LOT Polish and Hainan Airlines, to take two examples, often offer very low prices from Europe and Asia to the U.S., and all of their international service is on brand-new aircraft with lie-flat seating. What should discerning travelers consider when looking for high-end options, first class or otherwise? “I’d search for award availability, of course, since first-class fares can easily climb into the five figures,” Honig says.Don’t scoff at a smaller airline While you may balk at first, smaller carriers have upped their game in recent years.
Air Canada, for instance, has chosen to focus on creating a highly rated business class, especially on its new (and very gorgeous) Boeing 787 Dreamliners. “Airlines felt their own rather nice business-class cabins-and not other airlines’ first-class cabins-were often siphoning off business from their first-class cabins.” That’s why some carriers no longer have a branded “first class” product. “As business class became nicer with lay-flat beds and then all-aisle access becoming standard, it cannibalized first-class sales,” he says. “A lot of today’s ‘business-class’ cabins are as nice or nicer than first-class cabins of 15 years ago, and what we call ‘premium economy’ today looks a lot like business-class cabins looked 15 years ago,” says Seth Kaplan, editor of Airline Weekly and an airline industry expert. How first class has changed-and what to look for today
Best firstclass airline full#
First-class passengers are whisked directly from the lounge to the aircraft via Porsche or Mercedes-Benz.Įvery first-class seat also comes with gifts to take home, and Honig appreciated the Singapore Airlines leather kit bag full of Lalique beauty products and a candle for home. That’s on top of a phenomenal meal that wouldn’t be out of place at a top New York restaurant. Lufthansa has a first-class lounge at JFK, where one bathroom has its own luxurious bathtub. As with all carriers, the first-class service begins on the ground. That refresh extended to one of the most sought-after first-class cabins from North America to Europe. Lufthansa recently unveiled a subtle but extensive rebrand to the 63-year-old carrier. Honig cited perks like a pop-up mini-bar-“clearly just for show”-but loved the entertainment options: “the giant screen loaded with hundreds of movies, airplane tail views, and more.” Lufthansa: A Mercedes-Benz or Porsche directly to the plane, danke “I think the newer version of the Boeing 777 suite is far more tasteful, but even the original A380 looks more ostentatious in photos than it does when you’re actually sitting in the suite,” he says. Honig concurs with Hranek, but adds that Emirates is perhaps too over the top. We asked him-and a few other frequent first-class flyers-which airlines are considered to have the best first-class cabins in the world. Honig tests first-class flights with regularity and is among the few who can provide comparison reviews. “The best first-class product is the one you can actually book and really enjoy to fly,” says Zach Honig, editor-at-large of The Points Guy. We arrived at JFK three hours early for a preflight meal in a special first-class lounge, complete with a British celebrity sighting. I didn’t notice-I was too busy loving every moment of the experience. (My wife surreptitiously snagged hers and still wears it from time to time.)Īficionados will point out that the British Airways first-class “product” is dated and the lavatories are small. Best of all, there was a navy, soft cotton pajama set I could wear for maximum comfort. The seats were converted by the flight attendant into a completely flat bed where I could stretch out my tall frame. There was tea and warm nuts at the outset of the flight, as well as plenty of wine and food that was actually delicious. I consider myself “points-aware” and was able to redeem points and use a companion ticket to fly in the nose of a British Airways Boeing 747. Most travelers will never sit at the front of the aircraft, which tends to be dominated by business travelers, the wealthy, and points-savvy passengers. Just sitting in the cabin and being part of this rarified club of travelers is thrilling, no matter the airline. Flying first class is a fantastic experience.
0 kommentar(er)
