Flyers Are Saying First Class Isn’t What It Used To Be: Here’s Why

First class on commercial airlines is shrinking because carriers have discovered they can generate more revenue by installing larger business-class cabins rather than a handful of ultra-luxury seats. Over the past decade, airlines including Air New Zealand and Turkish Airlines have removed first class entirely, while major US carriers such as Delta Air Lines and United Airlines no longer offer international first class at all. Instead, airlines have invested in business class suites with lie-flat beds, privacy doors, and direct aisle access—features once reserved for first class.