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0 pointsanon848736282mo ago0 comments

Funny, for me it's the opposite. It's uniquely relaxing to be locked in with nothing but a book or some movies (I purposely avoid connecting to the internet during a flight.)

My biggest dilemma is whether to sit in the aisle or window. The former you can get up whenever you want but are bumped by passers by and neighbors exiting the row. Versus being the one doing the disturbing.

And if you can afford business class - where supersonic would be priced - then I mean... The meals are restaurant quality and the full recline?! I hardly want to disembark! The biggest discomfort is the dry sinuses.

But in getting to/from the plane you are cattle moving through a logistical labyrinth with countless possibilities for something to go wrong.

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TulliusCicero2mo ago

100% agree with you. Actually being on the plane is fine, I don't have many complaints there. Yes, there are various compromises around space and comfort, but they're all understandable given the cost/efficiency concerns.

Getting through the airport is just a huge pain in the ass though. At least some airports now let you keep your shoes on again, hopefully soon we'll have scanners that don't need you to remove electronics (I tend to bring too much of this and it's always a pain), or even let you keep liquids again (!).

anon84873628OP2mo ago

Look for the "Smiths" brand scanners and go in that line if possible. Those don't have to remove items from the bag.

ghaff2mo ago

I don't love being on a plane for a very long stretch, even in business class. And IMO food is very mid-tier restaurant. But I don't necessarily disagree with your comment. Even with transport and airport conveniences that a relatively modest amount of money can buy, there's plenty that can go wrong and you can avoid all the other people to only a certain degree.

hbosch2mo ago

>And if you can afford business class [...] The meals are restaurant quality and the full recline?! I hardly want to disembark!

Let's settle down. This kind of biz class experience is almost certainly unique to international travel. Flying "business class" from ATL to SFO might get you a plate of microwave slop and an extra 15deg of incline on almost all domestic jets. Once in a blue moon you'll get a modern plane with the diagonal seats. One less person in the row, though.

Paying for business class domestically is almost always a sham by my experience.

anon84873628OP2mo ago

I was specifically thinking of my experience flying Emirates to the UAE :)

Other threads are discussing what range is actually practical or worthwhile. The article is very optimistic saying Australia can be a weekend trip. For me it's much more beneficial to cut a 16 hour flight in half than a 6 hour one. I don't really mind an itinerary 9 hrs or less, which includes all US domestic travel. But of course it will be different for a business commuter vs the occasional getaway.

zamadatix2mo ago

ATL to SFO would almost certainly top out at first class, not business class. This is true of most all domestic routes. First class on international also just gets you the 15 degrees and 1 or 2 fewer chairs per row, it's business that gets you the lie downs and such.

The food will probably still be worse than a first class international flight though. Not as many people paying as much and not enough air time to really force all of them to want to eat airplane food in the first place.

sokoloff2mo ago

> First class on international also just gets you the 15 degrees and 1 or 2 fewer chairs per row, it's business that gets you the lie downs and such.

This is not my experience at all. First class is better than business class on international (and domestic, of course, though relatively few domestic routes have true three cabin service [counting all the slightly different economy levels as one cabin]).

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joshstrange2mo ago

> And if you can afford business class - where supersonic would be priced - then I mean... The meals are restaurant quality and the full recline?! I hardly want to disembark! The biggest discomfort is the dry sinuses.

Lay-flat chairs and business class are nice and a massive upgrade for long flights but better than being off the plane? Nope.

> restaurant quality

The food is mid-tier at best, I would not return to a restaurant that served food like what they serve in business class. It's only amazing when compared to the alternatives and the fact you get treated like half a human for a minute.

> full recline

Ehh, I find them claustrophobic and they only really "lay flat" if you aren't 6'+. They are approximately 1 billion times better than normal airplane chairs but you are still in an airplane.

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TulliusCicero2mo ago

anon84873628OP2mo ago

Look for the "Smiths" brand scanners and go in that line if possible. Those don't have to remove items from the bag.

ghaff2mo ago

hbosch2mo ago

>And if you can afford business class [...] The meals are restaurant quality and the full recline?! I hardly want to disembark!

Paying for business class domestically is almost always a sham by my experience.

anon84873628OP2mo ago

I was specifically thinking of my experience flying Emirates to the UAE :)

zamadatix2mo ago

sokoloff2mo ago

> First class on international also just gets you the 15 degrees and 1 or 2 fewer chairs per row, it's business that gets you the lie downs and such.

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joshstrange2mo ago

Lay-flat chairs and business class are nice and a massive upgrade for long flights but better than being off the plane? Nope.

> restaurant quality

> full recline

Ehh, I find them claustrophobic and they only really "lay flat" if you aren't 6'+. They are approximately 1 billion times better than normal airplane chairs but you are still in an airplane.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse