World Traveler

First Class is soon to disappear in airline travel. At least, first class as we know it. MSNBC Travel reports on the latest trends in airline travel:

“Business-class has been upgraded to first-class standards at some airlines, and it’s encroaching on first-class,” says Edward Plaisted, chief executive of Skytrax, a U.K.-based airline and airport quality ranking company that assesses quality of first-class long haul flights. “First-class is at the stage where the section is filled by upgrades and frequent fliers.”

As a result, he predicts that some airlines will eliminate their first-class altogether. Skytrax research shows that around 35 airlines currently provide first-class service globally. This number doesn’t include smaller airlines that may offer first-class on domestic routes. Plaisted estimates that in the next five years, only 20 or 25 airlines will maintain the service.

And the airline travel providers that do keep first class? Well they are expected to become more luxurious. Truly first class airline travel. In the new first class airline travel, it will be more like staying in a hotel, the MSNBC story continues:

Aram Gesar, editor of New York-based AirGuide magazine and AirGuideonline.com, publications for frequent travelers, says “there will be more square footage and more cabin attendants but fewer seats.” What’s more, seats will be more like mini-suites with sliding doors so fliers can be left alone to sleep, dine or hold business meetings. Emirates already offers this for first-class fliers.

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