The Best First Class Airline in the U.S.
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Picture this: You’re in row 1A, sipping a glass of champagne as the masses file past. In a few short minutes, you’ll be reclining your seat, popping on a pair of headphones and enjoying a steak with pomme frites.
No, this isn’t some absurdly glamorous Middle Eastern airline. You’re in the U.S., flying a U.S. airline — and things are about to get luxurious.
So, which is the best first class airline in the U.S.? The short answer is that, according to our analysis, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines offer the top first class airline tickets to travelers.
From lie-flat seats to enclosed suites, let’s look closer at which is the best first class airline in the U.S.
U.S. airlines with first class
The U.S. has several major airlines, but we zeroed in on just three for our analysis: United, Delta and American Airlines.
There are others, of course (including Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Frontier, Spirit and Southwest). However, each of these excluded airlines suffer from serious limitations when it comes to deciding the best first class. For example:
Southwest doesn’t operate a business class or first class cabin.
JetBlue has only just started its transatlantic flights.
Alaska doesn’t offer any lie-flat seating.
Frontier and Spirit are both budget airlines that strip down their fares to the basics.
This leaves the “Big 3” as the major contenders when it comes to luxury airlines in the U.S.
Factors we considered when picking the best first class domestic airline
So how do we decide which is best first class domestic airline?
Amenities: Often called the soft product, amenities are things such as bedding, food, service and drinks on your flight.
Seats: Each airline uses a different configuration for its seating, with top contenders featuring lie-flat beds and suites with closing doors.
Ability to earn and use points: Unless you’ve got money to spare, the ability to redeem your points for first class seats is going to make a huge impact on your airline choice.
Route network: This is how many destinations each airline serves.
Lounges: Not all airline lounges are equal; each airline uses these differently to woo and delight their highest paying customers.
Airline amenities
Winner: Delta
Airlines have upped their game in recent years as the fight for your loyalty rages on.
The experience varies depending on whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally, but each airline offers its own premium option. Delta features Delta One, American Airlines has its Flagship First Class and United boasts the Polaris experience.
Each airline offers chef-curated food and luxurious bedding on board, as well as premium spirits. Both United and American Airlines offer pajamas on select international flights, while Delta doesn’t.
When it comes to customer service, however, Delta is a clear winner. According to the monthly Air Travel Consumer Report issued by the Department of Transportation, Delta had a total of 106 customer complaints across all categories during June 2021. Compare this to United’s 303 complaints and American’s 421 complaints, and Delta comes out miles ahead.
Each airline has a competitive soft product with high-end touches, but Delta far outstrips the rest when it comes to customer service, netting it a win for amenities.
First class airplane seats
Winner: Delta
Airlines often offer passengers different types of first class seats depending on where they're flying. Most domestic routes will feature wide seats that recline. These are comfortable, but nowhere near as nice as the seats on premium transcontinental routes and long-haul international flights. On these routes, you’ll find American Airlines, Delta and United have installed beds that lay-flat — so you can arrive to your destination well rested.
So, which airline has the best first class seats?
United has done away with its distinction between first and business class on long-haul international flights, and has instead launched its Polaris-branded product. Updated Polaris seats feature a 1 x 2 x 1 configuration, which offer excellent privacy in a pod formation. Be aware, however, that United also operates an older Polaris product in a 2 x 2 x 2 configuration. You’ll be able to see this on United’s seat map when you’re booking your flights.
American Airlines offers both Flagship First Class seats as well as Flagship Business Class seats. Its business class product is similar to United’s updated Polaris product, with a 1 x 2 x1 formation that offers excellent privacy. Its Flagship First Class seats, meanwhile, have a much smaller cabin with as few as eight seats — but they lack high wall dividers, which leaves you pretty open to other passengers.
Delta has also eliminated its first and business class distinctions on long-haul international flights in favor of its Delta One product. While not all of its planes feature these, all A350 and A339 planes operate Delta One suites. These suites have full-height walls and sliding doors for complete privacy.
Although both American Airlines and United offer excellent seats in their premium cabins, Delta’s suites outclass the others with ultimate privacy.
You’ll experience the best domestic first class seats on popular transcontinental routes such as New York to Los Angeles or San Francisco. These flights can offer lie-flat seats and premium food similar to their long-haul international brethren.
Ability to earn and use points
Winner: United
Most airlines offer a loyalty program, and the Big 3 are no exception. Depending on your airline, you’ve got Delta SkyMiles, American Airlines AAdvantage and United MileagePlus. If you’re looking to redeem rewards for a first class seat, you'll want to know which is the best option.
Each airline will award you with miles when you fly with them, though the amount of reward miles you earn for any given ticket is actually based on the cost of the fare rather than how far you fly. However, this isn’t the only way to earn miles.
United credit cards
United’s MileagePlus program also offers a handful of co-branded credit cards for different types of travelers. United is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards® at a 1:1 ratio, and the United MileagePlusX app offers an easy way to earn miles at hundreds of different retailers.
$0 intro for the first year, then $95.
$250.
$525.
• 2 miles per $1 on United purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at restaurants and hotels (when booked directly with hotel).
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
• 3 miles per $1 on United purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at restaurants, select streaming services and all other travel.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
• 4 miles per $1 on United purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at restaurants and all other travel purchases.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
• First checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation.
• 2 United Club one-time passes each year.
• Credit of up to $100 every four years for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• First and second checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation.
• $125 United purchase credit per year (good on airfare).
• Two 5,000-mile award flight credits per anniversary year.
• Credit of up to $100 every four years for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• First and second checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation.
• Access to United Club airport lounges.
• Credit of up to $100 every four years for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
United, like American and Delta, offers no fixed award chart. However, its redemption rates are pretty reasonable, and it's part of the largest airline alliance — Star Alliance — giving you the most options when it comes time to redeem your points.
More ways to earn miles, reasonable redemption rates and more airline partners means United is the winner here.
Delta credit cards
Delta makes it easy to earn SkyMiles with several different co-branded credit cards. It’s also a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Combined, these methods make it very easy to earn SkyMiles for award flights.
Redeeming them, however, is another story. Delta has no fixed award chart and tends to charge a lot when using miles for premium cabin rewards.
• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
Annual fee: $0.
• 2 miles per $1 on purchases made directly with Delta and at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).
• 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $150.
• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and on hotel purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at U.S. supermarkets and restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.).
• 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
Annual fee: $350.
• 3 miles per $1 on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
• 1 mile per $1 on other eligible purchases.
Terms apply.
Annual fee: $650.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
• First checked bag free.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
• Companion certificate (main cabin).
• First checked bag free.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
• Airport lounge access.
• Companion certificate (first class, Delta Comfort+ or main cabin).
• Credit for application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
• First checked bag free.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply.
» Learn more: Which Delta Air Lines credit card should you get?
American Airlines credit cards
American Airlines also has a number of co-branded credit cards with which you can earn AAdvantage miles. However, American doesn’t have a permanent partnership with a transferable points currency.
$0.
$0 intro for the first year, then $99.
$595.
$99.
• 2 miles per $1 at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services, and on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• 1 mile per $1 spent on other purchases.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at gas stations and restaurants, and on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• 10 miles per $1 on eligible car rentals and hotels booked through AA.
• 4 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases, up to $150,000 spent per calendar year (5 miles per $1 spent thereafter for the remainder of the calendar year).
• 1 mile per $1 on everything else.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
• 1 Loyalty Point per 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
• Save 25% on inflight food and beverage purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights.
• Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your card membership year and renew your card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
• Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights.
• Admirals Club® membership for you and access for up to two guests or immediate family members traveling with you.
• First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to 8 companions traveling with you on the same reservation.
• Free checked bag and preferred boarding for you and up to four companions.
• Annual companion certificate ($99 plus taxes and fees) after spending $20,000.
• Up to $25 per anniversary year in statement credits for in-flight Wi-Fi purchases.
• 25% off in-flight food and beverage services.
» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now
Route network
Winner: American Airlines
Let’s be honest, when it comes down to it, many of us are going to choose the most convenient airline. This can mean the one that is closest to us, one that has the fewest number of connections or one that serves the country to which we are traveling.
Delta and United are close in this regard; Delta serves “up to” 300 destinations worldwide, while United provides flights to “more than” 300 different cities. American Airlines has them beat with 350 destinations across 50 different countries.
Serving a further 50 cities than its competitors, American Airlines can’t be beat when it comes to route networks.
Lounges
Winner: United
If you’ve already got a travel credit card, you may have experience with airport lounges. These spaces can offer a reprieve within the airport itself and also tend to offer complimentary food and drink. Certain business and first class passengers also have access to these lounges, depending on where they’re flying.
Each airline has their standard lounge products: the United Club, Delta Sky Club, and American Airlines Admirals Club all offer a dedicated space for customers. However, both United and American Airlines offer separate, higher-end lounges for those flying their premium Polaris and Flagship products, respectively.
Delta doesn't feature such a premium option. Plus, Delta’s partnership with American Express means that travelers with The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express can enter Delta lounges when they’re flying the airline, no matter which cabin they’re in. This can lead to overcrowding and an unpleasant experience.
United’s Polaris Club in San Francisco, meanwhile, was awarded the world’s best business class lounge by Skytrax in 2019. This is due in part to the quiet-room daybeds and the gourmet restaurant experience that the lounge offers, among other amenities.
More than 21 million customers voted, and the consensus is that United’s Polaris lounges are best-in-class.
» Learn more: Credit cards that come with airport lounge access
So, which airline has the best first class in America?
We’ve got two wins for Delta, two wins for United and one win for American Airlines. This looks a lot like a tie between United and Delta. However, not everyone has the same needs, which means that you’re going to have to decide your true first class winner for yourself.
» Learn more: Delta vs. United, which is best for you?
Do you like pleasant flight attendants and tons of privacy? Then Delta is your best first class airline. Do you want an easy way to redeem your points and a fabulous airport lounge? United might be more your speed. No matter which you choose, you’ll have excellent seats, premium food offerings and airport lounges for your journey at the pointy end of the plane.
The information related to AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
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