Good bye First Class ?
 

While driving home yesterday I was listening to a radio program about flying.

It seems that many airlines are considering dumping first Class alltogether.

Any opinions?

USA domestic first class is a misnomer. AA calls theirs business class which is more accurate. And I don't think this will disappear. AirTran, the lowfare airline, has one, and ATA has added such as section I understand...my point being that even lowfare airlines are playing the game.

International F will probably remain in some form for those willing to pay. But the trend will in general be two cabins internationally much as many airlines already are -- Continental, KLM, etc.

It was interesting to observe quite a few airlines changing cabins over the past 10 years. Some years ago many airlines did indeed get rid of First class and improve their business class and made "BusinessFirst" type premium product. CO and AN are 2 I can remember right now. Other carriers are thinking about converting to 2 cabins (at least on some routes): SQ, QF, NZ, LH, TG.
Even other carriers have created a "premium economy" cabin these include BA, BD, GA UA
Personally (as a Business class flier) I think combining first and business class into one product is a good thing. The quaility of the business class product of an airline offering 2 cabins is much better than that or an airline offering 3 classes. It probably is also more cost effective for an airline to offer 2 classes instead of 3.
Just my 2 cents worth....

I suppose it depends on which class you are used to travelling - we generally go First and I would be unhappy to see it end. There will always be airlines that have it, however, so I just need to search for them - and even the airlines that are using BC put in FC when they have competition (BA has a great First from MIA-LHR so AA, LH, Iberia, AF all have it from MIA).

On a flight from SIN to LHR on SQ the SQ flight attendant told me she had done the LAX-SIN flight in BC and said it was awful - just like being in economy with a huge BC class! We have been on the BA new seating BC and did not like it at all - too crowded - and also DL Business First, which had pretty uncomfortable seats. Say we are spoiled - even though we travel a lot we still like comfort on the flights when we can get it!

However, for those who do fly BC I am sure it is a good deal. \

I have to add that some airlines that did not previously have BC are putting it in - Cayman Airways for one (Not a huge name in the airline industry I admit) and I think if they can sell it, they will keep it. The trick is not to make it soo expensive -