So expensive, in fact, that it was actually almost cheaper to pay extra and fly first class from Chicago to Los Angeles to take advantage of all the free checked bags that come along with first class. I think the price difference was actually right around US$50.00, and I was willing to pay that much extra for my very first first class airline experience (something I otherwise would not have done, had it not been for the fact that I would’ve needed to pay extra anyway to a shipping company to send my stuff to California).

So how was it? If it wasn’t for the fact that I very specifically needed those free checked bags (which otherwise would’ve been $25 for the first bag, $35 for the second bag, and $150 for the third bag with American Airlines), then I don’t think it would’ve been worth it. With that being said, the only reason it wouldn’t be worth it for me personally is because (1) I am very skinny and (2) I like to sleep on planes.

I think first class can best be summarized as a flying restaurant. Starting from the time you step on the plane, they give you some hot washcloths to clean your hands, then start giving you food in intervals of around 20ish minutes. In the 3.5-hour duration of the flight from ORD to LAX, I think there was only a period of about 1.5 hours or so when there was not a flight attendant present regularly to either take away dirty dishes or give me more food.

You know those snacks that they give you for free in economy? It’s usually either a small pack of cookies, peanuts, or pretzels (“well-traveled pretzels,” as my friend Ed Lam would call them). I got a “premium” version of the peanuts – I instead got a ceramic mini-bowl of assorted nuts (my bowl only had one pistachio, which I pulled out and placed right in the middle of my bowl before photographing it).

After stopping by again for a complimentary drink (which I chose Coca-Cola for my first selection), shortly afterwards, they bring you a meal. The options were either lasagna or a chicken salad; I selected lasagna. Unfortunately, there was a significant amount of turbulence during the meal, so the photo I took is a bit blurry.

After the meal, I also got some fruity cake – I believe it was raspberry – for dessert. Unfortunately, I forgot to photograph my slice of cake.

So back to the reasons why I think it personally isn’t worth it for me. Because I’m so skinny, I actually don’t even take up my entire economy seat. I’ve never had to suffer through having to sit next to someone so fat that they overflow out of their seat, but even if I did, I could actually graciously share some of my seat space with them and still sit comfortably. I’m so skinny in my seat, in fact, that I regularly prop my leg up, sit cross-legged, or fold my legs vertically (with my knees sticking up). There’s actually enough space for me to do that (even with my relatively long legs), and it helps relieve pressure on my back due to seats that don’t recline that much.

As for sleeping on planes, I have a tendency to fall asleep very well in random locations whenever I am forced to be bored and need to pass the time – I think my body feels that is an efficient use of time, as it never hurts to get some more rest and relaxation. I personally feel that a huge appeal of first class is the food service, and if you were to sleep through your entire flight in first class, you would be missing out on a lot of why first class is first class. Instead, I might as well just sit in economy and sleep the whole time, seeing as, apart from like 50 grams of pretzels, you have to pay separately for food in economy class anyway.

At the end of my experience, I juggled way too many bags at once onto my rolling suitcase and made my way out to the Ride Service area in Los Angeles International Airport, awaiting my Uber to whisk me away eastward to my new home.