All of the domestic airlines, with the exception of AA’s NY<>CA flights, have eliminated first class, and top out at business class, although some do offer a third “extra room” coach category…
The major US carriers all have First Class on domestic flight. They have or are in the process of getting rid of First Class on international overseas flights But each of them has a JV partner which offers international First Class Suites of some variety or the other.All of the domestic airlines, with the exception of AA’s NY<>CA flights, have eliminated first class, and top out at business class, although some do offer a third “extra room” coach category…
To be fair, International First has always been a different animal vs Domestic First.The major US carriers all have First Class on domestic flight. They have or are in the process of getting rid of First Class on international overseas flights But each of them has a JV partner which offers international First Class Suites of some variety or the other.
Well, in Europe what is called Business is effectively an Economy Seat with the middle seat blocked off on most airlines. So given that standard the US ones are indeed First ClassTo be fair, International First has always been a different animal vs Domestic First.
Of course, the US is goofy in calling Domestic First "First". In much of the rest of the world, the relevant class would be called Business.
This is true. Interestingly, at least on BA you get a "full meal" on flights that would never get more than a drink+snack in the US (e.g. I remember getting finger sandwiches and tea on BA on both DUB-LHR and BRU-LHR...the latter might not even get in-flight beverage service in F on some US operations).Well, in Europe what is called Business is effectively an Economy Seat with the middle seat blocked off on most airlines. So given that standard the US ones are indeed First Class
Pretty sure that’s domestic first, which isn’t “first class” in the way we think of it. It’s basically just a larger seat with better meals. the OP meant that few offer lie flat or considerably better seats anymore, other than American (who is phasing it out soon anyway).Really? This is Delta.
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Both United and Delta offer lie flat seats in First Class on selected domestic flights. I am booked on one from Orlando to Newark in a couple of weeks.Pretty sure that’s domestic first, which isn’t “first class” in the way we think of it. It’s basically just a larger seat with better meals. the OP meant that few offer lie flat or considerably better seats anymore, other than American (who is phasing it out soon anyway).
Well, I'm old and since I have never flown first class, I still think of the 2 x 2 wider seats with meal as First Class.Pretty sure that’s domestic first, which isn’t “first class” in the way we think of it. It’s basically just a larger seat with better meals. the OP meant that few offer lie flat or considerably better seats anymore, other than American (who is phasing it out soon anyway).
What I think I've seen, in general, is that while United and Delta will have lie-flats on some flights, they won't (necessarily) have a marketed equivalent to Domestic First on the same flights. For example, Delta will generally have:Both United and Delta offer lie flat seats in First Class on selected domestic flights. I am booked on one from Orlando to Newark in a couple of weeks.
Mostly correct, however united has a ton of flights with 777-300’s and 787-10 and 787-9 planes configured with inter nation Polaris. I live in memphis but always if going to SFO fly to IAH and change to the one or two Dreamliners they run daily on the route. It’s the Auckland flight, they turn it and run the domestic tag then turn it to run to Aisha or Australia and cycle back the other way. They do that in every hub, probably to dump in their marketers and protect their turf, but I love taking advantage of it. The Dreamliner (and probably, though have yet to fly one, the A350) totally change the flying experience. Truly the biggest leap in aerospace since the 747. They are incredible machines. So incredibly quiet, feels solid, I have never seen a plane hit turbulence and hold so solid in it, or not landed with dry eyes or dry mouth. Don’t get me wrong 9 times out of 10 Intake Amtrak (yes I use long distance trains not as a land cruise, I use them to travel) but if I have to get somewhere or bedrooms are offensively overpriced, I will fly. I always download the PDF (updated monthly)from the United Cargo website that lists every widebody flight in the US. It’s amazing how many they fly. From that timetable I then go book one of those flights.All of the domestic airlines, with the exception of AA’s NY<>CA flights, have eliminated first class, and top out at business class, although some do offer a third “extra room” coach category…
United sells lie flats simply as first on flight flown by international hard product, except for PS flights. We have several International 757 flown flights between MCO and EWR as domestic First.What I think I've seen, in general, is that while United and Delta will have lie-flats on some flights, they won't (necessarily) have a marketed equivalent to Domestic First on the same flights. For example, Delta will generally have:
Domestic: Main Cabin, Comfort+, and First Class
International: Main Cabin, Comfort+, Premium Select, and Delta One
[Note: I am ignoring "Basic Economy" as a "cabin" as those seats are Main Cabin seats, just on a restrictive ticket.]
Where things get...odd...is with those Domestic Delta One flights, where you end up with Premium Select being dropped (probably due to some mix of booking system complications and ticket interactions). And of course, this is also ignoring situations where you get an internationally-configured widebody on another route and the lie-flats just get sold as First.
I flew on an International 787 LAX-IAH after the last PPC run. 2-2-2 is an...odd...config for that bird.United sells lie flats simply as first on flight flown by international hard product, except for PS flights. We have several International 757 flown flights between MCO and EWR as domestic First.
In my experience domestic first is a bigger seat, better pitch, expanded beverages, cleaner restroom, priority boarding, priority security, priority check-in, priority luggage, priority standby/re-booking, etc. If you're a tall person who dislikes waiting in lines it's a godsend. It's also nice to pay one inclusive price that avoids a bunch of nickle and dime nonsense. Ironically the one thing I almost never see are actual meals. Even when I'm flying to the East or West coast it's usually a snack tray or snack box.Pretty sure that’s domestic first, which isn’t “first class” in the way we think of it. It’s basically just a larger seat with better meals.
I have not seen life flat seating domestically (other than repositioning flights) and nobody is getting rid of lie flat seating on long haul flights (that I know of). I think this change only applies to a tiny percentage of domestic flights from NYC/WDC to California.the OP meant that few offer lie flat or considerably better seats anymore, other than American (who is phasing it out soon anyway).
To be fair first class on AA, DL, and UA is more consistent than anything I've seen on Amtrak.First class on airlines is about as consistent as business class on Amtrak.
That is the outgoing Type 1 layout with the old Diamond Seats in as delivered state on the oldest 787-9s. They are being converted to Type 2 layout with Polaris pods and those are 1-2-1.I flew on an International 787 LAX-IAH after the last PPC run. 2-2-2 is an...odd...config for that bird.
Incidentally AA is getting rid of its International First Class Suite, the last of the US3 to do so. It is going with the Flagship Suite Business Class product instead, which is more or less similar to Delta One or United Polaris.(DL ends up with "straight First" International 777s/767s domestically. MCO-ATL is a surprisingly common routing. I used to take advantage of that on ATL-SEA...PHF-ATL-SEA with a bed on the long leg was nice.)
The last few years have been a weird look for LH. First they retire nearly everything with a First Class cabin, only to un-retire the same aircraft after failing to meet contractual obligations. Then they start refurbishing soon-to-be-retired aircraft for reasons unexplained. Then they aim for the moon with the best hard product available while leaving the soft product to rot and die. LH was a great mid-market option with above-average service in the before times, but post-pandemic reviews have been absolutely scathing.Maenwhile Lufthansa just unveiled their Alegris First Class Suite Plus product which will be launched in their A350 fleet starting in 2024. That one seems to be right up there in the same category as Emirates and Etihad Suites.
Stands to reason since afterall AA is now aligned with Qatar, isn't it?Speaking of the ME3 the new AA Flagship Suite above looks a lot like a Qatar Business Suite below.
I'm a fan of reverse herringbone suites and I'd be willing to try this if it lines up for a future trip.
I had no awareness of this and I'm still out of sync in the post-pandemic era. After several tedious and awkward trips in 2021 and 2022 I finally regained my travel legs at the beginning of 2023, over two decades after routine travel became common for me. I realize I do not travel as often as some but it was still odd and confusing to feel like a travel novice again. Here's hoping the future is reasonably predictable again.Stands to reason since afterall AA is now aligned with Qatar, isn't it?
The US3-ME3 alignments look as follows:I had no awareness of this and I'm still out of sync in the post-pandemic era.
I felt similarly disoriented when I first flew in August last year, and that was a trip to India that involved a giant IROPS, being rerouted and rebooked by UA from a EWR - (UA) - DEL - (Vistara) - CCU, to EWR - (UA) - MUC - (LH) - BOM - (AI) - CCU arriving almost exactly 24 hours later, all due to a UA mechanical issue at EWR. UA did provide hotel and food in Newark.After several tedious and awkward trips in 2021 and 2022 I finally regained my travel legs at the beginning of 2023, over two decades after routine travel became common for me. I realize I do not travel as often as some but it was still odd and confusing to feel like a travel novice again. Here's hoping the future is reasonably predictable again.
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