Best First Class Airlines: 2025 Skytrax Ranking
True first class — a cabin above business with private suites, separate beds, multi-course tasting menus, and dedicated ground service — now exists on only about a dozen airlines worldwide. According to Skytrax's 2025 World Airline Awards, Singapore Airlines Suites took the World's Best First Class title for the third year running. Most US carriers (United, American, Delta) eliminated international first class around 2017–2018 in favor of upgraded business class products. The cabin survives mostly on A380s, 747-8s, 777-300ERs, and the new A350-1000, where the economics of premium routes and award redemption value still justify the dedicated space.
Top 3 First Class Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Enclosed suite with separate bed and leather chair, sliding doors
SIN-LHR, SIN-JFK (via FRA), SIN-SYD, SIN-HKG
Emirates
Fully enclosed suite with floor-to-ceiling doors, virtual windows on 777
DXB-JFK, DXB-LHR, DXB-LAX, DXB-SYD, DXB-SIN
Air France
Suite with separate bed, curtain enclosure, dedicated CDG lounge and limo transfer
CDG-JFK, CDG-LAX, CDG-SFO, CDG-NRT, CDG-SIN
Full Skytrax 2025 First Class Ranking
| # | Airline | Cabin product | Seat type | Key routes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singapore Airlines | Suites (A380) | Enclosed suite with separate bed and leather chair, sliding doors | SIN-LHR, SIN-JFK (via FRA), SIN-SYD, SIN-HKG |
| 2 | Emirates | First Class Suite (A380 / 777) | Fully enclosed suite with floor-to-ceiling doors, virtual windows on 777 | DXB-JFK, DXB-LHR, DXB-LAX, DXB-SYD, DXB-SIN |
| 3 | Air France | La Première (777-300ER) | Suite with separate bed, curtain enclosure, dedicated CDG lounge and limo transfer | CDG-JFK, CDG-LAX, CDG-SFO, CDG-NRT, CDG-SIN |
| 4 | Cathay Pacific | First Class (777-300ER) | Open suite, 36-inch wide leather seat with ottoman, no door | HKG-JFK, HKG-LHR, HKG-LAX, HKG-SFO |
| 5 | Lufthansa | First Class (747-8 / A380) | Open suite with separate bed, dedicated First Class Terminal at FRA | FRA-JFK, FRA-LAX, FRA-SFO, FRA-HND, MUC-ORD |
| 6 | ANA All Nippon Airways | The Suite (777-300ER) | Enclosed suite with sliding door, 4K monitor, debuted 2019 | HND-JFK, HND-LHR, NRT-IAD, HND-FRA |
| 7 | Japan Airlines | First Class (777-300ER, A350-1000) | Suite with sliding doors on A350-1000; older 777 first class is open suite | HND-JFK, HND-LHR, NRT-LAX, HND-DFW |
| 8 | Swiss International Air Lines | First Class (777-300ER) | Open suite with sliding privacy panel, separate bed in select configurations | ZRH-JFK, ZRH-LAX, ZRH-NRT, ZRH-SIN |
| 9 | Qatar Airways | First Class (A380 only) | Open suite, 90-inch lie-flat bed, onboard lounge and shower (A380) | DOH-LHR, DOH-CDG, DOH-BKK, DOH-PER (A380 routes only) |
| 10 | British Airways | First (777, 787-9, A380) | Open suite with privacy screen, no door, undergoing 2025-26 refresh | LHR-JFK, LHR-LAX, LHR-SFO, LHR-HND, LHR-DXB |
| 11 | Qantas | First (A380 only) | Open suite with ottoman, separate bed mode, refreshed 2019 | SYD-LHR (via SIN), SYD-LAX, MEL-LAX, SYD-DFW |
| 12 | Etihad Airways | First Apartment / The Residence (A380) | Apartment with separate bed and chair; The Residence is a 3-room private cabin | AUH-JFK, AUH-LHR (A380 routes only after 2024 A380 return) |
Enclosed suite with separate bed and leather chair, sliding doors
SIN-LHR, SIN-JFK (via FRA), SIN-SYD, SIN-HKG
Fully enclosed suite with floor-to-ceiling doors, virtual windows on 777
DXB-JFK, DXB-LHR, DXB-LAX, DXB-SYD, DXB-SIN
Suite with separate bed, curtain enclosure, dedicated CDG lounge and limo transfer
CDG-JFK, CDG-LAX, CDG-SFO, CDG-NRT, CDG-SIN
Open suite, 36-inch wide leather seat with ottoman, no door
HKG-JFK, HKG-LHR, HKG-LAX, HKG-SFO
Open suite with separate bed, dedicated First Class Terminal at FRA
FRA-JFK, FRA-LAX, FRA-SFO, FRA-HND, MUC-ORD
Enclosed suite with sliding door, 4K monitor, debuted 2019
HND-JFK, HND-LHR, NRT-IAD, HND-FRA
Suite with sliding doors on A350-1000; older 777 first class is open suite
HND-JFK, HND-LHR, NRT-LAX, HND-DFW
Open suite with sliding privacy panel, separate bed in select configurations
ZRH-JFK, ZRH-LAX, ZRH-NRT, ZRH-SIN
Open suite, 90-inch lie-flat bed, onboard lounge and shower (A380)
DOH-LHR, DOH-CDG, DOH-BKK, DOH-PER (A380 routes only)
Open suite with privacy screen, no door, undergoing 2025-26 refresh
LHR-JFK, LHR-LAX, LHR-SFO, LHR-HND, LHR-DXB
Open suite with ottoman, separate bed mode, refreshed 2019
SYD-LHR (via SIN), SYD-LAX, MEL-LAX, SYD-DFW
Apartment with separate bed and chair; The Residence is a 3-room private cabin
AUH-JFK, AUH-LHR (A380 routes only after 2024 A380 return)
Which airlines still have first class?
Most major US legacy carriers eliminated international first class between 2017 and 2018 — the math no longer worked once lie-flat business class became standard. Today, true first class is concentrated in Asia, the Middle East, and a handful of European flag carriers, mostly on A380s and 747-8s nearing retirement.
Suites on A380 only. New 2017 product on retrofitted A380s.
A380 First Class Suite and 777 Game Changer suites with virtual windows.
La Première on 777-300ER only — limited routes.
First Class only on 777-300ER long-haul; not all 777s have it.
747-8 and A380 only. New Allegris first class suite rolling out on A350-1000 from 2025.
The Suite on 777-300ER long-haul fleet.
Long-haul 777 and A350-1000 only; A350 has new doored suite.
777-300ER only; A330 and A340 are business class only.
A380 only — Qsuite business class is the flagship product on 777/350.
A380, 777-300ER, 787-9, 787-10. New First product launching 2026 on A350.
A380 only. Project Sunrise A350-1000 will introduce a new first-class suite from 2026.
A380 only after 2024 A380 reactivation. The Residence is sold as 3-room private cabin.
Phasing out first class on most aircraft; remaining only on select A380 / 747-8 routes.
First class on 777-300ER only — CGK-AMS and select Asia routes.
First class suites on 777 and A330 long-haul.
Dropped international first class in 2017. Polaris business is now top product.
Eliminated international first class in 2017-18. Flagship Suites is business class.
Has not offered international first class on long-haul in modern era. Delta One is business.
No international first class. Signature Class is business.
No first class — long-haul tops out at World Business Class.
Never offered first class. Upper Class is business.
First class vs business class: the gap is shrinking
Modern flagship business class — Qatar Qsuite, Delta One Suites, ANA The Room, JAL Sky Suite, BA Club Suite, Lufthansa Allegris — now offer privacy doors, fully flat beds, and direct aisle access. For most passengers, the experience now rivals what first class was a decade ago.
What true first class still gets you in 2025:
- A separate bed and seat — Singapore Suites, Etihad Apartment, Emirates First, Lufthansa First all feature a distinct sleeping surface plus a dining/working chair.
- Dedicated ground service — Lufthansa's First Class Terminal at FRA, Air France La Première's car transfer at CDG, Emirates' chauffeur service in Dubai.
- Caviar service and à la carte dining — multi-course tasting menus on demand vs. business class's set menu.
- Onboard amenities — Emirates A380 shower spa, Etihad The Residence's 3-room private cabin, Singapore Suites' double-bed configuration on A380.
- Award redemption value — first class is often where points programs deliver outsized value (50–80¢ per mile vs. 1.5–2¢ for cash).
Where to fly first class in 2025
- Emirates A380 — DXB to JFK, LHR, LAX, SYD, SIN. Flagship product with shower spa and onboard lounge.
- Singapore Suites A380 — SIN to LHR, JFK (via FRA), SYD, HKG. Most awarded first class product.
- Lufthansa 747-8 — FRA to JFK, LAX, SFO, HND. Pairs with the FRA First Class Terminal.
- Air France La Première — CDG to JFK, LAX, SFO, NRT, SIN. Tiny cabin (4 suites) with white-glove service.
- ANA The Suite — HND to JFK, LHR, FRA. Newest doored suite product, debuted 2019.
- Qatar Airways A380 — DOH to LHR, CDG, BKK, PER. Note: Qatar's flagship is Qsuite (business) on 777/350; A380s are being phased out.
Source & citation
Rankings sourced from Skytrax World Airline Awards — World's Best First Class Airlines 2025. The Skytrax World Airline Awards are determined by a global passenger satisfaction survey conducted across more than 100 nationalities, with results published annually at the Paris Air Show. Cabin product details, route lists, and fleet notes are based on publicly disclosed schedules and configurations as of 2025 and may change as carriers retire or refresh aircraft.
Don't need first class?
Modern flagship business class often matches first from a decade ago — see the top business class products.