I’m in the process of writing up a trip report on Flyer Talk which includes a flight where I was the only passenger in first class.  It is an odd experience flying solo in first which I’ve written about before.  Thinking about it, I’ve had rather a lot of longhaul and mediumhaul flights as solo first class passenger over the years.

Emirates – Seychelles

Singapore – Auckland, Bangkok, Melbourne, Tokyo

Thai – Auckland, Sydney

Turkish - Bangkok 

On some of the above routes I was the only passenger in first class more than once.  There are plenty of other flights where I’ve been one of two first class passengers.  I suspect the type of fares and awards I book mean I have a greater than average chance of being solo first class passenger.  At least I hope so, otherwise first class is at risk of being dropped by more airlines in future.

What have been your great flights?

With the planned changes to 747 first class seating (from 16 to 8 seats) next year, Lufthansa has recently zeroed out inventory for awards and upgrades in their first class on 747 flights, starting from April 2011.

I’m kicking myself that I hadn’t finished cashing in my miles ahead of the Miles and More devaluation at the end of the year, figuring I still had a couple of weeks to lock in awards at the old mileage levels.

Emirates have long had a fantastic deal on trans-Tasman flights (between Australia and New Zealand) in first or business class, in that limo airport transfers at both ends were included.

For a trip between Auckland and Melbourne (say) that could easily be worth $200+ round-trip in saved taxi fares and account for most of the difference between an economy fare and a business class fare.  At least when business class is on sale, which it often is on these routes.

The included airport transfer even applied to upgraded economy tickets. Great for when Emirates Skywards had promotions to upgrade for 1 mile.

Now, however, the rules have been changed. For Emirates passengers flying only between Australia and New Zealand business class does not include limo airport transfer. First class still does. Longhaul passengers in first and business will also keep the airport transfer.

Since I don’t credit to United Mileage Plus and try to avoid flying United as much as possible, I hadn’t paid a lot of attention to the elite upgrade changes this year on United. These are now processed automatically in advance for top elite status, subject to availability.

Last week I had a need to make a last minute change of flights due to a horrid schedule change (forcing an illegal connection). Since I would only know if I could make the earlier flight an hour or less from departure (dependent on my previous flight on a separate ticket arriving on time, and not being held up at immigration and customs), and I was flying on a busy route, I half expected to not be able to switch flights and be forced to cancel.

As this was a QUP fare (discounted economy fare that books into first class at time of purchase subject to availability) for a little mileage run, I wasn’t too fussed if I had to cancel.

Nonetheless when I reached check in, at 50 minutes to departure of the earlier flight, it was no problem switching flights. The reason – since the flight is a prime business route (Los Angeles to San Francisco), United had stopped the elite automatic upgrade process in the hopes of selling last minute first class fares. Fat chance – at the gate I saw the available first class seats at 8 until about 5 minutes before boarding when it rapidly dropped to zero.

If United had processed the upgrades at the 72 hour window as advertised, there would have been no seats available for me (and economy was oversold so I couldn’t have downgraded either).  United stinginess meant I could complete the little mileage run.

My report on the royal treatment flying alone in Thai first class is now up on Flyer Talk.  The report on flying alone in Turkish first class a day prior is in the same report.

I mentioned a couple of days ago I’ve just had 2 longhaul flights in first class where I was the only passenger.  The report of the royal and not so royal treatment I received on the first of these flights, with Turkish Airlines, is now posted in my Flyer Talk trip report.

A few times I’ve been the only first class passenger on a longhaul flight.  It is fairly rare, at least on airlines with great first class longhaul products.   It is like being in your own private jet with extremely attentive service, embarassingly so. Each time it happens I feel surreal and disconnected, as if it cannot be real.

The last few days I’ve had 2 more longhaul flights on 2 different airlines where I’ve been the only first class passenger (and a third first class longhaul flight with few passengers). I’m still travelling but I will write up about the fantastic experiences soon.  For those interested, I’ve started a trip report on Flyer Talk.

Qantas has advised of planned configuration changes to A380 and 747 aircraft between late 2011 and late 2013. Currently all their A380 and 747 aircraft have 4 cabins (first, business, premium economy and economy), except for 7 747 aircraft with 2 classes of service. There are 3 different 747 configurations. Ultimately there will be 2 A380 configurations and 1 747 configuration.

Some A380 to keep first class, some configured with 3 class seating

The existing 6 A380, plus the next 6 to be delivered, will continue to have all four classes of service. However there will be less business class seats and more premium economy and economy class seats. Exact configuration is yet to be disclosed.  These 12 aircraft will operate exclusively on the following routes:

• Sydney to Los Angeles
• Melbourne to Los Angeles
• Sydney to London Heathrow via Singapore
• Melbourne to London Heathrow via Singapore

The extra 8 A380 will have no first class cabin. The new seating configuration is yet to be disclosed.

All 747s to be 3 class

The current fleet will eventually be reduced to 9 aircraft, all of which will have no first class cabin.

Other changes include a switch to the new version of business class seats (same as those already installed on A380) to be fully lie flat instead of the current flat on an angle, upgrade to inflight entertainment system (presumably to the same software as is on the A380), and changes in the number of seats. There will be a reduction of 8 business class seats, an extra 4 premium economy seats, and an extra 78 economy class seats.  The changes in seat numbers are all relative to the current 747-400ER seating configuration since these are 6 of the 9 aircraft which will remain in the fleet.

Routes that lose Qantas first class service

The following routes either currently have first class service and will lose it some time in 2011, 2012 or 2013; or used to have first class but with a current suspension:

• Sydney to London Heathrow via Bangkok
• Melbourne to London Heathrow via Hong Kong
• Sydney to Buenos Aires
• Sydney to Hong Kong
• Sydney to Johannesburg
• Sydney to New York via Los Angeles
• Sydney to San Francisco

Significant reduction in premium seating

Premium cabin (first and business class) awards and points upgrades on Qantas flights will be tougher. Operational upgrades should also be less likely.

The changes will see the end of the current practice whereby on certain routes seating is in a higher cabin but with the service for the cabin you pay for.  Eg some passengers seated in premium economy seats with economy service, others seated in business class seats with premium economy service, and others seated in first class seats with business class service.

Positive aspects

The news is not all bad for frequent flyers.

Business class will be lie flat on 747.  IFE improvements are always welcome. More premium economy and economy class seats means potentially better fares and more sales to keep them filled.

There may be some opportunities during the transition period to improve your seating, at least if you have Oneworld elite status. This is because first class will have to be discontinued for sale ahead of when the seats are removed in order to avoid costly disappointment for passengers paying many thousands of dollars for first class travel.

ANA is adding suites to their first class lounges at Tokyo Narita. Yes, you read that right – suites on the ground.

It isn’t a new idea. Royal Jordanian Airlines already has similar suites in their Crown lounge at Amman. Lufthansa does even better for those flying in first class with long transfers, by providing a lovely day room at the Kempinski Hotel.

Hat tip to About Airport Parking.