First class passengers are afforded private suites with high-end food, larger TV screens and fully-flat beds


Flying in the lap of luxury doesn’t come cheap, with wealthy passengers splashing massive amounts of cash – or expensing it to a company – to travel with perks those in economy could only dream of.

First class airfare costs are so staggering a return ticket on one of the longest routes in the world can equal or exceed a year’s salary for many workers.

The lucky few who can afford it are spoiled with delicious meals prepared by top chefs, comfortable leather seats that fold into beds with the touch of a button and private butlers.

MailOnline Travel has compiled a list of some of the most expensive round-trip commercial flights in the world.

The Residence, a three-room apartment exclusive to Etihad Airways, will be available on the New York-Abu Dhabi route in December

Etihad Airways, New York-Abu Dhabi – £42,000 ($64,000)

Luxury Gulf carrier Etihad Airways unveiled The Residence, its three-room ‘penthouse in the sky’, to great fanfare last December with its inaugural Airbus A380-800 flight from London Heathrow to its base in Abu Dhabi.

Jaws dropped when Etihad announced the price of the 125-square-foot suite – up to £14,000 ($25,000) each way – which includes a private butler, limousine transfers and unrivalled privacy.

But that’s nothing compared to the amount travellers will pay when The Residence is rolled out on Etihad’s New York-Abu Dhabi route this December.

A return flight would cost a staggering £42,000, giving one or two passengers plenty of time to catch some shuteye in its double bedroom, relax in its living room or freshen up in the shower room.

The Residence is also being added to the Sydney-Abu Dhabi route, with a return ticket costing about AUD$55,000 (£27,500).

First class passengers with Emirates are afforded a private suite with a seat that converts into a fully-flat bed, plus a personal mini-bar

Emirates, Los Angeles-Dubai – £23,500 ($36,000)

First class passengers with Emirates, another Gulf carrier, are afforded a private suite with a seat that converts into a fully-flat bed, personal mini-bar and gourmet meals.

A return flight between Los Angeles International Airport and Emirates’ hub in Dubai can cost up to £23,500 ($36,000), with travellers earning 35,000 loyalty miles for the round-trip journey.

During each 16-hour flight on board an Airbus A380-800 passengers have access to an on board shower spa and a lounge for first class and business customers.

First class meals are served at the passenger’s choosing on Royal Doulton bone china plates and exclusive Robert Welch cutlery, and wines have been selected by a sommelier.

Emirates has equally eye-watering rates on its San Francisco-Dubai (£23,000 or $35,000) and Houston-Dubai (£20,000 or $31,000) routes.

Cathay Pacific's first class section on its New York-Hong Kong route has personal suites, providing comfort on the 16-hour journey

Cathay Pacific, New York-Hong Kong - £18,000 ($28,000)

Like Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Hong Kong is another long-haul destination where passengers can spend a small fortune to travel in a luxurious cabin.

At 16 hours each way, this journey with Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific will set wealthy travellers back £18,000 ($28,000).

First class passengers on the Boeing 777-300 travel with privacy in individual suites in a cabin fitted with plush carpet, hand-crafted sculptures created by Maria Lobo and Linda Leviton, and leather seats.

Each suite has Bose noise-cancelling headphones and an LCD touchscreen controller that can be used to transform the seat into a bed, adjust back support and turn the lights on and off.

Guests can also stream movies and music from their Apple devices to their TV.

In addition to The Residence, Etihad Airways boasts a 'first suite' that has a swanky Poltrona Frau leather seat and drinks cabinet

Etihad Airways, Los Angeles-Abu Dhabi – £18,000 ($28,000)

Hollywood stars who are jetting from LAX to the Middle East for a holiday or their latest film role are among those who can likely be found in Etihad’s first class cabin on this route.

With a return ticket going for £18,000 ($28,000), each ‘first suite’ comes with a Poltrona Frau leather seat, chilled drinks cabinet and personal wardrobe.

Before and after spending 16 hours on a Boeing 777-200 guests are driven to and from the airport by a chauffeur, meaning they won’t have to worry about getting behind the wheel with jet lag.

The Los Angeles-Abu Dhabi route is the third longest in the world in terms of distance.

First class passengers can stretch out and relax while flying between Tokyo and London at a cost of £13,250 for a return flight

Japan Airlines, Tokyo-London – £13,250 ($20,000)

First class passengers on this 11-hour flight with Japan Airlines get their own compartment with a leather seat that can be converted into a wide, comfortable bed with airweave bedding.

For added privacy each JAL suite on board the Boeing 777-300 has a retractable partition.

Passengers can watch films on 23in screens as they devour Japanese and Western dishes, including spiny lobster and scallops, white asparagus dressed with prawn broth jelly, and caviar.

Singapore Airlines' first class suite boasts its largest ever armchair, which is hand-stitched by Poltrona Frau, and a standalone bed

Singapore Airlines, New York-Singapore - £11,500 ($17,800)

With a stopover in Frankfurt, this route is serviced by Singapore Airlines’ Airbus A380-800, which like other carriers boasts first class suites.

The suites boast the airline’s largest ever armchair, which is hand-stitched by Poltrona Frau, and for the first time ever a standalone bed that is not converted from a seat.

Passengers are treated to special menus created by an ‘international culinary panel’, with meals being served on exclusively designed Givenchy tableware.

Each individual cabin has sliding doors and window blinds, offering maximum privacy.

Including the stopover, the total travel time is 21 to 24 hours each way.

Before boarding, first class passengers with Korean Air can belly up to the buffet and grab a chilled drink in the first class lounge

Korean Air, New York-Seoul – £12,000 ($18,000)

At £12,000 ($18,000) for a return trip, South Korea’s largest airline bills its kosmo suites as ‘a five-star hotel at 40,000ft’.

There are 12 kosmo suites on Korean Air’s Airbus A380-800 superjumbo jets, providing plenty of personal space for the fortunate few who are seated in the exclusive cabin on each 14-hour flight.

Each suite has a 180-degree fully-flat seat that has a width of 26.5in – almost six inches wider than a regular first class seat.

It folds into a 79-in long jointless seat mat aimed at reducing fatigue on long flights.

Kosmo suites can also be used as an individual office space, and they boast a 23in screen and an adjustable reading lamp designed to reduce eye fatigue.

Qantas' flights between Melbourne and Los Angeles include a wine sommelier in first class, along with an eight-course tasting menu

Qantas, Melbourne-Los Angeles - £13,000 ($20,000)

Passengers in economy will be insanely jealous when they find out how first class travellers pass the time during the 16-hour journey between the southern coast of Australia and the west coast of the US.

The perks of the £13,000 ($20,000 or AUD$26,000) return flight include a chauffeur, access to a first class lounge with a menu created by Australian restaurateur Neil Perry, and fast-track through immigration.

On board the Airbus A380-800 guests kick back in a suite with a fully-flat, extra-wide bed and sheepskin mattress.

The space includes an ottoman, allowing the first class passenger to welcome a companion during the flight.

Passengers can dine a la carte or indulge in an eight-course tasting menu, and pick a wine after consulting a sommelier in the sky.