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The most over-the-top first class cabins
While most coach flyers would kill for a little extra leg room and a free bag of peanuts, first class passengers are often living the good life with free-flowing drinks and fully-reclining seats. But there are some first class cabins that go beyond simply luxury and begin to cross into the land of excess. For example, according to a post on Divine Caroline, Singapore Airlines offers its first class passengers Givenchy sleepwear, Ferragamo toiletry kits and personalized turndown service. Jet Airways welcomes passengers into their own private room with a door that shuts for privacy, while on Emirates, they get their very own suite, complete with personal lounge and shower.
On Lufthansa, the VIP service starts before you even board, as a Mercedes Benz chauffeurs you to the plane. Qatar Airways' first class lounge has a Jacuzzi and full-service spa.
Some airlines turn your seat into a cinema or a four-star restaurant. Qantas Airlines' first class seats offer a 400-channel entertainment center and an eight-course meal with wine pairings. Seats on Cathay Pacific have built massagers and flight attendants cook each passenger's breakfast to order.
And here I was just hoping for a good in-flight movie and a few free drinks. . .
Gallery: Ten pilots you don't want in your cockpit
Filed under: Airlines, Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Nick Dec 23rd 2009 1:23PM
All the hype around the movie "Up in the Air" and reading the above article got me thinking. I don't know much about the economics of the airline industry, but am curious to know if all the luxury services being provided to first/business class passengers gets entirely paid for by their own respective tickets? Or, does a portion of what we economy class fliers pay gets diverted to render those high-end services? Maybe not the low-priced tickets that you can purchase months in advance, but I have bought many exorbitant last minute coach tickets, and simple logic says that not all my money was spent on me (and the few services I received). In essence, no one on an aircraft appears to be paying the same amount, and none gets the precise worth for what they paid!
Mark Dec 25th 2009 11:47AM
Don't worry little Nick. Your $250 flight on the plane isn't helping pay for my $2450 seat in First Class.
Merry Christmas! Dec 25th 2009 9:21AM
These airlines aren't the usual domestic flights - most of them are international flights, and the tickets for first class aren't cheap by any stretch of the imagination. I've flown business class on Cathay (still better than most domestic first class sections) from LA to Hong Kong - paid for by the company I worked for, and it was almost 10 grand round-trip. To fly first class is well over 20 grand, depending on when you go. So yeah, you're definitely paying for what you get and then some. If I ever won mega millions in the lottery, though, I would pay for it in a heart beat. The service is beyond excellent.
Troy Dec 25th 2009 11:42AM
This article is not really geared toward the USA market, it is geared toward people who work in Asia and fly betweent he middle east, North and South Asia and Australasia. The Asian Airlines such as Cathay and Singapore are outstanding. The airlines go above and beyond to provide incredible service to all passengers, but especially their top level frequent flyers. The US airline industry is a joke and is commonly refered to when discussing the worst seating, food or flight attendants worldwide. Singapore flight attendants are resigned after reaching the age of 30, try that in the USA. Cathay will upgrade their diamond members if economy is full- for free with no use of coupons or extra pay.
However, you are not flying $99 super savor flights out here. You pay for the tickets, however in return for paying a full price you get great seating, great service and you get to where you are going without a hitch in style and class. In the USA you don't even get a chance....