The Perks of Flying Business Class
Buddha once said, “It’s better to travel well than to arrive.”
Traveling well is easier said than done. Airline seats have gotten smaller, and if you fly coach, you are likely to dine out of a little paper box. You may get to know your neighbor very well because the seats in the coach section are so small, you will be touching the person next to you.
There is no reason for you to have to go through this just to get where you are going. If you are traveling on a domestic flight, you might have thought that an upgrade to business class simply would not be worth the extra money because the flight was so short. However, there are many advantages to flying business or first class.
Your Baggage is Included
Travelers who fly coach will often arrive at the airport, luggage in hand, only to find that there will be an extra fee for their baggage. Some discount airlines will even charge passengers for a carry-on bag.
In some cases, the airline will even insist on being paid for baggage in cash. This can be a problem if you do not carry cash. Business-class generally includes either one or two pieces of checked-through luggage in the price of a ticket.
A piece of luggage can cost $75 to check through on certain airlines. Hence, there are some flights for which it may actually be less expensive to purchase a business class ticket.
Ground Transportation Might be Included
Let’s face it, there is nothing more stressful than waiting for a taxi, Uber, or Lyft when you are on your way to the airport. No one wants to drive their car and leave it in airport parking. Some first-class airline tickets will include ground transportation to the airport. This will save you plenty of time and stress.
A Better Experience at the Airport
Unless you take the red-eye, you are probably going to have to stand in a long line when you check into the airport and a longer one to go through security. First-class passengers have their own ticket counter, and the line tends to be much shorter. There are some airlines that will include express passes for the TSA checkpoint.
The airlines always recommend getting to the airport at least two hours before your flight. If you do as they ask, you are likely to have to spend a good amount of time waiting at the gate for your flight. If you have a flight with a layover, you may have to wait at the airport for quite a while. This can be tedious and uncomfortable.
Fortunately, many airports have a lounge for business class and first-class passengers. These lounges often have free drinks and snacks. They have comfortable seating, free internet, and occasional movies. Some of the better lounges even have showers for people who are on long trips.
You Will Have More Room
The days of the pandemic are coming to a close, but it is still not a bad idea to socially distance and wear masks. You will have more room between yourself and those people who are not in your traveling party if you fly business class.
You will enjoy more legroom in a business class seat. This can be a major benefit if you are on a long flight. Sitting in one position for an extended period can cause leg cramps and blood clots; this is actually known as economy-class syndrome. Nothing will ruin your trip faster than having to go to the emergency room as soon as you get to your destination. A happy traveler is a relaxed and healthy traveler.
In addition to having more legroom, you will have more room for carry-on luggage and garment bags. This can be very important if you have a meeting soon after you get off of the plane. You will not impress the people you are doing business with if you come into the room wearing a rumpled suit.
The Food is Better
Airline food has always had a horrible reputation. There are several films about a disaster happening when the passengers and pilot get food poisoning. If you fly in economy class, you will either have to bring something from home, stop at a food stand in the airport, or purchase an aging and overpriced snack on the plane. You can also pay $12 for a miniature bottle of cheap booze or enjoy a complimentary soft drink.
When you fly business class, you will eat food that has been prepared by a top chef. You will have a choice of several entrees, and cocktails are complimentary. You will even get to enjoy dessert. They will also serve snacks and coffee throughout the flight.
Business-class passengers are likely to get emails with special offers from the airlines. If you are interested in getting a vacation package, you will find that the very best hotels are always paired with a business class flight.
Business-class flights are more expensive than coach, and you may tell yourself you will have more money to spend on your vacation if you skimp on the flight. However, rushing to the airport, standing in a long line, being crammed in next to a stranger, and eating bad food can stress you out. Stress can make for a bad start to any vacation or business trip.
If you arrive at your destination in style, you will have more energy to enjoy the tourist attractions, restaurants, clubs, and accommodations. You will have nothing but pleasant memories of your fabulous trip.
There are online travel companies, like businesstravel365.com, that can offer you surprisingly reasonable prices on business class flights to destinations all over the world.
You have worked hard to earn your vacation, and it should be everything you have dreamt it would be. Taking a business class flight will let your trip begin and end on a high note.