How do I enjoy an upgraded air flight to CA?

June 6, 2023 7:42 AM

My darling little brother upgraded my flight as a birthday surprise. How do I enjoy this? Tell me ALL the perks and how to get'em!

Having only flown cattle car, I don't know what to expect except early boarding and more leg room.

BOI to SNA-- What sort of perks can I partake of, and how do I go about accessing or asking for them?

Seasoned travelers, tell me your pro tips!

posted by BlueHorse to Travel & Transportation (17 answers total)

What’s the airline? Do you have any travel related credit cards?
posted by raccoon409 at 7:48 AM on June 6, 2023

Business class should have wider seats as well as more legroom. Fewer seats in that cabin usually means more room for your carry-on bag.

Check your airline site to see if there is a lounge at your departing airport and if there is food and drink.

Check the airline to see what service is included in business class. For a short flight, it may not be much. You may only have time to enjoy a slightly better glass of wine and slightly better snacks.
posted by TORunner at 7:56 AM on June 6, 2023 [2 favorites]

If your status allows free adult beverages, you can ask for 2 at a time. It looks like that flight is a little over 2 hours, so they would probably only come around with the cart once.
posted by sacrifix at 8:01 AM on June 6, 2023 [6 favorites]

(I’ll add in that I recently sadly learned that for United domestic flights in first or business there is no lounge access. I think because they assume anyone regularly flying would have upgraded access/status anyway).

You can arrive later to the airport, board whenever you feel like it and getting off (as well as any checked bags) will be so much quicker. But really, just enjoy air travel while you’re treated like a human.
posted by raccoon409 at 8:13 AM on June 6, 2023

Check your airline site to see if there is a lounge at your departing airport and if there is food and drink.

Domestic first class by itself, sadly, will not get you into a lounge (there are a few exceptions, but not BOI to SNA).

If you are checking a bag or otherwise need to check in with a live person, there will probably be a priority counter, which usually has a shorter line. The bag may be priority tagged, but that may or may not have any effect on how fast it appears at the end. You should get early boarding. They may offer to take your jacket if you're wearing one to hang in the little closet up front. They may offer you a pre-departure OJ or water. The seat will be wider and have more leg room. Free alcoholic drinks are generally offered during the flight. Depending on flight length, you may get a free meal, but more likely a higher class of snacks than coach does. You should feel okay with requesting an additional snack or drink from the flight attendant. There may be some form of pillow, but no blanket. There is usually a first-class bathroom, whose main advantage over the coach bathroom is just that many fewer people are using it. You will be able to exit the plane more quickly at the end. For most domestic flights, that's about it.

(The only non-stop I see between BOI and SNA is Allegiant, and I didn't think they even had a business/first class. If you are indeed flying Allegiant, I would caution you to keep your expectations extremely minimal. You may not get any of the services just mentioned.)
posted by praemunire at 8:19 AM on June 6, 2023 [9 favorites]

From 2013 to 2018 I flew business class twice a year between Bangkok and Europe. For me, the best aspects of flying business class were the seats, noise canceling headphones, high flight attendant to passenger ratio, and the food (quality varied by airline). Often there were separate (and much shorter) lines through security and immigration. Some airport lounges had bathrooms (occupancy 1 person at a time) which included showers. Boarding first almost always meant plenty of room in the overhead compartments for your cabin baggage.

When I've had to deal with someone behind a counter, instead of a machine, to check luggage or get a boarding pass, the line for business class passengers was always shorter than for economy class passengers.

By the way, none of my flights during that time period were on LCC (low cost carriers) airlines. I've avoided them because of reading too many negative reviews.

One warning about flying business class is a quote I read many years ago. ‘A luxury once sampled becomes a necessity.’ It did after my first business class flight. I'm glad I can afford it because I'm less fatigued after flying business class and, after crossing many time zones going west to east, jet lag has less of an impact once I'm home and it goes away much quicker.

Finally, in 2016 I read about the discovery of a walled off section of a NYC subway line. It contained the deteriorating remains of one of the best known and most opulent private subway cars from the era when the system accommodated them. The author found a quote by the owner from the period when she was using the car. When asked if a private car was an acquired taste, she replied, ‘No. One takes to it immediately'.

I took to flying business class immediately.
posted by Homer42 at 8:32 AM on June 6, 2023 [8 favorites]

If this is on Allegiant, Spirit or Southwest, it will be a slightly better version of what everyone else gets. So not much, maybe priority boarding and a drink?

If this is on Alaska, as this seems like it could be, then there's a lot more. Priority check in, luggage allowance, priority boarding, better seats, better snacks, possibly lounge access I think it depends on the airport.
posted by fiercekitten at 8:39 AM on June 6, 2023 [3 favorites]

> "The only non-stop I see between BOI and SNA is Allegiant, and I didn't think they even had a business/first class"

I checked FlightConnections.com and found Allegiant doesn't have business class on direct flights between BOI and SNA. Also confirmed it's the only airline with direct flights on that route.
posted by Homer42 at 8:40 AM on June 6, 2023

My personal preference is to board as late as possible. I don't want to sit in any airline seat longer than necessary, and getting that early cocktail isn't my thing. Having a seat ahead of economy means there will be overhead space for your bag, or they'll make space for you, so why rush to get on first and have everyone else stare at you and whack their bags into your head?

Being able to walk on after everyone else is on (and wrestling for space in the back) is more of a luxury to me.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:53 AM on June 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

BTW, if you want to dig around recent trip reports, here's the Alaska Airlines first-class meal thread from Flyertalk. Just remember that service varies, mostly by length, so don't get all excited about what you read about flying transcon or to Japan!
posted by praemunire at 9:01 AM on June 6, 2023

I got the outbound part of my honeymoon upgraded to first class, and the thing I remember liking the most was a blanked that they provided on the seat. It was cozy, and I would've liked to have kept it, but I left it on the seat. I flew coach on the return leg, and while they also provided a blanket, it wasn't nearly as nice. It should be noted that this was an overnight transcontinental flight on a legacy carrier that no longer exists (US Airways). But it's worth asking.
posted by kevinbelt at 9:33 AM on June 6, 2023

This depends on the airline and on the plane. Mostly on the airline.
posted by mr_roboto at 10:39 AM on June 6, 2023

BOI doesn't have a lounge. You'll likely get priority check in, early boarding, free checked bag (I think), possibly more leg room (depending on the plane, a smaller plane for short flights might not even have a business class section but you'll be up front), free boozy drinks, and possibly better snacks. Nice, but nothing like business class international which is the stuff of dreams!
Sometimes with a business class ticket you can go through a faster security line but I don't think that's the case at BOI.
posted by emd3737 at 1:52 PM on June 6, 2023

Spending the money on exit row that also reclines is almost as good as business class on many airlines
posted by specialk420 at 2:10 PM on June 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

Honestly, nicest thing you're likely to have available, if you want to feel special? Ask for a glass of sparkling wine/champagne.

Something you don't experience directly: being in the upper fare classes makes it less likely that you'll be bumped if the airline's algorithm has to kick in to decide who flies and who doesn't, if the plane is overbooked, or if the airline sends a replacement plane with fewer seats.
posted by gimonca at 3:40 PM on June 6, 2023 [1 favorite]

If this is Alaska, get their app on your phone so you can request your meal in advance.
posted by potrzebie at 5:21 PM on June 6, 2023

Response by poster: Flight out is on Alaska, return is on Delta. Will do the app and see if there is a meal, potrzebie.

Spending the money on exit row that also reclines is almost as good as business class on many airlines.

Specialk420, I've always tried to nab the exit row seats, even if I feel guilty about the 6'6" dude that didn't get it.

Will make sure to check the airlines info, TORunner.

Many thanks all, I'm going to mark this as closed. I'd probably be impressed if this was coast to coast or international, but it will probably be just a better seat. Still nice, but as a notorious cheapskate, I can live with cattle car, and I'm not afraid to call out bad behavior like manspreading, arm rest theft, or a kid kicking the back of the seat. I'm the mother of four. I trained mustangs and rode stallions for years. Pretty easygoing and willing to let you have a stretch, rest your arm, recline your seat a bit. BUT when I give you the side-eye and a Word, it will hurt. And in my persona as a polite grey haired old grandma, stewardesses tend to be quite protective.

The big treat is going to see my little brother for the first time in five years! On my birthday! I'd ride in the baggage compartment for that.
posted by BlueHorse at 9:47 PM on June 6, 2023 [5 favorites]