Air travel today stirs a mix of emotions: excitement, anticipation, uncertainty and sometimes anxiety. Yet when you return to the skies, the comforts of premium travel — a glass of Champagne, plush slippers and attentive service at 35,000 feet — can help wash away the strangeness of the last year and a half, at least for the length of a long-haul flight. While some carriers have delayed cabin refreshes, many airlines have introduced meaningful upgrades in first and business class. Features like privacy screens, sliding suite doors and more personal space not only enhance luxury but also support social distancing. Below are recent and upcoming premium-cabin amenities and updates, from refreshed seat layouts and décor to Michelin-inspired menus and elevated amenity kits.
EMIRATES
Emirates recently unveiled its latest Airbus A380 interior, which includes 14 slightly wider first-class private suites with taller doors and refreshed cabin finishes. New design touches feature Ghaf tree motifs, a champagne color palette, wood paneling and bronze accents. The A380’s onboard lounge has been refreshed, and the business-class cabin — with 76 seats on this model — now showcases champagne-colored leather and wood finishes inspired by executive jets. Emirates has reopened several premium lounges, including first- and business-class facilities at LAX and a dedicated First Class Lounge at Dubai International’s Concourse B, and plans to bring more lounges back into service as travel resumes.
PHOTO: © AIR FRANCE
AIR FRANCE
Between July and October 2021, passengers traveling in La Première from Charles de Gaulle enjoyed a rotating, curated menu created by triple Michelin-starred chef Arnaud Donckele in collaboration with Servair’s Culinary Studio. Over the four-month period, the menu features Provence-inspired dishes such as roasted langoustine, smoked burrata ravioli, seared scallops, Jean Giono–style cod, veal cheek confit, grilled lamb fillet and poached poultry in artichoke and basil broth, with appetizers, starters and a selection of mains revealed progressively to highlight seasonal flavors.
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
Singapore Airlines has introduced personal amenity kits in business class for flights of six hours or more. Created with British perfumer Penhaligon’s, the kits contain hand lotion, lip balm and facial mist in a reusable pouch featuring the Quercus scent — a clean, citrusy fragrance designed to suit all passengers. First-class and suite travelers receive luxury amenity kits developed with Lalique and containing premium personal-care items. Singapore Airlines currently operates multiple routes to Singapore from major U.S. gateways and plans to restore additional services as conditions allow.
CATHAY PACIFIC
Cathay Pacific added new Airbus A321neo aircraft to its short-haul fleet and plans to expand to 16 by the end of 2023. These aircraft introduce the airline’s new Regional Business Class Seat: a hard-shell, next-generation recliner that provides a cocoon-like feel. The configuration includes 12 seats with divider screens for privacy and 15.6-inch 4K Ultra-HD personal screens for inflight entertainment, aimed at improving comfort on regional routes.
KOREAN AIR
Korean Air has adapted Prestige (business) Class catering to reduce contact, serving meals in individually packaged formats and lunch boxes. While the Incheon First Class Lounge remained closed at press time, other lounges have continued to offer boxed lunch services with Western and Asian options. Korean Air’s ongoing integration of Asiana Airlines is expected to bring further premium-cabin innovations once complete.
QATAR AIRWAYS
Qatar Airways introduced a new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner equipped with 30 Adient Ascent business-class suites in a herringbone 1-2-1 layout. Each suite offers direct aisle access, a sliding door for privacy, wireless charging and a seat that converts into a 79-inch fully flat bed. The airline pairs these suites with an extensive selection of international cuisine, vegan options and amenities from well-known lifestyle brands.
PHOTO: © LUFTHANSA
LUFTHANSA
Lufthansa plans to roll out a new business-class product in 2022. The design features a 1-1-1 layout with a central “throne” seat for maximum privacy and personal space. Side-by-side seats are angled away from one another, and a privacy screen can be lowered for passengers traveling together. Seats will lie flat and include headrests supportive for side sleepers, increased storage, adjustable shelves, tablet controls for entertainment, lighting and ventilation, and wireless charging. A stylish in-flight bar will offer Champagne and other beverages.
BRITISH AIRWAYS
British Airways unveiled new first-class cabins on its Boeing 777-300 fleet as part of its centenary updates. These cabins mirror the look of BA’s newer 787 interiors and add a sliding door to create private suites. Passengers receive designer loungewear and bespoke amenity bags featuring products from premium skincare brands. As onboard service returns to plated dining from boxed meals, BA plans menus focused on fresh, seasonal ingredients served on fine tableware.
DELTA AIR LINES
Delta will begin receiving Airbus A321neo aircraft in the first half of 2022, each featuring 20 first-class seats and Delta’s new first-class design. The updated seats emphasize privacy, a larger and sturdier tray table with 25 percent more surface area, a fixed headrest for improved sleep, enhanced memory-foam cushions and significantly more stowage space including dedicated laptop and water-bottle compartments.
PHOTO : © UNITED
UNITED AIRLINES
United completed the Polaris business-class retrofit across all international Boeing 777-200s, standardizing the luxurious Polaris pods on those aircraft. Retrofit work continues across other types, including the 767 and 787 families. United has also been working to reopen Polaris lounges, though some new-lounge plans were delayed by the pandemic. The Polaris product emphasizes privacy, improved bedding, elevated dining and refreshed lounge access for long-haul travelers.