Japan Airlines’ spacious leather and wood trimmed first class sanctuary (Photo: JAL)
Whenever we see news about international first class cabins these days, it’s usually that they are being discontinued. This trend has been going on for at least 20 years, and it shows no signs of slowing down – which makes us wonder: Does international first class have a future?
In recent news:
Cathay Pacific has just decided it will not put a first class cabin into its new Airbus A350-900s or the larger A350-1000s it has on order, instead configuring them with business class, premium economy and regular economy seating. News reports cite Cathay executives as saying the airline will still offer first class, but that the market for it is becoming a “niche segment” that will only allow it to work on key international business routes. Qatar Airways new A350s have no first class. Singapore Airlines’s new A350, which debuted in March, has none, either. Nor does the new Finnair A350.
Lufthansa, which has long been a defender of first class for international routes out of its Frankfurt hub, doesn’t feel the same way about its Munich hub. This coming winter, it plans to eliminate it on many intercontinental A330-300 flights out of Munich, including service to Charlotte, Montreal, Boston, Chicago, New York JFK and Washington Dulles.
Did you know: “First Class” has its own Wikipedia page
That big QANTAS 747-400 that Chris flew to Australia in March was all business class- even on row one in the nose of the plane pictured here (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
Air India earlier this year decided to get rid of the first class cabin on the three 777-200LRs that it uses for its new Delhi-San Francisco route. Airline officials told the India Times that the occupancy rate for seats in the front cabin was only reaching about 25 percent.
Late last year, Emirates created the world’s largest passenger airliner – an Airbus A380 with 615 seats – by eliminating first class and reconfiguring the plane with 58 business class and 557 economy seats. Other A380s in Emirates’ large fleet have 489 or 517 seats in three classes.
Delta got rid of international first class a long time ago, and we reported a few months ago that United is gradually following suit, ordering new 787-8s, 787-9s and A350s that have no first class cabins. It also plans to end first class on its existing three-class 767-300s, although it will continue on some 777s and 747s for now. (UPDATE: With the introduction of Polaris business class, United will eliminate Global First.) American still has a few first class seats flying around, but will they be pushed out of the sky with it rolls out a new international premium economy seat later this year?
Korean Air’s first class cabin was empty on a recent Seoul-Atlanta flight (Photo: Chris McGinnis)
An analysis a few months ago by Airways News cited a few big reasons why first is falling out of favor with global business travelers. There is the usual concern of corporate bean-counters that travelers shouldn’t be allowed too much luxury, making budgets for the big seats tighter or non-existent. But there’s also the fact that international business class has improved on many airlines to the point where buying a first class seat instead of business class would just be gilding the lily (e.g. seats that recline to a fully flat position and offer aisle access for everyone are becoming standard for international business class, whereas in previous decades you could only find them in first.)
And finally the analysis noted that C-suite business travelers who used to routinely fly in first around the world now have another option: private jets. New kinds of purchase plans are making the cost of private jet travel more affordable, and new technology is producing larger business jets that have a much greater range. Major private jet operators like NetJets are concentrating their new plane orders on these intercontinental business jets to meet a growing global demand.
The analysis noted that the “vast majority” of passenger demand for first class airline travel has retreated to routes linking just 15 global business centers, including London, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dubai, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, Frankfurt, Paris, Zurich, Beijing and Sydney.
Would it matter to you if first class disappeared completely? Why or why not? Please leave your comments below.
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I still want to be able to fly 1st class on Emirates and want to re-experience 1st class on lufthansa again before it’s all gone!!
A plane full of “economy plus” seats. Could work. All 34-35” pitch. I could see SWA trying something like this on ultra-long routes if they decide to fly to Europe or Hawaii. You’d also save money by reducing plane weight from not having the heavy electronic equipment in the seats, etc.
Hmmmm not real sure about that or the airlines would be flocking to it. It has been tried several time by air carriers from the north east to Europe. All bankrupt.
Since only 2% of the population actually pay for the full price buying these seats, it will be the thing of the past because no airlines could afford to keep it there unless there is a paying passengers..If you are mileage trader like most of the customers who sits up there, you are worthless customer to the airlines since it is so easy to get FF miles to obtain your seat and now many traveler in economy class gets NO mile for their travel. Singaporean model is catching up with the rest of the travel industry to tell whether you are worthy customer to keep..It is the way of the future..
Sure, US airlines are so bad that only their first class is tolerable. But that is not an argument to do away with First but rather to bring the other classes up to international standards
I will miss the international first product. The space differential compared to business is significant. A 15 hour flight from Hong to Chicago in first is a breeze; whereas, in business, especially on United, is much more painful than other airlines. The Delta business product needs a major upgrade to get to comparable to other carriers. I am not a fan of the Virgin product, their business class seats are very narrow. Not a fan of the herringbone layout. This will likely push my dollars to more foreign carriers.
Miles and points, but I do not accept that it’s cheaper for the airline if I fly 2-3 trips in E instead of one in F. Or, more likely, don’t fly that airline at all. If an Airline takes away my ability to save up miles for that trip in F, I’ll find someone else to fly (as long as there is SOME ONE flying F).
As long as a ‘new’ business class passenger receives First Class-like levels of service for less than what F was previously charged, I am ok with this.
Well I actually have a degree in economics and it isn’t as simple as you infer. Remember the FedEx founder’s grade on his proposal for FedEx? He nearly flunked and proceeded to change the world. You have to be imaginative Tony on how to do this, and not use traditional thinking. And no “hate” received. Most creative business people get this all the time (“it’s a stupid idea, it will never work” To the contrary, I am in good company.
The article nailed it. The real high rollers use private jets. While First Class is increasingly full of people upgrading using miles, or getting bumped up because Business is over-booked.
As long as Business Class continues to be improved, there is little economic need for First Class. Recent flights on Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand in their Upper Class and Business/First classes were as good as First on many airlines anyway.
Are you paying cash fares for first class seats or are you redeeming miles? If the latter, that’s the exact reason why airlines are eliminating first class.
If you ran an airline like this, you would either go bankrupt within months or you will have to charge fares so exorbitant nobody will take you seriously. Not trying to hate on your idea, just simple economics
I have been diligently saving my miles to eventually, upon retirement, cash in to upgrade to first. The MAIN reason is comfort since I am a large man (6’4″ 230lbs) Food and drink is next and the attention third. If the biz class is the new “first”, then I am ok with it. Perhaps “First” has become “not PC”. If I had my own airline, ALL seats would be big and comfortable with plenty of leg room (and ability to go to bathroom in middle of night without having to upset your neighbor), and I would dispense with all other first/biz amenities. I just want comfort. I’ll bring my own food, drink and iPad for reading and entertainment
You mention the empty FC seats on Korean. Years ago (2000-2008) I was going to Korea quite a bit. I would by a full fare coach ticket and if seats in FC were available they would sell it for $300.00 one way. That would free up my coach (as they were always completely full and needing seats) and they would generate extra revenue. Not sure why the quit. I think KLM still does it.
I would be devastated. It’s a big part of why I fly and how I choose my destinations.
I love using my miles (and occasionally dollars) to sit in the front of the plane but the way “C” is these days, that’s plenty front for me. The idea of burning 25 to 50% more of any sort of payment for the extras just doesn’t make sense in my book and while I know there’s a group who loves those details (and can afford them), I can see why it’s shrinking. No complaints here, so long as C continues to evolve and grow.