The best deal in first class

Josh Roberts believes the best trips involve long hikes and muddy boots. His life goals haven't changed much since he was a kid: He still wants to be Indiana Jones when he grows up.

Follow him on Twitter (@joshwhowrites) and Instagram (@joshwhowrites), and visit his website (joshrobertsbooks.com) or Goodreads page to learn more about his forthcoming novel.

Josh joined SmarterTravel in 2001, and is an active member in both the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

In addition to SmarterTravel, he has written for USA Today, The Boston Globe, Yahoo! Travel, The Huffington Post, Airfarewatchdog, TripAdvisor, Jetsetter, ABC News, Oyster, and Business Insider. His travel photography can be seen in Britain and Ireland's Best Wild Places, published by Penguin UK.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "A lacrosse ball. It's small, lightweight, and works wonders on loosening up tight muscles."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Being the first to discover an ancient lost city. Failing that, visiting as many of the already-discovered ancient ruins as possible."

Travel Motto: "Not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle."

See recent posts by Josh Roberts

FORTUNE magazine, via CNNMoney.com, has rated the best first-class options on domestic flights. (There’s an assignment I wouldn’t have minded working on.) The magazine calls AirTran “the best deal in domestic business class” for its leather seats and 37 inches of seat pitch starting at about $35 more than coach.

For best service overall, FORTUNE says, “[United’s] ps service, offered between New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, is the best domestic first class experience. Period.”

As for the worst, it cites Northwest’s DC-9 planes: “On those old planes, you only get 34 inches of pitch (JetBlue offers the same in coach). Not that the rest of the fleet is much better—the maximum you’ll find is likely a measly 36 inches.” Ouch.

Meanwhile, our own guest columnist, Matthew Bennett of FirstClassFlyer.com, can fill you in on the best and worst front cabins on international routes.

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