Business or baggage class

[RogerC]

Having been fortunate....or otherwise(there comes a point when the very sight of yet another airport makes you feel positively ill)........... to have had a career in aviation I've had the pleasure? of experiencing flying from many different approaches and differing positions, crew and passenger alike on both passenger and cargo flights. I first flew in a Chipmunk in 1969 and was promptly airsick, my next was a Nimrod sub hunter at 250 feet over the ocean and amongst others on a Hastings, at night and you could see through the joins in the skin to the glowing red hot engine exhausts. My last flight in my working life was on a DC10/MD11. In between I have had experience of flying on cargo aircraft, primarily C130, Antonov 12, Antonov 124, Antonov 225, MD11, DC10, Ilyushin 72, a few different types of helicopters and a whole host of civilian passenger jets. Rating the experiences of those flights/aircraft I would honestly say that I would, given the option, fly on a cargo carrying C130 Hercules anyday than strap myself to the cattle class, limited space interior of any of the 'low cost' airlines. As for 'cattle class' Emirates used to be pretty good as did Gulf Air. Virgin tended to be OK. Continental was apallingly bad. Business class for most airlines these days is much of a muchness and a lot depends on the route you are flying. For example on one business class trip to Delhi there were so many unruly kids in there running riot it was awful. I arrived feeling more knackered than when I left Heathrow. However in the main business class is pretty good. BA, on one occasion managed to lose my luggage on a business class flight from Toronto to Heathrow one 23 December and delivered it back to me on Christmas day. Thats service. Now we come to the one we all want.........First class. I have been fortunate enough to experience Upper class with Virgin on the Heathrow-New York-Heathow and Heathrow to Tokyo routes and can honestly say the experience is fantastic. The Heathrow lounge is amazing, ordering on board meals, pre flight canapes, drinks etc all genuinely 1st class. Onboard service, greeted by name without recourse to boarding card, champagne in hand within seconds of your bum hitting the seat, in flight massage bookable (not full body you pervs...haha).......really comfortable sleepers on both pre and post upgrades of aircraft (I flew before and after Virgin went for their mega new 'pod' orientated Upper class).

So the bottom line is yes Business class is good as long as it is on the right route, First or Upper is amazing whichever airline or wherever the route and finally...........................
given the option of flying bucket and spade class or in the back of a C130 packed with cargo I would choose the C130 every time.