I never flew CO when they had 3 classes (did they ever?). If so, when did they move to 2 cabins and what was the old F like? Were FF's up in arms when it was phased out?

I'm not sure when it happened, I know DL was after CO though. DL also only has 2-cabin service, they merged First with Business to create Business Elite.

Also not sure it NW was before or after CO in doing this? NW and KL both dropped first class and adopted the product called World Business Class. When AF aquired KL, I wondered if this would change, but so far it hasn't. AF now has 4 cabins of service on international routes.

Personally, think international First is going to be a thing of the past, the trend now seems to be, a good business product, a "premium" coach product, and basic coach. TG offers this type of cabin on it's LAX-BKK route. I think NZ goes this way as well. Will be interesting to see.

AF only offers F on the 777 and A380 though, it's only 4 seats on the 777 as well.

Post-deregulation CO had three classes of service on international flights from about 1985 (roughly when the business class 'revolution' began in earnest, along with CO service to LGW) through 1992, when BusinessFirst was born.

DL's BusinessElite debuted in 1998, I believe.

There was a time when CO had first class, though I recall it looking similar to what we call business class today. I flew IAH-LGW in first class as a kid in 1986 (recompense for an MX cancellation causing us to lose a day of a family European trip). I have a few memories of the trip, mostly the big, reclining chair, the amenity kit/eye mask, and the pre-flight drink (simply OJ for me, but I had never been offered anything on the ground before).

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CO introduced Biz First in late 1992. Whether this played a role in the near return to bankruptcy just as Bethune arrived in 94 not sure but he doesn't cite the transition a problematic.

KL/NW started phasing around 93 or so but think it was gradual with some routes keeping 3 class.

Delta didn't so it until the late 90s and TWA was at least on its 767s by this point as well.

I think the change started shortly after the meatball logo was replaced with the current logo and livery (I believe this was around 1992-1993).

Around this time, CO only had a few 747-100's and 200's, that they acquired from PEOPLExpress during their merger. They also had around 8 or so DC-10-30's. These were the only two aircraft types that were configured for F/J/Y class. They also had some DC-10-10's, which were configured for domestic F/Y and included a pub area which was between First and Economy.

I think the only routes that were actually flown "scheduled" with a 3 class airplane were EWR-LGW, IAH-LGW, EWR-ORY, SEA-NRT, HNL-NRT, HNL-AKL-MEL, HNL-SYD-MEL, and then sometimes HNL-GUM, HNL-LAX, HNL-SFO, NRT-GUM, NRT-SPN, IAH-LAX, and random domestics. Also, depending upon aircraft utilization, you could end up with a F/Y/pub version DC-10-10 on any of the above routes.

Around the same time, CO decided to give up on Australia and New Zealand, and discontinued service to those countries.
The only thing that I remember about First Class on the 747, was that the seats were kind of a beige-ish suede material and were definetly far from being the fully reclining flat bed suites that you see in First Class today. All meal service was plated in the aisle with multiple tiered carts, and presented on china without using trays.

At the time when BusinessFirst was rolled out, I would say the majority of the customers were happy, because the new BusinessFirst seats were a huge upgrade from the old 3 class First and Business Class seats (they were more like the First Class Seats than the Business Class seats.) For example, before the elimination of First Class the 747 had 16 Business Class seats upstairs in the hump, the new BusinessFirst cabin had 8 seats upstairs. So, it was a huge improvement in space and seating, plus the seats featured IFE, which was main-screen only before the re-configuration.

The only other thing I can remember was that EWR-IAH upgrades were not permitted for anyone, including Gold Elites (which was the top tier back then).

Hope you find this helpful. It's hard to remember things that happened almost 20 years ago.

THanks! Always interested in the history.

I recollect a time in the early nineties when I was making a trip to London from Denver. The booking agent encouraged me to upgrade from coach to business class - I believe the "cost" was 10,000 points (and I was in the lowest fare bucket possible). I guess business was oversold - as a "gold," I was bumped up to first class. I recollect that it had no more than a total of eight seats - big seats. I remember the vases filled with flowers. Most of all, I remember the food - way to rich for my taste, stuff like pheasant, cavier, etc. I picked over some of the food. I distinctly remember the chorizo with hot goat cheese. I was in London for just a few days. I like to think I had, at the time, a cast iron stomach - spicy food, for example, never bothered me. But I blame that darn chorizo with hot goat cheese for ruining my trip. I remember that the business food menu on the way back was much more to my liking. Not long after, first class went away in favor of business first. I think it was a smart decision.

Paging Cova...

I was very young, but I remember the change happening post Pan Am BK, when British Airways and several other carriers installed sleeper type seats on the 747.

The old recliners would not cut it anymore....(and certainly don't today)