As we enter 2018, 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 no particular order:
1. Singapore A380 New Suites Class
Singapore’s new A380 Suite looks amazing. With a trip to Australia coming up, I should be able to squeeze in a journey on it from Sydney to Singapore.
2. Qatar 777 Qsuite Business Class
My Qsuite trip is already booked and only weeks away. Qatar Airways is already one of my favorite airlines, so I look especially forward to trying Qatar’s latest business class product.
3. Middle East Airlines A330 Business Class
The business class product is very outdated and even the soft product doesn’t seem all that great…but I’ve been wanting to try MEA for several years and plan to finally do so this year. Maybe it is because I love Beirut so much.
4. Korean Air A380 First Class
I still have never flown Korean Air, one of the few top-tier airlines I have yet to fly. Since I am trying to experience A380 first class on every airline, I hope to combine an A380 and the 747-8 below into a single one-way redemption to Hong Kong in first class for 80K Chase points transferred to Korean SKYPASS.
5. Korean Air 747-8 First Class
While the A380 has the original Kosmo Suites, the 747-8 has new Kosmo Suites 2.0.
6. Air France 777-300ER First Class
This appears to be the finest first class product in the world and I cannot wait to try it. I have an idea on how…it involves Algeria…
7. TAAG Angola 777 First Class
Perhaps the most elusive first class product in the world, I hope to experience it…and Luanda as well.
8. Virgin Australia 777 Business Class
It is time to try Virgin Australia Business Class…I’ve put it off for years. A trip to Australia will be the perfect opportunity.
9. South African Airways A330 Business Class
Already booked, I look forward to returning to beautiful South Africa and experiencing South African’s latest business class product.
10. TAP Portugal A330 Business Class
While TAP Portugal’s color scheme is about as drab as drab can be, it is time I review this Star Alliance member.
CONCLUSION
I do have a fair amount booked that is not listed above. Above is more my aspirational travel, though I feel confident I can fly all 10 products this years over some point.
What airline product do you most want to fly in 2018?
I’ve been (overly) pumped up about my La Premiere trip coming up in April. Bummer that they changed equipment on me on the outbound, and I’m “stuck” with the A380 both ways 🙂 OTOH, I did sweet talk my way into switching to an overnight in Paris on the return, so I can sample the entire La Premiere airport experience at CDG.
I think I’ve also found a way to work in Condor J from FRA-AUS this summer, which should make for an interesting review.
That is great. One absolute pre-condition for any trip in Air France First Class will be a long period in the lounge.
What about Swiss F?
I love Beirut, too.
Luanda? Yes, you should experience it. Actually, I’m presently giggling to myself just thinking of the apoplectic trip report you would write. I normally get a kick out of African cities (I had a blast in Lagos); but, Luanda is an Orwellian disaster devoted to torturing visitors with unhinged bureaucracy.
I really don’t have any aspirational flights for 2018. I guess I would like to experience Garuda’s first class before it completely disappears. But mainly, I just want to be able to travel more for fun this year. I want to, once again, feel the thrill of excitement when I board a plane that is bound for a place I have never experienced before. It’s been a long while since I’ve felt that excitement. I am traveling to Cluj-Napoca, Romania this February to buy a painting (long story); however, it’s tough to get excited about a flight on Tarom.
That lounge is unbelievable. Make sure you leave enough time to have a proper meal there.
AF 777 F is probably my favourite product (having not flown the new EK F or SQ F). KE 747-8 and 77W F (Kosmo 2.0) are both really good too in my experience.
I’m taking the Korean 747-8 JFK-ICN-HKG in February. The difference between the suites on the A380 and 747-8 was just the door. But on such a long flight a door seemed like a better idea to get some sleep.
You missed BA Club World from that list! 😉