2025 will be a year of transition in many ways and changes already in effect will limit the amount of travel I do this year, at least in the manner in which I have freely traveled over the last several years. Even so, there are a number of first class products I do hope to try (or-retry) in 2025, which are not very exotic, but many long overdue for a fresh review.
7 First Class Products I Hope To Try In 2025
This is not an exhaustive list, but I would place these seven products at the top of the list.
Emirates A380-800
It has been many years since I’ve flown Emirates or showered on a plane. While I may just try the 777-300 from Miami to Bogota, I’d love to get on an A380 longhaul flight to see how first class on Emirates is aging.
Lufthansa A350-900
It seems likely that the Allegris First Class suite will debut this spring and I certainly hope to give it a try, though hopefully not at retail.
Korean Air 747-8 + A380-800
This product has been on my list for years, but only in the last couple of weeks has Korean once again started releasing first lcass award space. Somehow I need to get on the 747-8 and the A380. Korean Air was historically much more generous in releasing A380 space than 747-8 space, but it is the 747-8 that has the latest “Kosmo 2.0” suites (operating from ATL, JFK, and soon LAX). I want to fly both. Last year I tried the waitlist feature and it failed completely.
> Read More: Korean Air Standby Award Booking: Total Failure
SWISS 777-300ER
I have not flown SWISS First since late 2017 and I need to give SWISS First Class another try, ideally with a long connection in Zurich such that I can make use of both the Schengen and non-Schengen first class lounges.
Etihad A380-800
I’d like to give Etihad another try in first class from Abu Dhabi to London or New York to check up on how the carrier is investing in first class. I’m so glad the A380 is back in service!
British Airways 777-300
I firmly believe that British Airways offers a very undervalued business and first class product and hope to use an oft-cancelled pandemic-era ticket to fly first class on British Airways this year on a longhaul flight, preferably aboard the newly-configured 777-300ER. I’ve sat on this ex-Hong Kong ticket for four years and I need to see what can be salavaged.
Air France 777-300 New First Class
Air France will debut its new first class seat in March and I’d love to give it a try. La Premiere is one of the most exclusive first class cabins, but I’d love to give it another try in 2025.
CONCLUSION
While I am setting a number of ambitious travel goals now, I do wonder how this year will turn out in terms of travel. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes toward striking the right balance between this blog and my other endeavors, but I am confident everything will fall into place and you will be treated to some fascinating reviews this year, though likely not on the level of years past.
What first class products are you looking to fly in 2025?
I’m looking forward for your TAAG Primeira Classe review.
You really rate British Airways up there with the others you’ve named. I thought you wanted to try F – what BA call F, others call business class.
I know I’m an outlier, but I’ve always enjoyed British Airways…never a bad flight (yet) in terms of service. I like the older crews.
LH F you can’t book with miles, can’t upgrade from business with miles, and can’t use eVouchers to upgrade either.
Only option is to pay retail.
I wouldn’t bother with BA AF have been flying their “new” seat since 2014 and don’t cost cut catering plus their IT works!
#BestAvoided
Are you welcome on SWISS First?
Inshallah…
Matt,
I enjoyed EK F from BOG to MIA last week. It gets into MIA around 9:30, which necessitates an overnight in Miami, but I found the service more appropriate for dinner than an afternoon meal. Indeed, the 3.5 to 4 hour flight is close to perfect for an EK 777 F experience if one wants to hit all of the high notes but if one is not interested in sleeping.
After my positive experiences with them in Y during the SAS challenge, I am actually pretty curious to try F on Xiamen and MU.
Does anyone know whether they make any award seats available?
A lot of these are just about impossible through awards. You certainly don’t lack for ambition.
Hope springs eternal…
There is no way you’ll get an award space on LH F so get ready to pony up some cash, but it will be WELL WORTH IT for the clicks!!! 😀
If you do make it to Hong Kong on BA, you might as well check out Cathay (if they ever start making award seats available, that is).