First class is a travel class on some 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 introduced new classes above this. Propeller airliners often had first class in the rear, away from the noise of the rotating propellor.
Service
First-class seats vary from large reclining seats with more legroom and width than other classes to suites with a fully reclining seat, workstation and TV surrounded by privacy dividers. International first-class seats usually have between 147-239 cm (58-94 inches) of seat pitch and between 48-89 cm (19-35 inches) of width while domestic flights may have between 86-173 cm (34-68 inches) of pitch and between 46-56 cm (18-22 inches) in width. In fact this means there is less discomfort for taller people. Some airlines have first-class seats which allow passengers to let one guest sit for a short while face-to-face with the occupant of the cabin.
First-class passengers usually have at least one lavatory for their exclusive use, with more than one on larger planes. Business- and economy-class passengers are not normally permitted in the first-class cabin. Normally AVOD (audiovisual on demand) entertainment is offered, although sometimes normal films, television programs and interactive games are provided on medium-large seat-back or armrest-mounted flat panel monitors. Especially for long-haul and high-yielding routes on top airlines, a first-class seat may have facilities akin to a five-star hotel, such as a mini-bar.
Since the 1990s, a trend developed in which many airlines eliminated First Class cabins in favour of an upgraded Business Class. However some, such as Garuda Indonesia, have opted to reintroduce First Class with new aircraft.
Recently, some airlines have gone far enough to model 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 are planning to introduce a three room suite called "The Residence" in December 2014 when it adds the Airbus A380 to its fleet.
Additional benefits
On the ground, first-class passengers usually have special check-in and security zones at the airport. Some airlines operate private first-class terminals and/or offer international first class passengers complimentary limousine rides to the airport. While it is typical that these passengers have lounge access, some airlines have separate lounges for first and business where the former may have more luxurious amenities. These passengers can often board the aircraft before other passengers, sometimes through their own jetbridge.
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are complimentary and gourmet meals are usually served with a choice of wine, dessert, and aperitifs. Often these meals have been designed by leading chefs and are served on white linen table cloths and with real cutlery (often with the exception of knives for security reasons).
When it comes to mileage, revenue first-class passengers are entitled to more bonus miles which can make the earning of a free ticket and other perks (such as a higher tier on a frequent flyer programme) much faster.
Ticket prices
Historically, first-class air travel has been very expensive. First-class long-haul fares regularly exceed $10,000 per person round trip, as opposed to $4,000-5,000 international business class tickets and $1,000-2,000 economy class tickets. With the emergence of frequent flyer programmes however, passengers have been able to upgrade their business- or economy-class tickets through membership in elite frequent-flyer programs and through the policies of some airlines that allow business and economy-class passengers to purchase last-minute upgrades on a space-available basis.
Cabin separation
Access to the first-class portion of the plane is usually restricted from those traveling in business and economy classes by curtains, although for security reasons, US-based airlines are increasingly removing these cabin dividers or installing transparent cabin dividers.
In North America
On most flights within or between the United States (including Alaska but not Hawaii), Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean - what is normally regarded as regional business class or premium economy in the rest of the world is branded as "domestic first class" by US airlines or "Executive Class" by Air Canada. The service is generally a step below long haul international business class. US territories in the Western Pacific (Guam and the CNMI) and sometimes Hawaii are considered international for service purposes and generally feature long haul business class.
However, domestic first class does have two very different meanings on certain transcontinental routes between New York City and California. American Airlines, United Airlines, and JetBlue operate a special service on flights between John F. Kennedy International Airport and San Francisco International Airport or Los Angeles International Airport known as "American flagship service", "United p.s." (p.s. stands for premium service), and "Mint," respectively, with United using specially configured Boeing 757-200s and American and JetBlue using Airbus A321s. In the cases of American and JetBlue, first class is actually a three-cabin first class which is different from two-cabin first class, both in comfort and price (such as lie flat seats in first class, for example). In these cases, domestic business class is generally slightly higher than a two-cabin domestic first class ticket. The three-cabin first class is more of a true first class rather than a rebranded business class. On JetBlue however, first class is only offered on transcontinental flights, consisting of mini suites or lie-flat seats.
US discount carriers (such as Southwest Airlines and Spirit Airlines) do not have first class cabins, instead opting for an all economy layout, sometimes with a few select rows with extra legroom (such as bulkhead and emergency row seats) available for a nominal fee.
In Europe
First class service was formerly available on intra-European flights on airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa and Swissair. First class seats were typically configured in a 4-abreast configuration, similar to current North American domestic first class seats, rather than the 6-abreast configuration used for economy and latterly business class services.
During the 1980s European first class was largely phased out in favour of 6-abreast seating throughout the aircraft, with variable numbers of seats allocated to business class (the business class cabin often being marked with a moveable divider). This allowed greater flexibility for the airlines, allowing them to allocate differing amounts of premium seating depending on the route. Turkish Airlines is one of the few European airlines still offering 4-abreast seating in their premium intra-Europe cabins, but they're sold as business class seats rather than first class. Same situation is in Russia.
Branding
The exact name for first class may vary between operators. This list does not include international premium products that are a combination of first and business class, nor does it include regional business class offerings on US domestic and North American routes branded as "First Class".
Many airlines brand their highest level of international service as "First Class", although some carriers attempt to be distinctive:
- Air Algérie - Rouge Première
- Air France - La Première
- Air India - Maharaja Class
- Air Seychelles - Pearl Class
- All Nippon Airways - First Class
- American Airlines - Flagship Suites (international three class Boeing 777-300ER and pre-refurbished Boeing 777-200ER aircraft), American Flagship Suites (JFK-LAX/SFO Airbus A321s)
- British Airways - First
- Cathay Pacific - First Class
- Garuda Indonesia - First
- Etihad Airways - Diamond First (until December 2014) - Becoming First Class Apartment & First Class Suite in December 2014
- Japan Airlines - First Class
- Korean Air - Kosmo Suite, Kosmo Sleeper
- Lufthansa - First Class
- Malaysia Airlines - First Class
- Qantas - First Suites
- Singapore Airlines - Suites (Airbus A380), First (Boeing 777)
- Swiss International Airlines - SWISS First
- Thai Airways - Royal First
- Transaero Airlines - Imperial Class
- United Airlines - United Global First (all Boeing 747-400s, and most internationally configured Boeing 767s and Boeing 777s)
Defunct
- Air New Zealand - Dedicated First Class cabin was previously available on Boeing 747-400 aircraft, but was withdrawn 2006-2007 with the introduction of Premium Economy and flat bed suites in Business Class. "Business Premier" is now the highest class of service.
- LAN Airlines - Dedicated first class cabin comprising a single row of five seats offered on Boeing 767 and Airbus 340 aircraft until late 2009
- Philippine Airlines - Dedicated first class or the "Maharlika Class" (sometimes simply First Class) cabins was withdrawn in mid- 2000's. During the second half of 2006, PAL announced a cabin reconfiguration project for its Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A340-300 aircraft. The airline spent US$85.7 million to remove all first class seats and increase the size of its business and economy seats, leading to the aforementioned new seats; as well as add personal screens with audio and video on-demand (AVOD) across both cabin classes.
- South African Airways - Dedicated first class cabin withdrawn 2001. First Class was known as 'Blue Diamond Class'.
- Turkish Airlines - First Class suites previously available on long haul 777 aircraft. Progressively removed from September 2011 following the introduction of Comfort Class, the carrier's premium economy product
- US Airways - International First Class originally consisted of six flatbed suites found in the first row on the Airbus A330-300. International First Class was eliminated as a separate class of service in 2002, although the seats remained until the A330-300 fleet was refurbished in 2010-2012. Any Envoy passenger could reserve an "Envoy Sleeper" seat in the first row for a small fee at booking, or for free at check-in if seats were still available - ground service, on-board service, catering and entertainment were identical to Envoy.
See also
- Aircraft cabin
- Business class
- Economy class
- First class
- Hypermobility (travel)
- IATA class codes
- Premium economy
- Wide-body aircraft
References
- Article in businessweek
- John G. Wensveen, Alexander T. Wells, Air Transportation: A Management Perspective
- Stephen Shaw, Airline Marketing and Management
- William E. O'Connor, An Introduction to Airline Economics
- Paul Clark, Buying the Big Jets: Fleet Planning for Airlines
- Pat Hanlon, Global Airlines
- Reeves Gilmore, Adventures of a (Mostly) First Class Guy: A Chronicle
External links
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