This year I took an international business class flight for the first time in my life.
My flight was into Paris and out of Rome with Qatar Airlines at the very pointy end of the plane. The cost was eye wateringly astronomical – but was it worth it?
In the past I have baulked at the thought of paying up to five times more for a lie down seat at the front of the plane that literally gets you to the same place in the same amount of time as an upright seat at the back of the plane. My logic – save the cash for the actual trip.
However, in 2023 I published my book – The Life List – a goal-setting book the underlying premise of which is the exact opposite of having a bucket list. A bucket list is a list of experiences – often limited to dreams of travel and adventure – that you want to experience before you die. A life list on the other hand is a list of goals across health, wealth, lifestyle, travel, adventure, legacy and relationships that you want to design and then implement while you are still young enough to enjoy them. After my ex-husband died in 2021 at only 54, I am not going to put off living until later, because later might be too late.
Spending up
Hence, this year I hit the splurge button and booked a business class flight to Europe – it was time to experience the high life!
At this point, it is probably best to share that my definition of ‘the high life’ is not one in which I spend an entire flight indulging in French champagne, Bordeaux reds and top of the shelf spirits offered in business class. Noooooo. My definition of ‘the high life’ is much more tame – literally the sole reason I signed up for the business class experience was to lie down flat on something that resembled a bed and to sleep for as long as possible.
And I did.
I slept and I slept, and I slept some more. I am a shade under six feet tall with tight hip flexors, a dodgy lower back and my neck is a pain in itself. Sitting upright for 24 hours crammed into the tight little space offered in economy class squashed up nice and close to my travelling companions is torture for me, my back, my hips and my neck. My dream was to fly to Europe in full horizontal mode for as long as possible.
Shortly after the flight took off, and while I donned my new Qatar PJs and brushed my teeth with my complimentary toothbrush and lathered on my new night cream in a bathroom so large I could have slept in there, the lovely flight attendant set up my bed with two pillows and a plush velvet throw. I donned my complimentary noise cancelling headphones, placed my belongings in the personal locker next to my bed, closed and locked my cabin door and flicked my ‘do not disturb’ light on. I was asleep in no time – lying completely flat, my legs fully extended, my hips perfectly aligned, my neck snugly supported and with Harry Potter lulling me into oblivion.
Class act
I woke after eight hours of sleep … EIGHT WHOLE HOURS … at which point the lovely flight attendant greeted me by name, offered me a menu, took my order for breakfast and set my table with a white tablecloth, individual salt and pepper shakers, silverware and a faux candle. I was served an assortment of pastries, an assortment of breads, bircher muesli and a fresh berry smoothie. I could have opted for multiple cooked breakfast options.
Not long after, the plane landed for a four-hour stopover where I enjoyed the luxurious Business Class lounge and indulged in a hot shower, more lotions and a change of clothes before boarding for the next leg of the flight and doing it all over again. More PJs, more lotions, and more sleep.
Some 24 hours or so later I arrived in Paris completely refreshed, the owner of two new sets of PJs and a lot of body lotion. Being a business class customer, I was fast-tracked through customs and my bags literally arrived at the baggage carousel before I did. The whole experience was magnificent.
Did I need the lotions? No. Did I need the a la carte dining experience? No. Did I need the endless supply of top-shelf alcohol? No. Did I need the faux candle? No. Did I need new PJs? No. Did I enjoy the sleep? Hell, yes. Was it worth paying five times the amount of an economy airfare on the same flight? Hell, yes. Will I do it again? Hell, yes. Was I secretly thrilled to turn left rather than right as I boarded the plane? Call me shallow – but again, hell, yes …
Unfortunately I have ruined myself for life. How on earth am I ever going to be able to fly economy class again?
Have you ever flown business class? Why not share your experience in the comments section below?
Also read: Daycation anyone?
