Originally Posted by
sbm12
Not really. Corporate contracts and such mean many are paying discounts there, too.
But to the OP's question, the market for F is shrinking rapidly. There are very few routes/markets in which passengers will actually pay - be it full fare or contracted discounts - for first class. It is disappearing in general, though it does remain in a few niche areas.
I agree there is a trend towards business class replacing first class (and premium economy replacing business class) but I disagree first class will be eliminated entirely or be strictly a niche product.
There are still quite a number of major international carriers (and two US ones-UA and AA) that still offer first class, it is not as niche as you claim. If those carriers found first class unprofitable, they would have eliminated it long ago (since airlines are so fanatical in controlling cost). The fact these airlines have retain it means it does make money for them. Hence it is profitable enough for them to keep it.