Super-Business Classes are the new trend: the airlines that have them on board and how much more they cost

For now it is a trend, as was Premium Economy on long-haul flights a decade ago. And who knows if, like PE, it will turn from a trend into a 'must'.

We are talking about the fact that More and more airlines are offering in the front row of their business class cabin a superior product in terms of comfort, personal space, IFE and privacy. A product in some cases so 'top' that it looks more like a First than a Business Class.

There are several carriers that, today, offer this kind of 'super business class' On their long-haul flights. And others who are about to do so. From this list we have intentionally excluded the Qatar Airways' QSuite, the world's best business class, simply because they are all special seats, not just the first row.

Lufthansa Allegris

 

The best known, because it is the one that has been most talked about. (and that also the Barbone Matteo Rainisio recently tested), is the one offered by Lufthansa in its new Allegris cabin, where the seats in rows 2 and 8 are named Business Suite and offer a sliding door and higher dividers for more privacy and a 24-inch IFE screen, instead of 21 inches as in all other cab seats, as well as more leg and foot room when the seat is in the horizontal position.

Pre-selecting one of the Business Suites at the time of booking costs up to 600 euros one way (in addition to the ticket price, of course). But if the seat is requested when you check in at the airport (and if it is available), as 'Barbone' did, you pay nothing.

jetBlue Mint Studio

However, the company that introduced this 'plus' product concept was the American Jetblue, who when he started transatlantic flights with Airbus A321LRs. launched a new concept of Mint Class in 1-1 configuration which includes in the first row two Mint Studio which offer much more personal space, a window-side table on which one can work, a locker for clothes and personal items, a mirror, and a 22-inch IFE screen, which is five more than the individual screens found in other places. Reserving a Studio at the time of booking costs $299 each way.

Condor Prime Seat

Re-crossing the Atlantic and Back in Germany, even Condor offers special treatment to those who occupy the first four front seats of its premium cabin On its 18 Airbus A330-900s: called them Prime Seats because they offer much more individual space and a 23.6-inch screen instead of a 17.3-inch screen. However, while the product offers more privacy with a partition separating the seat from the aisle, it does not include a sliding door.

Choosing a Prime seat at the time of booking costs 499.99 euros one way.

Air France

Instead, they have a door and leg and foot space that is double that available in other suites, rows 1 and 9 (on Boeing 777-300ERs) and rows 1 and 10 (on A350-900s) of the Air France's new Business Class, available exclusively on some of the French carrier's Triple Seven and A350s.

However, the size of the IFE screen is the same as in other seats: 17.3 inches on the 777s and 20 inches on the A350s. Pre-selecting extra-space suites at the time of booking costs 199 euros one way, unless you have Flying Blue status. If, on the other hand, you find them available when you check in online, you spend nothing.

Virgin Atlantic The Retreat

A real treat are the environments that Virgin Atlantic created on board its eight Airbus A330-900s. Christened The Retreat, these are the two middle suites in row 1 (seats 1D and 1G) that offer more individual space, a seat that in the horizontal position is 10cm longer than the others, an ottoman that can be used as a guest chair, and an IFE screen that is a full 10 inches larger than the others (27 inches versus 17.3).

Reserving a seat in The Retreat when booking your flight costs 294 euros one way. Instead, using The Loft, the social space on board every VS wide-body aircraft, is free for all business class passengers.

ITA Airways A321neo

Coming to our house, the seven ITA Airways' Airbus A321neo confirm that they are really special aircraft (the only ones around to offer three classes of service) thanks also to the two seats in row 1, called Extra Space, which provide more personal space than the others, and are pre-selectable at the time of booking by paying 109 euros one way.

These are the ones flying today, but as mentioned many more are on the way. The list is really long, and we are certainly forgetting a couple of them, but here are the ones that will soon arrive in our skies.

Etihad A321lr

This product is very important for EY and for us Italians since it will begin flying to Milan by fall, one rotation per day will be made with this very machine that will be "very" similar to ITA Airways', but the first seat (identical) to ITA's will be offered as "first class." Those who choose to travel in one of these two seats will in fact have first-class service, a worldwide uniqueness on a narrow-body aircraft.

United Polaris Business Suite

Re-crossing the Atlantic, United Airlines offers sui in its new Polaris business class introduced in May eight Polaris Business Studio, four at the head of each of the two cabins, offering a seat for a companion, plus legroom and storage space, plus a 27-inch IFE screen that is the largest mounted in any class among U.S. airlines.

American Airlines Flagship Suites Preferred

Instead, American Airlines has provided in its new Flagship Business recently introduced more individual and foot and leg space in the ones he called Flagship Suites Preferred (places 1A and 1L, 2D and 2H, 10D, 10H, 10L and 11A), which are located in the first rows of the two premium cabins on some 787-9s. There is an additional charge for booking the Flagship Suites Preferred.

Riyadh Air Business Elite

There is Riyadh Air, which when. has finally shown the cabins of its 787-9 last April also unveiled a Business Elite that will occupy the first row of the premium cabin, which will feature sliding doors and 132-centimeter-high walls, a 22-inch (57cm) wide seat and a giant 32-inch IFE screen. The center suite will include a room divider for maximum privacy or, for those traveling as a couple, the ability to make up the bed as if it were a double (as well as to dine together, side by side). It is not known at this time at what price (or at what premium over the other Business seats) the four Business Elite seats will be able to be reserved.

Air New Zealand Business Premiere Luxe

Moving outside North America and Europe, Air New Zealand is remedying thatBusiness Class obbrobrio that he mounted on his 787-9s. for a decade or so by introducing On his Dreamliners what he called Business Premiere, in which the first four seats in the first row are designated as Business Premiere Luxe.

These are four suites with sliding doors that accommodate an ottoman that offers the possibility of dining together with a traveling companion or companion. The dimensions of the seat, bed, and IFE screen, however, are the same as the Business Premiere seats. On long-haul flights, pre-selecting Premiere Luxe costs US$487, and on medium-haul flights (such as those to Australia) US$148.

Swiss Senses Suite

This is what, for the time being, on the 'super' business classes available to passengers around the world. But two new entries are on the launch pad: This is the Swiss Senses cabin of the Swiss carrier. Which is expected to debut (a matter of weeks) on the A350 and A330-300 (and will later be introduced on Boeing 777-300s as well, and which is Swiss's version of Lufthansa's Allegris, as far as space and suites located in the first row of Business class. It is likely that Swiss, like Lufthansa, will also introduce high surcharges in order to reserve the four front suites at the time of booking.

The former "first class"

Then there are many former first-class seats that have been downgraded to business, the seating is that of first class, but the in-flight service, on the other hand, is the same as business or almost the same. Several carriers have made this choice-Asiana on A380s, Oman Air on its entire fleet. Generally the name used is Business Plus.

China Eastern's Business Plus, which forms the first row of the premium cabin on A350-900s (which From next June 20, they will fly from Shanghai to Milan Malpensa.), shares with the remaining 36 Business seats its considerable seat width (23 inches, or 59cm) and sliding door, to which it adds much more personal and leg and foot room, a locker for personal items, a minibar, and a gigantic 32-inch IFE screen (versus 23 inches in the other seats). On the flight between Milan and Shanghai, the price difference between Business and Plus seats is about 300 euros one way.