Is it Worth Flying First-Class on Domestic Flights?

If you're like most Americans who fly domestically, you find yourself jealously eyeing the first class passengers as you make your way back to coach. They get seated first, get their luggage settled first and watch the world file past them as they sip their cocktail. But are they really getting their money's worth with these amenities? Looking at the current domestic flights, it doesn't seem like it. Lunch or dinner is no longer a given (and sometimes costs extra), there are few to no entertainment options, and the space between seats (known as "seat pitch") isn't all that luxurious compared to the coach cabin. Many flyers now only choose first class as part of a perks program, and refuse to pay the full price airlines are asking.

This has made the airlines realize that, in order to fill first class again, they need to start thinking more about their first-class passengers' bottoms than the bottom line. That's why you hear commercials touting new spacious lie-flat seats and extra amenities for domestic flights. Here's a quick run-down of most of the major airlines' current offerings for their first and business-class passengers:

American Airlines offers a "Flagship Service" for domestic travelers flying between the East and West coasts. Their Boeing 767 flights offer sleeper seats, menus with delicacies found in the finest restaurants and Bose's famous noise-canceling headphones for a quiet flight.

If you're looking for comfort, Northwest may not be the best option. The cabin itself is small, leaving little room between seats. You'll get food if your flight is longer than three hours, but that's pretty much it in terms of amenities for domestic flights; if you're looking for extras, you'll need to book an international flight.

For those who are unashamed of enjoying luxury, United's Premium Service is just the thing. Flying between New York and various California airports, you can enjoy lie-flat seats that leave enough stretching room to be one of the most comfortable airline experiences currently available. The room you enjoy on these flights is only surpassed by the delectable food offerings in-flight, including exotic desserts and fresh fruits.

Continental has chosen a middle-of-the-road approach: they offer more space and a better selection of food along with first priority in boarding, but other than that there's nothing spectacular about it. Likewise, Delta is walking the line as well, with brand new seats and bathrooms that make you feel like you're inside a luxury sedan (if that's a correlation you really want to make.) Delta is promising better amenities in the future, but their relatively recent bankruptcy may have something to say about that.

America West has greatly improved their first-class options, upgrading to larger seats and far better fare than they've offered in the past. Rather than the lunchbox-type meal you used to get, they now have fresh fruits and vegetables along with a decent selection of beef and poultry.

Perhaps surprisingly, Air Tran is a good choice as far as business class goes. There's no meal involved, but for only a few dollars more than coach class you can enjoy a roomier flight-a flight you can enjoy even more with the complimentary drinks.
In general, when booking a flight it's good to do your homework to find a balance between the best price and the most desirable amenities. A 777 is a far better choice than, say, a DC-9 or 737 if you want room to do more than sit in your chair and look out the window, even if the 737 was a discounted rate. You can also ask the airline if they happen to have any international planes flying a domestic route-this happened to me when Continental was trying out their new fleet between Newark and Orlando before sending them to Tokyo, and it was easily one of the best flights I've ever experienced. Flying is probably one of only many concerns when traveling, but if you value your space and the amenities offered with first-class, it could very well be one of your most important decisions.