First And Business Class Seats Of The World’s Top 24 Airlines
Air Canada
No.1 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline : North America.
Executive First Class
Executive First is Air Canada’s international business class product, updated during the carrier’s Project XM upgrade. These cabins are available on nearly all widebody aircraft.
Executive First feature electronic flat beds, in a 1–1–1 or 1–2–1 herringbone configuration with a 21-inch seat width and a 6-foot-3-inch seat pitch. The configuration is similar in layout to Virgin Atlantic’s Upper Class Suite and Air New Zealand’s Business Premier Class. Entertainment is personal AVOD (Audio Video On Demand), while music is provided by XM Satellite Radio. Self-service bar areas and mood lighting are available on all B777-300ER and B777-200LR aircraft.
Return flights, Toronto to London cost about USD 4300 on Air Canada’s Executive First class as of 2011.
Air New Zealand
No.7 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline.
No.1 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline : Australia/Pacific.
Business Premier
Business Premier is the highest available class on Air New Zealand flights. The seating is configured in a herringbone layout in a 1-2-1 configuration, allowing direct access for every passenger to an aisle. Each seat is 22 inches wide leather and comes with an ottoman footrest that doubles as a visitor seat. The seat converts to a full length lie-flat bed, for which a pillow, duvet and sheet are provided.
Each seat comes with a large tray table, multiple stowage bins, a cocktail tray, a bottle holder, in-seat power, three reading lights, and an AVOD system with a 10.4-inch monitor. On the 777-300ER, each seat also has USB and iPod connectivity, and a larger 12.1-inch touchscreen monitor.
Return flights, Auckland to London cost about USD 8300 on Air New Zealand’s Business Premier as of 2011.
ANA
No.1 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline Ground Services.
No.2 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Transpacific Airline.
Business Class
Return flights, Tokyo to London cost from about USD 14,000 on ANA’s Business Class as of 2011.
First Class
Introduced in 2009, the “Inspiration of Japan” cabin features included fully-lie-flat-bed business class seats (the first for a Japanese airline), a nearly enclosed first class suite seats, a new AVOD in-flight entertainment system (based on Panasonic Avionics Corporation’s eX2 technology with iPod connectivity, in-seat shopping and meal ordering as well as premium cabin touchscreen consoles) as well as improvements to its in-flight service.
Since February 2010 ANA offers women’s only lavatories on international flights.
Return flights, Tokyo to London cost from about USD 32,000 on ANA’s First Class as of 2011.
Asiana
No.3 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline.
No.1 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline Cabin Staff.
No.3 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline Ground Services.
No.2 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline : Asia.
Business Class
The space between seats in business class is 58 inches, and they are elongated to 165 degrees. The size of personal LCD monitors is 15.4 inches diagonally, slightly larger than the previous 15 inches. The audio and video on demand (AVOD) system of the in-flight entertainment program has also been upgraded, with better resolution and faster speed.
Return flight, Seoul to Los Angeles cost from about USD 5800 on Asiana’s Business Class as of 2011.
First Class
Return flight, Seoul to Los Angeles cost from about USD 8400 on Asiana’s First Class as of 2011.
British Airways
No.1 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge.
Club World
Club World is the long-haul business class product on British Airways 767, 777 and 747 aircraft, and the only class on its two Airbus A318 aircraft. Passengers have access to departure lounges at most airports and an exclusive arrivals lounge at London Heathrow Terminal 5. The Club World cabin provides a 20 in wide, 6 ft long fully flat bed. There are 24 old generation Club World seats fitted on Boeing 767-300ER aircraft but these aircraft will be replaced by the Boeing 787 which will feature the Next-Generation Club World cabin from 2012 onwards.
Return flights, London to Singapore cost from about USD 5000 on British Airway’s Club World as of 2011.
First Class
First is the long-haul first class service on British Airways and is offered only on Boeing 747 and Boeing 777 aircraft. There are 14 private “demi-cabins” per aircraft, each with a 6 ft 6 in bed, a 15 inch wide in-flight entertainment screen, in-seat power for laptops and personal phones. Menus are upgraded from Club World, and offer greater choice and quality.
Return flights, London to Singapore cost from about USD 8200 on British Airway’s First Class as of 2011.
Cathay Pacific
No.4 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline.
No.3 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline Inflight Entertainment.
No.1 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Transpacific Airline.
No.3 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best First Class Airline.
No.3 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Business Class Airline Lounge.
No.1 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best First Class Airline Seat.
No.3 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline : Asia.
Business Class
After receiving extensive criticism for its high-walled herring-bone configuration business class seating on long-haul flights, which many passengers felt was too narrow and confined, Cathay Pacific embarked on a total redesign of business class seating. The new design is more conventional, emphasizing the passenger’s sense of personal space while also retaining privacy.
The new business class seats will be fitted into all new Airbus A330-300 and Boeing 777-300ER deliveries, with existing A330-300 and 777-300ER aircraft to be upgraded to the new seating and cabin by February 2013. However,the current Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A340 aircraft will not be upgraded to the new seating and cabin due to the impending retirement of those planes.
Return flights, Hong Kong to London cost from about USD 5900 on Cathay Pacific’s Business Class as of 2011.
First Class
The New First Class seats can be converted into a fully lie-flat bed measuring 36 × 81 in. The new seats include a massage function, a personal closet, an ottoman for stowage or guest seating, and an adjustable 17 in 16:9 PTV.
Return flights, Hong Kong to London cost from about USD 9700 on Cathay Pacific’s First Class as of 2011.
Continental Airlines
No.2 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Transatlantic Airline.
No.2 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline : North America.
BusinessFirst
The new BusinessFirst seats have a six-way adjustable head rest, an individual overhead reading light and an adjustable seat light allowing customers to read in bed without disturbing their neighbor and a privacy shell that allows for seclusion from other travelers. BusinessFirst customers also receive one of the highest crew to passenger ratios (1:8) among all international business class products.
The new BusinessFirst seats are featured on all of Continental’s Boeing 777s and Boeing 757-200′s. Installation on the Boeing 767 fleet will follow in 2011. The anticipated completion of the roll-out across Continental’s entire international fleet is August 2012. In addition, all 787 deliveries will have the seats installed.
Continental considers BusinessFirst to be its signature onboard product, and the service is a frequent subject of advertising campaigns. Customers seated in the BusinessFirst cabin on longhaul flights from the United States to Europe, Asia, select cities in South America, and the Middle East receive special ground services, including EliteAccess priority bag service at check-in, expedited security screening (where available), access to Continental’s Presidents Club or affiliated Star Alliance lounges, personalized Continental Concierge service, and dedicated boarding procedures.
Entertainment is offered at each individual seat, and passengers on Boeing 777 and 757 aircraft have access to a new Audio-Video On Demand system with touch-screen controls. Customers also are provided headphones, a large pillow, wool blanket, and amenity kit prior to departure. Upon arrival, BusinessFirst customers have access to shower facilities and arrival lounges at most airports.
Return flights, New Jersey to London cost from about USD 3200 on Continental Airline’s BusinessFirst as of 2011.
Delta Air Lines
No.3 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline : North America.
BusinessElite
Designed by Thompson Aero Seating and manufactured by Contour Aerospace Limited, these sleeper suites (Vantage) use a space-saving design, with the bottom ends of the seats extending under the armrests of the suites in front when in the full horizontal flat bed position. This allows for minimal reduction in capacity compared to most other sleeper suite products, particularly with the 767′s narrower fuselage. The suites will be arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, with a total capacity of 40 BusinessElite suites.
Return flights, New York to London cost from about USD 3200 on Delta Airline’s BusinesElite as of 2011.
Emirates
No.10 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline.
No.1 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline Inflight Entertainment.
No.3 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline : Middle East.
Business Class
Business class on Boeing 777-200LRs, Boeing 777-300s and 29 of 39 3-class Boeing 777-300ERs as well as 5 of 14 2-class 777-300ERs feature seats with a 60 in pitch that recline to 79 in long, angled lie-flat beds. Amenities include massage function, privacy partition, winged headrest with six-way movement, two individual reading lights and an overhead light per seat, in-seat power supply, USB Ports and an RCA socket for laptop connection, over 600 channels of entertainment on ICE, shown on a 17 in wide TV screen.
On Airbus A380-800 aircraft, the seats recline to form a fully flat bed and are equipped with personal mini-bars. Business class passengers also have access to an on-board bar at the rear of the aircraft. Business class passengers have the ability to customize and save seat and in-flight entertainment settings to a memory key for re-use on future flights.
Return flights, Dubai to London cost from about USD 3600 on Emirates’s Business Class as of 2011.
First Class Suite
The full suite options comes complete with closing doors to ensure privacy, a mini-bar, a coat rack and storage. They also feature the ICE system on a 23 in LCD screen. The seat converts into a 6 ft 7 in fully flat bed. Private suites are available on all A380-800, A340-500, Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, as well as 27 of 39 3-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
On its newly delivered A380-800, first class features private suites, two shower-equipped lavatories and spa, and access to the first/business class bar area and lounge. Premium class seating is located on the entire upper deck of A380-800 aircraft.
Return flights, Dubai to London cost from about USD 8100 on Emirates’s First Class Suite as of 2011.
Etihad
No.6 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline.
No.1 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best First Class Airline.
No.3 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Business Class Airline.
No.1 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best First Class Airline Catering.
No.2 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best First Class Airline Seat.
No.2 of Skytrax 2011 World’s Best Airline : Middle East.
Pearl Business Class
Business class is known as the Pearl Zone. The Pearl Business Class seats recline to 180 degrees into a fully flat 6’1″ business bed. It has an 88″ pitch and direct access to the aisle for plenty space and privacy. Each self-contained seat is equipped with individual lighting and a reading light. The Pearl Business seats each has a 15″ personal LCD screen. In-flight telephone service is also offered from inside the aircraft. There is also a built-in massage facility.
Return flights, Abu Dhabu to London cost from about USD 3800 on Etihad’s Pearl Business Class as of 2011.
Diamond First Class Suites
First class is known as the Diamond Zone. The Diamond First Class Suites have seats that rotate 180 degrees and recline into 6’8″ flat beds. Each Diamond Suite has a privacy shell that ensures maximum privacy and direct access to the aisles; within this space there are a coatroom, a mini-bar, a fold-and-swivel meal table, an integrated personal mirror, a magazine rack, a reading light and a desk lamp. Each Diamond seat has pneumatic lumbar support, a six-way movement headrest and a built-in massage facility. Each Diamond Suite has a 23″ personal LCD. The Diamond First Class Zone will be changed throughout the long-haul fleet with new suites and changed toilets.
Return flights, Abu Dhabu to London cost from about USD 8100 on Etihad’s Diamond First Class as of 2011.
Iberia
Business Plus
Iberia Business Plus seat which reclines into lie-flat seats within a rigid pod gives you personal space of up to 6 ft 3 in long by 25 in wide. They have a dual adjustable back cushion with a massage function, adjustable head rests and arm rests, and extendable leg rests. A digital system memorizes the passenger’s preferred seat settings. The Business Plus section also features individual touch-screen entertainment and communications systems. Passengers can send SMS and e-mail messages anywhere in the world in under 15 seconds, and speak on an individual satellite telephone.
Return flights, Madrid to New York cost from about USD 3600 on Iberia’s Business Plus as of 2011.
Japan Airlines
Executive Class Seasons
The Executive Class Seasons seat reclines to 171 degrees and has a 15.4 inch personal TV screen. The business class cabin also features the “Sky Gallery,” one wall of the cabin shows a a photographic exhibition that will be regularly changed over the year. The first exhibit, in collaboration with Fuji Film, will be a series of photographs of forests in Japan entitled ‘Forest Forever’. The gallery will be located directly opposite a self-service bar counter, where passengers can enjoy snacks and beverages at anytime. Eight JAL Suites and 77 JAL Shell Flat Neo Seat are installed in each Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Return flights, Tokyo to London cost from about USD 10,730 on Japan Airline’s Executive Class Seasons as of 2011.
First Class Suite
The suitse in JAL First Class are 20% more spacious than the airline’s previous seat in first class and only suites are available in the JAL First Class cabin set in a 1-2-1 configuration. The suite includes a seat upholstered in gray leather which converts into a full-flat bed. In the 180 degrees position, the seat combines with an ottoman located at the opposite end of the compartment to create one of the largest and widest, most comfortable sleeping areas in first class. When the seat is in the upright position, the ottoman can be used as a seat for a guest. The sliding table can be placed between the seat and ottoman. Passengers, seated in the pair of suites who are traveling together can lower privacy partitions located between them. Each suite comes with Bose noise-cancelling headphones and a personal 19-inch personal TV screen and stowage spaces for bags and small items and a laptop power point. Those in the suites can also whatever they like off the menu whenever they would like with choices of Japanese or Western full-course menus. For sleeping a cabin attendant can place a Tempur-Pedic mattress on the seat bed along with a down comforter and a pillow a well as offer special JAL loungewear.
Return flights, Tokyo to London cost from about USD 32,000 on Japan Airline’s First Class Suite as of 2011.
Jet Airways
Premier Class
Premiere class on the Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 777-300ER international fleet has a fully flat bed with AVOD entertainment. Seats are configured in a herringbone pattern (1-2-1 on the Boeing 777-300ER, and 1-1-1 on the Airbus A330-200), with each seat offering direct access to the aisle. Each Première Seat has a 15.4-inch flat screen LCD TV with AVOD. USB ports and in-seat laptop power are provided. All seats are standard recliner business-class seats with a few newer aircraft with electronic recline and massager.
Return flights, Mumbai to London cost from about USD 3600 on Jet Airway’s Premiere Class as of 2011.
First Class
First class is available on all Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. All seats convert to a fully flat bed, similar to Singapore Airlines first class seat but much smaller. It was the twenty-second airline in the world to have private suites. All seats in First have a 23-inch widescreen LCD monitor with audio-video on-demand systems (AVOD), BOSE noise cancelling headphones, in seat power supply, and USB ports.
Return flights, Mumbai to London cost from about USD 5800 on Jet Airway’s First Class as of 2011.
Kingfisher
First
The international Kingfisher First has full flat-bed seats with a 180 degree recline, with a seat pitch of 78 in, and a seat width of 20-24.54 in. Passengers are given Merino wool blankets, a Salvatore Ferragamo toiletry kit, a pyjama to change into, five-course meals and alcoholic beverages. Also available are in-seat massagers, chargers and USB connectors.
Every Kingfisher First seat has a 17 inch widescreen personal television with AVOD touchscreen controls and offers 357 hours of programming content spread over 36 channels, including Hollywood and Bollywood movies along with 16 channels of live TV, so passengers can watch their favorite TV programs live. There is also a collection of interactive games, a jukebox with customizable playlists and Kingfisher Radio. Passengers are given BOSE noise cancellation headphones.
The service on board the Kingfisher First cabins includes a social area comprising a full-fledged bar staffed with a bartender, a break-out seating area just nearby fitted with two couches and bar stools, a full-fledged chef on board the aircraft and any-time dining. A turn-down service includes the conversion of the seat into a fully-flat bed and an air-hostess making the bed when the passenger is ready to sleep.
Both Kingfisher First and Kingfisher classes feature mood lighting on the Airbus A330-200 with light schemes corresponding to the time of day and flight position.
Return flights, Mumbai to London cost from about USD 3600 on Kingfisher’s First as of 2011.
