As we enter 2020, there are a number of airline premium cabin airline products I look forward to trying this year. Here’s the top-10 I will target, in order of priority:
10. American Airlines 777-300ER First Class
American is the last U.S. carrier that offers a true first class product and I recently was awarded Executive Platinum status from American Airlines. I have not flown in first class on American Airlines since 2015.
9. Air France A350-900 Business Class
I love Air France and the new A350 cabin looks exceptional. I’ll be flying this one sooner rather than later.
8. Aeroflot A350-1000 Business Class
I never rebooked my cancelled Aeroflot 777-300 flight and now have not been back to the Russian Federation in a decade. It’s time for a return to Russia, though I don’t know that I am ambitious as One Mile at a Time in wanting to fly several domestic sectors.
7. Virgin Atlantic A350-1000 Business Class
The beautiful new business class cabin on the A350 not only looks like a huge improvement over the herringbone seating currently found in “Upper Class” but will also be serving the Los Angeles route starting in April.
6. British Airways 787-10 Business or First Class
British Airways has really upped its game in terms of soft and hard product and I am keen to give the soft product another try. Interestingly, business class will be more private than first class onboard the 787-10.
5. TAP Portugal A330neo Business Class
TAP sadly does not release last-minute award space, so I need to plan out this trip in advance if I intend to fly the new A330neo (serving Chicago, Miami, Newark, and San Francisco). Good things fares are so cheap out of Scandinavia if you plan in advance.
4. Korean Airlines A380 + 747-8 First Class
Before Chase Ultimate Rewards severed its partnership with Korean Airlines, I transferred over sufficient miles for a first class trip to Asia. Ideally, I’d like to fly both the 747-8 (Kosmo Suites 2.0) and A380 (Kosmo Suites) on a single 80K ticket. With Korean Skypass soon devaluing, time is of the essence and I’ll book this trip soon.
3. Delta New (A350 or 777) Business Class
It’s about time I gave Delta another try on a longhaul rote. Sadly, the LAX-PVG route I had planned to try (with good award space) transitioned from an A350 to a 777. I still may do it, as it has Delta’s new suites, but I would prefer to try the A350.
2. Turkish Airlines 787-9 Business Class
The new business class seat on Turkish Airlines looks great, even as Turkish considers not even using it on its incoming A350s. I also have not reviewed TK’s new lounge in Istanbul, which is long overdue.
1. Singapore Airlines A380 New Suites
Singapore Airlines saver mileage space onboard the A380 outfitted with new suites is still quite limited, but it is becoming more readily available. I was originally planning a Shanghai to Singapore trip, but may go all the way to London.
CONLCUSION
I still want to fly Air Greenland and Cubana (and intend to), but my 2020 list is more practical than in years past. I didn’t even put the Philippine Airlines A350 on the list, even though I intend to check it out, because it lacks award redemption partners. Especially since I ended up only hitting 2/10 on my 2019 list, I hope this year will be better in terms of diversity of reviews. Still, one of the hardest things to do is turn down Lufthansa First Class award space when it is available…that really take discipline!
Happy traveling in 2020!
I need to plan for my own KoreanAir First Class award sooner rather than later as well… am hoping to do the 747-8 on the longhaul and A380 on the short segment as well. Have exactly 80k points unfortunately so I can’t connect from America to SEAsia or beyond
I’m most looking forward to the American Airlines First Class review. Have seen mostly bad reviews recently and I get the sense those reviewers are piling onto each others’ negativity to some degree.
What route are you thinking? I’d like to do the same combo of 747-8 on longhaul and A380 on short haul.
Can’t you do ATL-ICN-TPE? ATL-ICN on the 747-8, ICN-TPE on the A380.
Stuff I’ve booked and am looking forward to:
WestJet Premium RSW-YYZ
BA Club Suites in the A350-1000 YYZ-LHR
Virgin Atlantic PE on the 747 upper deck LGW-ATL
EVA Premium Laurel IAH-TPE
Qatar QSuites DOH-LHR
BA Club World on the 747 upper deck LHR-JFK
Driving around Alaska for 10 days in June
I think Ashok’s ready to try a real long haul so I’ve got to figure something out for the fall or winter. Maybe I’ll take him to Denmark since he keeps asking to go there (long story).
Nice! Should be a great year of travel for you.
That list is a good one. With one exception, and you know which one. As an Exec Plat why anyone would inspire for AA first I have no idea. It’s completely worthless. At least BA F is a slight step above. But go ahead, try it, sit with a cabin full of non rev employees and be served by disgruntled senior F/A’s.
Other than that it is a solid list. Mine also includes LATAM’s new business which I managed to get this month to GRU.
*aspire. Before I get lambasted by the Grammar police.
I’m curious if it will really be that bad.
Interesting that the TAP Air Portugal A330-Neo is on your list. As San Francisco residents, and having no oneworld status, my wife and I, nonetheless, decided that the nonstop SFO-LIS flight would work great for our Portugal and Spain trip this June.
As a taller guy it is just tough to endure long haul coach flights, so we save up our sawbucks and consider premium airfare as a part of our travel budget. Within reason.
So, when I saw last September that TAP was offering a biz class airfare of $6,600 I jumped on it – for both of us. On UA or Lufthansa or BA that would be the fare for a single passenger.
Oops…..meant Star Alliance status for TAP!!!
Did the DL A350 DTW-PEK flight in suites a couple weeks ago. The suites are nice, though I think they could have used a bit more of the color pallet. They very much look like cubicles. That said, the privacy was good, the seats were comfortable and the IFE was great, as always. I definitely recommend it and think it’s with a try.
TP flies the 339 to BOS too