Which Airlines Still Offer First Class?

While some airlines have scrapped first class over the years to focus instead on business or premium economy seats, there are still plenty of carriers out there offering first class seats for those who like to travel in style.

Reports this week suggest that American Airlines (A1G) (AAL) will remove first class when it reconfigures its Airbus A321 and Boeing 777-300ER fleets.

As we come out of the pandemic, some airlines, like Emirates, have announced plans to refresh their cabins, while others like Qantas used the time their aircraft spent in storage to give first class cabins a facelift.

And people still seem willing to pay for the high-end experience. Lufthansa’s (LHAB) (LHA) chief executive revealed in May 2022 that its priciest ticket – a $24,000 San Francisco-Frankfurt (SFO-FRA) round trip in first class – was sold out.

Skytrax publishes a list each year of what it deems the best first class airlines. The top 20 for 2021 featured airlines including Singapore Airlines (SIA1) (SINGY), Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA), Etihad, Emirates and Oman Air.

International first class
On the airlines that still offer it, international first class is what most people think of when they hear the phrase “first class.”

It typically features the fleet’s largest and most luxurious seats, with the most attentive service and best amenities the airline offers.

Although it’s becoming less common, carriers including Air France, British Airways and Etihad continue to fly planes with both business- and first-class cabins.

These invariably also have fully flat beds, much like long-haul business class, are configured more spaciously, and typically include other perks and amenities.

Where to find First Class, real First Class

Transatlantic and transpacific routes. Even domestic airlines go the extra mile on the long-haul routes — mostly because there’s competition from carriers that still understand a luxury experience, such as Emirates and Singapore.

What can I expect in First Class: Long-haul First Class is found on international/long-haul routes. This class of service offers more comfort and amenities than Long-haul Business Class, which usually include:

For seating and service overview: https://www.seatguru.com/charts/longhaul_first_class.php