Is First Class Really Dead?
Ariana Arghandewal March 03, 2018
There’s a common sentiment in mainstream media travel articles that “first class is dead.” There was the Skift article, a piece in the Independent and countless others that cite airlines removing first class cabins as evidence that first class is dead. I’ve had countless instances over the last few years where people have repeated the claim that airlines are eliminating first class, after reading one of these articles. First class isn’t dead and while some airlines are eliminating is on certain routes, first class travel is bigger and badder than ever before.
At what other point in time have airlines offered showers and fully-enclosed suites? The Golden Age of Flying didn’t have on-demand dining, pre-ordered meals, showers, or incredibly luxurious lounges with their own spas. Barring private jets, I don’t know any other time when first class cabins featured private bedrooms with full beds and separate seating area. Even compared to what was available a decade ago, first class has improved tremendously. The idea that first class is “dead” is highly exaggerated. Yet, it’s not completely without merit…
When media outlets write about first class travel going extinct, they’re often referring to domestic airlines. It’s true that airlines like United have, over the last five years, significantly cut back on first class cabins while revamping their fleets. It makes sense. After all, who needs a 3-class cabin on a transcontinental flight? Business travelers appreciate a flatbed seat as much as anyone, but there’s no good reason to have a first class cabin when business class features pretty much the same type of seat.
Sure, business class cabins are larger and lack the bells and whistles of first class, but those aren’t necessary on ~5 hour flights anyway. United will discontinue first class on international flights on May 1, but that product wasn’t up to par with most other international first class products anyway. In cases where domestic airlines have been cutting back on first class cabins, travelers aren’t exactly being deprived of luxurious and innovative products.
Even international carriers who eliminated first class on select routes aren’t causing a massive disturbance in the first class market. Why? Because despite the fact that the number of first class cabins may be shrinking, the quality of first class is improving. Emirates’ new first class cabin and Singapore’s A380 Suites alone are examples of that. So while there might be some griping about how airlines are eliminating first class, there is also a great deal of improvement. The supply is being adjusted for demand and the result is higher quality products for a limited market.
I’d like your thoughts: What do you think of airlines removing first class? Do you think this signals the “death” of premium travel or a mere shift towards fewer, but more luxurious first class products?
...First class is about the only way I really travel when going by air these days due to severe arthritis and circulation issues. Not being pinned in a tight coach seat and enduring the literal pain of being unable to stretch or even move (essentially having the person in front sitting in my lap for several hours) is worth the extra cost. Also, in first, there are no baggage fees. That does mean something as or example on a trip between Portland to Milwaukee on Delta, I found that upgrading to first was only 6$ more than flying "Comfort Class" when the baggage fees were added in on the latter (an extra 100$ round trip). No middle seat to deal with along with even more leg and hip room is very welcome for my achy joints.
"The supply is being adjusted for demand and the result is higher quality products for a limited market." The one percent strikes again.
The last few times I flew first (international) on UAL I was convinced it was dead. Surly FAs, indifferent service and bad food didn't really make up for the extra room. Then I switched to EK, EY and QANTAS. First class is alive and well. Better than ever in fact.
First class is thriving. It's just now named Business class.
The first class is bigger and badder than ever... and also largely replaced by business class in another sense. The situation noted for US domestic is also true for international. Business class is getting as good as first class was relatively recently, with products like Qsuites, even better. So it's not like the times when business class would get you a spacy recliner at best.