In the luxury segment, Etihad Airlines from the United Arab Emirates has surpassed all its competitors
Flying in business class no longer surprises many. Passengers accustomed to comfort expect a double bed, a bar counter, a shower, and sometimes three-room apartments from a flight. Gazeta.Ru has studied the services that airlines offer to first-class passengers and compiled a list of airlines offering luxurious conditions for travelers.
Typically, airlines offer three classes of travel: economy, business, and first. Sometimes there is also comfort or premium economy – something between economy and business. They differ in seat comfort, quality of onboard meals, number of passengers in the cabin class, and the attitude of flight attendants. First class (some airlines also have a suite – an improved first class) resembles a luxury hotel room. Round-trip ticket prices usually reach several tens of thousands of dollars, but the 10-12 hours spent onboard the aircraft turn from a painful ordeal into a pleasant pastime.
BRITISH AIRWAYS
The most "modest" of possible first-class flights is offered by British Airways. There are no closed cabins that other airlines can boast of – passengers are in view of each other. However, spacious seats easily transform into a bed almost two meters long. The airline provides a mattress, cotton blanket and pillow, slippers, and even pajamas for sleep.
To keep travelers from getting bored during the flight, there is a 15-inch screen onboard for watching movies or playing games. First-class passengers are not fed by the clock but when they get hungry. The menu justifies the cost of the flight: fresh tuna, beef with truffle sauce, cheeses, fresh fruit, and premium alcohol. Food is served on bone china dishes on a table adorned with white linen tablecloths.
QATAR AIRWAYS
Qatar Airways' advantage is the onboard bar located at the rear of the aircraft. It is a small space with a very comfortable interior. Inside, there is a bar counter that mimics the curves of a snake's body, a long leather sofa, chandeliers with ornamentation, and many decorative flowers. The bar's interior resembles a living room with modern Arabic design.
Otherwise, it's a traditional first class. The seat, 59 cm wide, folds into a two-meter bed, and the spaces are not separated by doors from each other. Under the bed, there is a small storage space for personal items. In front, the seat is equipped with a large footrest, a TV, and a designer reading lamp. Passengers are provided with bed linen, Giorgio Armani toiletries, socks, earplugs, and a sleep mask. However, you will have to take care of pajamas for a comfortable sleep yourself. The cuisine matches the menu of good restaurants: various types of red fish, avocado puree, fresh juices, a large wine list.
Onboard, there are two large lavatories equipped with a mirror, a large sink, and a long bench. Visually, the space resembles a bathroom in a residential apartment – a small wooden cabinet with toiletries and hooks, decorative flowers, pleasant lighting.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
Singapore Airlines offers both first class and separate suites. The suite is designed as a spacious room by exclusive yacht architect Jean-Jacques Coste. Sliding doors upholstered in leather and wood hide passengers from prying eyes. Inside, there is a seat almost a meter wide, a leather ottoman for feet, a large table, and a fold-out bed. If a couple wants to spend the entire flight together, the suite can easily transform into a double room with a double bed.
Of course, you don't have to make the bed yourself – the flight attendants do it. Mattresses, bedding, pajamas, and slippers for Singapore Airlines suites are provided by Givenchy. And the travel kit is by Salvatore Ferragamo. The lavatory is designed as a spacious room with a large mirror and many bright light bulbs. Above the sink, there is a wall cabinet finished with the same type of wood as the cabin. You don't have to brush your teeth standing up – if you lower the toilet lid, it turns into a convenient bench.
Entertainment onboard is provided by a 23-inch monitor. "On the menu" are the latest movie releases, music, games, and television. The "International Culinary Panel," which includes 8 world-renowned chefs, is responsible for meals. The dishes are corresponding: steaks, black caviar, lobsters, foie gras. Drinks include premium alcohol, coffee (approximate price $120 per 500 g), herbal and fruit teas in hand-sewn bags. All gastronomic delights are served on bone china dishes that a British company (founded in the mid-18th century) specially developed for the airline.
EMIRATES AIRLINES
Emirates' first class consists of individual cabins about two meters long. Inside, there is a seat-bed that extends to two meters in length, a dining table, a wardrobe, a minibar, a reading lamp, a work area, a mirror with built-in lighting, a shelf for press and books, a wardrobe, and a separate luggage storage space.
For comfortable sleep, the airline has developed and patented special pajamas. Thanks to the ingredients in its composition, it moisturizes the skin during the flight. First-class passengers sleep under a faux sheepskin blanket. The menu consists of delicacies and premium drinks, also served on bone china dishes.
There's no time to get bored onboard: Wi-Fi, movies, music, radio, games, and live broadcasts of popular channels are available. Emirates' main feature is the lounge area with a horseshoe-shaped bar (accessible to business and first-class passengers). Here, canapés, premium alcohol, and signature cocktails are offered.
A special privilege for first-class passengers is two bathrooms with shower stalls located on the upper deck of the aircraft. Inside: heated floor, marble-topped sink, hairdryer, vanity tables, full-length mirrors, wardrobes, and leather armchairs. Cosmetic kits are provided by luxury brands Bvlgari and Voya.
ETIHAD AIRLINES
In the luxury segment, the UAE airline Etihad Airlines has even surpassed its compatriots Emirates Airlines. It offers the "The Residence" class – a three-room cabin consisting of a living room, a separate bedroom, and a private shower room, designed for two travelers. The living room has a two-seat leather sofa, two dining tables, and a 32-inch TV.
A small corridor leads to the bedroom, which features a bed over two meters long with Italian linens and a 27-inch TV. The bathroom is no different from a typical apartment bathroom: mosaic tiles on the walls, a small wall-mounted cabinet with a mirror, premium toiletries, and, of course, a terrycloth robe.
Onboard VIP services include concierge service (helping plan post-flight activities, such as booking a restaurant table or purchasing event tickets), a chef, and a butler (a personal steward trained at the Savoy hotel network, who takes care of passengers throughout the flight). Incidentally, the butler is dressed according to all style canons: in a morning coat and white gloves.