LIFESTYLE | TRAVEL
HISTORY OF FIRST CLASS
With just a single cabin , early passenger planes offered only one class of service which was relatively basic . Many airlines began to offer lower fares in the 1940s , but the difference here was often more to do with flight time than quality of service .
Changes to international regulations in the early-1950s signalled the true dawn of the first-class era , which came into being on the New York to London route . Then , in 1955 , TWA introduced a mix of both first and economy seats on its Super Constellation craft .
Having two separate cabins was pretty much the norm by the beginning of the 1960s thanks to new planes like the Boeing 707 , and standards went up a notch with the arrival of the 747 in 1969 . A big focus was on-board lounges , which have largely been sacrificed these days in favour of increased privacy and comfort .
A third , intermediary class came into being in the mid-1970s , and initially drew some criticism before carriers got to grips with pricing , layout and the extent to which service should differ between cabins .
It wasn ’ t until the 1990s that lie-flat seating became commonplace in first class but , since then , the level of comfort and space has only improved . Suites , bars , wash facilities and double beds have continued to enhance the experience .
FOR CERTAIN ROUTES THERE IS ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE BUDGET TO JUSTIFY THE EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE OFFERED IN FIRST CLASS
David Huttner Commercial Aviation Lead ,
PA Consulting