The speaker shares their experience with business class upgrades on flights, emphasizing that they usually travel economy unless there's a special offer or company-paid trip. They recount a disappointing experience with British Airways' business class, which lacked modern amenities and privacy, comparing it unfavorably to Emirates' economy class. Despite good food, the lack of space for personal items and an outdated plane model led to frustration. The speaker advises checking plane models and business class features before upgrading.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The author usually travels in economy class.
2. The author has tried business class on Emirates, Alitalia, and American Airlines.
3. The author paid $999 for a business class upgrade on British Airways.
4. The author was not aware of the plane model before upgrading to business class.
5. The business class on the British Airways plane was old and not modernized.
6. The author's seat was located in a corridor and did not have much space.
7. The footrest was not a real footrest, but a platform attached to the seat in front.
8. The table did not have a rigid support and was shaking during the flight.
9. The author did not have space to put their personal items.
10. The food on the flight was good and was the only positive note about the business class experience.
11. The author learned that business class is not a standard experience and can vary greatly between airlines and planes.
12. The author will now check the plane model and business class configuration before upgrading.
13. The author's friends, who travel in business class often, pointed out that business class can vary greatly between airlines and planes.