I am in Cozumel this weekend and I was flown down here by the

Park Royal Resort to review the property (more about that soon). For the flight down they flew me in first class which I never purchase myself (and told them I did not think they needed to provide such for travel bloggers). The last time that I flew first class I was in elementary school so it was interesting for me to see what a first class ticket will buy.

The Comfy Chair

There is no question that a 1st class airline seat has more space for anyone who say… has legs. It is a treat to be able to cross my legs or to lean back and get some sleep after getting on a flight at 6AM. The seat is also wide with extra space between you and your seat mate. First class travelers, on American Airlines at least, still get blankets.

Power to the People

As someone who always travels with a laptop it is a joy to get a power outlet (you need a DC adapter) at the seat so that on a long flight I could catch up on email, edit an episode of the Amateur Traveler, etc. With most airports making it way too difficult to find a power outlet I am usually low on power by the time I even get on the plane.

Coffee, Tea or…

It is strangely civilized to be offered a juice or a glass of water while we wait for the riff-raff in the back to settle in. Getting a meal on a plane is a wonderful throwback. Having to choose between the red and white wine they were pouring was a terrific dilemma. Fresh baked cookies was a treat. The biggest difference seems to be that with a lot fewer people in first class the flight attendants seem a lot less rushed.

So… will I be purchasing first class tickets only from now on? Not likely. While I can certainly enjoy the experience of traveling with the mucky mucks, I can’t imagine deciding that those benefits are worth doubling the ticket price.