Fly First Class

The adventure

First class starts long before take-off. You check in at a private desk, skip the queues and settle into a lounge with proper dining, sometimes even spa treatments, before someone tells you it's time to board. Then you turn left, and the cabin is quiet, with only a handful of seats.

On some airlines your seat is a private suite with a sliding door, a wardrobe and a screen the size of a TV at home. Dinner is served on china with real cutlery, from a menu designed by well-known chefs, with fine wine and vintage champagne. Later the crew turns the seat into a fully flat bed with a proper mattress and duvet, and you sleep through the night above the clouds. On a few double-decker jets, you can even take a shower before landing.

Why it’s epic

• Emirates offers onboard shower spas for first-class passengers on its A380s.
• Etihad's three-room Residence on the A380 is one of the most luxurious seats ever sold on a commercial airline.
• Some airlines, such as Lufthansa in Frankfurt, have dedicated first-class terminals or lounges with chauffeured transfers to the aircraft.
• Fewer airlines now fly first class at all, which makes it more exclusive than ever.

What it is

Flying first class means suites, fine dining and lounges.

How to do it

Use airline miles for first-class redemption.

Top tip

Collect miles through credit cards and partner airlines.

Need to know

• Redeeming air miles is the most realistic way for most people to fly first class; reward seats are limited, so book as early as possible.
• First class is mainly found on long-haul routes, and not every airline or aircraft offers it.
• Credit card sign-up bonuses and partner airlines can build up miles faster.

Do it yourself

• FlightsKiwi.com
• Airport parking, lounges and transfersHoliday Extras

Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. More about this.

My experience

Anyone who has ever flown with a long haul airline will know the feeling of boarding a plane, looking to the left and seeing all the large plush seating, the bar, the champagne flowing, then realising your seat is in row 47, squeezed in with no room to move and a heck of a lot less luxurious.

Wouldn’t it be great to fly first class every time you got on a plane?! The other alternative would be to own a private jet, then you could be guaranteed first class every time!