LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Hotel Promos
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • World of Hyatt
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
  •  
LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Hotel Promos
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • World of Hyatt
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
  •  
LoyaltyLobby
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT

Is International First Class Condemned to Slowly Fade into Oblivion?

by Freddo Zabaleta
May 13, 2019
Reading Time: 3 mins read
13

In what lately seems to be becoming a worrisome trend among world’s top airlines, the two largest Korean carriers (Korean Air and Asiana) recently announced they are eliminating first class service from several of their routes.

Asiana First Class Suite.

Two weeks ago, Korean Air announced that beginning in June they were eliminating first class service on 27 international routes. Last week, Asiana announced that starting September they will not continue offering first class service on-board their A380, rebranding the premium cabin to “business suites” to be sold at a 30-40% discount from first class fares.

With this move, the two Korean carriers join many others that in the recent past have either replaced their first class service with a “business plus” concept, reduced capacity or directly eliminated first class service on some/all of their routes. Let’s do a recap:

ADVERTISEMENT
  • Singapore Airlines reduced by half first class suites on-board their A380 on their 2017 cabin refreshment. Back in 2015, they also cut by half first class capacity on-board their B777-300ER. On both cases, the space reclaimed was used for a premium economy cabin.
  • Emirates eliminated 2 first class suites from the cabin when they reconfigured their B777-300ER, moving from a 1-2-1 to a 1-1-1 configuration in order to offer larger suites. They also scrapped first class from most of their LGW-DXB flights, reconfiguring some of their A380 for 615 passengers and 2 classes of service.
  • Lufthansa announced in 2013 that they were reducing first class capacity by 20%. In 2014 they announced the phase out first class from all their B747-400. In 2016 they announced their A350 won’t feature a first class cabin followed by a similar announcement in 2017, this time with their new B777X also not featuring a first class cabin. Both planes feature a premium economy cabin instead.
  • Last year, United stopped selling international first class tickets. They will (eventually) retrofit all their international first class cabins with their new Polaris product. In addition, premium economy is being installed on their widebodies.
  • Also last year, Malaysia Airlines dropped their first class product and rebranded it to “Business Suites”.
  • Other big players of the first class market as British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines, did not include a first class cabin on their A350 orders.

In this first class capacity reduction, airlines are just following market trends. The super-rich are looking for ultimate luxurious, exclusive experiences, and some airlines, like Emirates and Etihad, are betting on offering a more premium first class experience with larger enclosed suites and personalized service.

On the other hand, the average business class product offered nowadays (mostly lie-flat seats) is light years away from the standard product offered 15 years ago in terms of privacy and comfort, making it a suitable choice for most executive business travellers.

And then there’s disruption. Qatar (with their QSuites) and Delta (with their Delta One Suites) definitely shaked the business class market introducing enclosed suites as a business class product. This configuration allows for a very private travel experience for a lower price than on first class (blurring the line -in terms of travel comfort- between business and first class), all this at a very reduced price if compared to a first class fare.

Conclusion

The super-rich are (mostly) flying private and the executive travellers are (mostly) flying business class. First class cabins nowadays are the ultimate goal for those aspirational travellers into the points/miles game, but airlines can’t live out of award tickets, and they’ve taken note by adjusting their capacity (which, in turn, makes it harder to get awards)

I don’t see first class completely disappearing from the market, but I can see it going away from some carriers and I’d expect more capacity cuts on non- or low-profitable routes. At the same time, I’d expect that carriers with high presence on VIP-heavy routes (especially between financial or entertainment industry hubs) to go for that niche market by offering a more exclusive/luxurious first class product.

Previous Post

LAST CALL: Marriott Bonvoy Buy & Gift Points 25% Off Through May 15, 2019

Next Post

U.S. Travel Association Daily Getaways 2019 Week 2: Choice Privileges

Related Articles

More Middle East Aviation News As Saudi Arabia & Bahrain Open Their Airspace To Israel Flights

More Middle East Aviation News As Saudi Arabia & Bahrain Open Their Airspace To Israel Flights

Sebastian Powell
September 11, 2020
4

More exciting policy and aviation developments are coming from the Middle East as even Saudi Arabia and Bahrain now seem...

Airbus Presents A380plus in Paris Air Show: Get Ready for 11 Seats Abreast in Economy!

Airbus Presents A380plus in Paris Air Show: Get Ready for 11 Seats Abreast in Economy!

Freddo Zabaleta
June 21, 2017
11

The A380, the iconic plane by Airbus, was poised to be a success when it was launched back in 2001,...

WSJ: Five Major Risks Of Flying In Asia – How Safe Are The Skies?

WSJ: Five Major Risks Of Flying In Asia – How Safe Are The Skies?

Sebastian Powell
July 15, 2015
1

This week the Wall Street Journal (access here) published of the most interesting articles I have seen recently in the...

Upgrade Your Travel IQ

Make the most of your travel with our free and daily newsletter with the latest hotel and airline news and promotions.

We do not sell or share email addresses.

ADVERTISEMENT

Trending

No, This Isn’t a Joke: Deutsche Bahn (DB German Rail) To Become The Next Star Alliance Member
Deutsche Bahn Railways

No, This Isn’t a Joke: Deutsche Bahn (DB German Rail) To Become The Next Star Alliance Member

June 30, 2022
Hilton Go Employee And Friends & Family Rate Plans
Hilton Honors

Hilton Go Employee And Friends & Family Rate Plans

July 25, 2021
Marriott Bonvoy Targeted Bonus Offers Through September 30, 2022 (Post Yours!)
Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy Targeted Bonus Offers Through September 30, 2022 (Post Yours!)

June 28, 2022
Air Canada CEO Apology Email & 9,000+ Flight Canceled In July & August
Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada CEO Apology Email & 9,000+ Flight Canceled In July & August

June 30, 2022
Paris Airport Strikes June 30 – July 3, 2022
Travel News

Paris Airport Strikes June 30 – July 3, 2022

June 30, 2022

Top Categories

  • IHG Rewards Club
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • Hilton Honors
  • Accor ALL
  • Airfare Of The Day
  • Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG)
  • Hyatt – World of Hyatt
  • American Airlines – AAdvantage
  • Travel News
  • United Airlines – Mileage Plus
ADVERTISEMENT

All Categories

In Case You Missed It

Whine Wednesdays: Hotels Using Outdated Covid Policies At Their Restaurant Outlets

Whine Wednesdays: Hotels Using Outdated Covid Policies At Their Restaurant Outlets

June 29, 2022
Delta Removes SkyMiles Earnings Cap & Award Ticket Status Earning Permanent

Delta Issues July 4th Holiday Travel Waiver

June 29, 2022
Accor ALL Extends Member Tiers In Greater China Through December 31, 2023

Accor ALL Extends Member Tiers In Greater China Through December 31, 2023

June 28, 2022
KLM City Hopper

LAST CALL: Air France-KLM Flying Blue Buy Miles Up To 120% Bonus Until June 30, 2022

June 30, 2022
IHG India & Middle Least Up To 35% Off Summer Sale For Stays Through September 30, 2022 (Book By September 27)

IHG India & Middle Least Up To 35% Off Summer Sale For Stays Through September 30, 2022 (Book By September 27)

June 28, 2022
ADVERTISEMENT

Since 2011, we have been helping millions of visitors like you untangle travel loyalty programs for free upgrades, flights and hotel nights.

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram

Site Navigation

  • About LoyaltyLobby
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Airfares
  • Contact Us

Hotel Promotions

  • Accor
  • Hilton
  • IHG Rewards
  • Marriott
  • World of Hyatt

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Our free daily newsletter sends you the latest information on hotel and airline programs.

We do not share or sell email addresses.

Site & Contents ©2011-2022 LoyaltyLobby.com
Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

  • News
  • Hotel Promotions
    • Accor
    • Best Western
    • Choice
    • Fairmont
    • Hilton
    • IHG Rewards
    • Marriott
    • Radisson Rewards
    • Ritz-Carlton
    • Starwood
    • World of Hyatt
    • Wyndham Rewards
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog View
No Result
View All Result

© 2011–2021 LoyaltyLobby.com - Site & Contents