Airlines maintain limited first class options between US-Europe

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Airlines maintain limited first class options between US-Europe

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American Airlines | Wikipedia

By Sky Industry News

Feb 11, 2025

Long-haul flights between the United States and Europe continue to offer first-class travel experiences, albeit with a limited number of airlines maintaining such services. Despite the evolution of business class seats providing direct aisle access, several carriers still offer premium first-class options on these transatlantic routes.

American Airlines remains notable among its legacy competitors for offering a "Flagship First" cabin on select routes from five U.S. hubs to London Heathrow Airport. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft is the only model in its fleet equipped with this product, featuring eight suites in a 1-2-1 configuration. Passengers enjoy exclusive amenities including expedited security and lounge access.

Air France offers its La Première first-class service on the Boeing 777-300ER, with four suites available on routes from five U.S. cities to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Additional destinations served by this aircraft include Abidjan, Dubai, São Paulo, Singapore, and Tokyo. Perks for passengers include private check-in and chauffeur services near certain French airports.

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British Airways provides a more varied offering with first-class cabins across multiple aircraft types including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777s and 787s. This month, nineteen U.S. airports will have British Airways flights featuring first-class service to London Heathrow.

Emirates operates two fifth-freedom routes connecting the U.S. and Europe: Newark Liberty International Airport to Athens and New York JFK to Milan Malpensa. The airline's Airbus A380s boast additional features like a shower spa and lounge bar.

Lufthansa's first-class offerings are available on various widebody aircraft serving Frankfurt and Munich from several U.S. cities. Notably, the Boeing 747-8 features its first-class cabin at the nose of the aircraft.

Swiss International Air Lines distinguishes itself by having first-class cabins on all long-haul aircraft within its fleet. Routes from Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York JFK, San Francisco, and Washington D.C., serve Zurich or Geneva.

Lastly, Singapore Airlines offers a fifth-freedom route between Frankfurt and New York JFK using Boeing 777-300ERs with four first-class suites available for passengers seeking an exclusive travel experience.