First class (aviation): Difference between revisions

Early passenger planes were necessarily very uncomfortable – a seat in an open cockpit. As aeroplane design improved, so did the passenger experience, and the airlines concentrated on making flying as comfortable and appealing as possible. Flying was very expensive, but its limited appeal was balanced by the limited capacity of the airlines and their planes.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

First class seats vary from large reclining seats with more legroom and width than other classes to suites with a fully reclining seat, workstation and TV surrounded by privacy dividers. International first class seats usually have 147–239 cm (58–94 inches) of [[seat pitch]] and 48–89 cm (19–35 inches) of width while domestic flights may have 86–173 cm (34–68 inches) of pitch and 46–56 cm (18–22 inches) in width. Some airlines have first class seats which allow passengers to let one guest sit for a short time while face-to-face with the occupant of the cabin.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

First class passengers usually have at least one lavatory for their exclusive use, with more than one on larger planes. Business and economy class passengers are not normally permitted in the first class cabin. Normally [[AVOD]] (audiovisual on demand) entertainment is offered, although sometimes normal films, television programmes and interactive games are provided on medium-large seat-back or armrest-mounted flat panel monitors. Especially for long-haul and high-yielding routes on top airlines, a first class seat may have facilities akin to a five-starluxury hotelhotels, such as a [[mini-bar]] and an on-board lounge, in the case of [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] first class suites.<ref>{{cnCite web |date= |title=Emirates A380 First Class |url=https://www.emirates.com/us/english/experience/cabin-features/first-class/a380/ |access-date= 11 September 2024 |website=www.emirates.com}}</ref>

With business class seating moving upmarket, some airlines are reintroducing or modelling their first class sections as suites. [[Singapore Airlines]] now markets the highest class on its [[Airbus A380|A380]]s as "suites", with the tagline "A class above first." The 2 m (78 inches) bed is separate from the seat and folds out from the back wall, with several other components of the suite lowering to accommodate the mattress. Windows are built into the doors and blinds offer privacy. Suites located in the centre can form a double bed after the privacy blinds between them are retracted into the ceiling. Other A380 operators like [[Emirates (airline)|Emirates]] also have a suite-like first class with similar amenities but the bed and chair are integrated where a button is pushed to turn the seat into a bed in seconds and vice versa. [[Etihad Airways]] introduced a three-room suite called "The Residence" in December 2014 when it added the Airbus A380 to its fleet. The Residence includes its own bedroom with a double bed, dining/living area and fully functional shower.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Residence |url=http://www.etihad.com/en-gb/experience-etihad/flying-reimagined/the-residence/ |website=[[Etihad Airways]] |access-date=11 June 2018}}</ref> These were set to be permanently discontinued in 2021 as a result of the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 Pandemic]] resulting in the storage of the A380's,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chui |first=Sam |date=2021-03-14 |title=The End of Etihad's A380, The Residence and First Class Apartments |url=https://samchui.com/2021/03/14/the-end-of-etihads-a380-the-residence-and-first-class-apartments/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=SamChui.com |language=en-US}}</ref> but were reinstated with the return of the A380's in service in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlappig |first=Ben |date=2023-07-24 |title=Etihad Airways Airbus A380 Returns To The Skies! |url=https://onemileatatime.com/news/etihad-airways-airbus-a380/ |access-date=2024-09-11 |website=One Mile at a Time |language=en-US}}</ref>

However, ''domestic first class'' does have two very different meanings on certain transcontinental routes between New York City and California. [[Delta Air Lines|Delta]], [[American Airlines|American]], [[United Airlines|United]], and [[JetBlue]] operate a special service on flights between [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] and [[San Francisco International Airport]] or [[Los Angeles International Airport]] known as "Delta Transcontinental Service," "American flagship service", "United p.s." (''p.s.'' stands for ''premium service''), and "[[JetBlue Mint|Mint]]," respectively, with Delta and United using specially configured [[Boeing 757-200]]s and American and JetBlue using [[Airbus A321]]s. In the case of American Airlines, first class is actually a three-cabin first class which is different from two-cabin first class, both in comfort and price (such as lie-flat seats in first class, for example). In these cases, domestic business class is generally slightly higher than a two-cabin domestic first class ticket. The three-cabin first class is more of a truly first class rather than a rebranded business class. On JetBlue however, first class is only offered on transcontinental flights, consisting of mini- suites or lie-flat seats.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

US discount carriers (such as [[Southwest Airlines|Southwest]] and [[Frontier Airlines|Frontier]]) do not have first class cabins, instead opting for an all-economy layout, sometimes with a few select rows with extra legroom (such as bulkhead and emergency row seats) available for a fee (or, in the case of Southwest, on a first-come, first-served basis due to their boarding process).{{cn|date=August 2024}}

During the 1980s European first class was largely phased out in favour of 6-abreast seating throughout the aircraft, with variable numbers of seats allocated to business class (the business class cabin often being marked with a moveable divider).<ref name=flight /> This allowed greater flexibility for the airlines, allowing them to allocate different amounts of premium seating depending on the route. [[Turkish Airlines]] are one of the few European airlines still offering 4-abreast seating in their premium intra-Europe cabins, but they're sold as business class seats rather than first class.<ref>[http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Turkish_Airlines/Turkish_Airlines_Airbus_A321_C_new.php Turkish Airlines A321 seat plan from SeatGuru]</ref> The same situation is in Russia onboard [[Aeroflot]] intra-Europe flights.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

On the ground, first class passengers usually have special check-in and security zones at the airport. Some airlines operate private first class terminals and/or offer international first class passengers complimentary limousine rides to the airport. While it is typical that these passengers have lounge access, some airlines have separate lounges for first and business whereas the former may have more luxurious amenities. These passengers can often board the aircraft before other passengers, sometimes through their [[jetbridge]].{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are complimentary and gourmet meals are usually served with a choice of [[wine]], [[dessert]], and [[Apéritif and digestif|apéritifs]]. Often these meals have been designed by leading chefs and are served on white linen tablecloths and with real cutlery.{{cn|date=August 2024}}

Historically, first class air travel has been very expensive. First class long-haul fares regularly exceed $10,000 or €10,000 per person for an intercontinental long-haul round trip,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-17 |title=So geht es hinter den Kulissen der Emirates First Class zu |url=https://www.rtl.de/cms/first-class-flug-bei-emirates-so-geht-es-hinter-den-kulissen-der-luxus-airline-zu-4827071.html |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=rtl.de |language=de}}</ref> as opposed to $4,000–5,000 international business class tickets and $300–2,000 economy class tickets. With the emergence of frequent-flyer programmes, however, passengers have been able to upgrade their business or economy class tickets through membership in elite [[frequent-flyer program|frequent-flyer programme]]s and through the policies of some airlines that allow business and economy-class passengers to purchase last-minute upgrades on a space-available basis. Some airlines also offer upgrading to first class as a bonus to their employees.{{cn}}

*[[Air New Zealand]] – Dedicated First Class cabin was previously available on Boeing 747-400 aircraft, but was withdrawn 2006–2007<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-11 |title=Airlines abandon first class |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/more-airlines-abandon-first-class/BTGK2Z2EEEJXBO4MEVDBB3ZC6A/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref> with the introduction of Premium Economy and flat-bed suites in Business Class. "'''Business Premier'''" is now the highest class of service.

*[[Asiana Airlines]] -– A First Class cabin was featured on Airbus A380s, Boeing 747-400s, and select Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. The First Class seats were either available as fully closed suites (First Suite on Airbus A380 and select Boeing 777-200ER) or as open suite style flat-bed sleeper seats (Old First Class on Boeing 747-400). Between 2016 and 2018, First Class was eliminated from the Boeing 777-200ER fleet in favourfavor of more Business Class and Economy Class seats. In April 2019, the Kumho Asiana Group began to enter a financial crisis and announced the sale of Asiana Airlines. Due to the financial crisis, Asiana announced that First Class would be eliminated from all remaining aircraft with First Class by the end of September 2019 to save the airline from collapsing and in favor of newer Business Class seats and Premium Economy.<ref>{{Cite Allweb |last=Moon-hee |first=Choi |date=2019-05-08 |title=Asiana Airlines planesto withEliminate FirstAll First-Class willSeats be|url=https://www.businesskorea.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=31609#:~:text=Asiana%20Airlines%20announced%20on%20May,passengers%20with%20business-class%20services. retired|access-date=2024-09-12 or|website=Businesskorea will|language=ko}}</ref> beAll Asiana Airlines planes with First Class were retrofitted with newer Business Class and Premium Economy cabins.

*[[Cathay Dragon]] – First Class was available on select Airbus A330 aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlappig |first=Ben |date=2019-12-31 |title=Review: Cathay Dragon A330 First Class |url=https://onemileatatime.com/cathay-dragon-a330-first-class-review/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=One Mile at a Time |language=en-US}}</ref> The seats were similar to Cathay Pacific's long-haul business class which are in a reverse herringbone seating arrangement. Cathay Dragon ceased operations in October 2020, due to restructuring of Cathay Pacific<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cathay Pacific Group announces corporate restructuring |url=https://news.cathaypacific.com/cathay-pacific-group-announces-corporate-restructuring |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=news.cathaypacific.com |language=en-HK}}</ref> as all Cathay Dragon A330s were transferred to Cathay Pacific and all ex-Cathay Dragon Airbus A330s with First Class were reconfigured to a two class configuration featuring Business Class and Economy Class cabins only, to match Cathay Pacific's regional configured Airbus A330s.

*[[China Southern Airlines]] – First Class was previously available on board select Airbus A330s, all Airbus A380s, all Boeing 777-300ERs, and all Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. China Southern retired its First Class in 2022 as the airline retired its Airbus A380 fleet and retrofitted its Airbus A330, Boeing 777-300ER, and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft featuring first class with new three class configurations featuring new Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class cabins only. As a result, Business Class is now the highest class of service on China Southern Airlines aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=In-flight services for China Southern Airlines |url=https://www.csair.com/en/tourguide/flight_service/B787_Dreamliner/ |access-date=9 September 2024}}</ref>

*[[Malaysia Airlines]]- – Business Suite Class (previously known as First Class)

*[[LATAM Brasil|TAM Brasil]] -– Dedicated first class was available on 777-300ER aircraft until 2014<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ausbt.com.au/tam-scraps-boeing-777-first-class-upgrades-business-class|title=TAM scraps Boeing 777 first class, upgrades business class|website=Australian Business Traveller|date=2 May 2014 |access-date=2018-12-26}}</ref>

*[[United Airlines]] -– Long-Haul First Class were open suite flat-bed sleeper seats and were available on all Boeing 747-400, select Boeing 767-300ER, and select Boeing 777-200ER. First Class was named "'''Global First'''" (later "'''Polaris First'''"). The first class began to be phased out in 2017 as United retired all their 747-400s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schlappig |first=Ben |date=2016-06-02 |title=Official: United Phasing Out International First Class |url=https://onemileatatime.com/united-first-class-phased-out/ |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=One Mile at a Time |language=en-US}}</ref> United discontinued all first class services by March 2018, although the first class seats remained on select Boeing 767-300ER and select 777-200ER aircraft with them being sold as Polaris Business until 2020, when they were all retrofitted by then with the same cabins that debuted onboard the airline's Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 787-10 aircraft.