I only got first class once as well and it was because my company needed me in Dallas immediately. I was delighted that the only tickets left were first class and I was told to get there by any means necessary. Like your experience, it was only a short flight from Chicago to Dallas but it was a wonderful experience. They knew my name in first class and treat you totally different up there. Also, businessmen were wheeling and dealing on the flight exchanging business cards and finding out if there was any way that we could further develop whatever careers we were involved in. It is truly a different world up there in the front of the plane.