It costs an awful lot to travel first class – a return trip from Sydney to London in November with Qantas was priced at more than $19,000 per person at the time of writing, compared with about $2000 in economy; from Sydney to Los Angeles it’s a whopping $26,000 compared with $1300. Even if you have cash to splash (or are able to use points), you may be wondering whether it’s really worth it. Turn left upon entering the cabin and there are certainly plenty of luxuries to enjoy.
Some airlines offer prestige champagne on selected routes (normally priced at upwards of $250 per bottle) and some even have showers onboard. Meanwhile, specially designed amenities come from the world’s best brands, from Elemis to Diptyque. Below, we look at what the amenities, menus and other special touches look like in the highest cabin class on eight major airlines.
Beauty director Sonia Haria gives her insight into the labels inside their amenity kits while food editor Amy Bryant assesses their sample menus (though bear in mind these can vary on different routes and at different times of the year). If anything justifies the extortionate cost of flying in first, it’s the long slog between London and Sydney. Although not the most showy of services, Qantas’s premium offering is reliably good – with one of the comfiest beds in the air.
The amenities This kit is minimal compared with some of the others. “This Australian mother-and-daughter founded brand LaGaia UNEDITED has a strong focu.