I want to talk about my methodology for ranking first class, because I like to publish a list of what I consider to be the world's best first class products, lounges, best business class seats, etc.
OMAAT flight reviews are why you should trust them.
Hopefully, I don't have to explain this to regular OMAAT readers, but I feel like this is worth mentioning for those who aren't regular readers...
Mainstream media outlets rank different first class airlines according to stock media images and how airlines describe their first class products, rather than actual firsthand experience.
Why should you trust OMAAT?
I pay for my flights with cash or miles.
I don't let the airlines know that I'm reviewing flights, and go out of my way to remain anonymous.
I have flown every single first class product in the world, and the only one I haven't flown is Kuwait Airways.
I don't have a financial relationship with any airline.
I have been reviewing airlines for over 15 years and have written hundreds of flight reviews.
I wish that we could see more transparency regarding the financial relationship that rating agencies have with the airlines they rank.
My methodology for ranking airlines.
My reviews are designed to be subjective.
You should use a scorecard to rank them and make this as objective as possible. I don't think that that does justice to the special touches that some airlines offer, and also the variability in the experience from flight-to-flight.
A lot of what makes a first class experience great isn't something you can rank on a scorecard, but rather is this intangible feeling you get when flying an airline, where you feel "WOW, they really get it." It is nice to know exactly what you will get when you travel with airlines.
The top first class products are exceptional. I think all of these airlines would score a 90+ from me.
Inflight wi-fi is something I personally value, but not all airlines offer it in first class. If I said that the internet was worth 10 points, that would put any airline without it in last place, since it is something that many people don't care about.
I admit my rankings are subjective, and what I rank #1 may be #10 for you. I don't think that makes anyone wrong.
I have taken flights on every single one of the airlines on the list and said that it was one of the best flights I have ever taken. The airlines that I put in the top 12 are more important than the specific ranking of them.
I am not updating my rankings this year.
It has been difficult to update my list of the world's best first class products since the start of the Pandemic.
Some airlines have stopped first class.
The first class product that made my list is one of the airlines that have retired their best long haul aircraft.
I haven't been able to fly all of these first class products in the past 18 months because most airlines have adjusted inflight service due to the Pandemic.
I think there is value in keeping this list updated.
I will not change my rankings compared to early 2020.
I will note any changes to availability of the product or what airline executives have been saying about the product.
I will not remove certain planes from the list of best first class products just yet, because all of this could be subject to change, and we have seen a number of airlines backtrack repeatedly.
Hopefully the above makes sense, and my hope is that in 2023 the world returns to a point where I can update rankings that fully reflect the long-term changes airlines are making.
The world's 12 best airlines.
Below are the 12 best first class airlines, starting with the best. The post is specific to the onboard lounges and I rank first class separately.
1. The Boeing 777-300ER is the first class of the airline.
The product of the new first class on select Boeing 777-300ERs is spectacular. The first airline to offer fully enclosed suites in first class is Emirates.
The suites have doors that add privacy, but they are also enclosed floor-to-ceiling, unlike Air France, which has curtains that go floor-to-ceiling. I love that I value privacy.
First class seat on the Boeing plane.
First class suite from Boeing.
The seat is designed with care and attention to detail. The suite is large, the bed is comfortable, and you can control the lighting and temperature in it.
The bed in the first class cabin of the airline was Boeing 777-300ER.
The soft product is hard to beat, from free-flowing Dom Perignon to a dine on-demand menu with all kinds of great options.
The first class seat of the airline.
The advantage of having onboard showers and an onboard bar is something that the A380s don't have, but it's still a treat.
The only problem is how few of the planes have these suites. There are no plans to retrofit existing planes with these seats, as they only have these first class suites on nine of its planes. These seats will not be in the Boeing 777Xs until at least 2024.
2. Air France first class.
Air France is the perfect example of a great first class product. The first class cabin of Air France has a single row of seats. The airline has curtains around your suite, instead of doors, and the cabin is so elegant.
Air France has a Boeing plane.
The first class soft product is what sets Air France apart. The food is the best I have ever eaten on an airline, the service is flawless, and every part of the experience is thought out.
Air France has a first class Catering.
Air France has some of the most comfortable bedding in the sky, and I like being able to draw a curtain around my seat for privacy.
Air France has a first class bed.
Air France first class is the world's most well-rounded first class product. Air France still offers the world's best first class lounge experience, even though I think it's for Emirates.
Air France first class could be improved with the addition of wi-fi, but it will be added soon on all La Premiere-equipped planes. It is rumored that some future delivery A350s could feature first class as well.
3. First class on all of the airlines.
This is the most improved first class product in the past couple of years, as ANA introduced incredible new first and business class seats in mid- 2019!
I have always preferred Japan Airlines first class over All Nippon Airways first class, but that is no longer the case. The ANA has improved the quality of its seats, which now feature doors, are more spacious, and offer a better experience whether you are traveling alone or with someone.
The cabin on All Nippon Airways is first class.
The first class bed on All Nippon Airways is a Boeing 777-300ER.
ANA's new planes have better high-speed wi-fi than the old system.
This really is a world class product with ANA's exceptional service, food, drinks, and amenities.
First class Catering on All Nippon Airways.
First class Catering on All Nippon Airways.
4. The Boeing plane is the first class of Garuda Indonesia.
Another airline that tailors the experience from the time you arrive at the airport to when you arrive at your destination is Garuda Indonesia. There are eight suites in the first class. The hard product is good, but not great compared to other airlines.
First class cabin on the Boeing plane.
Everything about the soft product is perfect. I believe that the best flight attendants of any airline are at Garuda Indonesia, and the airline has an onboard chef in first class.
If you have any special requests for your flight, you can make them before departure.
The first class Catering at Garuda Indonesia.
The crews make the experience. I agree with many surveys that the cabin crew of Garuda Indonesia is the best. The flight attendants at Garuda Indonesia were warm and friendly.
The crew of Garuda Indonesia.
The only thing that can be improved on is its bedding. It isn't nearly as plush as other airlines.
The first class product may soon be history. There are only two plans that have first class. The end of first class would be caused by the airline's restructuring, which will see the retirement of its Boeing 717s. I think this airline will be off the list next year.
5. The Singapore Airlines Suites are on the A380.
Singapore Airlines is known for being one of the best airlines in the world, and the airline introduced its new Suites in late 2017. Some might be surprised that this isn't on my list.
The new Suites are very nice. The A380 has six suites at the front of the upper deck. Singapore has more square footage for first class passengers than any other airline.
The cabin of the A380 is for Singapore Airlines Suites.
Each suite has a separate bed and a seat.
The Singapore Airlines Suites have a A380.
On a bad day, Singapore's Suites might be the worst soft product in the world. On a lunch or dinner flight out of Singapore, there is usually excellent food, and you can even book the cook in advance.
Catering is provided by the Singapore Airlines Suites.
Singapore is the only airline that has both Dom Perignon and Krug onboard.
Singapore Airlines Suites have champagne.
The service on Singapore Airlines is usually excellent.
How am I not ranking this product higher based on that? Singapore Airlines didn't put much thought into the design of the Suites The cabin looks great, but the individual components are not great.
The seat is wobbly. You can only eat if you are looking at another passenger. The bed is very hard to fit on a top airline. There are no individual air nozzles.
All things considered, this is still a world class product. Despite the amount of space Singapore Airlines invested in the Suites, I am disappointed that the space wasn't used in a more creative way to create the world's most comfortable bed on a plane. The airline had enough room to do it.
6. The Boeing 777-300ER is the first class of the Cathay Pacific.
First class on the Boeing snoozing is only offered by Cathay Pacific. First class has six seats. The seats aren't fully enclosed, but they are positioned away from the aisle and large enough to not be needed. I like that it makes the product feel less claustrophobic.
The cabin of the Boeing 777 is first class.
The bed at Cathay Pacific is wide and comfortable, and the bedding is some of the best out there.
The bed in the first class of the airline was a Boeing 777.
I enjoy the ability to eat with a companion. It is a great date night to 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 800-273-3217 I appreciate that Cathay Pacific has a full meal service even in the middle of the night.
The crews of Cathay Pacific are attentive and consistent. When you need something during the flight, they show up in a couple of seconds after you push the call button.
The airline is installing free wi-fi throughout its fleet, and in first class it offers free wi-fi.
I wonder if Cathay Pacific will survive in its current form with everything going on in Hong Kong. It is hoped that Cathay Pacific will return to its glory days.
The first class Catering at Cathay Pacific.
7. Japan Airlines first class is Boeing.
There is more pride in the service industry in Japan than anywhere else, and that is obvious when flying Japan Airlines first class. It is like getting a taste of Japan before you go. Japan Airlines has fully flat beds in first class with direct aisle access, but the seats are not that striking.
The cabin of Japan Airlines is first class.
The food, champagne, free and fast wi-fi, and the ability to choose the firmness of your mattress pad are some of the things that stand out.
Japan Airlines has first class Catering.
First class champagne from Japan Airlines.
The Japan Airlines soft product is close to perfect.
8. First class on the A380.
The first airline to have a single-aisle configuration in first class was Etihad.
First class cabin on the A380.
The apartments are called First Class and will take your breath away. The first time I boarded an A380, I was speechless.
The first class suite is for Etihad Airways.
The second most square footage dedicated to each first class passenger is on the dine on demand menu.
The first class Catering on the airline was by the Etihad Airways.
In my opinion, there are some areas where the style of the company is over substance. The bed is not large and the seat is not reclined, which makes the suite not practically designed. This is the same problem I have with Singapore's new Suites.
This might be a product that never comes back. Five Boeing 787-9s would be the only first class planes in the entire fleet of Etihad, as the company was planning on retiring its entire A380 fleet. The planes have a far inferior product. We should cross our fingers that this is the case, as recent reports suggest that the A380 could make a comeback.
9. Korean Air first class.
Korean Air has a consistent product. There are only six seats in the nose of the plane, which is my favorite first class cabin.
Korean Air is the first airline to have a Boeing 747-8 cabin.
The seats are large, the amenities are excellent, and the food and drinks are good.
Korean Air has a first class bed.
First class champagne from Korean Air.
Korean Air has a good selection of entertainment, but they don't have wi-fi.
Korean Air plans to keep 747-8s into the 2030s, which is good news for this product.
10. First class on the Boeing plane.
I think I am biased because of my German background, but I love the first class experience of the airline. The service is among the best in the western world, the cabins are elegant, and the airline has the same offerings as any other airline.
The cabin of the Boeing 747-8 is first class.
There is something about the pre-flight champagne, nuts, and roses that makes me feel like I am at home in first class.
First class champagne from the airline.
The first class Catering of the Lufthansa.
First class passengers can get free wi-fi, and it is even fast.
There are still quite a few Boeing 747-8s flying around with these cabins, even though Lufthansa has scaled back its first class product.
11. SWISS first class.
I could have ranked SWISS ahead of Lufthansa if it was a toss-up. The first class cabins of SWISS have eight seats.
SWISS is the first class cabin.
Even though the airline doesn't have a lot of caviar, the food presentation and quality is definitely higher-end than on the other airlines.
Swiss first class Catering.
I have had great service in SWISS first class, but I have also had bad service, so that part of the product is a bit inconsistent.
A great night of sleep on SWISS is a given because the bedding is plush and comfortable.
SWISS first class bed is a Boeing plane.
12. The Boeing 787-9 is the first class.
A few years ago, a new first class product was introduced on the 787-9s flying between London and Muscat. There are eight seats in the cabin. The seats are very comfortable and have a sleek design.
The Boeing 787-9 is the first class cabin.
The Boeing 787-9 is the first class bed in the air.
The soft product, such as Cristal champagne, an incredibly custom menu that you can order in advance, and some beautiful Omani touches, make Oman Air so great.
The first class Catering at the Air is offered by the Sultanate of Oman.
The most incredible experience you can have in commercial aviation can't be included on the list since it's not technically a first class product. It was also priced accordingly when it was offered. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to have your own three room suite with butler service.
The living room of the residence is an A380.
The residence bedroom is for the A380.
The residence butler service is for the A380.
I think back to my flight in the residence. That is even more the case when you consider that this product may be a thing of the past.
You have it. I think those are the 12 best first class airline products. This is a difficult time to rank products like this, given all that is changing, but hopefully the above is still useful. Two of the above products are unlikely to be around much longer, if at all.
I think anyone would be reasonable to think that the above products should be in a different order, but hopefully this is at least a useful list in terms of the 12 all around best first class products.
I think I know what the next three first class products would be, so I would rank them in order.
What are your opinions on the world's best first class airlines?
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