I have just seen the cheapest international ticket to Europe (Air France) for Rs 32,000 and although it is ridiculous, I know, I bought it probably half-thinking there was definitely some catch. There doesn’t seem to be. Except that you can’t pre-book your seat. I often fly Business class for work and have, maybe, flown once by First class many moons ago and that too on Air India. What are the different factors that justify a ticket costing three times or four times the economy price for business, let alone first, and is it worth it? Let’s take a look.

CHECK-IN

Yes, there can be long, insufferable queues in Economy. 

Tip: Join a frequent flier (FF) programme, which like in Jet Airways, has a separate queue for check-in. The FF programme also allows you to pre-book your seat (often at no extra charge) on certain sectors. The other trick is to do a web check-in and print your boarding pass. Most European airlines have a separate and much shorter designated web check-in/bag drop counter or allow you to check-in on the Business class desk.

THE SEAT  

Economy: A lot of newer aircraft like Lufthansa and Etihad have more linear seats that actually give you a bit more leg and arm room in Economy.  Otherwise in other older aircraft with more cushioned seating like Jet Airways, you are, I’m afraid, a bit of a sardine in Economy. 

Tip: If like me, you are a bit claustrophobic, opt for either the first row (check if a bassinet has been booked next to you — that could be a disaster if you wind up with a crying baby and an even more inconsolable mother) or the emergency row.  It’s worth paying extra to book these.

Business: If you have a plane that gives you those wonderful flat beds — then the x3 or x4 price-tag may be well worth it, especially if you are going into a meeting soon after you land. The price tag is definitely not worth it if you just have a big reclining seat on a long-haul flight, which I recently experienced on Etihad — Abu Dhabi to Venice.
First: I did mosy around the suites in the first classes of Jet Airways and Air India — yes, very spacious and all that. Worth the x6 price tag? I’m not sure.

MEALS

Economy: Well, you get your plastic tray a long time after take-off and  you can choose your meals but really don’t expect much. Singapore Airlines is the real exception — what fabulous food in all classes! Etihad isn’t bad at all either.
Business: Well, you get your juice before take-off and champagne after — good choice of wines etc. — and food served on crockery instead of plastic. Please note (and I can say this with some authority since I have done a long-ish stint in an international flight kitchen when I was consulting on food with an airline), all airline food is subject to stringent safety and hygiene laws, which involve freezing, chilling and re-heating so you’ll never fall sick due to airline food but it won’t be fresh either in any class.

Tip: Choose things like fruit, cheese, smoked salmon etc., which are not cooked in advance. Can’t ruin any of that. Avoid main courses without sauces. These will  invariably be over-cooked or over-heated and dry out. I remember sitting in the Business class of Jet Airways to Brussels once and witnessing the maharaj of a wealthy businessman no doubt sashaying up and down from Economy to First with thalis, sabzis and methi thepla. So maybe the tip really is to bring your own food! 

On most airlines, you can choose exactly what you want to eat and they often customise the food experience.  Worth it, I suppose, if you’re really picky. If it’s a night flight, how much will you eat or drink anyway? Food is not a priority for me when flying, especially if it’s a night flight. I have, at the most, a glass of wine or bubbly and knock off and I really don’t want to be disturbed at 2 in the morning with the offer of a light snack.

SERVICE

This is make or break for me and numero uno when travelling (second is the seat and food comes a close third). If I am faced with a snotty indifferent steward or stewardess, that is enough to put me off the airline for life. I was off Air France for many years because of a rude woman at the check-in desk — I was travelling Business on an upgrade and had torn my ligament the day before and there was a long story of a wheelchair about which she never received the fax. I was waiting, balancing on one leg at 6 in the morning until she miraculously found her fax and the wheelchair appeared. Another time on Air France, I had 33kg luggage, no hand-baggage and flying Business and the woman at the desk made me take out 3kg in front of everyone. However, I must say, things at Air France have improved. I travelled with them last year to Marseilles and it was smooth sailing with a fabulous sparkling new lounge at Charles de Gaulle. The queues at immigration and security were a pity but that’s not their fault. They also had beautiful, smiling hostesses in new pale blue uniforms. Very chic! 

Jet Airways boys and girls are lovely — often clueless but they do smile and try hard.  Singapore girls are amazing in their approach to service. Unflappable even by the most demanding guest, always polite, always accommodating — incredible! I personally don’t like the German approach to service  — a bit lacking in emotion for me but I have to say, it’s efficient. For British Airways, it depends on the route. I have experienced really bad service, inflexible and even racist staff and I have experienced people with a great sense of humour (more of the former than the latter on India-Europe routes though). The Middle East airlines like Etihad and Emirates seem to have a new breed of charming flight crew — good service, which isn’t servile or ingratiating. Royal Jordanian was lovely, I remember.

PEOPLE

In all my years of travel, I have witnessed one strange phenomenon. As a rule, people in Business class — any airline you travel — simply don’t talk to each other. But in Economy, everyone is busy chatting, helping each other with bags, asking children’s names and generally being human. So at the end of the day, it’s really up to what you’d like. 

FILMS HAVE TAUGHT US

Be careful about which sedative you take before your flight, if at all, because you don’t want to cause an emergency landing and ruin your (or your friend’s) plans like Annie Walker in Bridesmaids. 

Turbulence can leave even the mightiest of us shaken. But if you’re a nervous flier, you do not want others to hear your theories of air-borne disasters or you might be signed off as insane like John Valentine in Twilight Zone: The Movie.

Make sure to board the flight sober as you don’t want to end up waking up tied to your seat like Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street. But that was the 1980s. Modern rules will ensure you either end up in prison or on a no-fly list. 

#FF TIPS FROM TEAM T2

• Use seatguru.com to figure out which flight seats to choose. They show the plane layout according to the aircraft model. 
• Jet Airways recently launched JetScreen. Before you board a domestic Jet Airways flight, download the Airtime Player app on your personal device and enjoy in-flight entertainment. t2 tried it on the Delhi-Calcutta route last weekend and it was more or less smooth.
• If you don’t want to wait for your supper, pick a row close to the middle (if there are 50 rows, sit on row 27). Most of the time, the food crew divides up the distribution midway.
• If you have a pair of earphones, stick it into your ears (without playing music). It helps with the changing cabin pressure. Sucking on a hard candy also helps. 
• Keep wet-wipes in your carry-on. They are super handy.
• Sleep through your flight as that is the BEST way to have a hassle-free journey.
• Fly First class and the journey itself will feel like a holiday. *wink*

The author is a culinary consultant, food writer and entrepreneur. In recent times, her name has been synonymous with farmers’ markets. Follow her on Facebook @karenanand