We take for granted that we can skip across our 50 fine states, but who do you choose to do it with again and again? Are you brand loyal or do you share the love? Are frequent flier points your raison d’être? Airline rankings tend to take into account things like: value for money, ticket flexibility, comfort on board, customer service, baggage allowance (and of course any mishandling of that baggage), flight delays and cancellations, loyalty programs and availability of WiFi but different things are important to different people – consider your criteria. Perhaps you live for a good snack menu, or cannot abide poor punctuality.

The main domestic airlines in the United States (sometimes called the Big Three) are “legacy carriers”, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines – and Delta consistently outperforms the other two. Many travelers seem to see Delta as a safe pair of hands. But let’s have a look at how the others stack up – these are our best domestic airlines right now.

JetBlue

It started its life as one of the low cost airlines though it was never as stripped back as some, always offering free drinks and snacks and a free carry-on. Nowadays, JetBlue serves over 100 airports in the United States, offering a reasonable economy fare whether you’re flying LAX to JFK or making a “short” hop from Miami to Washington DC. The airline is beloved of travelers who eschew being taken for a ride – the economy fare is straightforward, with few frustratingly hidden extras, other than checked bags (but domestic airlines almost never include free checked bags these days). JetBlue also scores highly for cabin features thanks to seatback screens, free WiFi and relatively generous legroom.

Read Next: Best Flight Meals in the Sky: Airlines That Serve Gourmet at 30,000 Feet

Delta Airlines

Why are American travelers so loyal to Delta? It seems to be about consistency. It’s not that Delta wins out in every category, just that Delta is consistently strong. The quality of the in-flight service is high, and (as a result of such extensive coverage – over 200 airports nationwide), the amenities on the ground are impressive, with Sky Clubs for premium cabin passengers at major airports and a dazzling new $4 billion terminal at LaGuardia. Delta is also one of the best domestic airlines for its business class offering, which includes access to Delta One lounges, Missoni amenity kits and a 180-degree flatbed seat.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska knows how to keep its frequent fliers happy and at least part of that is the range of snacks and drinks, which definitely works a little harder than the average. On the menu: Straightaway Nitro Espresso Martinis (made with espresso from Portland-based Stumptown Coffee Roasters), an exclusive Cloud Cruiser IPA from Fremont Brewing (Seattle-based) and wines from WA-based Browne Family Vineyards. These are just some of the markers of what frequent fliers say is a pleasant all-round experience, with friendly staff, reliability and a sense of ease. The Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan has a lot of fans, too and the airline’s range of partners includes the oneworld alliance.

Read Next: The Airlines With the Most Luxurious First Class Bathrooms Have Been Revealed

Tradewind Aviation

Consistently named one of the best domestic airlines by readers of Conde Nast Traveler, Tradewind Aviation is a private and scheduled service in the Northeast, Southeast, and the Caribbean, known for flying to luxury destinations like Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and St. Barths. Tradewind flies out of private air terminals which is helpful for eliminating TSA delays and means passengers don’t need to check in more than 60 minutes before take-off, rather than the traditional two hours. Conde Nast Traveler readers say Tradewind staff are helpful and generous, and that the experience is stress-free.

Hawaiian Airlines

One of the best domestic airlines hands down for being on time (which is almost everything in this game), Hawaiian was unbeatable on punctuality for 18 years but was knocked off the top spot by Delta in 2023. Still, frequent passengers cite reliability as well as an excellent safety record, Hawaiian spirit, n0 change fees, comfy seats, free Wi-Fi and island-themed refreshments (furikake chips, macadamia popcorn, craft beer from Maui Brewing Company), among the reasons they fly Hawaiian Airlines whenever they get the chance. There’s also lie-flat seating in the premium cabin on longer flights.

Southwest Airlines

No longer serving merely its namesake region, Southwest serves over 110 airports across Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as the United States. It’s one of the lower cost airlines and the only one we’re aware of still offering free checked bags. As well as having the most reasonably priced seats in the clouds, Southwest is considered one of the best domestic airlines thanks to its culture of great hospitality, attention to smaller cities, flexible policies and straightforward booking processes.

Read Next: Airplane Etiquette: Your Ultimate Guide

American Airlines

Let’s end on another of the Big Three. American Airlines is the world’s largest airline in terms of fleet size and number of scheduled passengers. The extensive network is a huge boon for frequent fliers, as is the AAdvantage loyalty program, particularly as American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld alliance. American, of course, has all the modcons: comfortable lie-flat business class seats, good in-flight entertainment and spacious seats. American Airlines continues to invest in enhancing its routes, too.

The first class proposition is more complex than it seems. For a while, it seemed that first class would be phased out in favour of more luxurious business classes, but now people want one-of-a-kind travel experiences and there are some really knockout suites in the sky, spaces in which you can actually relax and luxuriate – if you know where to find them. And they just keep getting more impressive. An airline’s first class offering is not even completely consistent, in that it varies from plane to plane, as and when they upgrade their fleet. That said, there are a handful of airlines that just know what they’re doing in this department, and they are the ones we are calling the best first class airlines in the sky.

First, though, a quick Q&A:

Which airline is the most luxurious?

All of the best first class airlines lean deeply into luxury, but they all do it in their own inimitable way – whether it’s their entertainment system, champagne service, leather upholstery, personal minibar, amenity kit or shower spa. All of the airlines below do gourmet dining with aplomb. 

Which airline has the most expensive first class?

The Residence suite on Etihad’s A380 when taken from New York JFK to Abu Dhabi is the most expensive scheduled flight in the world. But Air France’s La Première often works out expensive, too – often charging double its closest competition on the equivalent route.

Which is the best airline for business class?

Business travelers love Qatar’s Qsuite configurations, which are at their roomiest and most modern on their Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s. Regular travelers love the Diptyque amenity kit and the privacy doors that turn seats into suites. The business class seats on Air France’s most recently updated Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s are arranged in a reverse herringbone configuration, making it another roomy but cozy option. 

Related reading: The airlines with the most luxurious first class bathrooms have been revealed

And the million dollar question: how to get upgraded to first class?

This is a blog in itself, but the best way to begin is to join a frequent flyer program and achieve elite status. Plus, it’s always worth asking when you check in. 

World’s best first class airlines in 2025

Singapore Airlines

On Boeing 777s, the first class seats are extra wide and made of luxurious diamond-stitched leather, all the way to the footrest. But it’s inside the suites on their A380s where Singapore Airlines really shines. These are completely private spaces with plump, inviting single or double beds and beautiful leather swivel chairs, plus touchscreen monitors with an enhanced KrisWorld entertainment system and Bang & Olufsen noise-canceling headphones. On all first class flights, Singapore Airlines customers can ‘Book the Cook’, which means choosing your own menu in advance from dishes like lobster thermidor, wagyu steak and the airline’s signature laksa (and then eating it at a dining table with crisp linen and Wedgwood china, of course). 

Related reading: Sky-High Cuisine: Ranking the Best Airlines for Food

Emirates

We love the first class seats on Emirates for pure glamor: the cream leather, the gold control panels, the glossy faux walnut burl paneling, not to mention the flowing Dom Perignon and caviar. First class flights on Emirates always begin with their signature welcome dates with Arabic coffee (in a gold pot) while you look through your super-luxe Bulgari amenity kits and a member of staff books your 30-minute slot in the shower spa. If you’re on one of the nine aircraft featuring the supreme, best-in-class Emirates Game Changer suite, you will dine like royalty, altering your own temperature and lighting as you like, before your zero gravity seat (inspired by NASA) is turned into a ravishing bed. 

Image credit: www.etihad.com

Etihad

The best first class airlines offer a stand-out product, and for Etihad that is The Residence on their A380s, a multi-room suite for one or two people, with a squishy brown leather sofa area, a separate cozy sleeping space and an ensuite bathroom with a shower. The regular Etihad suites are impeccable, too – they are latte-colored cocoons with fully flat beds, personal minibars and Armani slippers. To continue the luxury, an Etihad First Class ticket includes complimentary chauffeur service to and from the airport. 

Related reading: Airplane Etiquette: Your Ultimate Guide

Japan Airlines

Potentially the sleekest suites in the sky, Japan Airlines’ first class offering is all clean lines, woodgrain and burgundy leather, in a gorgeously serene capsule-like space. When bedtime comes, guests can choose between firm and soft airweave mattresses for their completely flat bed. Exquisite new first class suites on the A350-1000 have enormous TV screens, speakers built into the headrests and room on all the upholstery for another passenger to join you for dinner. The chef-designed first class washoku (Japanese cuisine) menu is an experience in itself, beginning with “five colourful delicacies” and proceeding through dishes like caviar with wagyu beef and white leeks, sake-steamed black rockfish with sesame tofu and kamo eggplant, miso soup, pickles and dessert. 

Image credit: wwws.airfrance.co.uk

Air France

The Air France website describes its first class offering La Premiere as “the highest expression of travel”. The airline launched new first class seats in 2025 and people have likened the experience to flying in a private jet. For the princely sum of around $14,000, the suites are chic and understated with pillarbox red blankets and menus, like a Parisian red lip, and they’re long (five windows long) with floor-to-ceiling curtains. Each one has a recliner seat and chaise (which turns into a bed). The menu is absolutely epic, compiled by Arnaud Lallement, a chef with a three Michelin star restaurant in Reims. Regular first class travelers also adore the lounge at Charles de Gaulle – who doesn’t want to find themselves in a first class lounge in Paris, of all places? 

In the mid 2010s, premium economy was the class cabin of concern – these were the seats that airlines were pouring their investment into. It looked as though first class might face extinction, making business class seats the most sought-after seats on the plane. But then, something switched, as elite travelers went in search of one-of-a-kind, ever more luxurious experiences, and consequently many airlines have had a first class glow-up in recent years, with the gap between business and first class appearing to widen. We’re exploring the upper echelons of air travel below, just in case you’ve ever wondered: first class vs business class – what exactly is the difference?

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1. What is the highest class in a plane?

First class is the highest category of ticket you can buy. But between airlines, first class varies enormously and numerous airlines have added even more premium and unique options to the repertoire, such as Etihad’s The Residence. One airline’s business or first class offering can also vary massively between routes.

2. Which seat is better: first class or business class?

Business class seats tend to be the most luxurious version of what you get in economy and premium economy cabins, in that they are still actual seats, whereas first class seats tend to be within larger suite-like spaces, with full beds and privacy curtains or doors. Business class seats still have privacy, usually as a result of clever seat configuration, and they always have plenty of space, usually enough for lie flat seats.

3. Which food and drink is better: first class or business class?

There is a clear shift in the dinner service between these classes. In business class, you will usually enjoy restaurant-style plating with cloth napkins, ceramics, glassware and cutlery and you may be able to pre-select your meals or dine on demand, depending on your airline. In first class, things go up a notch; airlines are aiming to give you an actual gourmet experience, with elevated fine dining presentation, rare vintage wines, more choice and exclusive menus designed by Michelin star chefs.

4. What are the other key differences in amenities?

Essentially, first class is looking to provide a luxury hotel experience in the air, whereas business class is looking to make your flight as smooth and comfortable as possible. So, in business class, you’ll have more control over your personal space than in economy or premium economy (temperature, lighting), and you’ll have bedding to transform your seat into a bed. Business travelers will have easy access to plug sockets and WiFi and everything they need to get on with their work or take a break from it.

In first class you’ll have this, plus perhaps a personal minibar, access to a shower, a flat screen TV and space for another passenger to come and dine with you. There are luxurious amenities in both classes – Emirates works with Bulgari on their amenity kits, and Turkish Airlines works with Ferragamo, for instance. As a first class vs business class case study, Air France’s La Premiere passengers get embossed boxes in Air France red or pearl grey, with hand cream, eye contour balm, serum and moisturizer by Sisley, whereas the equivalent business class bag includes two Clarins moisturizers.

5. What’s the difference on the ground?

Like everything in the world of luxury travel, no two airport lounges are created equal. Generally, business class and first class passengers will have access to airport lounges, with extra special first class lounges available in some circumstances, for the most elite first class fliers. For instance, at Singapore Changi airport, Singapore Airlines has gold and silver lounges, as well as The Private Room, with a maximum capacity of just 78. As well as lounge access, first class passengers often receive additional perks like chauffeur-driven cars to and from the airport and dedicated jet bridges so they don’t have to board the plane with everyone else.

6. Is there an industry standard for airline classes?

Broadly speaking, business class is an enhanced experience, designed for your comfort, with wider seats and more amenities than economy or premium economy and first class is the highest level of luxury and service. But the reality is more complex; airlines have different priorities and different seat configurations on different routes, and they’re making updates to their fleets all the time.

7. Is it worth upgrading from business to first class?

You are never going to be uncomfortable on a business class flight, so this question comes down to what you are prepared to pay for. In the battle of first class vs business class, there is much to consider. How long is the flight you’re taking? For domestic flights, the difference in service will feel small, and you won’t have much time to make use of the amenities. Will you feel the benefit? Have you checked specifically which seats are available on your route and your airline? Not to mention, it’s often quadruple the price to travel in first class. We found an Emirates business class ticket from NYC to Dubai for $5,537 while the equivalent first class ticket cost $21,967.