Photo: Shutterstock Luxury cabins reach new heights
The Airbus A321XLR is one of the most talked-about aircraft in aviation this year, and for good reason. It is a long-range narrow-body jet capable of flying nearly 9,000 kilometers, more than 2,000 kilometers farther than the previous model. As it enters service and gains popularity, airlines are realizing that premium cabins are no longer reserved only for wide-body aircraft.
As competition intensifies across both narrow-body and wide-body fleets, premium cabins are becoming more innovative, more technologically advanced and increasingly indulgent. Airlines are constantly searching for the next standout feature to attract wealthy travelers. Here are some of the most luxurious cabins currently in the skies, along with several innovations that may arrive in the near future.
One of the world’s most pampering premium products, and for years among the most talked-about luxury business-class experiences, is offered by Emirates. On its Airbus A380 aircraft, two features have long defined the cabin: the shower room available to premium passengers and the airline’s iconic curved onboard bar. These are complemented by a special edition of Dom Pérignon champagne priced at 2,400 ILS (approximately $650), premium-quality pajamas, luxury amenity kits waiting at each seat and, of course, a fully flat bed.
According to various international media reports, the airline is now considering its next move: installing private showers, rather than the shared shower currently available, in several enclosed rooms that would likely serve first-class passengers only. The price, naturally, would be just as lofty.
Photo: ShutterstockDespite its strong reputation, Lufthansa was not especially known for the quality of its premium cabins for many years. That has changed recently with the launch of its new Allegris premium product.
Installed on wide-body aircraft, including the 787 and A350, the cabin includes private suites with beds measuring 2.2 meters long, heated and cooled seats, floor-to-ceiling walls, a lockable door, a large screen and wireless headphones for every passenger. Travelers also get a personal wardrobe, ambient lighting and the option of a double-travel setup.
Photo: LufthansaAs noted above, more and more airlines are introducing premium cabins on narrow-body aircraft used for long-haul routes. One of them is Etihad, which operates business class and even first class on some of its narrow-body aircraft.
In the airline’s premium cabins, passengers will find the elegance of a boutique hotel, with full privacy and especially meticulous design. On some aircraft, a sliding door creates the feel of a private suite. On the culinary side, menus include internationally inspired gourmet dishes, served whenever the passenger chooses. Etihad also offers showers in the sky, as Emirates does, though these are available only on the airline’s giant A380 aircraft.
Photo: ShutterstockWhen it comes to elegance in premium travel, Air France is part of the conversation. On the airline’s Boeing 777 aircraft, including those used on flights to Israel, passengers can find La Première. It is no longer just a first-class cabin but a private suite considered one of the finest products in the world, with a cushioned seat, a lounge chair that converts into a fully flat 2-meter bed and complete privacy thanks to floor-to-ceiling curtains.
On the entertainment and technology side, passengers enjoy 32-inch screens, USB connections, wireless charging and free high-speed internet. But the highlight is, naturally, the food. The airline serves full luxury meals designed by Michelin-starred chefs.
Photo: Air FranceUnited’s business-class product, Polaris, places special emphasis on helping premium passengers sleep well. While there is still a certain gap between this product and the luxury cabins offered by airlines from the Persian Gulf, the seats here also convert into fully flat beds.
The standout feature is the premium Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, including blankets and pillows more commonly found in hotels. The cabin also offers direct aisle access for every passenger, added privacy and a large personal screen with an upgraded entertainment system.
Photo: ShutterstockYes, that is not a mistake. Wizz Air did not end up in this article by accident. This year, the company is launching Wizz Class, the first business-class product on a low-cost airline, which is expected to reach some routes to Israel at a later stage. This is not the same level of luxury or lie-flat comfort seen at other airlines, but the company promises more comfortable seating, with the middle seat left empty in the European business-class model, as well as complimentary food and drinks unlike the standard passenger offering.
As onboard internet is introduced across the airline’s flights, it is also expected to be offered free of charge to passengers in this cabin. Ground services will be upgraded as well, with priority service for passengers, though lounge access is still not guaranteed.
Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: ShutterstockPremium cabins in the air are comfortable and indulgent, but the experience does not begin and end with the flight itself. First-class passengers now enjoy chauffeur service in luxury vehicles right up to the aircraft stairs, as seen for example with Air France, and lavish pre-flight meals in lounge restaurants, such as Lufthansa’s First Class Lounge. Lounges may also include massages, showers, spa treatments and office services. All this comes in addition to upgraded ground handling such as baggage priority and priority boarding. As airlines compete for high-spending travelers, there seems to be no limit to the imagination or investment.
Photo: Courtesy of EL-ALIn Israel as well, business-class cabins have improved over the years. Alongside EL-AL’s familiar business class on its 787 aircraft, the airline’s 777 fleet has also undergone a major transformation, and the business-class cabins now found on those planes are essentially identical to the ones on the Dreamliners. In the cabin, where seats convert into flat beds, passengers are served a menu created by the airline’s chef Assaf Granit, along with an extensive wine and alcoholic beverage list.
Arkia Airlines joined the competition for business travelers last year with the launch of business class on its A330 aircraft to New York and the East. The cabin underwent a significant upgrade with new menus, and this year, for the first time, business class was also introduced on narrow-body A320 aircraft on flights to Paris. Additional destinations are expected later this year.
Photo: Courtesy of Arkia Airlines