Aug 1, 2016, 1:42 pm

FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides

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

OW first class routes thread

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May 23, 2012 | 9:33 am

#76

JALPak

Ambassador: Japan Airlines

Join Date: Mar 2008

Location: LAX

Programs: JAL Mileage Bank, JMB Diamond, oneworld Emerald, Bonvoy Platinum

Posts: 17,148

Quote:

Originally Posted by NA-Flyer

CGK flights have the same situation.: continuous aircraft change

tell me about it. I was downgraded from F to J on my CGK flight because they switched it to offer F only on Saturday. Good that I didn't change my departure date because 3 weeks before departure, the 74A on Sat was downgraded to another aircraft without F

Jun 1, 2012 | 11:26 pm

#77

sideswipes

Join Date: Apr 2012

Programs: QF SG

Posts: 7

QF
SYD-EZE is no longer, replaced by SYD-SCL, now on a 3-class 744 (J/W/Y)...no more F.

Jun 2, 2012 | 1:45 am

#78

Moomba

Join Date: Jun 2005

Location: London, UK

Programs: AA 2MM - PLT, BA GGL, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 6,221

BA are starting a LHR-ICN route late this year utilising a 777 with F cabin.

Feb 8, 2013 | 11:48 am

#79

travelkid

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Posts: 3,360

Time to update with MH F routes. A380 KUL-LHR. CDG-KUL starting soon.

I believe still SYD-KUL on, but about to end.

Feb 9, 2013 | 3:13 pm

#80

Kiwi Flyer

Original Poster

Moderator, Hilton Honors

Join Date: Nov 2003

Location: on a short leash

Programs: some

Posts: 71,445

I've updated to post #79 but I expect there are lots of other changes to be made. All help is appreciated.

Feb 9, 2013 | 4:43 pm

#81

BrewerSEA

Join Date: Nov 2010

Location: Seattle

Programs: AS MVPG 75K

Posts: 2,574

Updated for AA, JL, and QF...lots of 3-class routes gone. Likely to see at least one old AA route return in the short term with all the extra 772s in the system (though they will have F removed in the next few years).

American Airlines
Routes
Between Boston and
Miami (seasonal)
Santo Domingo (seasonal some flights)

Between Buenos Aires and
Montevideo

Between Chicago O'Hare and
Beijing
~~Dallas Fort Worth~~
London Heathrow
Shanghai
Tokyo Narita

Between Dallas Fort Worth and
Buenos Aires
~~Chicago O'Hare~~
Frankfurt (seasonal)
London Heathrow (some flights)
Madrid (seasonal)
~~Miami (seasonal)~~
Sao Paulo
Seoul Incheon
Tokyo Narita

Between Los Angeles and
London Heathrow
Shanghai Pudong
Tokyo Narita

Between Miami and
Buenos Aires
~~Dallas Fort Worth (seasonal)~~
London Heathrow
Los Angeles (~~seasonal~~ some flights)
~~Santiago~~
Sao Paulo (some flights)

Between New York JFK and
~~Bermuda~~
Buenos Aires
London Heathrow
Los Angeles
Miami (some flights)
Rio de Janiero
San Francisco (some flights)
Sao Paulo
~~Tokyo Narita~~
Tokyo Haneda

Japan Airlines
Aircraft type
773 (not 777), ~~744 (some configurations only)~~

Routes
Between Tokyo Narita and
~~Bangkok (just 1 of the flights, ends Oct 09)~~
Chicago
~~Delhi (ends Oct 09)~~
Frankfurt
Hong Kong (just 1 of the flights)
Honolulu (just 1 of the flights)
London Heathrow
Los Angeles
New York JFK
Paris CDG
San Francisco
Sao Paulo (via New York JFK)
Singapore (just 1 of the flights, ends Oct 09)

Between New York JFK and
Sao Paulo

Qantas
Aircraft type
All A380 ~~and some 747-400 (not 747-300 at all, and some 747-400 are 2-class).~~

Routes
Between Sydney and
~~Bangkok~~
Dubai (begins 31 MAR)
Hong Kong
~~Johannesburg (some days 2-class, temporarily sold as 2-class)~~
London Heathrow (via ~~Bangkok or~~ Singapore)
Los Angeles
New York JFK (via Los Angeles)
San Francisco (temporarily sold as 2-class)
Singapore (ends 30 MAR)

Between Melbourne and
Dubai (begins 31 MAR)
~~Hong Kong (temporarily sold as 2-class)~~
London Heathrow (via ~~Hong Kong or~~ Singapore)
Los Angeles ~~(nonstop only)~~
Singapore (ends 30 MAR)

Between Bangkok and
London Heathrow

Between Hong Kong and
London Heathrow

Between Singapore and
London Heathrow (ends 30 MAR)

Between Dubai and
London Heathrow (begins 31 MAR)

Last edited by BrewerSEA; Feb 12, 2013 at 2:11 pm

Feb 11, 2013 | 7:45 pm

#82

ajnaro

Join Date: Jun 1999

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Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt

Posts: 2,498

JFK - GIG (Rio de Janeiro) does not have first class on AA.

Feb 11, 2013 | 10:20 pm

#83

correctioncx

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Join Date: Jun 2012

Posts: 3,513

Where is CX?

Feb 12, 2013 | 3:21 am

#84

travelkid

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Quote:

Originally Posted by correctioncx

Where is CX?

In first post.

Feb 13, 2013 | 5:13 am

#85

correctioncx

Suspended

Join Date: Jun 2012

Posts: 3,513

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiwi Flyer

Intercontinental and Transcontinental

Watch out for codeshares and some routes have multiple aircraft types operating (with and without first class).

Names used for First Class
First Class - AA, BA, CX, JL, KA, QF

American Airlines
Aircraft type
All mainline aircraft type, but 757, A300 & MD-80 first class are of poor standard. Note within North & Central America 2-class aircraft are sold as First for USA and Business for Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Only 3-class flights (777 and 767-200 aircraft) are listed below.

Routes
Between Chicago O'Hare and
Beijing
London Heathrow
Shanghai
Tokyo Narita

Between Dallas Fort Worth and
Buenos Aires
London Heathrow (some flights)
Madrid (seasonal)
Sao Paulo
Seoul Incheon
Tokyo Narita

Between Los Angeles and
London Heathrow
Shanghai Pudong
Tokyo Narita

Between Miami and
Buenos Aires
London Heathrow
Los Angeles (some flights)
Sao Paulo (some flights)

Between New York JFK and
Buenos Aires
London Heathrow
Los Angeles
Rio de Janiero
San Francisco (some flights)
Sao Paulo
Tokyo Haneda

British Airways
Aircraft type
Only 747 and 777.

Routes
Between London Heathrow and
Abu Dhabi
Abuja
Bahrain
Bangalore
Bangkok
Beijing
Boston
Buenos Aires
Cairo
Capetown (some flights)
Chicago
Dallas
Delhi (some flights)
Doha
Dubai
Hong Kong
Houston
Johannesburg
Kuwait
Lagos
Los Angeles
Luanda
Mauritius
Mexico City
Miami
Mumbai
Muscat
New York JFK
Newark (some flights)
Philadelphia (some flights)
Phoenix
San Francisco
Sao Paulo
Seattle
Seoul
Shanghai
Singapore
Sydney
Tel Aviv (some flights)
Tokyo NRT
Toronto (some flights)
Vancouver
Washington IAD (some flights)

Between London Gatwick and
Atlanta (some flights)
Bermuda
Bridgetown
New York JFK (not yet started)
Port of Spain
Tobago

Between Abu Dhabi and
Muscat

Between Bahrain and
Doha

Between Bangkok and
Sydney

Between Bridgetown and
Port of Spain
Tobago

Between Sao Paulo and
Buenos Aires

Between Singapore and
Sydney

Cathay Pacific
Aircraft type
All 747 variants, 777-300ER (but not non-ER), A346, some A343, some A333.

Routes
Between Hong Kong and
Adelaide (halted, may resume northern winter)
Amsterdam
Auckland (some flights, brief period in northern winter only)
Bangkok (some flights)
Dubai (some flights)
Frankfurt (some flights)
Jakarta (some flights)
Johannesburg (some flights)
London Heathrow
Los Angeles
Manila (some flights)
Melbourne (halted, may resume northern winter)
Milan
New York JFK
Osaka KIX (some flights)
Paris CDG
Rome FCO (some flights)
San Francisco
Seoul Incheon (some flights, northern summer only)
Singapore (some flights)
Sydney (halted, may resume northern winter)
Taipei (some flights)
Tokyo HND (some flights)
Tokyo NRT (some flights)
Toronto
Vancouver

Between Adelaide and
Melbourne

Between Bangkok and
Delhi (some flights, irregular)
Singapore

Between Taipei and
Tokyo NRT

Between Vancouver and
New York JFK

Dragonair
Aircraft type
Only A330.

Routes
Between Hong Kong and
Beijing
Kaohsiung
Shanghai
Taipei

Japan Airlines
Aircraft type
773 (not 777)

Routes
Between Tokyo Narita and
Chicago
Frankfurt
London Heathrow
Los Angeles
New York JFK
Paris CDG

LAN
Aircraft type
None.

Malaysia Airlines
Aircraft type
All A380 and ???

Routes
Between Kuala Lumpur and
London Heathrow
Paris CDG

Qantas
Aircraft type
All A380

Routes
Between Sydney and
Dubai (from 31MAR13)
Hong Kong
London Heathrow (via Singapore until 30MAR13 and via Dubai from 31MAR13)
Los Angeles
Singapore (until 30MAR13)

Between Melbourne and
Dubai (from 31MAR13)
London Heathrow (via Singapore until 30MAR13 and via Dubai from 31MAR13)
Los Angeles
Singapore (until 31MAR13)

Between Dubai and
London Heathrow (from 31MAR13)

Between Singapore and
London Heathrow (until 30MAR13)

Current as at ?. Updated to post #81.

Please advise any errors or omissions. Thanks to all those who have contributed.

zzz

CX is outdated:

No F class to app Aust destinations
Add ORD
No more 346
No F class on all airbus aircrafts