I just finished a “vintage” trip report looking back on a first class trip I took about a decade ago on several airlines. What has changed over the last decade in terms of international first class travel?
First, first class has become rarer. Some airlines, like United, Malyasia, Turkish, and Asiana have eliminated it. United may not have ever really tried to compete, but carriers like Asiana and Turkish simply found that people were not buying it. Others, like Korean, Lufthansa, Air France have cut cut it back. Air France’s latest first class product on the 777-300ER is only four seats while Lufthansa has removed first class on many longhaul aircraft and cut the size of the cabin to a standard of eight seats. Across the board, we see traditional “first class” airlines taking delivery of new aircraft without first class seats. British Airways, for example, which has a long tradition of first class, skipped first class on its new A350-1000, which features Club Suites in business class that actually feel roomier than first class on the British Airways 777 and 747.
But while first class has become rarer, I’d argue it has become better. Check out the pictures below on Lufthansa, Thai, and SWISS…comfortable seats to be sure, but not nearly as comfortable as today. Today, on average, you’ll find better seats, better bedding, better inflight entertainment, and better connectivity than you would have 10 years ago. Based upon my own experience, I’d also argue that food today is just as good as it was 10 years ago, when we were already outside the “golden age” of lobster and carved Châteaubriand. Singapore Airlines not only offers roomy suites onboard, but the ability to order meals in advance…a trend that is catching on.
Lufthansa Then:
Lufthansa Now:
Thai Airways Then:
Thai Airways Now:
SWISS First Then:
SWISS First Now:
And let’s not forget Gulf Carriers like Emirates and Etihad, which have embraced first class with swanky first class cabins and even a larger “Residence” onboard the Etihad A380 (through Qatar Airways is cutting first class).
Emirates 777 First:
Etihad A30 First Class “Apartments”:
Qatar Airways A380 First Class:
Etihad Airways “The Residence”:
There’s a tendency to be nostalgic about the past, but at least for me…who first flew first class in 2008…I’d say first class is better today than it was a decade ago.
And Of Course More Expensive…
Finally, we mustn’t forget that the reduction and elimination of first class cabins has made first class mileage redemptions more elusive than ever before when using miles. There are still sweet spots to secure Lufthansa First with Asiana or ANA First with Virgin Atlantic, but generally speaking it is a lot harder to secure first class seats than a decade ago using your miles. It is also dramatically more expensive. Back “in the day” you are could book eight Lufthansa First Class seats or four SWISS First Class seats months in advance. Singapore First was much more reachable (you could even use Delta miles) and American, Qantas, and United were not so difficult to secure.
Now you can only book SWISS First if you have Senator or HON status and a boatload of Lufthansa miles. You can only book Air France First Class with Gold status in Flying Blue (and an even larger cache of miles). Garuda, Korean, and Lufthansa are also restricted and American no longer releases saver award space. First Class may be better than ever, but it is more difficult today to secure than it was a decade ago using miles.
CONCLUSION
In short, first class has become more exclusive, more limited, and better than ever. It’s also more difficult to reach with miles than it was in the past and perhaps on its way out. Still, expect three-cabin first on airlines like Air France, ANA, British Airways, Emirates, JAL, Lufthansa, Qantas, and Singapore for many years to come.
Other than the ease of redeeming miles for first class, is there anything you miss about the “old” first class from a decade ago versus first class today?
When I flew on Iberian Air Lines years ago, (not in first class), they actually gave us slippers to wear during the flight, (from Malaga to NYC); the slippers were very comfortable. I sincerely doubt if that is the case today.
well as you can fly IEV-MCT LX First (actually ZRH-MCT part) for 1300 EUR return, i wouldnt say its has become much more expensive
The air hostesses have gotten older and more modest. Can’t ask for a massage anymore.
@debit you certainly don’t get massages and hotels and fine restaurants either.
Compared with the early 1990’s, business class is better now than first class then.
Now, the situation seems to be:
2020 F (not always available) = no comparison
2020 J better than 1990 F
2020 Premium Economy = about equal to 1990 business class, occasionally 1990 business class a tad better
2020 Economy class = 1990 economy class (2020 sometimes has IFE, bigger overhead bins but less leg room)
All depends on priorities. The dividing line for me was 2002. Bush and the FAA
First class USED to be about
A. Generous portions of Caviar followed by a lobster tail, soup, a real tossed salad, Sorbet, Chateaubriand , first class cheeses, hand made Ice Cream sundaes and later a keg of beer going up and dowm the aisles
B. Inflight music entertainment, not so extensive but very ethnic and far higher class then today.
C. Far wider seats BY THE WINDOW so that one did not get whiplash trying to see. No Matrons controlling ones windows.
D. Foreign airlines. Almost always I was invited to the flight deck for take offs, landings, and other times when I wanted to be there. The biggest plus of all.
E. Gifts at the end of the flights including Lindt Or Godiva chocolates and sometimes perfumes.
For those that only care about sleeping and being anti social today may be better.
For a REAL first class experience I would do anything to go back 20 years prior.
“but the ability to order meals in advance…a trend that is catching on.”
So is dining on-demand. A decade ago most of the meals served in first class were more or less structured and had a fixed timing and service order. Now, on most airlines in FC, you can pretty much order what you want from the menu, whenever you want it. So that’s another difference.
“There’s a tendency to be nostalgic about the past”
I guess it all depends when a person started flying. As someone who started in the late 80s, yeah, objectively FC today is much better today in most respects than it used to be. I say most, because the food experience overall used to be better back then, and service overall was more consistently good, refined, and polished.
I miss the passengers who a decade ago flew First Class, but who now wouldn’t be caught dead flying ‘commercial’.
I must disagree with the statement that the seats have gotten more comfortable.
IMHO there is and was no seat more comfortable than the old Swiss First Class seat as seen in your picture.
Sure, the IFE and IFS might have improved (although I’m not so sure about the latter if you check out some very old pictures), but the seat, while still pretty great, just isn’t as comfortable as that old seat.
Many things have improved in air travel over the past 10 years. Internet used to be only on domestic flights and very slow. We now have faster WiFi on many flights. Also I think airport lounges have really improved. I remember the first time in Emirates First lounge in Dubai in 2013. It was incredible with a restaurant that served food that tasted as good as a restaurant.
However, I think it was just 10 years ago, I flew Lufthansa First on the 747-400. The entire top deck was just 8 seats. You had a bed and a seat. This has to go down in history as one of the best F beds. I haven’t flown Etihad F on the a380 so I am not sure if it is better then that, but it definitely was great.
I find F the real benefit is the handling of the passenger in the airport and quality service and drinks on board. I find that business class bed is just about as good, and considering even the best bed in the sky can only be rated as mediocre as far as sleep quality because of turbulence shaking your bed every hour or two, makes it hard to really sleep, even on a quality F product.
So I really don’t see much reason for the price point of first over business being so much more. Give me a lovely flat bed and a nice meal, drink and lounge in business and I will have an enjoyable flight. I am surprised that there still is a First class anymore.