The Pinnacle of Luxury: My Top 5 Best First Class Airlines

I recently published my first ranking of top airlines in Business class which was fun! This follow on looks at my Top 5 Best First Class Airlines around the world. I have decided to focus on a top 5 in this case rather than top 10 as there is simply far fewer airlines offering international First Class these days. Many of the world’s biggest airlines like American, United have eradicated First Class altogether,  with others following that direction, soon a First Class experience may be ever more rare.

In some cases, it is becoming increasingly difficult ( and no doubt expensive ) to differentiate First Class from Business Class. Fundamentally, the seats are still bigger with a more intimate cabin. More attentive and personalised service, uber top shelf champagne with Caviar, a much more private airport and lounge experience means there is still demand for such level of luxury. All together it’s a far more refined experience.

The Ranking Process

To keep things as consistent as possible I will largely use the criteria’s I applied for Business Class ranking with one specific addition. In essence, even on the same benchmark, what we are looking in the scoring is something that is of a higher quality, delivery more polished.

Ground Service –  As in Business this considers check-in experience, a more intimate lounge experience with complimentary spa treatments, fast track security, escorts to /from the plane etc

Staff – Here I would consider such things as communication, general manners and friendliness, ability to deliver above and beyond. 

Service standards – This is one would factors in crew availability, ratio of crew to passenger/responsiveness, wider airline communication, true dine-on-demand,  personalised welcome and turn-down, ability to control own cabin temperature and ambience

Physical Product – This includes the seats, layout of the cabin, privacy, noise levels, cabin ambience and lighting, storage etc

Food & Beverage – Including quality, range of choice, ability to order in advance. Here we are looking for availability of top shelf champagnes, cuisine designed by world renounced chefs, served in the finest China and with finer attention to detail with presentation

Entertainment – Range and quality of offering from movies, documentaries/Sports, Music, Interactive Games, Connectivity etc. The main differentiator here from Business would be much larger and higher definition IFE screens and 

Bed & Amenities – The length and width of the bed,  it’s a given that First Class beds do not have any restrictions in feet area, bedding and choice of pillows provided, some airlines provide separate beds entirely to the main seat

Customer Service – Everything before & after flying. Some airlines have dedicated support lines for First Class passengers where any requests can be expedited

Wow Factor – This is a new one here that is specifically relevant for a First Class experience. By very definition, a First Class experience should not be anything ordinary. Airlines can achieve this wow factor in various ways, whether that is through a specataculor hard product bordering on private jet level of space, bars, shower spas, private escorts and chauffeur service. What is the airline doing to provide an experience above and beyond the ordinary?

As before each criteria will have a score out of 10, so the total will be out of 90. But to make things easier, I will convert them as a percentage! Now, enough of the criteria’s, lets see which airlines make it to the top 5!

Top 5 Best First Class Airlines

5. Japan Airlines ( Score 83% )

Ground Service: 8 Staff: 10 Service Standards: 9 Physical Product: 7 Food & Beverage: 9.5 Entertainment: 8 Bed & Amenities: 9 Customer Service: 9 Wow Factor: 5

Cracking into the top 5 best First Class airlines, Japan Airlines offers a very traditional but indeed refined experience in the most pointy end. While the hard product itself is in desperate need of a refresh, there is no denying it still fulfils the level of comfort and space expected from a good First Class Suite. Add to that the excellent restaurant quality catering, Cristal or Salon 2007 Champagne and superb soft touches from Organic cotton PJs and Shiseido products and incredible crew. It’s hard not to love a JAL First Class experience. You can read my full review of what it’s like to Fly Japan Airlines First Class here

 

4. All Nippon Airways ( Score 84% )

Ground Service: 8 Staff: 9 Service Standards: 9 Physical Product: 9 Food & Beverage: 9 Entertainment: 8 Bed & Amenities: 9 Customer Service: 8 Wow Factor: 7

Almost neck and neck with Japan Airlines, fellow Japanese carrier ANA is renowned for providing exquisitely gracious service too. The main advantage over its homebase rival is that ANA First product is much more modern with even the older Suites being more up to date. The brand new Suite product launched in 2019 sure is eye-catching with full privacy doors and the biggest high definition entertainment screen in commercial aviation today. You can read a review of ANA First offering here.

 

3. Cathay Pacific ( Score 86% )

Ground Service: 9 Staff: 8.5 Service Standards: 9 Physical Product: 9 Food & Beverage: 9 Entertainment: 9 Bed & Amenities: 10 Customer Service: 8 Wow Factor: 6

Cathay Pacific has a top notch product offering in First with the soft product in particular that shines through. Cathay has the lounge game nailed down with not one but two superb First Class Spa like lounges in its Hong Kong base, offering impeccable quality of service. The Wing is one of few airport lounges to have a Hotel Suite style bath cabanas. No one else does this better. For airlines like have Lufthansa have tried ! The hard product found only on 777s, while very decent by First Class standards, are now also showing age.  A New First Class product is in the works and expected some time in 2025 with the delivery of 777X variants. I would expect this would indeed keep Cathay in the top league of First Class for years to come.

 

2. Singapore Airlines ( Score 91 % )

Ground Service: 9 Staff: 10 Service Standards: 9 Physical Product: 9.5 Food & Beverage: 9 Entertainment: 9 Bed & Amenities: 9.5 Customer Service: 9 Wow Factor: 8

Singapore First Class has always seemed like a dreamy way to fly, whether that is in the 777 First or the pinnacle of Suites that is it’s A380 Suites product. They have by far one of the most attentive, friendly and sociable crews out there. Everything is done with elegance and flair. Start of your journey with personal check-in, and then in the exclusive Private Room (recently renovated post Covid) that feels like a sanctuary meets restaurant. The new A380 Suites is where the idea of First Class is elevated to a whole new level. So much so it’s hard to believe you are on a commercial aircraft! It is the worlds biggest First Class commercial product in sheer footage. It features 2 bathrooms that would not look out of place in a luxury boutique hotel!

 

1. Emirates ( Score 93% )

Ground Service: 9.5 Staff: 9 Service Standards: 9.5 Physical Product: 9.5 Food & Beverage: 9.5 Entertainment: 10 Bed & Amenities: 10 Customer Service: 8 Wow Factor: 9

Coming in First place, Emirates epitomizes First Class travel. It is the pinnacle of luxury travel like no other. Admittedly it all started in a very in your face style of bling which is gradually but slowly being toned down. It always had the substance to back it up. Substance in spades really. Fantastic lounges with direct lifts to your aircraft? Tick. Top notch service? Tick. Mind blowing product? Tick. Wow factors like fancy onboard bars and spa showers bigger than your home? You bet! Some may say it’s too superfluous. Do you need all that pezazz? Off course not! But that’s not the point. It’s playful and offers an experience out of the ordinary. And it’s just oh so fun!

 

Overall Thoughts

I would consider flying First Class on any of the airlines an absolute treat. Some of these airlines can provide a very different experience across different aircrafts, for example an Emirates newer 777 features the spectacular Game Changer product but does not feature the bar or shower Spas of it’s A380. Similarly, Singapore Airlines 777 features a more standard First Class product whereas it’s A380 Suites is entirely another league. For simplicity, I have scored the airlines on each criteria across the board. I could have easily done a top 10 where both Emirates & Singapore Airlines would feature twice!

I also ranked Lufthansa First Class (80%) & British Airways First Class  (76%) coming in each 6th and 7th position respectively. I recently flew Oman Air First Class but did not rank them as they only have 2 aircrafts with First Class mostly flying to London only.

Notable airlines and product missing here would be Air France, I have no plans to fly them until 2024 after they launch a new First product. To my knowledge they do offer a very compelling First Class experience that may well knock out Japan Airlines from this list. You can read about Air France current offering in Callum’s blog here.

Another product that would easily be a contender for Top 5 would be Etihad’s A380 apartment which will be back flying this summer. I had booked this many times and each time the trip was cancelled. I will attempt to book them again this year and if they are still flying, may well feature in my next First Class roundup. For now here is a review of what Etihad A380 Apartments where like!

What do you think of these rankings?