Air travel is not the most comfortable undertaking in the world. For those who have to fly frequently, the process – from security checkpoint to baggage claim (and the occasional wait at the lost luggage counter) – can be nothing short of exhausting. Certain airlines improve the comfort quotient by offering unexpected amenities. The best of these perks are reserved for first class, but in general, the airlines that provide good first class service also offer above average comfort in economy class.
Emirates Airline is an up-and-coming high-end carrier that has weathered the industry-wide struggles better than most other airlines. Its first class cabins include personal entertainment centers with hundreds of channels and seating areas with an above average level of privacy. There is a rumor that Emirates will soon be offering private bathrooms and showers for each first class passenger.
Virgin Atlantic is not in the same luxury league as Emirates, but its first-class offerings, including complimentary massages and access to the on-board bar room, are enough to seduce hip trans-Atlantic travelers looking to have some fun while aloft.
Cathay Pacific, a perennial winner of various “airline of the year” awards, is known for its multi-course in-flight meals as well as its unparalleled array of media options and comfortable reclining seats. The airline is also regularly recognized for its quality economy class service.
Though Lufthansa’s premium classes do not offer the same amount of space as the industry leaders, their attention to details (privacy screens for each seat and an array of media options) make for a good premium class experience. In addition, the carrier is noted for the first-class lounges that it operates in some of its European hub cities.
Singapore Airlines has first class cabins that set the industry standard. Planes on long-haul routes feature sleeper cabins (known as SkySuites) that would seem more in place on a luxury train than on a plane. Even the economy class meals and media options are lauded by the travel writers as being among the best in the industry.
