

Hey &quot;duh&quot;, you need to cool your jets. If you keep this up you will 'stroke out' before you ever have the opportunity to enjoy first class.

Why I fly First Class...<BR><BR>...I am 6'3&quot; tall with long legs, so Economy is too painful against my knees; work in the retail sector ( Rodeo Drive ) catering to my clients, so I like to be catered to in return; love my frequent flier miles, so I like to get the bonus miles for flying in First; I work extremely hard (mentally and physically), so I like to sleep and relax as much as I can; and finally, I actually enjoy airplane food and the flying experience so I am thankful everytime I can reward myself for my hard work so I choose to fly First Class. Also, flying only about 5 times per year, I can actually afford to pay for First Class. I am not from a wealthy family nor have I inherited anything. I simply choose to spend my money on the better quality things instead of some of these 'knuckleheads' on these posts who spend their money on drugs and make idiot remarks! <BR><BR>Moral of the story: Spend money on First Class, not drugs.<BR><BR>And this is why I fly First Class.<BR><BR>The End.