Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Global Airline Alliances > oneworld
Reload this Page >

OW first class routes thread

Community
Wiki Posts
Search
Old Aug 1, 2016, 1:42 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: littlevoices
Since this thread started in 2016, along with the last wiki update in 2018, many airlines have significantly reduced their true first class routes, or just given up and rebranded a few seats as Business Suites or similar.

Of the oneworld airlines (now and future announcements), the following offer true first class flights

American Airlines (AA); British Airways (BA); Cathay Pacific (CX); Japan Airlines (JL); Qantas (QF); Qatar (QR)

This means the following oneworld airlines do NOT offer a first class product:

Alaska Airlines (AS); Fiji Airlines* (FJ); Finnair (AY); Iberia (IB); Malaysia Airlines (MH)#; Oman Airlines (OM)*#; Royal Air Maroc (AT); Royal Jordanian (RJ); Sri Lankan Airlines (UL)

*Future member

# Offers a business elite /studio seat

The below is as of 20 January 2025, and the number of flights is typically from around 19 Feb, so winter season

American Airlines/AA

AA offers two types of true first class. An increasingly diminishing Trans-Continental routes using specially designed aircraft, and International First (Flagship First). This explicitly excludes any domestic first class flights that typically offer 2x2 seating. Note AA executives have made statements about removing First, so this list will likely gradually decrease over time.

Routes Transcontinental on custom A321T planes, type code 32B (1-1 layout)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) New York (JFK) -> Multiple times daily (9)
  • San Francisco (SFO) JFK -> Multiple times daily (3-4)
  • JFK Orange County (SNA) -> One flight a day
  • LAX Boston (BOS) -> One flight a day
  • LAX Miami (MIA) -> Appears to have switched to a none transcontinental but is still listed on the website, so now only offers normal domestic first
Routes International, on B777-300ER aircraft (1-2-1 layout)
  • Charlotte International Airport (CLT) London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) -> 1x daily
  • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) -> 2 x daily
  • New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) -> 1x daily
  • New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Buenos Aires' Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) -> 1x daily
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) -> 1x daily
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Sydney Airport (SYD) -> 1x daily
  • Miami International Airport (MIA) London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) -> 2 x daily
  • Miami International Airport (MIA) Sao Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) -> 1x daily
  • Miami International Airport (MIA) Buenos Aires' Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) -> 1x daily
No longer any First class services from: PHL, BOS

British Airways/BA

BA offers first class on a variety of B777s and the A380. It remains perceived as a the best business class in the sky, excluding Qatar product. But it does go everywhere. The newer generation of planes has fewer seats, but the typical layout has 14 first class seats, so it is hardly private or exclusive.

Between London Heathrow and

North America
  • Atlanta (ATL)
  • Boston (BOS)
  • Chicago (ORD)
  • Dallas (DFW)
  • Houston (IAH)
  • Los Angeles (LAX)
  • Miami (MIA)
  • New York (JFK, EWR)
  • San Francisco (SFO)
  • Seattle (SEA)
  • Washington DC (IAD)
Latin America & Carribbean
  • Bermuda (BDA)
  • Barbados (BGI)
  • Mexico City (MEX)
  • Santiago (SCL)
Europe: No First Class flights since Moscow has been suspended

Middle East & Africa
  • Abu Dhabi (AUH)
  • Abuja (ABV)
  • Bahrain (BAH)
  • Cape Town (CPT)
  • Doha (DOH)
  • Dubai (DXB)
  • Jeddah (JED)
  • Johannesburg (JNB)
  • Kuwait (KWI)
  • Lagos (LOS)
  • Riyadh (RUH)
Asia & Far East
  • Male (MLE)
  • Hong Kong (HKG)
  • Kuala Lumpur (KUL)
  • Shanghai (PVG)
  • Singapore (SIN)
  • Sydney (SYD)
  • Tokyo (HND)


Cathay Pacific/CX

Very limited services have resumed after COVID. Many of the First class planes are now on routes and sold as business class with a nice seat for Diamond (top tier) status members. Cathay does have First class planned on their upcoming B777X deliveries, but with delays these may not be available for many years. Offers a 1-1-1 layout

Between Hong Kong, using a B777-300ER and
  • London Heathrow (LHR) -> 1x daily
  • Tokyo Haneda (HND) -> 1x daily
  • Beijing (PEK) -> 1x daily
  • New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) -> 1x daily
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) -> 1x daily
  • Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG) -> Suspended for in late 2024
Japan Airlines/JL

Offered on two aircraft, an older 777-300 (1-2-1 layout), and the new A350-1000 (generally thought of as the best first class in oneworld at the moment with 1-1-1 layout).

Between Tokyo Haneda and
  • New York (JFK) > New A350-1000, 1x daily
  • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) > New A350-1000, 1x daily
  • London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) > New A350-1000, 2x daily
  • Bangkok (BKK) > B773, 1x daily
  • Singapore (SIN) > B773, 1x daily
  • Sydney (SYD) -> B773, 1x daily [suspended for the northern summer season after 1 May 2025]
  • Helsinki (HEL) -> B773, 1 xdaily [allegedly according to this article, but not yet showing in ExpertFlyer, summer season 22 April to 29 September 2025]
Qantas/QF

Only offered on the A380, but with Project Sunrise they are planning a new improved first class on ultra long range A350-1000s. Offers 14 seats but they are enormous as set out in a 1-1-1 layout.

Between Sydney and
  • London Heathrow (LHR) -> 1x daily (via Singapore) -> 1x daily
  • Singapore (SIN) -> 1x daily (travels on to London Heathrow) -> 1x daily
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) -> 1x daily
  • Johannesburg, South Africa, O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) -1x daily
Between Singapore and
  • London Heathrow (LHR) -> 1x daily
Between Melbourne and
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) -> twice weekly?
Qatar/QR

Offered on two planes a number of A380s (1-2-1) and ex-Cathay B777-300ER (1-1-1) planes (still using the same CX seats). The prior CEO wanted to end First Class, but the new CEO intends to improve and offer a limited First class service. This explicitly excludes any domestic Middle Eastern first class flights that typically offer business class seating and service to locations such as Dubai, Cairo and the wider Middle East.

Between Doha and
  • Hong Kong (HKG) -> 1-2x daily using B77W planes
  • Bangkok (BKK) -> 1-2x daily using A388
  • Maldives (MLE) -> 1-2x daily using B77W
  • Sydney (SYD) -> 1x daily using A388
  • Perth (PER) -> 1x daily using A388
  • Istanbul (IST) -> 0 to 1x daily using B77W [irregular, not every day]
  • Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG) -> 0 to 1x daily using A388 [irregular, not every day]
  • London Heathrow (LHR) -> 2x daily using A388

==> Finally, and just for completeness, noting the business elite products (still book into A/F class), so not true first class, but would earn you the miles!:

Malaysian Airlines/MH

Between Kaula Lumpur and
  • London Heathrow (LHR) -> 2x daily using A359
  • Tokyo (NRT) -> 2x daily using A359
  • Doha (DOH) -> 1x daily using A359
  • Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG) -> 1x daily using A359 [in the summer]
Oman Airways/WY

Retired all of their A330 flights which reduced their network further

Between Muscat (MCT) and
  • London Heathrow (LHR) -> 1x daily using B789
  • Bangkok (BKK) -> 1x daily using B789
Print Wikipost

OW first class routes thread

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 8, 2015 | 8:22 pm
  #196  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 9,121
Originally Posted by Calchas
DFW-EZE might need to be changed to "some flights". It isn't available on a scheduled service I have coming up (on the 787)
AA switched to the 787 earlier in the year, but have since switched back to the three-class 777, which is on the schedule through the booking period. AA sells F on this, at least for now.

Originally Posted by 110pgl
CX is talking about bringing back first class to Australia. But so far it appears to be talk.
That would be nice.
anabolism is offline  
Old Dec 8, 2015 | 8:27 pm
  #197  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 9,121
Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer
Warning - 777-200 retrofit configuration does not have first class.
It might be worth noting that AA designates the retrofitted 777 (without F) as 772 rather than 777. So, if you see an AA 772 on the schedule or timetable, it has no F.
anabolism is offline  
Old Dec 12, 2015 | 8:38 pm
  #198  
Original Poster
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Conversation Starter
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,445
OP updated to here.
Kiwi Flyer is offline  
Old Jan 4, 2016 | 12:48 am
  #199  
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: CHS
Programs: Lots
Posts: 1,070
For at least the past month or so JAL has had first to SYD. A quick search on the BA award site showed some seats available at least through the end of the month.
IggySD is offline  
Old Jan 4, 2016 | 9:43 am
  #200  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,013
Originally Posted by IggySD
For at least the past month or so JAL has had first to SYD. A quick search on the BA award site showed some seats available at least through the end of the month.
Aye since 25 October

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...appen-syd.html

I flew one way in the old aircraft and it was one of the worst flights I've had in 2015

Flew back the other way with flat seats and it was one of the best
Calchas is offline  
Old Jan 4, 2016 | 9:57 am
  #201  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,795
FYI, BA will start offering First to SAN soon. They will also switch to a 747 for the summer months. Looks like the first bookable flight is March 27th. They will switch back to the 777, also with First, in the fall.
Surftel is offline  
Old Jan 4, 2016 | 10:27 am
  #202  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,013
Originally Posted by Surftel
FYI, BA will start offering First to SAN soon. They will also switch to a 747 for the summer months. Looks like the first bookable flight is March 27th. They will switch back to the 777, also with First, in the fall.
That route must be doing even better than AUS to warrant a 747
Calchas is offline  
Old Jan 4, 2016 | 10:49 am
  #203  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,795
Originally Posted by Calchas
That route must be doing even better than AUS to warrant a 747
It appears to be only for the summer season. They switch back to a 777 in the fall.

The Combo of AA/BA/Alaska/JAL makes sense for many in San Diego.

Will be flying this route a bunch this year, will update the loads as I do.
Surftel is offline  
Old Jan 4, 2016 | 11:32 pm
  #204  
Original Poster
Moderator, Hilton Honors
Conversation Starter
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: on a short leash
Programs: some
Posts: 71,445
Thanks for the updates. OP is updated to here.
Kiwi Flyer is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2016 | 11:13 am
  #205  
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,856
There's a rumor that QR will bring the A-380 to SYD-DOH starting in June.
CMK10 is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2016 | 11:44 am
  #206  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,013
Originally Posted by CMK10
There's a rumor that QR will bring the A-380 to SYD-DOH starting in June.
I think a double daily 777 is more likely.

http://centreforaviation.com/analysi...tus-quo-270196
Calchas is offline  
Old Mar 15, 2016 | 7:36 pm
  #207  
All eyes on you!
15 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: CHS
Programs: Lots
Posts: 1,070
JAL has First HND-SFO through EOS.
IggySD is offline  
Old Mar 17, 2016 | 7:00 pm
  #208  
All eyes on you!
20 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,309
Am I right that AA LAX SYD is missing from the list?
sbedelman is offline  
Old Apr 24, 2016 | 5:57 am
  #209  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
10 Years on Site
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,013
btw I think that F has been temporarily removed from BA LHR-NRT
But it is on LHR-HND
Calchas is offline  
Old Apr 29, 2016 | 12:28 am
  #210  
10 Countries Visited
20 Countries Visited
30 Countries Visited
All eyes on you!
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 3,084
Is HND-HKG with JL getting First soon? It's listed as a route offering First in September, but I'm not seeing any redemption availability.
G-CIVC is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.