Airlines are investing billions of dollars in elevating their business- and first-class cabins. Here are the ones that did the best job!
Eva Metis Koutoumanou
As the world’s most awarded airline, it’s no wonder Singapore Airlines offers one of the best first-class seats in the sky. On board the Airbus A380, Singapore’s first-class Suites offer about 50 square feet of space. These rooms are decked out with a comfortable swivel chair facing a 32-inch television. Next to the seat, you’ll find a fully flat bed fitted with high-thread-count sheets. When traveling with a companion, you can remove the center divider between two suites to create a double bed!
Lufthansa, which is part of Star Alliance, along with Singapore Airlines and United Airlines, recently unveiled a $2.7 billion program, called Allegris, that aims to reimagine long-haul flying!
While coach and premium economy passengers will see some upgrades — including more legroom — the real showstopper will be Lufthansa’s first-class suites.
Some of them will have twin seats that can be made up as a double bed, a large table — whether for work or for meals — and a massive entertainment screen. (Other suites, with single seats along the windows, will be ideal for solo travelers.) They’ll debut on the airline’s Airbus A350 jets next year.
Meanwhile, Air France is preparing to unveil a refreshed La Première, its first-class product. The new version will have suites that will be the longest in the world (read: even more personal space), with a seat, a sofa, and a fully flat bed. Air France is also upgrading its long-haul business-class seats, each of which will have direct aisle access and a privacy door, plus a six-foot-five-inch bed.
La Compagnie, another French airline, has also upped its game. The carrier, recently voted the top international airline in T+L’s World’s Best Awards, is known for its business-class-only planes with 76 lie-flat seats. It now exclusively operates Airbus A321neo jets, which are quieter and more fuel-efficient than older models, on flights between Newark Liberty and Milan, Paris, and Nice, France.
While international airlines are leading the way, U.S. carriers aren’t resting on their laurels. American Airlines will launch a “Flagship Suite,” with a fully flat bed and a privacy door while Delta Air Lines plans to open new lounges reserved only for its Delta One passengers, in a bid to give business-class fliers an even more elevated experience.
For the record, Singapore Airlines won the 2023 award for the World's Best First Class, also winning awards for the Best First Class Airline Seat and the Best First Class Airline Amenities. Air France won awards for the World's Best First Class Onboard Catering, the World's Best First Class Airline Lounge and the World's Best First Class Lounge Catering.
The Top 5 for the year that passed:
World’s Best First Class Airlines of 2023
1. Singapore Airlines
2. Air France
3. ANA All Nippon Airways
4. Swiss International Air Lines
5. Emirates
Best First Class Airline Lounges in 2023
1. Air France - CDG
2. Qatar Airways - DOH
3. Singapore Airlines - SIN
4. Swiss International Air Lines - ZRH
5. Lufthansa - FRA
And the game is on for 2024!
