What can I expect from an international business class flight?
April 29, 2022 7:53 PM
I'm in the lucky situation where I am about to take international business class flights on United and Aegean for work. I have flown coach my whole life. How can I make the most of this experience?
I have never traveled enough in quantity or with enough loyalty to have any kind of mileage status. I've also never been in one of those mysterious closed off lounges I pass by in the airport. I've never boarded early or have been a member of the many groups of people that seem to be called before they get to us coach passengers. I'm a regular person.
What can I expect of this 10+ hour international business class flight? I'm looking for details, both so I can enjoy myself as much as possible and also to avoid faux pas. I'm really used to doing everything myself, and high service situations are strange to me. When I board the plane, what is going to happen? Do people help stow your luggage? Is it the same deal where your luggage goes in the overhead bin and personal items go under the seat in front of you? Will they give me a glass of champagne like I see in movies? Some googling is telling me to get to the airport early to spend time in the lounge (what happens in the lounge? is everything free in there? what is available? how do I get in?), get free booze (too bad I don't drink), and maybe get free rides to the airport. I know fancy meals are included on the flight, but is there other food available for free? Can I just eat whenever I want and ask for it?
Would appreciate hearing about anyone else's experience in business class, bonus points if it was on United or Aegean. Thanks!
I have never traveled enough in quantity or with enough loyalty to have any kind of mileage status. I've also never been in one of those mysterious closed off lounges I pass by in the airport. I've never boarded early or have been a member of the many groups of people that seem to be called before they get to us coach passengers. I'm a regular person.
What can I expect of this 10+ hour international business class flight? I'm looking for details, both so I can enjoy myself as much as possible and also to avoid faux pas. I'm really used to doing everything myself, and high service situations are strange to me. When I board the plane, what is going to happen? Do people help stow your luggage? Is it the same deal where your luggage goes in the overhead bin and personal items go under the seat in front of you? Will they give me a glass of champagne like I see in movies? Some googling is telling me to get to the airport early to spend time in the lounge (what happens in the lounge? is everything free in there? what is available? how do I get in?), get free booze (too bad I don't drink), and maybe get free rides to the airport. I know fancy meals are included on the flight, but is there other food available for free? Can I just eat whenever I want and ask for it?
Would appreciate hearing about anyone else's experience in business class, bonus points if it was on United or Aegean. Thanks!
I got to fly business class from China to NYC once. The greatest part of the experience (other than the fact that they served us ice cream sundaes which was pretty amazing) was that it was like it didn’t happen. I got on board, went to cruising altitude, they served us food and I think I watched a movie, and then I was able to recline almost completely and just sleep for a solid 6 hours or so. Like actually sleep. Not fitfully waking up with a crick in my neck, just sleep. I woke up when they served a breakfast (diff meal?), they cleared it and then we landed.
I felt like I “missed out” on the experience because I slept through it, but that’s kind of the point in my opinion.
posted by raccoon409 at 8:07 PM on April 29, 2022
I felt like I “missed out” on the experience because I slept through it, but that’s kind of the point in my opinion.
posted by raccoon409 at 8:07 PM on April 29, 2022
It also depends on your departure, transit, and arrival airports and whether it’s an overnight flight. My experience on Singapore Airlines between Frankfurt and Singapore was a fantastic lounge with a full breakfast buffet, subdued lighting and hushed conversation which was nice because I was still half asleep. A separate queue for early boarding, a separate gangway, the usual cavernous overhead luggage bins. A 2-2-2 seat arrangement on an A-380 with a little sliding partition between the seats. Wide armrests, leather seats, legroom for miles. A toiletry bag, menu with several choices for every meal, meals served in courses on China plates, silverware, cloth napkins. Snacks and any kind of drink, alcoholic or otherwise served whenever requested (also standard in coach). Roughly 300 channels on the in-flight entertainment system (also standard). The flight attendant converts the seat to a lay flat bed with sheets and a blanket when you want to sleep. There is a kind of shell wrapped partly around the seat to give you a sense of enclosure. Then, when you arrive, you get to disembark before coach passengers but most assuredly after the first class passengers who’ve spent the flight in suites.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:27 PM on April 29, 2022
posted by TWinbrook8 at 8:27 PM on April 29, 2022
I used to fly United business class all the time, on 10+ hour flights. For some of that time I was one of those people with the "you can't earn it" status where you check in a separate room, that sort of thing. Some short notes to your questions, all pre-Covid:
When you board the plane, not much will be different. You should plan to put your bag overhead, in general there will be no storage under the seat that you can use at takeoff. However, there will be lots of storage cubbies that you can use for a book, headphones, water bottle, that sort of thing - so have that stuff easy to access so that you can store it in those cubbies when your main bag goes up. Ignore the signs that say don't store anything in here if it's a book or a kindle or headphones or whatever, no one cares. As soon as you're high enough you can grab your laptop. You may have a three point seatbelt with a shoulder strap for takeoff.
When you sit down (or soon after) you will get an amenity kit with toothbrush, random toiletries, socks, etc in it. You may or may not get offered champagne, orange juice, or water before takeoff - this may have changed with Covid. They will also give you a menu - generally you will just choose your main course, you get everything else listed. Someone will come by and ask for that, possibly by name. You may have to give a second choice. You will be given headphones, sometimes nice noice cancelling ones. They will want to pick them up an hour before landing or so, so keep that in mind.
Your in-flight entertainment will generally be working as soon as you sit down, and this is one of the biggest benefits - you can sometimes get through half a movie before the plane takes off, especially since you can board early. So board early, why not.
Depending on the flight there may or may not be a snack type menu you can order from outside of meals, or there may be a snack basket in the galley you can just wander back to and get things from. On US to Europe overnight flights the service tends to stop after dinner / dessert since most people are sleeping, but you can always hit the call button and ask - don't be a jerk, be polite, that sort of thing.
If you have trouble understanding how to operate your seat, just ask. When you're ready to go to bed, just hit the call button and ask them to help make your bed and they will, Again, just be polite but it is normal to ask especially if you don't know how it all works.
The lounges at the airport are generally nice enough - plenty of free food and drink, magazines and newspapers and that sort of thing. I would arrive early if it's your only time being there just to check it out, to get in just show your passport and ticket.
posted by true at 8:32 PM on April 29, 2022
When you board the plane, not much will be different. You should plan to put your bag overhead, in general there will be no storage under the seat that you can use at takeoff. However, there will be lots of storage cubbies that you can use for a book, headphones, water bottle, that sort of thing - so have that stuff easy to access so that you can store it in those cubbies when your main bag goes up. Ignore the signs that say don't store anything in here if it's a book or a kindle or headphones or whatever, no one cares. As soon as you're high enough you can grab your laptop. You may have a three point seatbelt with a shoulder strap for takeoff.
When you sit down (or soon after) you will get an amenity kit with toothbrush, random toiletries, socks, etc in it. You may or may not get offered champagne, orange juice, or water before takeoff - this may have changed with Covid. They will also give you a menu - generally you will just choose your main course, you get everything else listed. Someone will come by and ask for that, possibly by name. You may have to give a second choice. You will be given headphones, sometimes nice noice cancelling ones. They will want to pick them up an hour before landing or so, so keep that in mind.
Your in-flight entertainment will generally be working as soon as you sit down, and this is one of the biggest benefits - you can sometimes get through half a movie before the plane takes off, especially since you can board early. So board early, why not.
Depending on the flight there may or may not be a snack type menu you can order from outside of meals, or there may be a snack basket in the galley you can just wander back to and get things from. On US to Europe overnight flights the service tends to stop after dinner / dessert since most people are sleeping, but you can always hit the call button and ask - don't be a jerk, be polite, that sort of thing.
If you have trouble understanding how to operate your seat, just ask. When you're ready to go to bed, just hit the call button and ask them to help make your bed and they will, Again, just be polite but it is normal to ask especially if you don't know how it all works.
The lounges at the airport are generally nice enough - plenty of free food and drink, magazines and newspapers and that sort of thing. I would arrive early if it's your only time being there just to check it out, to get in just show your passport and ticket.
posted by true at 8:32 PM on April 29, 2022
Is it “business class” or “Polaris”? They’re slightly different (Polaris is better).
…you’ll probably get a little bag of toiletries — keep all that stuff. I even find the bag itself useful (e.g., I keep my bandaids in one).
In all seriousness, when I flew Polaris, I got off the plane afterwards and straight-up cursed because now I knew how nice it could be, and I was doomed to fly coach. Now I would know, when cramped and suffering, that I could have been lying flat on a decent bed, asleep. That I could wake up refreshed, not grumpy, not in pain, but nooooooo I was doomed anyway.
posted by aramaic at 9:01 PM on April 29, 2022
…you’ll probably get a little bag of toiletries — keep all that stuff. I even find the bag itself useful (e.g., I keep my bandaids in one).
In all seriousness, when I flew Polaris, I got off the plane afterwards and straight-up cursed because now I knew how nice it could be, and I was doomed to fly coach. Now I would know, when cramped and suffering, that I could have been lying flat on a decent bed, asleep. That I could wake up refreshed, not grumpy, not in pain, but nooooooo I was doomed anyway.
posted by aramaic at 9:01 PM on April 29, 2022
I’ve flown both business class and Polaris/first class on United and they are different. If your ticket is Polaris and the picture of your seat on the plane diagram is a long bed shape then that’s awesome! Those seats do have a small nook where you can store a bag but there’s tons of overhead space. If you’re flying Polaris and leaving or connecting in an airport with a United Polaris lounge definitely take advantage and go in, they’re very nice. When I flew Polaris into London I was given access to an off brand lounge on arrival and took a shower. They even gave me a fast pass through immigration. I think that’s all very location specific and this was pre-Covid.
There was a menu onboard and you chose your entree and desert. You may get a pre-takeoff beverage. In my experience they walk around with champagne, oj, and water on a tray. Of course, the further back you are in the plane the later you’ll be served. I find the service really depends on the mood of the flight attendants. Some will bend over backward and some disappear as soon as they can. A lot of items you have to request ( like slippers and pjs, which is just cheap cotton t-shirt and shorts) and are found on your menu.
United now has business class seats on some routes as well. I flew one to India and it’s a larger seat, like domestic first class, and lays back quite a bit but not into a bed. I received a little cosmetics bag like in first class but it was smaller and had fewer things in it (e.g., tiny toothbrush instead of a full size one like in first class). You don’t get access to the Polaris lounge if you’re in the regular business class. I don’t know about access to the regular United (or star alliance) lounge on these tickets as I get mine with my status level — you’ll have to do a little googling there.
posted by Bunglegirl at 9:03 PM on April 29, 2022
There was a menu onboard and you chose your entree and desert. You may get a pre-takeoff beverage. In my experience they walk around with champagne, oj, and water on a tray. Of course, the further back you are in the plane the later you’ll be served. I find the service really depends on the mood of the flight attendants. Some will bend over backward and some disappear as soon as they can. A lot of items you have to request ( like slippers and pjs, which is just cheap cotton t-shirt and shorts) and are found on your menu.
United now has business class seats on some routes as well. I flew one to India and it’s a larger seat, like domestic first class, and lays back quite a bit but not into a bed. I received a little cosmetics bag like in first class but it was smaller and had fewer things in it (e.g., tiny toothbrush instead of a full size one like in first class). You don’t get access to the Polaris lounge if you’re in the regular business class. I don’t know about access to the regular United (or star alliance) lounge on these tickets as I get mine with my status level — you’ll have to do a little googling there.
posted by Bunglegirl at 9:03 PM on April 29, 2022
Lounges vary by airport and airline. Some are the equivalent of the free continental breakfast at a holiday inn - mediocre and not worth waking up early for unless you might die without coffee before 7am - and some are swanky AF with real food you can order, comfy squashy chairs, good free snacks, private showers and changing rooms to freshen yourself up in, etc. Most are somewhere in the middle. If getting there early is annoying to you, don’t worry about missing out on anything. If you’re like my dad and the stress of being possibly rushed is so bad that you get to the airport so you’re three hours early AFTER getting through security, even on a red eye flight, then yeah, show up early and take advantage of the better seating in the lounge. I haven’t done a swanky flight since before 2020 so I don’t know about covid stuff, but I imagine that if you are concerned the lounge might be a good way to avoid a lot of crowds. There might be a lot of people eating and such without masks on in there though so, ymmv.
You get some extra stuff in fancypants class, but all the flight policies are the same. Wheeled luggage in overheads, personal items etc under the seat. You will probably have an attendant who is responsible for just your section, so if anyone needs a hand they will be more attentive than the overextended people in coach, but you still need to abide by the seat belt sign, put away your tray table for take off and landing, use headphones, etc. One thing is that a lot of people with mobility issues who can afford it will spring for business or first class, so the attendant will probably be helping those folks and you can do your own thing. I’m very short so I can’t reach the overhead bins. In coach there is usually a tall person nearby who leaps up to help me. In first and business it’s always a flight attendant because everyone else is old or self absorbed or both.
Things that might be different:
You might get asked if the flight attendant can take your coat. Depending on the plane model there will be a little closet where these can hang. You can keep your coat, I always do, just say no thank you. If they do take your coat they will likely bring it to you before the plane lands.
Depending on the plane, the tray tables will be in a different spot. A lot of the time they are stashed in the arm of the seat, with a little thing you flip up to reveal a pull tab, swing the table out and then hinge over your lap. They are kind of tricky and the flight attendant will be extremely used to helping folks with them. Since it’s an international flight you will probably have some bells and whistles in your seat you are unfamiliar with. There might be a divider to help you control light from the windows and reading lights. There might be different ways to recline, or a foot rest, or a place to hang a purse. This is all stuff the flight attendant will help you with, and you can ogle the other passengers and copy them.
You can’t get food whenever you want, but the food will be better and you will be offered snacks. The flight attendant will probably have a way to take notes and go around getting orders and then come back with each individual’s request, instead of hauling a cart up and down the aisle. You can ask for champagne but as the flight is boarding they will probably have a tray of water and orange juice and you can have that really quick, or request a different drink right away. Depending on what time the flight is they might start you off with coffee. The food on international flights is often better regardless of seating class. There will probably be some nod to the cuisine of your destination country, for people who are going home. You will probably be offered warm mixed nuts in a little ceramic dish, which I greatly enjoy. The cutlery will be actual metal, and you will have a glass for your drink. But the food won’t be like, super amazing restaurant delicious. It will just be less gross than coach class.
Before the meals and maybe a couple times through the flight they will offer a hot damp towel. Definitely take one! They are super refreshing. You use them to wipe your hands clean so eating is less yucky, and you can unfold it and steam your face for a bit, which feels really nice on a long flight. The flight attendant will come by later to pick them up. You don’t have to take one if being a bit damp sounds icky in the moment; they bother my best friend and I get that it can be a texture issue, but I think they are brilliant.
You will probably have a bathroom just for swanky class passengers. This bathroom will be very similar to any other plane bathroom but might have some free toiletries to use and some nicer soap or lotion. Also it won’t be used by nearly as many people, which is wonderful on an international flight, especially if you have mobility concerns.
You might get a free toiletries bag with some stuff in it that is very useful, though this depends on the flight and your ticket and the airline and etc etc etc. I have a United toiletries bag that is from a first class international flight I took something like fifteen years ago and it is perfect. It came with a tiny comb and a tiny toothbrush and tiny toothpaste, an eye mask, some hand sanitizer, lotion, a half sized ballpoint pen, a little United brand pad of paper, and a whole ding dang pair of giant socks which were comically huge on me. I still have the comb and the bag is my go to bag in my purse for all flights, it is just the right size for passports and tickets and ID and I love it. So if they offer you something like that, take it! Seize the day!! But things have changed in the last decade, and this may have been the difference between first and business, so who knows. They will definitely have things like blankets and pillows and probably eye masks they can offer you on the flight, though they are probably not for keeps. By all means, take advantage of whatever appeals to you, or just say no thank you and do your own thing. You don’t need to accept anything just to be polite. Plenty of people just get in their seat, put in headphones, and ignore everything for the duration of the flight. That is just fine, too.
If anything confuses you, just ask and they will be happy to help. That’s like half their job! If concern about missing out on something or making a faux pas is making you stressed, try to remember that it’s still just a plane flight and try as they might you are still being hauled in a tube through the sky. It’s probably going to be nicer than previous flight experiences for you, but it’s not ever going to be as nice as not being in a tube.
posted by Mizu at 9:03 PM on April 29, 2022
You get some extra stuff in fancypants class, but all the flight policies are the same. Wheeled luggage in overheads, personal items etc under the seat. You will probably have an attendant who is responsible for just your section, so if anyone needs a hand they will be more attentive than the overextended people in coach, but you still need to abide by the seat belt sign, put away your tray table for take off and landing, use headphones, etc. One thing is that a lot of people with mobility issues who can afford it will spring for business or first class, so the attendant will probably be helping those folks and you can do your own thing. I’m very short so I can’t reach the overhead bins. In coach there is usually a tall person nearby who leaps up to help me. In first and business it’s always a flight attendant because everyone else is old or self absorbed or both.
Things that might be different:
You might get asked if the flight attendant can take your coat. Depending on the plane model there will be a little closet where these can hang. You can keep your coat, I always do, just say no thank you. If they do take your coat they will likely bring it to you before the plane lands.
Depending on the plane, the tray tables will be in a different spot. A lot of the time they are stashed in the arm of the seat, with a little thing you flip up to reveal a pull tab, swing the table out and then hinge over your lap. They are kind of tricky and the flight attendant will be extremely used to helping folks with them. Since it’s an international flight you will probably have some bells and whistles in your seat you are unfamiliar with. There might be a divider to help you control light from the windows and reading lights. There might be different ways to recline, or a foot rest, or a place to hang a purse. This is all stuff the flight attendant will help you with, and you can ogle the other passengers and copy them.
You can’t get food whenever you want, but the food will be better and you will be offered snacks. The flight attendant will probably have a way to take notes and go around getting orders and then come back with each individual’s request, instead of hauling a cart up and down the aisle. You can ask for champagne but as the flight is boarding they will probably have a tray of water and orange juice and you can have that really quick, or request a different drink right away. Depending on what time the flight is they might start you off with coffee. The food on international flights is often better regardless of seating class. There will probably be some nod to the cuisine of your destination country, for people who are going home. You will probably be offered warm mixed nuts in a little ceramic dish, which I greatly enjoy. The cutlery will be actual metal, and you will have a glass for your drink. But the food won’t be like, super amazing restaurant delicious. It will just be less gross than coach class.
Before the meals and maybe a couple times through the flight they will offer a hot damp towel. Definitely take one! They are super refreshing. You use them to wipe your hands clean so eating is less yucky, and you can unfold it and steam your face for a bit, which feels really nice on a long flight. The flight attendant will come by later to pick them up. You don’t have to take one if being a bit damp sounds icky in the moment; they bother my best friend and I get that it can be a texture issue, but I think they are brilliant.
You will probably have a bathroom just for swanky class passengers. This bathroom will be very similar to any other plane bathroom but might have some free toiletries to use and some nicer soap or lotion. Also it won’t be used by nearly as many people, which is wonderful on an international flight, especially if you have mobility concerns.
You might get a free toiletries bag with some stuff in it that is very useful, though this depends on the flight and your ticket and the airline and etc etc etc. I have a United toiletries bag that is from a first class international flight I took something like fifteen years ago and it is perfect. It came with a tiny comb and a tiny toothbrush and tiny toothpaste, an eye mask, some hand sanitizer, lotion, a half sized ballpoint pen, a little United brand pad of paper, and a whole ding dang pair of giant socks which were comically huge on me. I still have the comb and the bag is my go to bag in my purse for all flights, it is just the right size for passports and tickets and ID and I love it. So if they offer you something like that, take it! Seize the day!! But things have changed in the last decade, and this may have been the difference between first and business, so who knows. They will definitely have things like blankets and pillows and probably eye masks they can offer you on the flight, though they are probably not for keeps. By all means, take advantage of whatever appeals to you, or just say no thank you and do your own thing. You don’t need to accept anything just to be polite. Plenty of people just get in their seat, put in headphones, and ignore everything for the duration of the flight. That is just fine, too.
If anything confuses you, just ask and they will be happy to help. That’s like half their job! If concern about missing out on something or making a faux pas is making you stressed, try to remember that it’s still just a plane flight and try as they might you are still being hauled in a tube through the sky. It’s probably going to be nicer than previous flight experiences for you, but it’s not ever going to be as nice as not being in a tube.
posted by Mizu at 9:03 PM on April 29, 2022
Read reviews of the lounges at the actual airports + terminals you're going to before you make plans to show up early. Some lounges are so epic (there is literally no luxury that beats getting to take a hot shower on a layover after a ten hour flight, hop on a short connection, and arrive at your final destination clean and fabulous) but many are mediocre.
The one time I flew international first class I had a HORRIBLE sunburn (both ways!! Cruel) and didn't get much sleep even though I had a bed I could lie in. But I watched so many movies and they had dozens available. Weirdly that's when I watched "Bonnie & Clyde". A lot of the time they like to bust out some kind of novelty food you wouldn't expect on a flight, like a freshly baked cookie or ice cream. So, idk, expect the unexpected.
posted by potrzebie at 11:27 PM on April 29, 2022
The one time I flew international first class I had a HORRIBLE sunburn (both ways!! Cruel) and didn't get much sleep even though I had a bed I could lie in. But I watched so many movies and they had dozens available. Weirdly that's when I watched "Bonnie & Clyde". A lot of the time they like to bust out some kind of novelty food you wouldn't expect on a flight, like a freshly baked cookie or ice cream. So, idk, expect the unexpected.
posted by potrzebie at 11:27 PM on April 29, 2022
On the one hand it’s a flight like any other. On the other you have space and normally good service and it is just so much more civilised. And yes, you will be corrupted because once you know how comfortable you could be the torture of 10 hrs in coach will feel even worse because you now know for sure it doesn’t have to be like that.
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:13 AM on April 30, 2022
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:13 AM on April 30, 2022
My experience is getting on in some years and as others mentioned the exact thing you will get is pretty idiosyncratic based on airline, time of day, destination, covid, etc.
As a person in my early 20s going on my first international business trip I got surprise gate upgraded from coach to business for my leg from Dallas to Osaka. It was so much room. So much service. There was endless food and drink with complete menu options in a Western as well as Japanese cuisine. To give you an idea on service, the flight attendant asked me if I wanted red or white wine with dinner. I took a beat to ponder the question and she cut me off with a "Don't worry sir, I'll just bring you both". It was very, very easy to overindulge. Also fun as a young person, the guy in the seat next to me was convinced I had to be someone tech important because I was going to Japan solo in business class.
Despite all the space and the service and the unlimited movies...flying that duration still sucks. I walked many laps of the plane to keep myself sane.
I saw the flip side on my return flights in coach where I was seated near what appeared to be the Australian national basketball team. They looked miserable. This is the only time on a flight where I have seen adults trying to get comfortable by lying on the floor of the plane.
posted by mmascolino at 7:38 AM on April 30, 2022
As a person in my early 20s going on my first international business trip I got surprise gate upgraded from coach to business for my leg from Dallas to Osaka. It was so much room. So much service. There was endless food and drink with complete menu options in a Western as well as Japanese cuisine. To give you an idea on service, the flight attendant asked me if I wanted red or white wine with dinner. I took a beat to ponder the question and she cut me off with a "Don't worry sir, I'll just bring you both". It was very, very easy to overindulge. Also fun as a young person, the guy in the seat next to me was convinced I had to be someone tech important because I was going to Japan solo in business class.
Despite all the space and the service and the unlimited movies...flying that duration still sucks. I walked many laps of the plane to keep myself sane.
I saw the flip side on my return flights in coach where I was seated near what appeared to be the Australian national basketball team. They looked miserable. This is the only time on a flight where I have seen adults trying to get comfortable by lying on the floor of the plane.
posted by mmascolino at 7:38 AM on April 30, 2022
The thing I took away from my few times flying business class -- especially the lounge access part -- is that it's quiet. The lounges tend to be soundproofed, so the whole hubbub of airports fades away, and that's pretty weird. (There are other things about lounges that can feel creepier, especially in certain airports*.) The cabin feels... quiet. The headphones are typically a lot nicer. The little toiletries bag is nicer. (They're collectible / eBay-able / useful for future travel.) So my advice is really to soak up the quiet.
* In Atlanta and Detroit, a lot of the Delta gate agents / staff are Black. Every time I've used a Delta lounge, the desk staff are Old White Guy and Young Blonde White Woman.
posted by holgate at 7:43 AM on April 30, 2022
* In Atlanta and Detroit, a lot of the Delta gate agents / staff are Black. Every time I've used a Delta lounge, the desk staff are Old White Guy and Young Blonde White Woman.
posted by holgate at 7:43 AM on April 30, 2022
Assuming you are flying business class United (not first/Polaris), the main advantages are priority check-in and security clearance, better service overall, and the big, comfy seat. United lounges in the US aren't great but at least you can easily find a seat with a place to charge devices. Lounges overseas are usually better. Don't worry about faux pas at all. No rides to the airport or anything swank like that. A big advantage that if there is any sort of travel disruption (flight cancellation etc) they will get you sorted out ASAP.
posted by emd3737 at 8:33 AM on April 30, 2022
posted by emd3737 at 8:33 AM on April 30, 2022
Look at your reservation and find the type of aircraft you'll be flying as well as the kind of ticket you have (business class, Polaris, etc.). Then do a search for United + aircraft type + your kind of seating. You will probably be able to find videos of passengers giving a "tour" of your type of seat as well as reviews of the service, meals, etc. You can also find photos and reviews of United lounges in various airports. We have found some lounges to be spacious and quiet with good food and drinks, and others to be crowded and noisy, depending on the airport, time of day, etc.
Hope you have a wonderful flight! It's hard to go back after flying first. :)
posted by MelissaSimon at 10:10 AM on April 30, 2022
Hope you have a wonderful flight! It's hard to go back after flying first. :)
posted by MelissaSimon at 10:10 AM on April 30, 2022
Some understandable confusion arising here from the United service change...
United rebranded all international premium cabins as Polaris a couple (?) years ago. This is presumably to obscure the elimination of actual international first. So unlike domestic United business flights, all international United business flights are technically Polaris. However, the rollout of the newer, nicer Polaris seat is, I think, ongoing. Thus, how nice a seat you get may vary. TPG is a shill but you can see here how to tell what kind of layout you're getting. I agree with everyone who says that the lie-flight is the point for any longer flight and will ruin you forever.
You should have access to a Polaris lounge if one exists at your departure/connection airports, and, I believe, if not, to the normal United lounge as an international premium class traveler. I've never been in one of the new Polaris lounges. Calibrating the advertised Polaris offerings against experience in analogous lounges, you can expect a reasonably comfortable seat, a mostly edible buffet, and a shower experience which I wouldn't prefer over a shower at home if that's feasible (sometimes they're perfectly fine, but the showers tend to age fast in these kinds of setups). The "regular" lounges can vary dramatically in offerings, from cheese and crackers to actual food, and can be a lot more crowded. Probably won't have showers.
The thing you should understand is that no US-based airline really offers a "high-service" flight, but even if they did, the point of "high service" is your comfort and convenience. You needn't worry about faux pas. Just don't be rude to the staff. I would say the biggest difference in service is that they won't give you attitude for ringing the call button for a drink. They may also have snacks you can get for yourself in-flight. (Don't be embarrassed to ask, it's not always obvious.) I'll defer to true's experience on whether you can get them to make up a bed for you--in my prior experience, US-based airlines don't do that, but I haven't flown international Polaris post-change.
If you really want to dig in to the details for fun, flyertalk is your friend, but...take everything with a grain of salt.
posted by praemunire at 10:17 AM on April 30, 2022
United rebranded all international premium cabins as Polaris a couple (?) years ago. This is presumably to obscure the elimination of actual international first. So unlike domestic United business flights, all international United business flights are technically Polaris. However, the rollout of the newer, nicer Polaris seat is, I think, ongoing. Thus, how nice a seat you get may vary. TPG is a shill but you can see here how to tell what kind of layout you're getting. I agree with everyone who says that the lie-flight is the point for any longer flight and will ruin you forever.
You should have access to a Polaris lounge if one exists at your departure/connection airports, and, I believe, if not, to the normal United lounge as an international premium class traveler. I've never been in one of the new Polaris lounges. Calibrating the advertised Polaris offerings against experience in analogous lounges, you can expect a reasonably comfortable seat, a mostly edible buffet, and a shower experience which I wouldn't prefer over a shower at home if that's feasible (sometimes they're perfectly fine, but the showers tend to age fast in these kinds of setups). The "regular" lounges can vary dramatically in offerings, from cheese and crackers to actual food, and can be a lot more crowded. Probably won't have showers.
The thing you should understand is that no US-based airline really offers a "high-service" flight, but even if they did, the point of "high service" is your comfort and convenience. You needn't worry about faux pas. Just don't be rude to the staff. I would say the biggest difference in service is that they won't give you attitude for ringing the call button for a drink. They may also have snacks you can get for yourself in-flight. (Don't be embarrassed to ask, it's not always obvious.) I'll defer to true's experience on whether you can get them to make up a bed for you--in my prior experience, US-based airlines don't do that, but I haven't flown international Polaris post-change.
If you really want to dig in to the details for fun, flyertalk is your friend, but...take everything with a grain of salt.
posted by praemunire at 10:17 AM on April 30, 2022
One more thing:
You can explore United's website to see exactly what your class of ticket includes.
We discovered that Delta One and Delta first class are different, possibly (probably?) the same way folks above have differentiated between United first and Polaris. We were oblivious to this difference until we flew both:
Delta One = lounge access, plush comforter at the seat, Tumi amenities kit, and an email a week or so before the flight asking us our meal preferences.
Delta First = the same big nice seat, but with thin blanket instead of comforter, no kit, no lounge access.
So check out your ticket class / seat on United's website for lots of info.
posted by MelissaSimon at 10:23 AM on April 30, 2022
You can explore United's website to see exactly what your class of ticket includes.
We discovered that Delta One and Delta first class are different, possibly (probably?) the same way folks above have differentiated between United first and Polaris. We were oblivious to this difference until we flew both:
Delta One = lounge access, plush comforter at the seat, Tumi amenities kit, and an email a week or so before the flight asking us our meal preferences.
Delta First = the same big nice seat, but with thin blanket instead of comforter, no kit, no lounge access.
So check out your ticket class / seat on United's website for lots of info.
posted by MelissaSimon at 10:23 AM on April 30, 2022
I've flown united business to Europe twice recently. For the most part, it's nice. The Polaris lounge in Newark is great: good drinks and food, nice bathrooms, good place to chill before the flight. The best part of flying business to Europe is the lie-flat beds so you can sleep and avoid some of the jetlag. Which I highly recommend doing, I think the mistake people make flying business is to get so focused on the free food and drinks that they don't sleep enough and lose the biggest benefit, at least for redeye flights: the chance to sleep. Don't worry, because on the way back you'll have a long boring flight to take advantage of all the food and drinks and everything else, and anyway if you fly out of Newark the Polaris lounge there has much better food than the flight will have.
Other than that, it's a flight. You'll have plenty of overhead room for your stuff in business although not necessarily right by your seat depending on where you are, when you board, and what other people have. As someone else said, there's no under-seat storage so you have to pull out the things you want and store them in the cubby around your seat. There will probably be a bottle of water at your seat, so no need to buy one in the airport. Enjoy it!
posted by ch1x0r at 12:30 PM on April 30, 2022
Other than that, it's a flight. You'll have plenty of overhead room for your stuff in business although not necessarily right by your seat depending on where you are, when you board, and what other people have. As someone else said, there's no under-seat storage so you have to pull out the things you want and store them in the cubby around your seat. There will probably be a bottle of water at your seat, so no need to buy one in the airport. Enjoy it!
posted by ch1x0r at 12:30 PM on April 30, 2022
I have flown business class a lot, but not since COVID hit. Lots of good advice here. The recommendation for using The Points Guy guide to figure out what your seat is going to be like is an extremely good one. You can also find videos about the experience on YouTube. You could also tell an attendant that it's your first time - if you are polite and friendly they may go out of their way for you!
People have complained about the pajamas but they really differ from airline to airline. Lots of Aussies treasure their Qantas PJs; I keep a set at my mom's as a backup. I have stacks of Virgin Australia pajamas that I've worn for years. I'm sad they are all wearing out because they're very comfortable. (The American Airlines pajamas, OTOH, were pretty shit, but United is generally a step above American.) Based on my reading, pajamas and slippers are available on request. Request them and decide for yourself!
The toiletry kits are also pretty great. They have cloth bags and are reusable – they have become my dopp kits for travel. If you are flying Polaris, the dopp kit is swoon-worthy; last I checked they were doing Sunday Riley toiletries.
No one has talked about the Aegean Airlines flight. I'm assuming you're flying Aegean metal only within Europe. If so, business class is going to be the same as economy class but with the center seat blocked off. That's how most European airlines handle business class. Here is a trip report that has loads of photos of Aegean's lounge in Athens. (If you're flying Aegean, seems like a good bet you will be in Athens at some point.)
My personal favorite part of lounges are the free magazines and newspapers. YMMV.
posted by rednikki at 3:26 PM on April 30, 2022
People have complained about the pajamas but they really differ from airline to airline. Lots of Aussies treasure their Qantas PJs; I keep a set at my mom's as a backup. I have stacks of Virgin Australia pajamas that I've worn for years. I'm sad they are all wearing out because they're very comfortable. (The American Airlines pajamas, OTOH, were pretty shit, but United is generally a step above American.) Based on my reading, pajamas and slippers are available on request. Request them and decide for yourself!
The toiletry kits are also pretty great. They have cloth bags and are reusable – they have become my dopp kits for travel. If you are flying Polaris, the dopp kit is swoon-worthy; last I checked they were doing Sunday Riley toiletries.
No one has talked about the Aegean Airlines flight. I'm assuming you're flying Aegean metal only within Europe. If so, business class is going to be the same as economy class but with the center seat blocked off. That's how most European airlines handle business class. Here is a trip report that has loads of photos of Aegean's lounge in Athens. (If you're flying Aegean, seems like a good bet you will be in Athens at some point.)
My personal favorite part of lounges are the free magazines and newspapers. YMMV.
posted by rednikki at 3:26 PM on April 30, 2022
There are a lot of youtubers who make videos about flying, especially in nicer classes. You might be able to find one that is like the flight you are on if you search around.
posted by roaring beast at 8:03 PM on April 30, 2022
posted by roaring beast at 8:03 PM on April 30, 2022
One thing that I saw referenced above was that many European airlines like to show off the best of their home nations on board, especially if tourism is a large part of that country's economy. Aegean does this exceptionally well for Greece, and really makes Greece itself a big part of its brand. You will really enjoy your trip with them and feel like a guest, not an imposition.
I have used some of my miles to upgrade myself to business class on Aegean a few times, never while visually resembling a business traveler on those journeys, and I have always found the cabin crew to be totally hospitable. I would actually wager that business class on Aegean is probably frequented far more by people not on business than business-class cabins are in larger economies. So don't worry at all about this being a "high service situation" - I think it will feel much more like being in a very good local restaurant where you are welcomed with warmth rather than a restaurant where you are worried about using the wrong spoon or something.
One thing to keep in mind is that unlike your trans-Atlantic United flight, your Aegean flight will be on an Airbus A320-family aircraft (three seats on each side, one aisle, 25-40 rows) or, if you are connecting in Athens/Thessaloniki to a comparatively small mainland-Greek destination like Ioannina or the very smallest islands like Karpathos, on a smaller plane (two seats on each side, one aisle, 10-20 rows).
This means that when boarding, you may not initially "see" that you're in business class - the headrest covers may be visibly different, but it's not a different or larger seat than in economy. Instead, you will see a little table deployed within the middle seats (image on this page on their site), making all business class seats on Aegean either window or aisle. This also means the business cabin is flexible, and may be adjusted with the curtain starting economy class back at row 10 or up at row 3 or something, or the whole plane can be made all-economy as needed.
Happily, this absolutely does not mean the service is going to be worse than on United! Aegean's current food-service concept includes free food and drink for all passengers with hard candy handed out before landing to help with the pressure change - even in bargain-basement economy, even on propjets, even on short routes like Athens to Crete.
They have branded their food and wine service "Gastronomics" because they are really proud of it, and in business class, you can actually pre-enter your ticket details on that page to pre-select your choice of main, if you fancy it.
Even on short flights, the level of comfort and depth of the welcome is kind of stunning if you are used to flying in economy (though I will note that on my many Aegean economy flights, the crew are just as nice, and exceptionally friendly to elderly folks and families with children). For example, on a business-class flight from Istanbul to Athens I took with my mother in 2016, a flight of just 345 miles on a flight crewed by just three flight attendants:
- as we boarded, we were welcomed and shown to our seats; we had just a small backpack and handbag, so we stowed those ourselves despite their offer to do so
- a moment later, we were offered a newspaper in English, a cool, moist, cotton towel in a small ceramic dish, and a welcome drink in a real glass, as well as a multi-page paper menu and separate wine list from which to select our lunch entrees, dessert and accompanying beverages (so our entrees would be heated in the ovens to allow time for the full service); this was followed by a second welcome drink we consumed while taxiing and taking off - it should be noted here that the crew's interactions with us were happening as the rest of the plane was walking past us while boarding, but somehow the crew never interrupted the flow of people or stopped welcoming them on board, either, while doing this
- immediately after reaching 10,000 feet a chime sounded, releasing the crew from their seats; within a minute we were asked to open our tray tables, upon which a linen tablecloth was set, and were offered more drinks; we asked about some of the wine as all of it was Greek and we'd never tried those particular varietals; two normal-sized full bottles were opened and presented to us to try; both were delicious; we were also presented with a small bowl of warm nuts each at this point
- about five minutes later we were brought our starters (a mezze selection with pita, a small salad, olive oil, I think?) on a small ceramic platter; these were cleared moments after we finished
- perhaps five minutes later, our mains were presented and our drinks were topped up, and we were also offered still or sparkling water; one of us had a pasta dish with vegetables and the other had fish dish with rice; both were great and we were offered more bread or wine
- when we finished, we were asked if we were "ready" for dessert and coffee, tea, espresso and liqueurs; I seem to remember having a sesame/halva tart-like thing with an espresso; my mother had a piece of baklava and an espresso; we were also offered a second espresso, which was served with a small chocolate and glass of water this time
- by this point, we had crossed the Aegean and begun our descent into Athens, and as the crew offered us the aforementioned landing sweets and closed the galley for landing, they still took the time to ask my mother what she liked best and offered her advice about other Greek food and drink to try; in fact, the cabin crew, we realised later, also always served her before me, the kind of small gesture of respect that we kept seeing throughout Greece on our visit
- as we taxied to the gate after landing, immediately after they finished their announcements, the crew asked us about our Athens itinerary from their jumpseats (we were in row 1, so they were right there), and gave us restaurant suggestions for the area where we were staying; when I attempted to type them into my phone, one of the crew members said something like "I can write it down for you once we're at the gate"; again, a genuinely warm and friendly welcome to the country
- as we prepared to disembark, the crew thanked my mother first, then me, and offered to hand my mother her handbag
Our experience here echoed what is visible in this pre-Covid trip report from aviation YouTuber Paul Lucas, and over on the Aegean Airlines FlyerTalk forum, there's a thread on inflight meals in particular. Aegean's post-Covid changes seem to be pretty minor: on the exact same flight I took from Athens to Istanbul , meals seem now to be served on single trays with covers still atop the cold/ambient-temperature dishes - an almost imperceptible change.
Have a great time!
posted by mdonley at 2:17 AM on May 1, 2022
I have used some of my miles to upgrade myself to business class on Aegean a few times, never while visually resembling a business traveler on those journeys, and I have always found the cabin crew to be totally hospitable. I would actually wager that business class on Aegean is probably frequented far more by people not on business than business-class cabins are in larger economies. So don't worry at all about this being a "high service situation" - I think it will feel much more like being in a very good local restaurant where you are welcomed with warmth rather than a restaurant where you are worried about using the wrong spoon or something.
One thing to keep in mind is that unlike your trans-Atlantic United flight, your Aegean flight will be on an Airbus A320-family aircraft (three seats on each side, one aisle, 25-40 rows) or, if you are connecting in Athens/Thessaloniki to a comparatively small mainland-Greek destination like Ioannina or the very smallest islands like Karpathos, on a smaller plane (two seats on each side, one aisle, 10-20 rows).
This means that when boarding, you may not initially "see" that you're in business class - the headrest covers may be visibly different, but it's not a different or larger seat than in economy. Instead, you will see a little table deployed within the middle seats (image on this page on their site), making all business class seats on Aegean either window or aisle. This also means the business cabin is flexible, and may be adjusted with the curtain starting economy class back at row 10 or up at row 3 or something, or the whole plane can be made all-economy as needed.
Happily, this absolutely does not mean the service is going to be worse than on United! Aegean's current food-service concept includes free food and drink for all passengers with hard candy handed out before landing to help with the pressure change - even in bargain-basement economy, even on propjets, even on short routes like Athens to Crete.
They have branded their food and wine service "Gastronomics" because they are really proud of it, and in business class, you can actually pre-enter your ticket details on that page to pre-select your choice of main, if you fancy it.
Even on short flights, the level of comfort and depth of the welcome is kind of stunning if you are used to flying in economy (though I will note that on my many Aegean economy flights, the crew are just as nice, and exceptionally friendly to elderly folks and families with children). For example, on a business-class flight from Istanbul to Athens I took with my mother in 2016, a flight of just 345 miles on a flight crewed by just three flight attendants:
- as we boarded, we were welcomed and shown to our seats; we had just a small backpack and handbag, so we stowed those ourselves despite their offer to do so
- a moment later, we were offered a newspaper in English, a cool, moist, cotton towel in a small ceramic dish, and a welcome drink in a real glass, as well as a multi-page paper menu and separate wine list from which to select our lunch entrees, dessert and accompanying beverages (so our entrees would be heated in the ovens to allow time for the full service); this was followed by a second welcome drink we consumed while taxiing and taking off - it should be noted here that the crew's interactions with us were happening as the rest of the plane was walking past us while boarding, but somehow the crew never interrupted the flow of people or stopped welcoming them on board, either, while doing this
- immediately after reaching 10,000 feet a chime sounded, releasing the crew from their seats; within a minute we were asked to open our tray tables, upon which a linen tablecloth was set, and were offered more drinks; we asked about some of the wine as all of it was Greek and we'd never tried those particular varietals; two normal-sized full bottles were opened and presented to us to try; both were delicious; we were also presented with a small bowl of warm nuts each at this point
- about five minutes later we were brought our starters (a mezze selection with pita, a small salad, olive oil, I think?) on a small ceramic platter; these were cleared moments after we finished
- perhaps five minutes later, our mains were presented and our drinks were topped up, and we were also offered still or sparkling water; one of us had a pasta dish with vegetables and the other had fish dish with rice; both were great and we were offered more bread or wine
- when we finished, we were asked if we were "ready" for dessert and coffee, tea, espresso and liqueurs; I seem to remember having a sesame/halva tart-like thing with an espresso; my mother had a piece of baklava and an espresso; we were also offered a second espresso, which was served with a small chocolate and glass of water this time
- by this point, we had crossed the Aegean and begun our descent into Athens, and as the crew offered us the aforementioned landing sweets and closed the galley for landing, they still took the time to ask my mother what she liked best and offered her advice about other Greek food and drink to try; in fact, the cabin crew, we realised later, also always served her before me, the kind of small gesture of respect that we kept seeing throughout Greece on our visit
- as we taxied to the gate after landing, immediately after they finished their announcements, the crew asked us about our Athens itinerary from their jumpseats (we were in row 1, so they were right there), and gave us restaurant suggestions for the area where we were staying; when I attempted to type them into my phone, one of the crew members said something like "I can write it down for you once we're at the gate"; again, a genuinely warm and friendly welcome to the country
- as we prepared to disembark, the crew thanked my mother first, then me, and offered to hand my mother her handbag
Our experience here echoed what is visible in this pre-Covid trip report from aviation YouTuber Paul Lucas, and over on the Aegean Airlines FlyerTalk forum, there's a thread on inflight meals in particular. Aegean's post-Covid changes seem to be pretty minor: on the exact same flight I took from Athens to Istanbul , meals seem now to be served on single trays with covers still atop the cold/ambient-temperature dishes - an almost imperceptible change.
Have a great time!
posted by mdonley at 2:17 AM on May 1, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
On the plane things are mostly the same, just bigger and more generously spaced. And the food and drinks are included in your fare. And served on less plasticky dishes.
But!
Check SeatGuru or equivalent to see what your seat will be like on a long haul flight. You have much better chances of sleeping -laying down- which is So Worth It.
posted by janell at 8:00 PM on April 29, 2022