First Class - Star Alliance

Star Alliance carriers with first class products are conveniently listed in this post on Flyertalk.  Why is this interesting?  For starters,  many Star Alliance carriers are part of the Star Alliance upgrade scheme, which allows frequent flyer points to be used to upgrade on any other participating Star Alliance carrier.  However, the most important reason to care is that some actually do want something more than business class.

It doesn't matter whether the carrier of your Star Alliance frequent flyer scheme has first class, you can still upgrade with points from business to first class on another carrier.

The participating carriers for Star Alliance upgrades are:

- Air China

- Air New Zealand

- ANA

- Asiana

- Austrian

- Brussels

- Continental

- LOT

- Lufthansa

- SAS

- Singapore Airlines

- Swiss

- TAP

- Thai

- United

However, what carriers have first class and what are they like?  I am deliberately largely ignoring domestic first class in the US in this mix, as it is effectively pitched at where short haul business class is within Asia and Europe.

Air China has first class on all of its Boeing 747s, all of its Airbus A340s, its medium haul Boeing 767s and 777s, and all of its Airbus A319s, A320s, A321s and Boeing 737s and 757s.   It's latest long haul first class product is called Forbidden Pavilion First Class and looks remarkably like United new long haul first class seats.  Fully lie flat pods.   There is AVOD, exclusive catering and free limousine transfers at Shanghai and Beijing.  Beijing and Shanghai have dedicated First Class lounges.

The routes for the new product are:

Beijing to JFK, LAX, San Francisco, Vancouver, Frankfurt, Munich, London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Athens, Rome and Madrid.

Shanghai Pudong to Frankfurt, Paris CDG and Milan.

Short and medium haul first class is also available, primarily on domestic Chinese routes and some medium haul routes around Asia.

Verdict? Air China's new long haul hard product is world class, but soft product doesn't have the finesse of some others.  Short and medium haul first class is simply better than economy.

ANA (All Nippon Airways) has first class only on long haul flights operated by Boeing 747-400s and Boeing 777-200ERs and Boeing 777-300ERs. The routes operated with first class are between Tokyo Narita and:

- Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York JFK ;

- London Heathrow, Paris and Frankfurt.

ANA's long haul first class is widely regarded as exemplary, with fully lie flat beds and the latest incarnation on the Boeing 777-300ERs being private sleeper suites with sliding doors.   It has a dedicated first class lounge at Narita and arrivals lounge as well. ANA's soft product is considered exceptional and is up there with the best.  As the launch airline for the Boeing 787 it will be interesting to see if any of those aircraft get first class.

Verdict? You'll be hard pressed to find a better first class on the routes ANA operates. 

Asiana has first class on all of its Boeing 747s and some long haul Boeing 777s.   Lounge access is shared with business class.

The confirmed routes with first class are between Seoul and:

- Los Angeles and New York JFK

- Tokyo  and

- Frankfurt

However, some of the aircraft may operate medium haul services in Asia with first class sold as business class with preference given to top tier Asiana frequent flyers.

Asiana's long haul first class product is highly competitive, with fully lie flat pods, and a reputation for excellent soft product.   However, it is rolling out a new fully flat bed business class, so it will be interesting to see if it can retain first class on long haul.  It is notable that routes such as London and Paris do not have first class.

Verdict? Asiana's long haul first class is right up to standard, with a soft product to match.  Shame about the lack of routes.

Continental Airlines (now merged with United but still with separate branding, products and flight codes) has a US domestic first class product on all of its Boeing 737s and its Boeing 757-300 fleet.   Consider the seating to be akin to a good long haul premium economy class, and the soft product service likewise.  Continental's domestic first class provides access to the President's Club lounges, which are akin to business class lounges.  Continental has no international first class product.

Egyptair has first class seating on its Airbus A340 and Boeing 777-200ER fleet.  However, the A340 fleet is being replaced with new A330s that do not have first class, and the 777-200ER fleet is being reportedly reduced in scale.  There are no dedicated First Class lounges.  First Class passengers have access to business class lounges.

The routes with Egyptair first class are:

Cairo-Osaka

Cairo-Kuwait

Cairo-Jeddah

Cairo-Riyadh

Cairo-Bangkok

Cairo-Guangzhou

Cairo-Abu Dhabi

However, you should not get too excited about this.  Egyptair first class hard product is not remotely close to world class, it is closer to business class of around 15 years ago.   It consists of recliners in a 2-2-2 configuration.   Soft product involves personalised attention and reasonable catering, but no alcohol.   Consider Egyptair first class as an old fashioned business class product and you'll get the idea.  As Egyptair is introducing a new business class on new A330s and 777-300ERs that surpasses this first class, you can see where first class is heading.

Verdict? If you can get Egyptair first class at prices below that of business class competitors, then it's a good deal, as you'll get excellent personalised service and good quality catering.   However, this isn't even in the same league as business class on most other Star Alliance carriers, let alone first class.

Lufthansa

Lufthansa has its new private fully lie flat first class seats on Airbus A380s, and its full reclining first class on all of its Boeing 747s, all Airbus A330s and some Airbus A340s.  Lufthansa maintains first class on many long haul routes and has a dedicated First Class terminal at its main hub in Frankfurt.   There are also dedicated First Class lounges at Frankfurt and Munich, and 30 Senator lounges accessible only by First Class and Star Alliance Gold customers (not business class).  It has one of the most extensive first class route networks in the world.

Routes with first class are:


To Americas
Frankfurt-Atlanta
Frankfurt-Boston
Munich-Boston
Frankfurt-Buenos Aires
Munich-Charlotte
Frankfurt-Chicago
Munich-Chicago
Dusseldorf-Chicago
Frankfurt-Dallas
Frankfurt-Denver
Munich-Denver
Frankfurt-Detroit
Frankfurt-Houston
Frankfurt-Los Angeles
Munich-Los Angeles
Frankfurt-Mexico City
Frankfurt-Miami
Munich-Montreal
Frankfurt-New York JFK
Munich-New York JFK
Frankfurt-New York Newark
Dusseldorf-New York Newark
Frankfurt-Orlando
Frankfurt-Philadelphia
Frankfurt-San Francisco
Munich-San Francisco
Frankfurt-Sao Paulo
Munich-San Paulo
Frankfurt-Seattle
Dusseldorf-Toronto
Frankfurt-Vancouver
Frankfurt-Washington Dulles

To Africa

Frankfurt-Accra
Frankfurt-Cape Town
Frankfurt-Johannesburg

To Middle East

Frankfurt-Abu Dhabi
Frankfurt-Bahrain
Frankfurt-Dubai
Munich-Dubai
Frankfurt-Tel Aviv
Munich-Tel Aviv

To Asia

Frankfurt-Bangkok
Frankfurt-Beijing
Frankfurt-Chennai
Frankfurt-Delhi
Munich-Delhi
Frankfurt-Guangzhou
Frankfurt-Ho Chi Minh City
Frankfurt-Hong Kong
Frankfurt-Jakarta
Frankfurt-Kolkata
Frankfurt-Kuala Lumpur
Frankfurt-Mumbai
Frankfurt-Nagoya
Frankfurt-Nanking
Frankfurt-Osaka
Frankfurt-Seoul
Munich-Seoul
Frankfurt-Shanghai
Frankfurt-Singapore
Frankfurt-Tokyo Narita

Within Asia
Bangkok-Ho Chi Minh City
Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur
Singapore-Jakarta

Verdict?  Lufthansa soft product is up there with the best including an unbeatable airside experience at Frankfurt.  Hard product on the A380 is also up there, on other aircraft it is a bit dated, being recliner seats that simply recline all the way.   Still it may be the only first class choice on many of these routes and a reasonable one at that.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines has effectively four types of first class product if you count the A380 "Suites" as akin to first class (although the airline says it is "beyond" first).  The private suites with closing doors and dedicated beds (separate from the seating) are only on the Airbus A380.  The "new" long haul first class involves 35 inch wide leather private seats that recline fully into flat beds with 23 inch LCD IFE screens, and are seen on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and are now being retrofitted to some regional Boeing 777-300s.  The other long haul first class involves 22 inch wide flat beds with 17 inch IFE screens and are on the remaining Boeing 747 aircraft.  There is finally a regional first class with recliner sleeper seats for flights within Asia on some Boeing 777-200ER and Boeing 777-300 aircraft.  What is impressive is the extent of the medium haul network with first class. 

Singapore Airlines has one of the best soft products around, although the "ground" experience is good it isn't exceptional, although there are always dedicated First Class lounges.

Note not all services on these routes include first class, only those with aircraft listed above.

To Americas (via Asia or Europe)
Singapore-Moscow-Houston
Singapore-Tokyo-Los Angeles
Singapore-Frankfurt-New York JFK
Singapore-Hong Kong-San Francisco
Singapore-Seoul-San Francisco

To Europe
Singapore-Milan-Barcelona
Singapore-Frankfurt
Singapore-Dubai-Istanbul
Singapore-London Heathrow
Singapore-Milan
Singapore-Moscow
Singapore-Munich
Singapore-Munich-Manchester
Singapore-Paris
Singapore-Zurich

To Middle East
Singapore-Dubai

To Oceania
Singapore-Auckland
Singapore-Melbourne
Singapore-Sydney

Within Asia
Singapore-Bandar Seri Begawan
Singapore-Bangalore
Singapore-Bangkok
Singapore-Beijing
Singapore-Chennai
Singapore-Colombo
Singapore-Delhi
Singapore-Hong Kong
Singapore-Hyderabad
Singapore-Jakarta
Singapore-Lahore-Karachi
Singapore-Manila
Singapore-Mumbai
Singapore-Seoul
Singapore-Shanghai
Singapore-Taipei
Singapore-Tokyo

Verdict? The Suites are the best in the business, the rest aren't far behind.   Almost certainly the best first class on any routes it operates.  You'll struggle to get an upgrade on any of these, and not at all in Suites or the 777-300ER.

Swiss

Swiss has been making an effort to put first class on all of its long haul routes.   It has first class on Airbus A340s and most Airbus A330s.   The new first class being rolled out has semi-private suites with sliding doors.  The existing first class still has fully lie flat beds which are as good as most others.  Swiss soft product is impeccably good.  There are dedicated first class lounges at Zurich and Geneva, with limo escort to the plane.

To Americas
Zurich-Boston
Zurich-Chicago
Zurich-Los Angeles
Zurich-Miami
Geneva-New York JFK
Zurich-New York JFK
Zurich-Sao Paulo

To Africa
Zurich-Johannesburg
Zurich-Nairobi-Dar es Salaam

To Asia
Zurich-Bangkok
Zurich-Delhi
Zurich-Hong Kong
Zurich-Mumbai
Zurich-Shanghai
Zurich-Tokyo

To Middle East
Zurich-Cairo
Zurich-Dubai-Muscat
Zurich-Jeddah
Zurich-Riyadh

Verdict? Swiss is one of the best.  Smaller planes than the larger airlines, but excellent service and hard product that outdoes its owner - Lufthansa.  Probably the best first class of any airline in Europe.

TAM

TAM is Brazil's largest airline and a recent joiner of Star Alliance.  It has first class on its Airbus A330s and Boeing 777s.   TAM has been making exceptional efforts to improve its product across the board.   Its hard product has fully lie flat beds in semi-pods, perhaps now to the standard of the latest business class product on Swiss and ANA (which is among the best) and easily to a standard of United in first class.

Sao Paulo- Frankfurt
Sao Paulo- London Heathrow
Sao Paulo- Madrid
Sao Paulo- Miami
Rio de Janiero- New York JFK
Sao Paulo- New York JFK
Sao Paulo- Orlando
Rio de Janiero- Paris CDG
Sao Paulo- Paris CDG

Verdict? One of South America's best airlines, damned good product from the US and well worth considering on the other routes.

Thai Airways

Thai has first class on long haul aircraft only, being Boeing 747s, Airbus A340-600s and Boeing 777-300ERs. Royal First Class is on the A340s and some of the 747s, with fully lie flat bed pods. The other 747s have flat recliners, and 777s have private pods.  Thai has a dedicate first class lounge at Bangkok with a spa, and some other lounges have first class sections.

To Europe
Bangkok-Frankfurt
Bangkok-London Heathrow
Bangkok-Rome-Madrid
Bangkok-Moscow
Bangkok-Munich
Bangkok-Paris
Bangkok-Zurich

To Middle East
Bangkok-Dubai

To Oceania
Bangkok-Brisbane
Bangkok-Sydney

To Asia
Bangkok-Beijing
Bangkok-Hong Kong
Bangkok-Shanghai
Bangkok-Tokyo

Verdict? Thai's soft product is good, hard product is up to standard, especially since the poorer quality recliners are not sold as first class on most routes they are operated on.

Turkish Airlines

Turkish only has first class on its new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. The product has new private semi-cabins with fully lie flat beds, and high standard soft product compared to business class.

The only route with first class are:
Istanbul-Bangkok
Istanbul-Hong Kong
Istanbul-New York JFK
Istanbul-Tokyo Narita

Verdict? Worth a shot.  Excellent hard product, soft product probably better up to a good business class.

United
As with Continental, United has first class on many domestic US flights. However, its international product comprises two types of suites, both feature pod like fully lie flat beds. The new product is on all Boeing 747s and Boeing 767s (and now being rolled out on 777s), the older one on international configuration Boeing 777s. Hard product is up to standard, soft product more like a good business class. United has dedicated International First Class lounges.

To Americas
Washington Dulles-Buenos Aires
Washington Dulles-Rio de Janiero
Washington Dulles-Sao Paulo

To Europe
Chicago- Amsterdam
Washington Dulles- Amsterdam
Washington Dulles-London Heathrow-Brussels
Chicago- Frankfurt
San Francisco- Frankfurt
Washington Dulles- Frankfurt
Washington Dulles- Geneva
Chicago-London Heathrow
Los Angeles-London Heathrow
San Francisco-London Heathrow
Washington Dulles- London Heathrow
Washington Dulles- Moscow DME
Chicago-Munich
Washington Dulles-Munich
Chicago- Paris CDG
San Francisco- Paris CDG
Washington Dulles - Paris CDG
Washington Dulles - Rome
Washington Dulles- Zurich



To Asia
Chicago- Bangkok
Honolulu- Bangkok
Los Angeles-Bangkok
San Francisco-Bangkok
Seattle- Bangkok
Chicago- Beijing
San Francisco-Beijing
Washington Dulles- Beijing
Chicago- Ho Chi Minh City
San Francisco-Ho Chi Minh City
Chicago- Hong Kong
Honolulu- Hong Kong
Los Angeles-Hong Kong
San Francisco-Hong Kong
Seattle- Hong Kong
San Francisco- Nagoya
Chicago- Osaka Kansei
Honolulu- Osaka Kansei
San Francisco- Osaka Kansei
Chicago- Seoul
Honolulu- Seoul
Los Angeles-Seoul
San Francisco- Seoul
Seattle- Seoul
Chicago- Shanghai
San Francisco- Shanghai
Chicago- Singapore
Honolulu- Singapore
San Francisco- Singapore
Seattle- Singapore
Chicago- Taipei
Honolulu- Taipei
Los Angeles-Taipei
San Francisco- Taipei
Seattle- Taipei
Chicago- Tokyo Narita
Honolulu- Tokyo Narita
Los Angeles- Tokyo Narita
San Francisco- Tokyo Narita
Seattle- Tokyo Narita
Washington Dulles- Tokyo Narita
Tokyo Narita-Seoul
Tokyo Narita-Singapore
Tokyo Narita-Taipei


To Middle East
Washington Dulles- Dubai
Washington Dulles- Kuwait


To Oceania
Los Angeles-Melbourne
San Francisco-Melbourne
Los Angeles- Sydney
San Francisco- Sydney

Verdict? United's long haul first is a reasonable product, but probably not the best first class on the routes it operates on.