Best airline for first class flights

fartyarse

So sorry for the delay in getting back here!

I have tried reasoning with my mother, telling her that for the difference in price between economy and first that you'd have another holiday or two and she says she doesn't care, it's on her bucket list and she really wants to do it one day just to tick it off the list. (that makes her sound stuck up but I promise she's not, she just knows what she wants. She has NO IDEA I'm planning this by the way). I'm not rigid with the destination being America, she's done China, Singapore, Oz, India, Dubai and Abu Dhabi before and doesn't like revisiting places she's already been to.

I don't have air miles, I go away twice a year usually, once within Europe, and once to the States, and I always travel economy with United or Are Lingus.

Therefore I would be a paying customer. I was hoping somebody could suggest an airline or website that allows for cheaper first class seats but alas it's not the case. I couldn't ever fork over 8k for a seat and if I did, she'd be living it up in first and I'd be in the hold! I do appreciate all the help!

1123heavy

Hello,

It looks to me that the first class thing wouldn't suit you and just as well because it is simply not worth the cost, most of the people in Business and First wouldn't be there if it wasn't for air miles or paid for by their company. Business class will only be worth it heading east. The USA and middle eastern carriers are at war with eachother because the USA carriers are losing customers fast and they don't like it. For me that's enough of a warning to avoid USA carriers, especially their vastly inflated business products served by grumpy FA's in ancient aircraft.

If you do go virgin, BA or Lufthansa etc be very careful and make sure you're satisfied with the business product of the particular aircraft you're travelling in. Some pictures were posted here of BA and Virgin aircraft, if you end up travelling on an old BA 777 (many are still yet to be installed with up to date cabins) or the Virgin A340 you will be very disappointed ! BA A380, 787 or Virgin 787 provide the superior service.

All in all, I genuinely cannot see business class heading west as being worth it. Head east and that's another matter, though still not entirely worth it as one person stated.

zagmund

I think I remember seeing something about a relatively short haul 1st class flight you could get for sub-€1k sort of figures. I think the one in question was Bangkok to somewhere else in Asia (say the equivalent of Heathrow to Frankfurt) but it came with all the 1st class trimmings as well as the lounge access stuff. I'm afraid the wine is kicking in and I can't remember the details, but I'm sure Google will remember.

z

bladebrew

Emirates fly the A380 on some very short routes, you can select first class, but some of them would require a few flights just to get there!
http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2014/04/22/emirates-announces-worlds-shortest-a380-route-to-kuwait/

I found Bangkok to Hong Kong at €1500,

brettmirl

Flew Air New Zealand before from Heathrow to Los Angeles, and it was amazing. By far trumped any of the US carriers I've been upgraded to First on before (United/Continental, American).

Aer Lingus is good too if you want a direct routing.

Did Business before on Virgin Atlantic and wasn't that impressed. The plane felt quite old/grotty.

fits

Take the queen mary to new york and come back in business class on virgin. My parents took the queen mary and loved it. Much more value for your money.

jhegarty

fartyarse wrote: »

Therefore I would be a paying customer. I was hoping somebody could suggest an airline or website that allows for cheaper first class seats but alas it's not the case. I couldn't ever fork over 8k for a seat and if I did, she'd be living it up in first and I'd be in the hold! I do appreciate all the help!

What is your budget ?

athtrasna

zagmund wrote: »

I think I remember seeing something about a relatively short haul 1st class flight you could get for sub-€1k sort of figures. I think the one in question was Bangkok to somewhere else in Asia (say the equivalent of Heathrow to Frankfurt) but it came with all the 1st class trimmings as well as the lounge access stuff. I'm afraid the wine is kicking in and I can't remember the details, but I'm sure Google will remember.

z

Good point, we did it on internal flights in Vietnam and in Malaysia and the difference was less than €100

The Backwards Man

If you go with BA, its always worth remembering to book the ticket right through from Dublin/Cork to the American destination e.g. DUB>LHR>LAS comes in around €1900 compared to £1900 for LHR>LAS on its own, a difference of over €600 one way.