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Do Low Fare Airlines Offer First Class Comfort?

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Comfort or Cash? Why not both!

Have you ever shied away from low-fare airlines; unable to do without your legacy upgrade, legroom, and hot meal? If you must cut the fare, you can keep the comfort if you know who and how to choose and trade off some if the things you really can do without.

Here are a couple of options to bring “Jetiquette” to your next non-network carrier flight-

Air Tran- Business Class

From extra legroom with two-by-two seating to complimentary cocktails, Air Tran offers a great option. Plus, they have internet access not only on selected flights–they have it available on all flights along with XM satellite radio. What’s this about no-frills again?

Let’s compare prices on a flight from Atlanta to LaGuardia tomorrow:

  • Air Tran Business Class: $441 on every flight
  • Delta First Class: $441-$969; changes from flight to flight

and Los Angeles to Miami tomorrow:

  • Air Tran Business Class: $549
  • Alaska Business Class: $837
  • Delta Business Class: $894
  • American Business Class $932

What about the seats themselves on a 737?

  • Air Tran Business Class Seats: Pitch 37.0″/Width 22.0
  • Delta First/Business Class: Pitch 38.0/Width 20.5

Hmmmm….

Meals on Air Tran are limited to snacks or “Sky Bites”, but with internet, XM satellite radio and a cocktail, who needs a full meal?

Another low-cost carrier that offers a premium option is Virgin America. When I flew VA, their first class was an absolute bargain. Now that so many travelers have discovered how very decadent their first class is with buttery leather seats equipped with a massage feature and absolutely fantastic in-flight entertainment, the prices have gone up as  the demand has.

If you have a nagging thirst for first that can only be quenched by a seat in the front….there  are some economical options; just examine every option including some of the low-fare airlines.


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3 Responses to “Do Low Fare Airlines Offer First Class Comfort?”

  1. Margery #

    Gailen — AirTran prices for business can be even better than you mention! They offer upgrade to Business Class when you check in (up to 24 hours in advance of the flight, as I recall). If the seats are available they are a steal: $49 for Short-Range Nonstop Flights; $69 for Medium-Range Nonstop Flights; $99 for Long-Range Nonstop Flights $129 for Extra-Long Range Nonstop Flights. Waiting until check in does pose a risk that there will be no seats. I have lucked out every time.

    I have been able to upgrade all my flights on AirTran at check in. In my opinion, their business class is as comfortable as any first class seat I’ve traveled in (excepting of the lie-flat bed seats). And maybe they don’t serve meals, per se, but their snack items were great.

    March 16, 2010 at 5:54 PM Reply
  2. Tina #

    I say save the first class cash and fly cheap on Southwest. You can buy a whole lot of stuff for the difference.

    March 20, 2010 at 2:18 PM Reply
  3. Beth #

    When Delta and AirTran operate the same route, the fares are often identical. I did a search for ATL-LGA first class for March 31, 2010 and the fare for both airlines is $452 one-way, including taxes. Delta operates 757s and MD-88s on this route, so there should be Gogo Inflight Internet on all of those planes. The 757s should also have inflight entertainment, while the MD-88s do not. Delta serves a cold meal at mealtimes on this route, usually a choice of a sandwich or salad. At other times, they serve items from their snack basket. Delta does offer the option to buy up to first class from fares classes B, M, H, Q, and K at the gate, if available. If I recall correctly, I believe the cost is $75 on this route.

    March 20, 2010 at 2:31 PM Reply

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