I was lucky enough to fly JFK to Frankfurt via PanAm First Class just months before the bankruptcy and shutdown.
Food, drink and appetizer choices included pheasant (yes, pheasant!) or prime rib, a choice of fine French red or white Bourdeauxs, Champagne, escargotes, black caviar and amazing desserts.
After dinner selections included XO Cognacs, a choice of various single malt Scotch, vintage Port or botrytised Semillons.
It was the most unbelievable airline service I have ever experienced or will ever hope to see. Such service will be considered a distasteful relic of the post-bourgeoisie era...unless of course, you’re a guest at the WH or aboard AF-1, or an inner member of the Party.
I was lucky enough to get bumped up to first class twice. Once, my boss made a big enough a$$ of himself with the station manager in Rio that the guy put us both in first class just to shut him up. A couple of months later, I was coming back from N’Djamena, Chad, to JFK via Paris. A guy was in line in front of me, and he didn’t have enough for his ticket to Tel Aviv. I ponied up about $20 in Francs and he got his ticket. I stepped up to the counter and the beautiful Parisian lady said to me in that delightful accent, “you, M’sieur, are going first class.” Immediate gratification. First Class really is the only way to travel.