I know I’ve said it before, but I have one of the sweetest husbands around. Last February, on our way home from Europe he sat with the girls in coach for our 9-hour flight and gave his mom and I first class seats! We felt like queens up there and it was a trip home we will never forget. If you’re like me, you may have wondered what it’s like to sit up there behind those magical curtains. Could it really be worth it? Here’s a peek at our first experience traveling in first class! (Remember that all planes are different, so experiences will vary. This was our United flight from Switzerland to Boston.)
OUR SEATS…
The seats were probably one of the best things about our flight. Our seats lowered into that dark area where your feet go so you could recline it as much as you wanted to, even making it completely flat.
From your armrest, you could control your mood lighting, firmness of your seat cushion, lumbar, and leg rest. And yep…you saw that…there was a MASSAGE function! It was the first time in my life I didn’t want my flight to end!
THE SERVICE…
The service was impeccable. The drinks never stopped flowing and the flight attendants were always asking if you wanted anything. They went above and beyond, from passing out Swiss chocolates, hot hand towels, and extra blankets.
WELCOME!
As soon as we saw our seats, we knew this would be unlike any flight we’d taken. After getting seated, and having our coats hung up for us, we settled in and immediately were given a glass of champagne and a variety of nuts.
Shortly after, we were given a bag of free swag that included an eye mask, compression socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, face moisturizer, and more. Then we were handed our menu, which gave us a sneak peek at all the delicious food to come.
THE FOOD…
Shortly after taking off there was more champagne and this time they gave us some Swiss chocolates to go with them. If you didn’t want champagne, you could have chosen from a selection of red or white wine (from actual bottles…not those mini ones) beer, or even cocktails.
First course…
Airplane food reminds me of really bad frozen dinners…but not up here. First up was smoked char with barley salad, apples, pickled carrot, and spicy mayonnaise.
Main course…
“Brasato” Beef braised in red wine sauce. Polenta with Alpine cheese, green beans, pearl onions, and pear. They paired it with a Swiss white wine.
Wine and cheese time…
Shouldn’t every meal include a platter of cheese? Next up was a selection of cheese from the canton of Grisons, and a port wine.
Dessert time…
Luckily, they space out all of these courses throughout the flight, so you can enjoy each one. Dessert was a sweet chestnut mascarpone mousse on white chocolate with a pear slice.
There was also a midnight movie snack of ice cream and chips, which Karen and I secretly brought back to the girls.
Just when you thought you couldn’t possibly eat anything else…they brought out an arrival meal. I can’t believe we were actually hungry again. (sorry…no picture…I ate it too quickly.) Poke bowl with quinoa, avocado, cucumber, spring onion, radish and Asian dressing with smoked teriyaki chicken. Served with a fruit salad.
Not all first class is created equal
Depending on the airline, destination, and duration of the flight, you could have a very different experience. I would research the perks of the flights before you go and blow all your airline miles on it.
Would I fly first class again?
Well…I certainly wouldn’t say no…ok, ok…I’d jump at the chance!! However, (and sorry kiddos…) I don’t think I would pay to have my kids fly first class. I think it is an experience that you need to really appreciate and put in your time before getting it. If I had to wait until my 40’s, there’s no way my teens will be up there any time soon.
It was an amazing flight and I’m so happy I was able to experience it with my mother-in-law. It is definitely something everyone should have on their Travel Bucket list. I felt spoiled and not sure any flight will compare to that one. Maybe it was better not knowing what was behind that magical curtain!!
A huge thank you to my husband for giving us this amazing experience. It was the perfect end to a fabulous family vacation!