Top 10 Best High-End Luxury First Class Airline Cabins

FIRST CLASS is a travel class on some passenger airliners intended to be more luxurious than business class, premium economy, and economy class. On a passenger jetliner, first class usually refers to a limited number (rarely more than 20) of seats or cabins toward the front of the aircraft which have more space, comfort, service, and privacy. In general, first class is the highest class offered, although some airlines have branded their new products as above first class. Propeller airliners often had first class in the rear, away from the noise of the rotating propeller.

With business class seating moving upmarket, some airlines are modelling their first-class section as SUITES. Singapore Airlines now markets its highest class on its A380s 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 center can form a double bed after the privacy blinds between them are retracted into the ceiling. Other A380 operators like 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.

First Class Airline Cabins News, Reviews & Resources

• 10 Best First Class Airline Suites of 2022 - Best of Travel.
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• Air France Now Has The World’s Best Business Class Seat - "Air France’s new business class cabin consists of Safran Versa reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, which are very good."
• Air France’s new business class cabin - "Sliding doors and lie-flat beds in Air France's new biz class."
• Airbus’ New Jet Concept Features Swappable Spas & Cafes - Wired.
• Airplane business class doors offer new levels of privacy. Not everyone thinks they're a good idea - "Business class is becoming increasingly more luxurious, spacious and private. Whether it's custom-designed seat and bed cushions, bespoke fittings and fixtures, or co-branding with some of the biggest names in luxury, business really is the new first class aboard many planes."
• Amazing first-class air cabins - CNN.
• British Airways B747: Club World business-class review - The Telegraph.
• best airlines for 1st class, biz class & economy cabins - The Telegraph.
• Best Sleep Mask - Wirecutter.
• Cabin concepts: Say goodbye to the middle airplane seat - "The 2023 contenders include a cabin concept that eradicates the middle seat and a chic design that takes single-aisle aircraft business class to a new level. Award finalists are set to be announced next month. Winners are to be announced in June."
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• DEREK ROSE OF SAVILE ROW - since 1926. "Whether it be snoozing on the sofa, at night in bed, or on a long-haul flight, sleep well with our range of luxury men's eye masks. Crafted from fine Italian silks or pure cashmeres, they'll ensure luxurious 'shut-eye' wherever you are. Each mask comes with a drawstring pouch, making them an excellent gift for a loved one or a feel-good treat for yourself."
• First class (aviation) - Wikipedia.
• First Class and Business Class Awards to Europe with Frequent Flyer Miles - TravelSort.
• Game of Thrones - "How airlines woo the one per cent."
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• Le Noeud Papillon - since 2007. Silk eye shades.
• Luxury VIP jets: How the super-rich fly - "Luxury jets whisk VIPs to their destinations in flying palaces."
• Most Expensive Luxury Airline Suites - The Most Expensive Journal.
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• Mulberry Silk Eye Masks - "Our Silk Eye Masks are made from pure Mulberry 22 Momme Silk, they are kind to your delicate eye area and can aid a peaceful sleep by eliminating harsh light."
• Naomi Campbell's amazing airplane ritual - "'Clean anything that you could possibly touch,' she says, before wiping down every inch of her seat, seat belt, tray table, TV screen, remote control and window. Even the overhead controls get a thorough clean."
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• Ritz Paris Essentials - "Cashmere travel sets." Lovingly enclosed within a Ritz Paris zip-up case, this beige eye mask and throw set will provide you with comfort and warmth on your travels. Grey cashmere travel set consisting of a plaid, a sleep mask and a zipped matching case.
• Singapore Airlines - "New Business Class." When you’re travelling for business, everything must go as planned. Like the meal you reserved with Book the Cook, and the uninterrupted sleep you’re looking forward to on your fully-flat bed. So you’re wide awake, refreshed and ready for business as soon as you land.
• Singapore Airlines just unveiled new suites for its Airbus A380 - CNBC.
• Singapore Airlines Suites - "How close is too close? You’ll never have to know."
• The aircraft interiors of the future - "Crystal Cabin Awards shortlist spotlights aircraft interiors of the future."
• The best airline first-class lounges - The Telegraph.
• The Future Of First Class? The Seats Could Be Next To Economy - "Up to now, cabin classes have always stayed very separate. Economy fliers rarely get to see the benefits of first or business class, and while that gives premium passengers plenty of privacy, it can be challenging for airlines in terms of making maximum use of the available space. A concept by South Korean student Sahngseok Lee in partnership with Adient Aerospace suggests that mixing classes together could be a more efficient solution."
• The most comfortable airplane cabin yet? - "AirGo Galaxy claimed as most space-efficient business class seat design yet."
• The Most Luxurious First Class Cabins - Condé Nast Traveler.
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• The walls are climbing for first class fliers - "The latest in luxurious first-class airplane suites: Building up. A new generation of high-wall supersuites are stretching up to the ceilings of the latest wide-body jets, eclipsing the suites that came before."
• The world's most spacious airplane seats revealed - "How to find the world's roomiest airplane seats. One of the greatest luxuries when we fly is space: the space to stretch out, relax, work and sleep while flying seven miles above the Earth at nearly the speed of sound. These days, that's international business class, with fully-flat beds longer than most people are tall. But some are roomier than others. So which airline will give you the biggest bang for your buck?"
• This could be the future of first class airplane travel - " First class is on its way out at many airlines, as business class seats and mini-suites become larger, more private and more luxurious - and fewer budgets stretch to adding on what might be an extra zero on the price tag for first class. But it's not going away completely."
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• This European airline will introduce double beds in the sky - "A private cocoon up in the sky, with even your own heating system that you can turn up and down at whim? That’s what’s on offer in the latest groundbreaking new first class suite unveiled by an airline. For once, though, it’s not a Middle Eastern airline laying on the glitz. Astonishingly, this new suite will be fitted in Lufthansa’s planes, in a bid to compete with the fancier offerings on the long-haul market."
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• TIFFANY & CO. - since 1837. "Inspired by a vintage Tiffany & Co. logo first used on silverware designs at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, the Tiffany Travel collection takes flight with modern accessories for the on-the-go adventurer. Plane, train or car, you'll never want to travel without this luxurious blanket and sleeping mask set." Set of three pieces includes a charcoal-colored silk pouch, cashmere blanket and silk sleeping mask.
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• Why superbusiness minisuites are the future of luxury flying - "After a long, golden sunset of being installed on fewer and fewer aircraft, the retirement of older aircraft caused by the Covid-19 pandemic means that when air travel resumes, international first class will be very nearly a thing of the past. Its replacement is a new generation of superbusiness minisuites, more spacious than regular business class, and with a privacy door to create your own space, but without the over-the-top luxury of first class."
• Why this will be the hottest airplane seat in 2021 - "Premium economy. The two words might seem a weird combination in airline terms, since it's a rare airline where economy seats feel premium these days. But these seats between coach and business class on international flights were heating up even before Covid-19, and as we all start to travel again in 2021, they're set to be a must-fly for many passengers. Why? It's a combination of factors."
• World’s Best First Class Airlines 2022 - "Singapore Airlines wins award for the World's Best First Class Airline, also scooping the awards for the Best First Class Airline Seat and the Best First Class Onboard Catering. Swiss International Air Lines Zurich lounge wins the award as the World's Best First Class Airline Lounge."
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• World’s Best First Class 2019 - "Whether you’re flying on the Emirates A380 or our game-changing Boeing 777, you’ll experience the World’s Best First Class 2019. Discover why our customers voted for us in the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards."
• 'Zero gravity' and private suites: Emirates' new Boeing 777 first-class cabin revealed - The Telegraph.

Top 10 High-End Luxury First Class Airline Cabins

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• Air France Now Has The World’s Best Business Class Seat - "Air France’s new business class cabin consists of Safran Versa reverse herringbone seats in a 1-2-1 configuration, which are very good."
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• Air France La PremiÈre Suite - "A personal space tailored to your needs."
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• American Airlines Flagship Suites - on Boeing 777-300ER. "The only true First class experience."
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• British Airways First Suite - "Haven of style and comfort." First is our most luxurious way to experience flight. From your own stylish suite, to exclusive access to spa treatments, fast-track security, and excellent service, it’s the finest way to travel.
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• Emirates Airbus A380 - "From Private Suites and Shower Spas in First Class, to flat-bed seats in Business Class, to extra room and custom lighting in Economy Class and inflight Wi-Fi throughout the A380."
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• Emirates' Boeing 777 first-class cabin - "Emirates has unveiled completely refreshed interiors for its Boeing 777 aircraft, including its highly anticipated new First Class private suites. With floor to ceiling sliding doors and sleek design features inspired by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Emirates’ new suites takes luxury and privacy to the next level. Offering up to 40 square feet of personal space each, these spacious, fully-enclosed private suites are laid out in a 1-1-1 configuration."
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• Etihad Airways "The Residence" - onboard the A380. "The world’s most luxurious living space in the air." Our pioneering spirit and traditions of hospitality, drawn from our home Abu Dhabi, have been harnessed to create contemporary living spaces in the air, and provide all guests with unparalleled comfort and service with your own living room, bathroom & bedroom. Designed for up to two guests travelling together, it has been created by leading interior designers and hospitality experts who understand the discernment and sophistication expected by the private traveller. The Residence is a haven of tranquility, reflecting an exclusive lifestyle that offers the ultimate in high-end luxury.
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• Finnair's fancy new airline seats don't recline - "Spacious, full of gadgets, and with infinite angles of recline as they sink down to a lie-flat bed: there's a reason why airplane business class seats are as pricey - and cushy - as they are. Finnair's new Airlounge seats, unveiled Thursday, are super spacious and ever so private, with their wide, 51-inch high backs curling round aisle-side, to provide a shallow barrier to passersby. The seats curl round to offer privacy in a 1-2-1 configuration."
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• Lufthansa First Class - "As individual as you could wish for." It’s often the details and the little things that can turn a moment into something really special. Being greeted by a personal assistant at your destination airport, culinary highlights above the clouds or the personal space on board: moments that linger in the memory. In Lufthansa First Class, we shape your travel experience with great attention to detail and with your personal wishes in mind. Enjoy excellent comfort and service and experience your very own special moments in Lufthansa First Class.
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• Qantas reveals new first & business class cabins for ultra long-haul ‘Project Sunrise’ flights - "The first class cabin seats, or First Suites, will feature an extra-wide fixed bed, a 22-inch wide recliner lounge chair, a full-length wardrobe, a folding dining table - large enough for two - and a 32-inch ultra-high definition TV. The airline says customers will 'feel like they are in a mini boutique hotel.'"
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• Qsuite | Qatar Airways - "First in Business." A class of its own. Our first-ever cabin to offer aft and forward-facing seats, takes cabin innovation to an entirely new level, thanks to its quad configuration. Cabin interiors are designed in our signature colours of burgundy and grey, enhanced with elegant and warm rose gold detailing. Our seats have been thoughtfully dressed in the latest and finest fabrics, to optimise your comfort. The media panel also comes with an all-access power port, with USB, HDMI and NFC capabilities for your convenience. Experience the world’s most memorable destinations with an unforgettable journey in the World’s Best Business Class, as recognised by 2019 Skytrax World Airline Awards and 2019 TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards.
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• Singapore Airlines New Suites - on board the A380 aircraft 2017.
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• Singapore Airlines Suites - "A world of your own." Exclusively on board the A380 aircraft, provide the distinguished few with their very own haven of tranquility.
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• Swiss First - "Your home above the clouds." As a First Class passenger, you will enjoy the highest possible level of comfort. Take off relaxed, travel in comfort and land feeling refreshed. And only when you feel completely satisfied will we have done our job.
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• Virgin Atlantic Upper Class Suite - "Je ne sais quoi. Defined." Experience the next level of luxurious travel. Whether you're with us for business or pleasure, travelling in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class makes your journey something to look forward to.