After having travelled in Coach Class all my life, being in International Business Class was an experience in a new standard of travel comfort. As a Business Class traveler, I discovered how relaxing long-distance travel can be when when done in a comfortable, ergonomic seat, with a personal entertainment system including my choice of videos, and more personalized service from the flight attendents. I actually at meals off Noritake china ... something I don't even do at home!

In addition, I had the added benefit of being on the upper deck of a 747, where having only 26 passengers total gives the imitimacy of a small private plane. [Trivia: the upper deck of the 747 has its own air system, and passengers upstairs do not breathe air recirculated from the lower deck. Thus you are only sharing air with 20+ people instead of hundreds.]

United Airlines

United lists the host of comforts to enhance my travel experience as:

• Separate airport check-in position
• Access to airport lounges
• Early boarding
• Pre-departure beverage service offering champagne and orange juice
• A choice of three entrees on all flights, served on fine Noritake porcelain.
• Premium wines, choice of fruit and cheese or dessert with port and liqueurs, Starbucks® coffee.
• Fully adjustable, ergonomic seats featuring a Backcycler Motion System for lumbar support and back stimulation and fully adjustable leg, back and head rests.
• High-quality compact disc audio system with electronic noise-reducing headsets
• Individual armrest video with nine channels of video and 20 channels of audio
• Personal powerports for laptop computers and adjustable personal lights
• Complimentary in-flight amenity kit containing travel necessities such as socks, eye shades, a toothbrush, and more
• Multi-lingual flight attendants and International cabin crew
• Priority deplaning and priority baggage delivery at the final destination

Cathay Pacific Airlines

Cathay Pacific also includes in their business class private dressing rooms "perfect for slipping into comfortable attire after takeoff, or freshing up before landing" as well as a bar which provides "a sleek space for communal mixing and mingling".

Hopefully, I'll travel in International First Class some day but until then ... this is the life!