Within one year, I embarked on two of the longest flights of my life.
In the summer of 2022, I hopped on an Air New Zealand flight to Auckland, New Zealand.
In the spring of 2023, I was off to Tokyo. This time on United Airlines.
While both flights lasted about 12 hours, there was one major difference. I was seated in business class for Air New Zealand, while for United, I was in the back of the plane in economy. The experiences couldn’t have been more different.
Deciding whether to spend money on a cabin class upgrade or in your destination can be tough for travelers. Take a look at how the two cabins compare.
A few years ago, I thought flying — no matter the cabin — was a similar experience. Everyone was boarding the same plane, suffering in the same low-humidity cabin, and eating bland airplane food.Then, in June 2022, I took my first business-class flight from Los Angeles to Auckland. Nearly nine months later, I hopped on a long-haul economy flight from Denver to Tokyo.After those 12-hour flights, my entire perspective of airplane cabins — and the value of an upgrade — changed.Unsurprisingly, the biggest difference I spotted was the price. In 2022, a one-way business-class flight to Auckland on Air New Zealand was about $4,500. Today, that cost is closer to $6,000
Business Insider received a media rate for the round-trip flight to Auckland.
Meanwhile, my round-trip ticket to Tokyo was less than $2,500 through United Airlines. Today, you can find flights under $2,000. I could’ve flown to and from Tokyo twice for the same price as my one-way business-class ticket.When it came to the actual experience, the perks of business class started long before I boarded the plane.My business-class Air New Zealand ticket granted me access to Los Angeles International Airport’s Star Alliance Lounge.There, I dined on a bowl of ramen, scarfed down plates of salad, and sipped on Champagne. The food and alcohol were included with access to the lounge, so I didn’t spend a dollar on my meal.With the economy flight, I didn’t have lounge access. Instead, I spent hours in the airport terminal. I paid nearly $8 for a coffee and opted for snacks I packed from home.For my business-class flight, representatives in the lounge announced when boarding started.For economy, muffled announcements were made over the airport’s intercom system, and I kept a close eye to ensure I didn’t miss my boarding call.My business-class ticket meant I was the first one to board the plane.I stepped onto a nearly empty plane and had a short walk to my seat. After I was settled, a flight attendant offered me a glass of Champagne.In economy, I was one of the last passengers to board.Once on the plane, I was handed an alcohol wipe instead of bubbly and walked the entire length of the aircraft to row 50.When it came to the physical seats, there were major differences.My business-class seat felt massive. Beyond two armrests, I had a TV screen, a large tray table, and a footrest with enough space to stretch my legs.My economy seat, by comparison, was small. My tray table had hardly enough room for my laptop, and my legs couldn’t comfortably stretch.I also didn’t have the same luxury of reclining. In business class, I could recline without impeding anyone’s space since the seats were positioned away from other passengers.Reclining in economy meant I was taking someone else’s personal space.Both seats came with amenities. In business class, I had over-the-ear headphones, toiletries, a water bottle, a blanket, and a pillow.In economy, I had a blanket, pillow, and headphones in my seat.The biggest perk was that my business-class seat could lie flat. After dinner service, flight attendants stopped by with extra blankets and pillows and transformed my seat into a bed.As for the food and drinks, this was drastically different, too.I could order endless liquor, wine, beer, and soda in business class.In economy, I had to pay for liquor. I did receive glasses of complimentary wine, though.My dinner in business class felt like fine dining. I had cloth napkins, metal cutlery, and ceramic plates. A flight attendant stopped by and offered me three choices of warm bread and a little tray of salt, pepper, and olive oil.I also had a menu of choices, which included Alaskan cod and roasted chicken.Meanwhile, there wasn’t a menu in economy. On my flight to Tokyo, I could choose between chicken and veggies. When I lifted the foil, I discovered a vegetable stir-fry.The bathrooms in the cabins were similar in size and design. Air New Zealand’s business-class restroom had decorative wallpaper.United’s bathroom lacked that touch. Besides that, the toilets and sinks were comparable.When the plane touched down in Auckland, I was one of the first passengers off.When I landed in Tokyo, I had to wait an extra 15 minutes before disembarking from the plane — as the last to board, I was the last to disembark.Ultimately, the perks of business class changed the way I viewed luxury travel. But those luxuries come at a price.
The post I flew on 2 long-haul flights: one in business and another in economy. The 2 cabins couldn’t be more different — take a look. appeared first on Business Insider.
