Which major airline has the best first class service?

[MrChug]

I've checked all the websites, but they all seem to "sell" the same thing: "Luxury, service, amenities, delectible cuisine, blah blah blah"

Have you flown first class with any airline? What was your experience?

[tlongII]

Cathay Pacific

[Soul_Patch]

Im not sure anyone can beat British Airways. Maybe Swissair.


Although i cant stand them (BA) in most other aspects (long story)

[tsb2000]

Qantas is always good, as is Malaysia Airlines...you can tell which direction my flights usually go. :) On the rare times I've gone to Europe, I get the best treatment on KLM.

[CavsSuperFan]

I really doubt that many posters can regularly afford to travel 1st class...

Best Service On Low-Fare Airlines
JetBlue
Alaska Airlines
America West

(AirTran, Atlantic Southeast, JetBlue and United Airline service is getting worse because more people are flying at a time when carriers have slashed their work forces)


Best overall 1st class

1. Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong
2. Qantas Airways, Australia
3. Emirates, Dubai
4. Singapore Airlines, Singapore
5. British Airways, United Kingdom
6. Malaysia Airlines, Malaysia
7. Thai Airways, Thailand
8. Qatar Airways, Qatar
9. Asiana Airlines, South Korea
10. ANA All Nippon Airways, Japan

[midgetonadonkey]

I use Thai Airlines every summer on my trips to Thailand and the service is outstanding.

[L.I.T]

Cathay Pacific

Yup, they are the best for me. Although Air France and Singapore Airlines are pretty good as well.

[Soul_Patch]

I really doubt that many posters can regularly afford to travel 1st class...


strange considering i really doubt you have a remote clue of what people's financial situations are that post on this message board...but regardless.


i've never been to asia, so most of my experience has been trans atlantic. And i guess most of that has been Northwest and BA. From those two, im thuroughly impressed with BA's level of service. For intracontinental flights in europe, swissair is outstanding. I flew from Helsinki to Zurich with them and was impressed. Id have used BA, but the person i was flying with works for a company that books swissair exclusively i guess.

[samikeyp]

Delta used to be pretty good but they have gone downhill for years.

[Melmart1]

I used to work in the airline biz and my clients swore by Singapore airlines and KLM and BA first class.

Personally, I usually fly Southwest so no 1st class available. But I have flown American first class and it was nice but not worth the xtra money, imho.

[CavsSuperFan]

http://www.spurgeon.org/images/Suge/fat_kid.jpg

Soul_Patch ... i really doubt you have a remote clue of what people's financial situations are that post on this message board...

[50 cent]

BA, Sinagpore, and Cathay are the best.

I am Platinum with AA and fly First Class quite a bit and it is pretty decent but doesn't hold a candle to some of the foreign airlines.

[50 cent]

BTW, check www.flyertalk.com and www.seatguru.com for good info.

[David@SLCC]

I've only flown First Class with Singapore Airlines and United. Of the two, Singapore Airlines has the best service. As the previous poster indicated, flyertalk.com might be a good resource. However, beware of spoiled posters who complain about things like "I had to wait two minutes for someone to take my coat!" Big deal...

[Magic_Johnson]

singapour airline :toast

[Shelly]

My parents travel a lot and always fly first class. They said Singapore Airlines had the best first class to them.

[SpursWoman]

The last flight I was ever on that was longer than 3 hours was Braniff. :spin


And I still have a deck of cards I got on the flight with their then-current logo:

http://www.braniffinternational.org/images/main/BN760501.gif

[marini martini]

What no one in your family owns a private jet? Pity :(

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I really doubt that many posters can regularly afford to travel 1st class...



I understand that everyone from Cleveland spends their free time sodomizing each other.

[Soul_Patch]

http://www.spurgeon.org/images/Suge/fat_kid.jpg

Soul_Patch ... i really doubt you have a remote clue of what people's financial situations are that post on this message board...


err....your spot on buddy i dont...i didnt claim to...and im not sure i follow the fat kids eating mcdonalds take...but ok.


Id never use first class for a state to state flight...but overseas flights it makes a WORLD of difference.


Ive only done it twice, on BA and once with a friend on Swissair...all of them were not out of my own pocket...no way i can pay 5k for a seat..or whatever it is, when a coach seat go's for 1/5th of that or less. Not about affording it really, more about choosing to spend my money differently. Although ive considered it strongly a couple of times flying to london.

[peewee's lovechild]

I frequently fly Frijolero Air

[scott]

I've only flown first class when I get an upgrade on American, but I dig it. I'm sure you can't really go wrong with any first class on a major provider.

KLM has the hottest flight attendents, if that helps.

[MrChug]

Shit! Thanks guys...I probably should have specified DOMESTIC flight :lol

This is ALL great information though...thanks! The company's sending me to L.A. for a week and it's a real inconvenience. My boss said just to book a 1st class flight and great hotel, they don't care. I've only flown Delta 1st class, but it DEFINITELY wasn't all that. Not doin that shit again unless I can hear enough about it.

If I'm gonna be away from my family in a few weeks unexpectedly that far away, they're payin for it :spin

[ShoogarBear]

The closest I came was when I got bumped up to Business Class on a USAir flight to Frankfurt. That was sweet.

First thing after I sat down, the attendant came over and said "would you like orange juice, or champagne", and I said "Marmosa!". The reclining lazy-boy chain and personal TV screen were niiiiice. Got a good sleep in on the way over. :sleep

On the way back, though, no such luck. :(

[2Blonde]

Before I stopped working I flew every week and I always preferred American. The majority of my flights were delta or American so I joined AA Platinum Club because of all the miles. I always used the upgrades I earned for first class flights when I went on vacations. But the best service I got was always with AA. Of course this was about 8 years ago.

[Shelly]

Before I stopped working I flew every week and I always preferred American. The majority of my flights were delta or American so I joined AA Platinum Club because of all the miles. I always used the upgrades I earned for first class flights when I went on vacations. But the best service I got was always with AA. Of course this was about 8 years ago.

My friend has been a flight attendant for AA for 20 years and even she says they suck! :lol

[missmyzte]

Where are you coming from? Where in LA are you going to? Keep in mind there are other airports in So Cal besides LAX, Burbank (BUR) and Orange County (SNA) are good alternatives depending on where you will be. Have you picked your hotel?
If you can't tell, I do a ton of travel and am based out of So Cal, just a bit north of LA.

As for American Airlines, they really are awful. I do anything I can to not book travel on AA. Southwest doesn't have first class, it's open seating. United first class is okay, but *never* fly United coach - they treat you like you're completely worthless. My guys have always like flying JetBlue and Delta is okay.

Honestly, I think you'd do better just picking the best flight times that work for you and take whatever it is. First class is first class, and unfortunately just isn't what it used to be.

[2Blonde]

My friend has been a flight attendant for AA for 20 years and even she says they suck! :lol
That's funny :lol they must have really gone downhill in the last 8-9 years since I stopped travelling.

[ShoogarBear]

Cathay PacificThey fly you long time?



(sorry, I held out as long as I could)