What is flying first class like? Reflections from my first, first class flight!

I always thought my first time in first class would be this glamorous, over-the-top moment with champagne and luxury. Instead, it happened on a one-way ticket back from Michigan after my grandmother’s funeral. I had baggage in every sense of the word, and in that moment I told myself, what the hell, YOLO.

The flight itself was nice. The seats had more room, I had space for my bags, and the drinks were free. Nothing too fancy, but it felt good to try it. What made it even more special was the person sitting next to me. It turned out to be one of my mentors from my early years in Memphis. She was running for a city government position, and somehow we ended up with the same layover and connecting flight in Atlanta. That was such a relief to have a familiar face during a heavy trip home.

If I am being honest, domestic first class is not all that. It is more comfortable, yes, but not life-changing. Still, I liked it enough to book another one-way first-class ticket for my big transition later this year. That one cost me $750 with Delta, and it is some mix of first class and Comfort+ with Value. Airlines really love coming up with new names. This time I will also be traveling with my dog. He has anxiety around people, and I figured the extra space and calmer energy of first class would help both of us. I’ll definitely be keeping you updated on the process!

So maybe first class is not about the glamour after all. Maybe it is about choosing to make the journey a little easier on yourself when you can. I am curious to see how this experience compares with the international first-class flight I have coming up.

Have you ever flown first class? Was it worth it for you, or do you think it is overhyped? I would love to hear your stories in the comments.