Coach Class vs. Business ClassOn our recent trip to Ireland, I had the pleasure of experiencing flights both in Business Class and Coach Class. I'm sure some of you saw that episode on Seinfeld where Jerry was in First Class and Elaine was in Coach Class a few years back (okay, maybe several years back).
Anyway, I thought it would be useful to review how these experiences differ, from my point of view:
Coach Class:
-The seats barely recline....if you are lucky and small enough, you can put your tray table down and cross your arms and lay like that with a pillow if you can get one...I've found this to be the only sleeping position that works for me in coach class.
-If you have an aisle seat, you have the pleasure of experiencing other people's bums in your face on a recurring basis throughout the flight...especially if you are seated by the bathrooms.
-Speaking of bathrooms....there are only a few for many passengers, so you either have to stand in line or hold your water for several hours if it's an overseas flight.
-Everyone wants to carry on...which means if you are seated last, chances are you will have to gate check your luggage or place your bag far away from where you are seated, stealing precious time from your deplaning procedure....this can get hairy if you have a close connection.
-In flight entertainment - they run one movie, maybe two. And you have to take what you can get...they charge for the headphones and they sorta hurt your ears so you have got to be dedicated if you want to watch the movie(s).
-There are screaming babies...I think it's a requirement that there be a minimum of five screaming babies scattered throughout coach on all flights lasting more than two hours...this ensures none of the passengers get any sleep and achieve a catatonic sleep deprived state by the end of the flight so as not to disturb the flight attendants.
-If you are flying standby and the flight is full, it is guaranteed you will get a middle seat...between two arm rest hoggers. Which means basically you must crumple your shoulders in as far as possible and remain in this position for the duration of the flight. Chiropractors make a mint off standby fliers because of the ensuing major back and neck pain associated with this middle seat position.
-The pillows and blankets. You are lucky to get one pillow and you can sometimes steal another from an open seat if the flight is not full. And they are so small they're hardly worth calling them pillows. And the blankets...if you want to call them that. Thin, flimsy felt like material full of static cling that messes with your clothes and hair. You're better off using your coat.
-The amenity kit - oh, you don't get one of these in Coach Class...sorry. Bring your own.
-The food. What can we say about the food....other than it's food....sort of. But I've found that if I'm hungry enough I'll eat everything they put in front of me. It should be noted that on my last trip the food actually didn't suck...it was more than acceptable. Maybe because it was an international flight...who knows.
-The drinks. Sip at them sparingly. For an eight hour flight, they will only be by three times, and they won't ever give you the whole can of soda unless you practically beg them to.
-The snoring.....for some reason it's easier to hear people snoring in coach class which enhances the sleep deprivation procedure. Must be because the seats are so close together.
-The smells...ah, yes, the smells. Is it just me, or are people just more gaseous and overall less hygienically inclined in coach?
-The deplaning. This can in some ways resemble a mob scene. And it seems worse on international flights. Probably because so many folks have had to hold their water (see above) and REALLY need to get off that plane. Can't say I really blame them.
On the other hand....
Business Class is a much different story.
-The seats fully recline so you are in an almost horizontal position with your feet raised up and your head back. Very, very nice.
-Doesn't matter If you have an aisle seat or a window - the seats are so far apart you don't have to deal with people's bums in your face - ever.
-Business Class has its own bathrooms the lowly coach customers are not allowed to use. However...you have to fight for these bathrooms with the many members of the International flight crew and they turn the seatbelt sign on frequently for shift changes or if one of the pilots currently in the cockpit needs to use the necessary. You must learn to time your bathroom breaks strategically. On the upside, you're fighting for use of one of three bathrooms (at least on the air frame we were on) with a total of only about 50 people).
-Everyone wants to carry on...but that's OK. If it won't fit up above you get to use the Business Class closet and the flight attendant will put it in the closet and bring it back for you when the plane lands, before the door is open.
-In flight entertainment - you have your pick of about 10 movies, your own small screen, and also an assortment of games you can play using the air phone/remote control combo device you are provided. Also, the headphones are WAY better.
-There are no screaming babies...this helps with your sleeping as you comfortably recline in your seat.
-There are no middle seats in Business Class...and there is about six inches of space between your seat and the one next to you. Very nice.
-The pillows and blankets. In Business Class, the pillow is about three times larger and much firmer, and you get a full-on quilt that's the length of your entire seat. These both aid in the sleeping process.
-The amenity kit. Oh, the amenity kit. Complete with sleeping mask, ear plugs, warm socks, lip balm, hand cream, toothbrush and toothpaste. Lovely. Saved parts of ours.
-The food. This can be really good or sometimes not so good. Depends on your flight. But I can tell you there's LOTS of it. I don't go for a lot of that fancy gourmet stuff, but this last trip we got garlic crusted lamb with rosemary sauce and it was pretty good. Of course, you also get the warm nuts before dinner, the fruit and cheese plate after and a specially made just for you sundae at the end. Yummy sundae. We also got breakfast just prior to landing - it was a fancy potato fritada...pretty decent but I think I would have preferred bacon and eggs....that's just me. Oh and, of course you get your own linen table cloth and eat off fancy glass dishes.
-The drinks. Drinks, drinks, and more drinks. Before you take off, throughout the flight, whenever you want, whatever you want. It's free...drink all you want. But be careful if you get wine...you can easily get quite drunk as they continuously fill your glass throughout the flight.
-The snoring.....not a factor really....you have your ear plugs.
-The smells...there is more space between the seats and also people make good use of their amenity kits so the only smells you smell are pleasant.....first class meals cooking and all.
-The deplaning. You get to go first, and the nice flight attendants make sure you have your jacket and bags in plenty of time before the door opens. Flight attendants are so much nicer in Business Class, aren't they?
That's the end of my observations between the cabins during our Ireland trips. If I've missed anything, please comment and let all of us know.
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Comments
I got bumped up to first classs once for agreeing to change my flight. The experience was so good the vacation started on the plane. Flying home coach really sucked though.
Posted by: Sarcasmom on October 24, 2005 05:56 AM
Perfect descriptions! Business Class on KLM was heaven. Too bad that was a rare event :(
Posted by: DrinkJack ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://thepeachpit.net/nav-commenters.gif)
on October 23, 2005 04:27 PM
your observations are right on the money. guess it pays off when you can afford business class. :)
here via michele today. :)
oh, love the look of your template! will be checking around some...
Posted by: ribbiticus on October 23, 2005 12:37 PM
I never have the opportunity to fly anything other than coach. Luckily, I'm able to fall asleep in any position, and under any circumstance.
visiting from michele's
Posted by: dena on October 23, 2005 12:05 PM
