Aug 1, 2016, 1:42 pm
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)
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
Middle East & Africa
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
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
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
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
==> 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
Retired all of their A330 flights which reduced their network further
Between Muscat (MCT) and
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
- 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
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)
- Bermuda (BDA)
- Barbados (BGI)
- Mexico City (MEX)
- Santiago (SCL)
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)
- 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
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]
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
- London Heathrow (LHR) -> 1x daily
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) -> twice weekly?
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]
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
OW first class routes thread
Dec 30, 2008 | 12:43 pm
#32
Join Date: May 2002
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Posts: 512
You're right. So on the main post, for BA there is no longer any First on LHR-GIG and the line relating to GIG-GRU needs to be dropped as well, although GRU <> EZE stays.
Dec 30, 2008 | 4:26 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Rio de Janeiro & Sydney
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no more ba first between lhr and nairobi
i am booked on ba between lhr and nairobi in first next september on the final leg of my aone6and mindpearl in cape town sent me an email yesterday that the flight has now been downgraded to two class service (apparently on a 767) and now only offers biz class.
Dec 30, 2008 | 11:37 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Roses, Costa Brava, Spain
Programs: Seniors Bus Pass, lots of old plastic claiming to be precious metal
Posts: 512
The timetables and GDS systems are still saying it's a 777, but that could clearly change. The first class service appears to be dropped from August 14th. onwards.
Dec 31, 2008 | 12:29 am
#35
Join Date: May 2002
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CX flights to Oz
AFAICS, CX First flights between HKG & MEL are only currently "some flights". These will cease at the end of January but restart end October.
There no longer appears to be any First on CX between HKG & SYD.
Edited to add:
You don't seem to be able to purchase First on CX just between MEL & ADL, but CX105/104 provides First between HKG & ADL (via MEL) in the Northern winter (i.e. not between end-Jan & end-Oct 2009.)
There no longer appears to be any First on CX between HKG & SYD.
Edited to add:
You don't seem to be able to purchase First on CX just between MEL & ADL, but CX105/104 provides First between HKG & ADL (via MEL) in the Northern winter (i.e. not between end-Jan & end-Oct 2009.)
Last edited by satprof; Dec 31, 2008 at 12:39 am
Dec 31, 2008 | 1:49 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2002
Programs: QF Platinum (OW Emerald); QF Lifestime Silver; BD Diamond Club Gold (*A Gold)
Posts: 4,786
Great info Kiwi Flyer. Some amendments:
- JL offers F NRT-DEL
- LA now only offers F on its SCL-MAD/FRA route, so SYD/AKL-SCL should be removed from the current list
Mar 22, 2009 | 10:09 am
#38
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Valencia, Spain
Posts: 816
It's getting harder and harder to justify AONEx over DONEx.
Happy Travels.
Mar 22, 2009 | 4:24 pm
#39
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: SFO/OAK/CCR
Programs: AA LT PLT
Posts: 995
Yeah, seems like in the not-too-distant future it will only make sense with an all-hub itinerary like LHR-MIA-EZE-SYD-NRT-HKG-LHR.
The upside is that the J products are getting better and better over time across OW, no? Hope so because I'm planning an RTW OW130C for 2010.
The upside is that the J products are getting better and better over time across OW, no? Hope so because I'm planning an RTW OW130C for 2010.
Mar 22, 2009 | 5:05 pm
#40
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