Blog 57: New Debuts in flight. The End of First Class? Qantas, United, Air Canada
Welcome back to Brooke In The Air! This week we're covering the evolution of modern flight and the end of first class in the Western Hemisphere.
Air Canada, United Airlines, and Qantas are all current examples of airlines that have all largely eliminated their true first class. Qantas is reserving their best, exclusive, last, (and undoubtedly most expensive) true First Class for their Project Sunrise, set to debut in 2025 with Long-haul flights from Sydney to New York, and Sydney to London.
Air Canada Signature-class Cabin
Air Canada has replaced all First Class seats with a combination of business and first class, embodied in their AC Signature class with two varieties of service; transcontinental and international Signature class.
As Air Canada’s own website puts it: Air Canada Signature Service is Air Canada’s end-to-end premium travel experience featuring the Air Canada Signature Class cabin, formerly known as International Business Class. It is offered exclusively when flying to and from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and South America on board our mainline Boeing 787, 777 and our Airbus A330 aircraft.
Air Canada Signature Service ensures a seamless airport experience with dedicated check-in counters, expedited security clearance, lounge access, exclusive boarding lanes, priority baggage handling and more. On board, Air Canada Signature Class customers are treated to exclusive service and amenities.
AC Cabin’s include: Executive (Boeing 777-300ER and Boeing 787 Dreamliner) or Classic Pods (Airbus A330-300 aircraft), with lumbar support and massage function, which convert to a fully flat bed: up to 203.2 cm (6' 7") long, and a sanitized and clean pillow, duvet and mattress pad packaged together, and a stylish amenity kit.
Priority Services include:
Best of Business
When you depart from Toronto Pearson International Airport on a domestic or international flight in Air Canada Signature Class, you’ll enjoy a full-service check-in space featuring comfortable seating and dedicated self-service check-in kiosks.
Priority Check-In
Dedicated Priority Check-In counters for accelerated services are available at all airports. Air Canada Signature Class passengers departing from a Canadian airport receive personalized check-in service from Air Canada’s team of specially trained Premium Agents.
Security
Speed through security via exclusive access lanes at specialized security screening points
Boarding
Board first or at your leisure with dedicated Zone 1 lanes available at most gates.
Immigration & Baggage Handling
Fast-track through immigration with our dedicated lanes at select airports. Your bags will be marked with priority tags so they’re first on the carousel when you arrive at your destination.
Concierge Service
Air Canada’s industry-leading concierges are there to help with check-in assistance inside our exclusive concierge offices at our Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver airports. Our concierges can also assist with at-risk connections if you are connecting between two Air Canada Signature Class flights.
Signature Suites
Located at Toronto-Pearson International Airport and Vancouver International Airport, our two luxury suites feature complimentary à la carte dining with dishes created by Air Canada’s award-winning chef, David Hawksworth, a bar menu that includes Moët & Chandon champagne and cocktails featuring Diageo spirits, personalized concierge service and Molton Brown care products.
Maple Leaf Lounges
The Maple Leaf Lounges are located in 16 airports across Canada, the United States and Europe. They feature complimentary Wi-Fi, a selection of digital and print newspapers and magazines, complimentary food and beverage options including newly created dishes by Chef David Hawksworth served at live cooking stations.
United Airlines’ Polaris Class
American Airlines’ Flagship First (top) and American Airlines’ Business Class (bottom)
Polaris class amenities and blanket by Saks Fifth Avenue
United Airlines rolled out the conceptual design of their Polaris class first then have been perfecting their Polaris ever since. In United's own words, “The Polaris seat converts into a 6' 6" flatbed, and boasts multiple storage areas, mood lighting, multiple charging ports, lumbar support, and improved dining and amenity services. Polaris seats can be found on all Boeing 767s, Boeing 777-300ERs, and Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and internationally configured Boeing 777-200ERs. On these aircraft, the cabins are configured to provide aisle access to every passenger, with 767s featuring a 1-1-1 seat configuration while 777s and 787s have a 1-2-1 seat configuration. Boeing 757-200s feature United's older BusinessFirst seats (which United inherited from Continental) with Polaris branding, with a 2-2 seat configuration. Polaris passengers check in at separate counters and can use priority security screening where available. In-flight services include pre-departure beverages, table linens and multi-course meals designed in partnership with Charlie Trotter-affiliated chefs via the airline's partnership with the Trotter Project. Passengers are also given priority with boarding and baggage handling and access to the United Polaris Lounge where available, as well as the United Club and partner airline lounges. All Polaris Business seats recline 180 degrees into a full flatbed, all seats face forward.”
Qantas’ Project Sunrise’ Airbus A350-1000 First Class Suite.
Photo courtesy Qantas Airways.
True first class is on its way out. No more evident is this the case than in North America. Even what is considered today as the last true first class in the United States, American Airlines’ Flagship First, is being discontinued and will be completely pulled from service by 2025.
Early concept of Delta’s Delta One Suites, now updated
Qantas, Australia’s flag carrier, is obviously not in the Americas, but represents one of the world’s dwindling few true first class cabins and experiences. The Project Sunrise flights - flights from Sydney to London - Heathrow, in the United Kingdom and New York City — JFK, in the United States, once they begin in 2025, will represent a new era in true first class luxury, debuting only on the Airbus’ brand new A350-1000. Official photo imagery from Qantas is below.
Delta Airlines in the United States, based in Atlanta, Georgia, has already followed United Airlines in doing away with a true First Class as of 2016. Delta First (how Delta brands their first class on domestic flights now) exists on domestic flights only and true first class has been replaced by Delta One Suites, arguably redesigned to compete with United Airlines' Polaris class cabin.
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