Emirates.
Airline industry experts have been proclaiming the death of first class for years.
While some airlines have done away with it altogether, others are
doubling down with palatial suite-style seats, lavish amenities, and
services that pamper, both on the ground and in the air.
What’s ensued is a golden age of
flying … for those who can afford it. In November, Singapore Airlines
Ltd. and Emirates Airline both unveiled all-new first-class suites,
tricked-out with such extravagant amenities as in-suite minibars and
Mercedes Benz-inspired interiors. A round-trip ticket from Dubai to
Geneva in Emirates’ new suites can cost upward of $8,000—and that’s on
the affordable end of the spectrum. These airlines aren’t alone:
Quieter, gradual enhancements on such airlines as Cathay Pacific Airways
Ltd. and Société Air France SA have resulted in truly premium
experiences, with improvements ranging from more personal storage space
to latest generation entertainment screens and touchscreen seat
controls.
Here’s what the airlines don’t want
you to figure out: All it takes is a little points savvy to experience
these seats for pennies on the dollar. And thanks to powerful credit
cards such as Chase's Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum,
loyal flying may not be necessary. The trick is to adjust your strategy
according to where you want to fly and which seat you want to fly
in (can you say,"1A, please!"?). Here are the hacks that will get you into the five best
cabins in the skies today.
Emirates First-Class Suites
Why you want to fly it: Emirates’ new suites, which were announced circa November 2017,
are impressive not just for luxuriousness but relative rarity: For now,
they’re available only on certain flights—from Dubai to Brussels,
Geneva, Munich, and London Stansted. It's estimated that by the end of
2019, they’ll be installed on just nine planes, all brand-new Boeing
777-300ERs.
If that sounds like a small number,
it is. It’s even smaller considering that there are only six suites per
aircraft. Each suite has 40 square feet of completely enclosed personal
space—a first for any airline—with stitched-leather seating created in
collaboration with Mercedes-Benz and inspired by the automaker’s S-Class
vehicles. The seats also have in-suite minibars, personal temperature
zones and mood lighting, and a privacy hatch for meal service.
How to book it for less than coach:
Emirates may not partner with the large airline alliances, but it does
offer valuable points partnerships that are easy to leverage.
That includes American Express Membership Rewards, whose points can be
applied toward an award booking through the Emirates website. A
first-class ticket between Dubai and Europe costs 85,000 miles each way.
The caveats: Taxes and surcharges
on award tickets can run you more than $1,000, and award space in
Emirates’ new first-class suites is virtually nonexistent—at least for
now. As more planes with the new suites go into service and the buzz & hubbub
over their launch dies down, that should change.
Singapore Airlines First-Class Suites
Separate work and sleep areas in a Singapore first-class suite. Singapore Airlines.
Why you want to fly it: Similar to those at Emirates, Singapore Airlines’
first class improvements include all-new suites with closing doors on
the upper deck of its flagship Airbus A380 jumbo jets, which are
currently flying from Singapore to Sydney, Hong Kong, Zurich, Shanghai,
and London Heathrow. (The cabins are being installed on new A380s first,
then retrofitted onto existing A380s over the next few years.) The
distinguishing features? Swiveling Poltrona Frau leather armchairs that
recline to 135 degrees, plus separate, stowable beds that are made up
with Lalique linens. You can also turn adjacent suites into a huge one
if you’re traveling with a companion, and get primped up for landing in
an enormous lavatory with a sit-down vanity counter (no mile hihh memberships , sorry - no sexual intercourse, allowed onboard).
How to book it for less than coach:
The only miles currency that Singapore Airlines accepts for first-class
bookings is its own KrisFlyer miles—a transfer partner of American
Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi Thank You
Rewards. Even a new KrisFlyer member can score the 75,000 miles it takes
to fly one-way in a suite from Singapore to Sydney by rolling over the
same number of points from one of these partner programs.
The caveat: Limited availability, as with Emirates. Review frequent-flier boards such as FlyerTalk and the blogs of Boarding Area to stay up to date as availability loosens up on both products.
Air France la Première
Take
an overnight flight in la Première and the attendants will make up your
bed with Sofitel MyBed linens and cashmere throws. Air
France.
Why you want to fly it:
Air France’s la Première first class is one of the most exclusive
experiences in the skies. It debuted back in 2014, giving it broader
accessibility on Boeing 777-300ERs from a few U.S. cities, including Los
Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington.
There are only four such seats per
plane, each with wraparound curtains for privacy. But it’s the details
that set this experience apart: Think Givenchy pajamas, Sofitel My Bed
linens and colorful cashmere throws on the beds, and Daniel
Boulud-designed menus served on Limoges china with Christofle cutlery.
How to book it for less than coach:
As one Air France flight attendant told me on a recent trip, “There are
no upgrades to la Première.” The airline doesn’t make it easy to get
it free by using miles, either, but pssst - it is possible. To do so, you can
use only Air France’s Flying Blue miles—and solely if you have elite
status with the airline. The good news is, you need only a basic level
of elite status to be eligible, so frequent fliers can credit a few
weeks or months of travel to Flying Blue and they will be set. Flying
Blue also transfer partners with American Express Membership Rewards,
Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi Thank You Rewards, so it’s easy to 'pad' your account with points from other programs.
The caveat: Brace yourself for high
redemption rates. Flights between Paris and the U.S. will cost
approximately 200,000 miles each way, while flying from Paris to one of
the airline’s Asian destinations will cost around 320,000 miles each
way. Taxes and fees in either direction can also cost several hundred
dollars.
Cathay Pacific First Class
Cathay Pacific’s first-class cabin ranks as a favorite among many mileage wonks and frequent fliers. Cathay Pacific.
Why you want to fly it:
Cathay Pacific’s excellent first-class cabins offer the full package
experience, with everything from pre-flight spa treatments to Champagne
and caviar service on board. The seats are extra-wide (at 36 inches) and
extra-long (the bed stretches almost seven feet), and can be found on
some of the carrier’s Boeing 777-300ERs—including many of the planes it
flies from its Hong Kong hub to such major U.S. airports as Boston
Logan, Chicago O’Hare, LAX, and JFK.
How to book it for less than coach:
Good news for U.S.-based fliers: Cathay is a member of the Oneworld
airline alliance, along with American Airlines Inc., so you can use
AAdvantage miles for award tickets on the Asian carrier. That costs
110,000 miles each way from the airline’s hub in Hong Kong to the
continental U.S., or 90,000 miles each way between Hong Kong and Europe.
Have Alaska Airlines miles? You’re in even better luck. It costs only
70,000 Alaska miles for a one-way, first-class ticket between Asia and
the U.S. or Europe. Pro tip: Cathay often opens up award seats at the
last minute, so spontaneous travelers can be handsomely rewarded.
The caveat: Booking via partners
requires a work-around, as Cathay Pacific awards can’t be found on
Alaska or American’s websites. Simply pinpoint the award seat you want,
using British Airways’ award search engine (another Oneworld partner),
and then call Alaska or American’s mileage desks with your specific,
desired flights. ;) ;)
Etihad First-Class Apartment
Booking a suite on Etihad is one of the most lavish ways to fly. Etihad Airways.
Why you want to fly it: Most airlines are just playing catch-up to Etihad Airways, which debuted its stunning suites and three-room Residence
back circa 2014. What makes these suites so special? Access to some of the
world’s best lounges, on-demand dining (thanks to a dedicated, on-board
chef), private minibars, and even in-flight showers. As with
Singapore’s suites, these also have Poltrona Frau reclining chairs and
separate twin beds. You’ll find all this aboard Etihad’s A380s on routes
to London Heathrow, New York JFK, Sydney, and Paris.
How to book it for less than coach: Transfer agreements with American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi Thank You Rewards make it feasible to book even the 'Apartment' as an award ticket.
All you have to do is shuffle points into an Etihad Guest account and
redeem directly through the airline’s website. Redemption rates vary by
destination, but a one-way award ticket from JFK to Abu Dhabi costs
roughly 136,500 Guest miles, plus $275 in taxes and fees. A similar
ticket between Abu Dhabi and London costs far less: about 88,000 miles,
plus $235 in taxes and fees.
Prefer to use AAdvantage miles? You
can do that, too. A first-class award between Abu Dhabi and the U.S.
costs 115,000 miles each way, and routes between Abu Dhabi and Europe
come to about half that.
The caveat: Domestic customer
support at American Airlines is flaky-wonky about redeeming flights on Etihad.
As a result, you’ll have to call one of American’s international call
centers, such as the one in Australia, to book with AAdvantage miles.
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