What to Expect in Luxury First Class Flights

Luxury First Class flights

First Class pricing and why you expect it to be leaps and bounds above Business class
Ground service – Pick up from your home / hotel in a premium car
First Class check-in & Private security
First Class Lounge
Lounge top shelf alcohol and food
Transport to gates
First Class Seats
Luxury First Class Travel Experience

Now here is Part 2:

Dine-on-demand is a staple premium service offered in First Class. It allows passengers the flexibility to choose when they want to eat during the flight, rather than adhering to set meal times. All the top 10 first class airlines offer this service to their first class customers. In fact some airlines (like Qatar Airways) have adapted this even in Business class.

Most First Class flight attendants present the menu before takeoff, allowing you to choose from the à la carte options in advance. They also inquire whether you’d prefer to dine immediately after takeoff or wait a few hours and they will accomodate your preference. The menu itself, printed on premium card stock with vibrant colors exudes luxury, and often features detailed descriptions of fine wines and champagnes, along with suggestions for ideal pairings.

Luxury First Class Flights — Singapore Airlines Menu

Typically, the drink and food menus are provided separately. The drinks selection is quite extensive, featuring premium Brut champagnes, rosé, 2-3 varieties of red and white wines, signature cocktails, high-end spirits, beer, and a range of non-alcoholic options such as coffee, tea, hot chocolate, juices, and soft drinks. Emirates serves Dom Pérignon Vintage 2008 or 2010 which is priced at $250 to $300 a bottle. Emirates also serves Hennessy Paradis, an ultra-premium cognac, ($1200) to its first class passengers. Other notable top-shelf alcoholic beverages served in First Class include Krug Grande Cuvée, Salon Champagne, and Johnnie Walker Blue label. Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle is also a popular champagne choice offered by many airlines to their First Class passengers.

Here’s a example of what you can find in a first class menu:

Many airlines take great pride in having their First Class menus crafted by world-renowned Michelin-starred chefs, elevating the in-flight dining experience to gourmet level. Singapore Airlines collaborates with chefs like Georges Blanc, a 3-Michelin-starred chef, while Air France offers dishes designed by chefs such as Anne-Sophie Pic, known for her culinary excellence.

Certain airlines, like Swiss, go the extra mile by hosting “special weeks” to highlight their culinary expertise. During my flight, they were celebrating “Truffle Week,” showcasing an exceptional menu centered around this delicacy.

Though it’s impossible to replicate the exact taste of Michelin-quality dishes when reheated at 30,000 feet, the presentation and service can play a crucial role in creating a high-end dining atmosphere. This is where the Flight Attendants can make or break your experience. Their attentiveness, professionalism, and attention to detail can significantly enhance the luxury and comfort of First Class. A lot of them anticipate your needs even before you ask and go above and beyond. On the flip side, a lack of attentiveness or enthusiasm can detract from the overall luxury, no matter how premium the amenities or services. I’ll share some examples of both scenarios here.

In First Class, the trays are typically larger and more sturdy than those in Business Class, providing added stability for a more refined dining experience. The first step in the meal service is setting the table with a nice tablecloth. Some airlines place great importance on this, offering a meticulously pressed tablecloth with sharp creases, often branded with their logo, which covers the entire table. This level of attention to detail is what sets First Class apart from Business Class. Most people say that Emirates has the best first class service and as much as I agree with that statement, I will also say that it doesn’t always look like Emirates press their table cloths. The airline I was most impressed with, is Thai. The airline that I was least impressed with was Air India. On my first class flight with them, the tablecloth didn’t even cover the entire table.

You might have noticed that I didn’t caption the tablecloth on the right. Want to take a guess on the airline? On this particular airline, the tablecloth was flawless during the first meal service, but the one you see in the picture is from the second service. I believe that consistency in service is essential in First Class You’d be surprised, it was Air France.

You may ask, what’s the big deal? It’s like going to a luxury hotel and finding wrinkled bedsheets—it’s the little details that define the premium experience. In First Class, everything should reflect the highest standards, and that includes something as simple as a perfectly set table.

Caviar has become a staple in First Class, with almost all of the top 10 airlines (except Swiss) serving it regularly. I made a whole video on how caviar is served on airlines but here is a small recap – Caviar should be served chilled to maintain its delicate texture and flavor. It’s traditionally accompanied by warmed blinis along with classic garnishes such as finely chopped onions, egg yolk, egg white, and crème fraîche. Chilled vodka or a dry champagne is often served alongside to complement the richness of the caviar, enhancing the overall experience. Airlines typically provide a mother of pearl spoon for scooping the caviar from the tin, as it’s the preferred utensil to preserve the caviar’s delicate flavor. Most airlines serve caviar in its original tin to highlight its premium quality, with Emirates and Lufthansa being exceptions, as they serve a portion directly on the plate. Oman Air offers the most stunning caviar presentation, but Thai Airways truly stands out for its exceptional attention to detail. Three elements of their service impressed me: the blinis were warmed before serving, the caviar was presented on a bed of ice, and the flight attendant brought a frozen shot glass to my seat, pouring a shot of vodka to perfectly complement the caviar. Now that’s First Class service.

After the caviar service, the table is set for the appetizer. Most airlines follow this by offering a bread basket with various accompaniments, featuring a selection of warm breads and pastries, which is generally expected in First Class. However, airlines like Oman Air and Thai Airways elevate this experience by presenting the bread and pastries in an especially refined and elegant manner.

Caviar is usually followed by another appetizer which is technically a second course. Middle eastern airlines serve Arabic Mezze which is one of my favorite appetizers. You know you have excellent FAs when they take a moment to explain all of the accompaniments that come with the Arabic Mezze. Here are some pics of appetizers from various airlines.

Some airlines also feature a soup option on their First Class menu. Emirates and Air France enhance the experience by presenting the soup in an elegant jug and pouring it into your bowl directly at your seat, adding a touch of sophistication to the service.

The picture that you see above is a cold soup served by Air France on the Paris to Singapore route and it was one of the most delicious cold soups I’ve ever had. Usually I am not a fan of cold soups, but this one changed my mind. Another detail I want to highlight from the pictures above is the cutlery presentation. Some airlines, like Air France, prefer to keep the utensils neatly wrapped, while others, such as Emirates, opt to carefully place each piece in its designated spot, adding to the overall polished look of the table setting.

In First Class, salads are often more than just a simple side dish. They’re carefully curated with the freshest ingredients that feature seasonal greens and premium toppings like salmon or truffle shavings.I was particularly impressed by the salads served on Air France and Oman Air.

One Airline serves a palate cleanser between courses. And that is, Etihad. The purpose of a palate cleanser is to refresh the taste buds and prepare the palate for the next dish. It’s usually a light sorbet. Here’s a picture of the palate cleanser served by Etihad on two different occasions both in first class. The contrast highlights how much the attentiveness of the flight attendants can impact the presentation, making the same item feel either delightful or uninspiring.