First class just means they'll actually get to you in a reasonable amount of time to get you your drink of choice and a slightly better snack. ooh, it's a bag of fancy chips, in a basket with ten other items that normally would cost me $2, but I'm supposed to be excited about it. But, there's definitely more leg room and elbow room. And you are the first off of the plane. You're also the first on the plane, which only matters for the sake of getting a drink, quickly. Otherwise, who is itching to board first? I mostly fly Delta. First class and "Comfort" have very little difference. I don't pay for either, but it's rare these days that I'm not upgraded to either. That said, "coach" is demonstrably worse than both. No leg room. No service and when you're in 34D it takes you 15 minutes longer to deplane than when you're in 8D. I have no doubt that first class in the 80s actually was first class.