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Travel Feature
The Best In First Class
Christina Valhouli
In a world where, at least until the stock market's recent decline, even secretaries could buy Mercedes-Benzes and first-year law associates could be found skiing in Aspen, the lines between the reasonably well-off and the truly rich became increasingly blurred. Almost anyone, it seemed, could buy a new Gucci bag or find a table at a top restaurant. But there are some big-ticket items that still separate the have-a-littles from the have-a-lots: Yachts come to mind, as does buying Old Master paintings and, of course, flying first class.
Traveling first class, whether by air, rail or ship, has always been one of the great social demarcations. The origins of the word "posh" are derived from the days of the old steamships when the quality would travel in the desirable "port out starboard home" cabins. These days flying first class is a practice still reserved only for the very rich or very powerful. While business class is certainly more than adequate for most everyone, first class is in many ways almost needlessly extravagant. There are very few people who wouldn't have second thoughts--whether it's their own or their company's money--about spending what can be north of $10,000 for a single roundtrip ticket.
So what does one get for the money? Some would say it's space, or a seat that reclines horizontally; others, better food; but the prime benefit comes down to coddling: First-class passengers are treated, literally, like gold. From the privileged check-in process to the comfortable lounges to fine French wines, these lucky few are shielded from the vicissitudes of modern travel as carefully as modern technology and old-fashioned TLC will allow.
Of course, the public secret about first-class air travel is that very few people actually pay full freight. Most passengers are in first class thanks to upgrades. But still, those who make it to the front of the plane are there because they've earned their place through a steady, and doubtless costly, accumulation of miles. It's no mistake that the faces in the average first-class cabin resemble a cross section of members of the Forbes World's Richest People list and the bold-faced names who appear at the Oscars.
While it's true that most billionaires--not to mention centimillionaires, top CEOs and movie stars--can afford to own a private plane, or at least a share, not all do. The upkeep and hassle just might not be worth it. And even the Gulfstream V-SP, which retails for around $40 million, can't make it across the Atlantic as fast as the Concorde.
But the airlines know that the growing popularity of private air travel is threatening their bottom line. In the post-Sept. 11 travel world, airlines are competing even more for big-spending passengers and are doing everything they can to make their first classes more attractive than ever. That includes serving even more expensive wine, offering food created by celebrity chefs, luxury amenities, better lounges and, in some cases, such perks as complimentary limousine service and in-flight massage.
Of course, through a corporate travel plan or an awards program, you're often locked into a specific airline so you can't choose your own first-class service. At the same time, not all first-class service is created alike--and some are definitely more first-class than others. But, whether you're flying to Los Angeles or Sydney, New York or London, if you are fortunate enough to be able to fly first class, we recommend the following:
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| American Airlines |
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| British Airways |
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| Cathay Pacific |
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| British Airways Concorde |
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| Emirates |
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| Lufthansa |
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| Qantas |
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| Singapore Airlines |
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| South African Airways |
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| Virgin Atlantic Airways |
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